Guyana Times - Saturday, January 7, 2023

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Saturday, January 7 –16:25h-17:55h and Sunday, January 8 – 05:30h-07:00h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

Eccles-to-Great Diamond Highway Project

2 of 7 hold-out Mocha squatters engaging Housing Ministry for compensation packages – Min Croal

High

Only two of the seven remaining squatters at the Mocha/Cane View area showed up at the Housing Ministry on Friday to activate the process for them to receive compensation packages to relocate to a nearby housing development along the East Bank Demerara (EBD) corridor.

Following the demolition of the structures on the Government reserves at Mocha/Cane View, which are in the path of the ongoing Eccles-to-Great Diamond four-lane Highway, four squatters had reached out to the Housing Ministry on Thursday afternoon to get compensation packages.

However, only two of those persons turned up on Friday morning.

According to subject Minister Collin Croal, those two persons are being “engaged”. He added that the door was still open for the other five persons to follow

suit.

Guyana Times understands that of the two individuals who are engaging the Ministry, one person has signed an agreement for a land and financial compensation while the other person has asked for time to consult with their family.

In 2021, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) engaged 35 families from Mocha/Cane View on their relocation to prepare for the four-lane road.

Extensive consultations were done to ensure the residents were relocated to developed housing schemes at Farm and Herstelling on the EBD, equipped with all the amenities that would lead to their enhanced livelihoods.

Already, some 28 persons have been resettled in a more cohesive, sustainable and safe community after signing their compensation agreements in December 2021.

To date, some $250 million has been expended as compensation to those persons along with over $6 million compensation for crops. Additionally, lands, assistance, and titles were also made available to the residents free of cost.

However, seven persons remained on the reserves over the past months after rejecting Government’s offer while making excessive demands totalling some $590 million for properties that were valued at just $56 million.

After several months of warnings and failed attempts to remove those persons, the Housing Ministry went ahead and demolished all the structures on the reserves on Thursday.

During this exercise, however, persons set a $49 million excavator on fire – a move which was condemned by President Dr Irfaan Ali.

The Head of State said

that the squatters, backed by the PNC-led Opposition, were holding up the highway construction that would not only bring relief to commuters along the East Bank, but also increase the value of properties in the area.

The President noted too that by relocating, Government was giving these seven families the opportunity to have legally-owned houses and land, which would secure their future.

“There is no political mileage or opportunism that can be extracted from this. I asked and I urge these families not to be used as political tools and pawns of a few who are only angry at the development of our country. All of Guyana, every reasonable person, can understand that what the Government has offered is above and beyond,” the Head of State urged during a live broadcast on his Facebook page on Thursday.

MoE steps in to ensure 16 displaced children attend school

Housing Minister Collin Croal

Officials from the Education Ministry engaging parents who were displaced from the Mocha/Cane View area to ensure their children attend school

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Enforcement

New environmental regulations in Spain have stipulated that tobacco companies would now be charged with cleaning up cigarette butts off the streets and beaches.

The new regulations were enforced on Friday after, according to a BBC report, millions of butts are thrown away each yearreleasing toxic plastic waste which can take decades to break down.

This position by Spain shows that the country is taking a tough stance against smoking and the adverse impact cigarette waste is having on the environment.

A report by the Catalan Rezero Foundation called cigarette waste the "most abundant waste" on the beaches of the western Mediterranean, pointing out that existing measures to tackle itsuch as awareness campaigns and portable beach ashtrays - had been insufficient.

The new rules make manufacturers responsible for collecting discarded butts as well as transporting them for waste treatment, the BBC reported.

The World Health Organization (WHO) had reported that more than 40 million young people aged 13-15 have already started to use tobacco. This, by any measure, is quite alarming, and one can only imagine the kind of impact this would have on our young people if urgent action is not taken to discourage such actions.

The WHO had, for some time now, embarked on a global campaign to highlight the “strategic, aggressive and well-resourced tactics” employed by the tobacco industry to target youths, and to debunk the myths the tobacco industry creates.

The campaign seeks to provide young people with the knowledge required to easily detect industry manipulation –from product design to marketing campaigns – and equip them with the tools to rebuff such tactics, thereby empowering young people to stand up against them. The WHO described this effort as a counter-marketing campaign, as it would reinforce work in assisting countries to implement effective policy interventions to reduce the demand for tobacco.

Here, in Guyana, Chronic Diseases Coordinator Dr Kavita Singh had, in the past, lamented the fact that the tobacco industry is capitalising on new trends in targeting young persons. She noted that it was during this point in time that ‘big tobacco’ was using strategic marketing techniques to try to get young people to experiment with the new and emerging novel products, like the e-cigarettes and the heated tobacco products.

While there is a myth that these products are safe, they are equally as harmful as the smoke of an actual cigarette. According to WHO, smoking e-cigarettes and hookah pipes – marketed as “safer” alternatives to conventional cigarettes – is harmful, addictive, and increases the risk of developing heart and lung diseases.

Of note is that these products have the same tobacco, which has cancer-causing agents among other deadly emissions. The WHO notes that most of the countless flavours on offer – such as bubble-gum and candy – are there to attract youngsters, who at least double their chances of smoking cigarettes later in life.

It should be stated that tobacco is responsible for over seven million deaths per year worldwide. This includes approximately 900,000 persons who die from diseases related to exposure to tobacco smoke. Over 40 per cent of all tobacco-related deaths are from lung diseases, like cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and tuberculosis.

Guyana’s tobacco control law, enacted in 2017, follows several of the Articles of the WHO Convention, and mandates the adoption and implementation of a series of tobacco control policies, which make it one of the most complete tobacco control laws. These include: 100 per cent smoke-free environments in all indoor public spaces, indoor work spaces, public transportation, and specified outdoor spaces, to protect people from exposure to tobacco smoke; a ban on all forms of advertising and promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products; health warnings featured on 60 per cent of tobacco product packaging, including images. It also includes a ban on the sale of tobacco products to and by minors, prohibition on vending machines’ sales, and a ban on the manufacture and sale of toys and candies, and any other goods in the form of tobacco products.

There is no strict enforcement of the measures enacted in the local 2017 control law, and more so no provision like that of Spain to have companies pay for the damage they are causing to the environment.

Having the necessary legislation in place is a good starting point, but the challenges relate to monitoring and compliance. Stricter enforcement of the legislation has still not yet been addressed.

Critique of Nigel Hughes's claims of discrimination in Govt contracts (Pt 2)

Dear Editor,

After I reviewed the presentation by Nigel Hughes, of note, Hughes also presented what he perceived to be the solution to the problems he was highlighting, one of which is for the involvement of Afro-Guyanese in the decision-making process at the Governmental level. To test Hughes’s genuineness, I reached out to him privately with the aim of engaging him in some meaningful dialogue on his presentation, and pointed out the flaws, as I have so done in this missive.

My intention in engaging him was to have a critical discussion in which we can arrive at viable solutions. However, Nigel indicated that he has no interest whatsoever in engaging me in any public discussion on the subject matter.

I must say that I found his rejection of my proposal to be a contradiction of the very solution he put forward, whereby he is arguing that Afro-Guyanese need to be involved in the decision-making process.

I said to Nigel, “Shouldn’t we at least start by having meaningful and healthy exchanges and dialogue, which can then find its way to the decision-makers?”

Again, Nigel remained unmoved, which is a demonstration to me that his intention behind that presentation was politically motivated and calculated;

simply because, if he were so confident in the authenticity of his study, then he should have demonstrated no difficulty in engaging in a public debate or discussion to defend the so-called study.

He went on to use examples of himself and clients of his that applied for Government contracts, or licence, or whatever the case is, but were unsuccessful. The truth is such that for any contract or licence to conduct any business in Guyana, be it quarry licence or gold dealership licence, there is a process, and applicants would need to satisfy certain criteria, which are embodied in several pieces of legislation and regulations. As I have demonstrated, not only Afro-Guyanese may not be successful with contracts or any other application to support any business, but many other Indo-Guyanese have also not been successful. Case in point: regarding the GWI contracts, six out of eight contractors who are Indo-Guyanese would not have won some contracts, because there are limitations as to how many people or businesses can be awarded a contract.

A trained and prominent Attorney of Hughes’s calibre ought to know that this cannot be the sole basis upon which one derives the conclusion that there is discrimination. In order to discern and prove wheth-

er marginalisation is indeed taking place, there are mechanisms in place to properly address these matters with remedial action. For example, in the case of the award of contracts, if any Guyanese contractor, regardless of their ethnicity, competed for any Government contract and never won any, then there is a procedure in law that they can trigger. The Procurement Act, in this case, outlines the procedure to be followed, whereby any contractor or person has a right to complain firstly at the level of the procuring entity, and if not satisfied with the results, request an independent review. This process can be undertaken at the level of the Public Procurement Commission, which is an independent constitutional body.

Further, if the complainant is not satisfied with all the different layers of appeal, they have recourse at the Court, which also can reach the highest Court of Appeal. Yet, neither Nigel nor any of the contractors he is claiming are victims of marginalisation have brought a single case through the correct channels for any remedial action. Is it because they do not have a case in the first place, and that these are all politically manufactured fictional cases of marginalisation?

I can even use myself as an example as well, like

Nigel Hughes did in his presentation, wherein, under the previous Government, I was part of several consulting firms that bid for Government consultancies and never won any. I have also been interviewed for CEO positions at three major Government agencies, NICIL, the Small Business Bureau, and the Guyana National Newspapers Limited, and I was never successful. These jobs eventually went to pensioners, and in the case of Guyana National Newspapers Limited, Sherod Duncan, whom I would agree is perhaps a more competitive candidate than I, which I have no difficulty accepting.

I never complained to anyone, or cried about marginalisation and discrimination by the APNU Government. Had I done this, it would have been unethical of me, since I did not appeal any of these cases, nor did I follow the correct procedure in the case of the Government consultancies; so, I had no basis to complain of discrimination. Instead, I accepted that due process might have been followed, and out of whatever evaluation criteria used, there were perhaps more competitive and more technically sound firms that eventually won the contracts; and in the case of the jobs, more technically sound candidates who got the jobs.

The Guyana Defence Force on Friday mounted a Guard of Honour for Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr Ralph Gonsalves prior to his departure at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri. The visiting Prime Minister concluded a four-day visit to Guyana

The AFC – from tragedy to farce UK recognises robust verification of voting here

Dear Editor,

In launching the newly-founded AFC in 2005, their first leader, Raphael Trotman, boldly proclaimed “[i]t is time for a change! Our change is the key to the unlocking Guyana’s future. It is time for the Alliance For Change!”

Despite some early success at the 2006 and 2011 elections, the AFC began a slow and ignominious journey of disrepute, even scorn. One of the tragic things about the founding of the AFC was that it gave both the decaying PNC and WPA a lease on life. Prior to 2005, the WPA was on long-term disability leave. The AFC fed it saline, and, before long, the WPA was back to its destructive ways, spouting some of the most regressive ethnic nationalism we have ever seen in this land.

Between 2006 and 2008, Skinny, Fineman, and the violent elements of the Gulf, at the Buxton backlands, were getting ideological support from the intellectual authors of ‘shared governance’. Readers should know that once the AFC knew the PPP/C had won the 2020 elections, it started to call for the same “shared governance” and “power sharing”.

The worst was yet to come, because, bit by bit, the AFC inched its way into the seductive arms of the PNC/ APNU. The Cummingsburg

Accord of 2015 joined the AFC and the APNU at the hip. By so doing, the AFC did what it had always promised its supporters and the Guyanese people not to ever do; namely, help the PNC back to state power. In short order, scorn was heaped on the AFC.

Haseef Yusuf, AFC Councillor in Region 6, was frank and direct about how he and other Berbicians saw the coalition. “I have written volumes about the lies and deceit [of the AFC], but for the first time, many Berbicians who have supported the AFC in the past have come out openly and condemned the coalition between the AFC and APNU, and are crying betrayal. Sugar workers are so angry that they have become paranoid” (Guyana Chronicle, 16/2/2015).

By 2016, the AFC was taking licks from inside its ranks. David Hinds jabbed it with “…if the AFC thinks it has given me freedom, I hereby tell the AFC, “Teck back yuh Freedom” (Demerara Waves, May 2, 2016). And by 2018, no less a person than Henry Jeffrey accused “… the party (AFC) of betraying the agenda of the people who had supported it” (Stabroek News, 16/8/2018).

With the elections of March 2020, the worst was yet to come. This time, the AFC did not only betray its

Critique of Nigel...

It is worthwhile to note that in relation to Nigel Hughes’s proposed solution, which I alluded to earlier, Afro-Guyanese entrepreneurs (as he implied) need to be included in the decision-making process. This system is already in place, and has been working since 1992 viz-a-viz the Private Sector business support organisations (BSO) such as the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce (GCCI), the Private Sector Commission, and many other sectoral and regional BSOs. These BSOs are the institutions through which the organized Private Sector engages with Government, not only on national cross-cutting issues, but it is the mechanism through which businesses have the opportunity to influence public policy and other Governmental decisions in respect to conducting business in Guyana, and to remedy issues that affect the Private Sector in general.

Thus, more AfroGuyanese businesses should be encouraged to join these associations, because they also assist businesses with business and organizational development, especially new, small, and emerging enterprises.

Editor, instead of propagating a misleading nar-

FROM PAGE 4

rative, successful AfroGuyanese professionals and entrepreneurs like Nigel Hughes should better direct their energies to actually doing something positive to help grow the number of Afro-Guyanese businesses in Guyana, help to build more successful Afro-Guyanese businesses in Guyana.

In conclusion, there is no basis in fact to Nigel Hughes’s study. It is deeply flawed, mischievous, dangerous, and politically motivated at best. There is recourse in law that anyone who feels they are victims of marginalisation or discrimination can invoke. If a person, or a contractor, or any legal entity fails to invoke the correct procedure catered for within the legislative framework, then they cannot otherwise proclaim that the Administration is practising discrimination of any kind, knowing full well that any such matters would have to be properly investigated and proven.

In subsequent articles, I will address the other matters in relation to Gold Dealership and Quarry Licences, and all the other issues Hughes raised in his presentation.

Yours faithfully, Joel Bhagwandin

supporters, but also betrayed the Constitution of Guyana by its attempt to rig the elections. The APNU-AFC and their leaders, including Messrs. Moses Nagamootoo and Khemraj Ramjattan, reportedly did everything possible to prove correct how people saw the AFC in 2005, namely as “wishy-washy” rejects, upstarts…and opportunists”.

Readers should know that it was Trotman himself who used the foregoing words to characterise how people saw the AFC leaders (see Trotman’s speech at the launching of AFC). In the inaugural speech launching the party, the AFC promised the world to the Guyanese people. “Today’s ceremony is not the launching of a political party, but the birth of a movement of consciousness; a consciousness that says that we, the people, have had enough, and want what is our sacred due: Respect, equality, prosperity, and security. It is the time!” Psalm 118, Martin Carter, Robert Frost and Buju Banton were invoked.

The AFC is now trying to turn a new page and fashion a new political identity. Having divorced the APNU, it is likely to seek sympathy. It will receive none. Guyanese people are people with long memories, and will hold the AFC accountable for its betrayal. Surely, they will retain the support of friends and family, but their days are done. Now the language of Psalm 34:13 will be invoked by the people.

Sincerely, Dr Randolph Persaud

Dear Editor, When experienced foreign diplomats address matters that are considered “internal affairs” of the countries where they are posted, they are very guarded, and their utterings reflect the position(s) of their bosses at home.

A few days ago, it was reported that the United Kingdom High Commissioner, Jane Miller, made some remarks relating to the upcoming Local Government Elections. Instantly, there were swift critical responses from some notable friends of the political Opposition here. In their mad rush to condemn her, they missed the essence of the diplomat’s message…quite conveniently.

Lincoln Lewis, (Trade Unionist?) in a letter to the press, suggested that the British diplomat violated “diplomatic expectations”. Lewis has never been known to be “diplomatic”, so can someone familiar with diplomacy please explain what this means?

Vincent Alexander, PNC-seated GECOM Commissioner, for his part, used more sharpened language and outrightly accused the High Commissioner of “interfering into the internal affairs of Guyana”.

GHK Lall, in his usual obtuse manner of writing, suggested something like the President of Guyana should get involved, consider the diplomat’s action as a declaration of war, and

send her packing.

Just a reminder: Vincent Alexander, Lincoln Lewis and GHK Lall are all apologists for the PNC, and are regular critics of the PPP/C Government.

A storm in a teacup?

Just what did the High Commissioner say that occasioned such harsh responses? Here are her words, as reported: “From what I have heard, I think the list is good enough, and I think we just need to make sure that there are those mechanisms in place to make sure it is regularly updated and verified”. So where is the mischief? There in none!

Her Excellency is just repeating what most Guyanese already know. This list is good enough, because it was used in the recent past by the GECOM to stage the 2015 General and Regional Elections (which the APNU+AFC won), and once again in 2020 (when it lost). Apart from the baseless complaints by the now Opposition, all and sundry declared the voting to be free and fair.

The most important aspect of what the High Commissioner said is being downplayed by her detractors, who just zeroed in on the list being “good enough”. She emphasized the need for verification mechanisms to be in place.

She again fortified this point by stating that, “Anywhere in the world, you got to make sure your

voters’ list is regularly updated, and that is what’s happening here. So, always, the people who have died and people who moved out the country or whatever, you need to make sure it’s regularly updated, and that’s the most important thing,”. She added “There are mechanisms in place on the day of voting to make sure that people are turning up only once, and that they have identification that is on that list.”

The envoy expressed some concerns about a new house-to-house registration at this time. “It makes it very complicated. So, going back doing door-todoor, you would miss out the people that have moved overseas maybe just for a few months, maybe a few weeks, maybe they have gone for a year. They are still eligible voters, so that worries me.”

Vincent Alexander, a GECOM Commissioner, must feel proud that the British Government recognizes that Guyana has in place robust verification systems in its electoral practices to make it impossible for malpractices. This is a far cry from the blatant electoral rigging in the past, for which this country had become notorious.

It would not be surprising if, in the coming days, other major Western powers (ABC) express similar views.

Yours truly, Anson Paul

Question 1:

Dancing snake electricity and magnetism science experiment

In this fun and easy electricity and magnetism science experiment, we are going to demonstrate magnetism and magnetic fields by creating a dancing snake.

Materials: Cotton thread Scissors

Straight pin

Horseshoe magnet

Instructions:

Cut about an eight-inch length of thread. Tie the thread around the head of the straight pin.

Touch the magnet to the pin and hold the opposite end of the thread with your other hand.

Pull the magnet away until the thread tightens.

Slowly pull the magnet away a small distance.

The pin will suspend in the air. Move the magnet around and cause the “snake” to dance.

How it works:

Magnets have North and South poles.

The same poles repel each other whereas opposite poles attract. The magnetic field of magnets will attract metal objects like the straight pin that contain iron.

Make this a science project:

Try different types of items like small nails, bolts, or screws. Try putting material like paper or cardboard between the magnet and straight pin and observe what happens. Try different sized and shaped magnets. Set up two magnets with the same poles facing each other and move the straight pin between the area where the poles repel to observe what occurs. (sciencefun.org)

The Little Peasant

By The BroThers Grimm

Then opening the door for her husband, she said, “Thank heaven, you are back again. That is such a storm, as if the world were coming to an end.”

The miller saw the little peasant lying in the straw and asked, “What is that fellow doing there?”

“Oh,” said his wife, “The poor rascal came in the storm and rain and asked for shelter, so I gave him a piece of bread and cheese, and let him lie in the straw.”

The man said, “I have nothing against that, but hurry and get me something to eat.”

His wife said, “ I have nothing but bread and cheese.”

“I’ll be satisfied with anything,” answered her husband. “Bread and cheese will be good enough for me.” Then he looked at the little peasant and said, “Come and eat some more with me.”

The little peasant did not have to be asked twice, but got up and ate.

Afterward the miller saw

the hide with the raven in it lying on the ground, and asked, “What do you have there?”

The little peasant answered, “I have a fortune-teller inside it.”

“Can he predict anything for me?” said the miller.

“Why not?” answered the little peasant. “But he only says four things, and the fifth he keeps to himself.”

The miller was curious and said, “Let him predict something.”

Then the little peasant pressed against the raven’s head, so that he cawed and said, “krr, krr.”

The miller said, “What did he say?”

The little peasant answered, “First of all, he says that there is some wine under the pillow.”

“That would be something!” cried the miller, and went there and found the wine. “Say some more,” he said.

CONTINUED FROM FRIDAY TO BE CONTINUED

The little peasant made the raven caw again, then said, “Secondly, he says that there is a roast in the tile stove.”

“That would be something!” cried the miller, and went there and found the roast.

The little peasant made the raven prophesy still more, and said, “Thirdly, he says that there is some salad on top of the bed.”

“That would be something!” cried the miller, and went there and found the salad.

At last the little peasant pressed against the raven once more until he cawed, and said, “Fourthly, he says that there is a cake under the bed.”

“That would be something!” cried the miller, and looked there and found the cake. Then the two of them sat down at the table together. But the miller’s wife was frightened to death and went to bed, taking all the keys with her.

The miller would have liked very much to know the fifth thing, but the little peasant said, “First, let us eat the four things in peace, for the fifth thing is something bad.”

US$1.27B in NRF at end of 2022 – Finance Ministry

United States of America.

The NRF Act 2021 came into operation on January 1, 2022, replacing the illegitimate NRF Act 2019 passed by the then A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration, which was in caretaker mode at the time after a Motion of NoConfidence was successfully passed against the coalition in the National Assembly in December 2018.

The Finance Ministry on Friday disclosed that the balance of the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) – the overseas-based account that holds all of Guyana’s earnings from oil production activities offshore – stood at some US$1.27 billion or an estimated G$266 billion at the end of 2022.

In a statement, the

Ministry noted that Senior Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh submitted Notification of Receipts to Parliament of all petroleum revenues paid into the NRF during the period October 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022, pursuant to Section 33 (2) of the NRF Act 2021.

This notification was published in the Official Gazette on January 5,

2023 and according to the Ministry, it is a demonstration of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government’s continued commitment to the principles of transparency and accountability in the management of Guyana’s oil resources.

The NRF is currently being held at the New York Federal Reserve Bank in the

2 of 7 hold-out Mocha...

Only on Tuesday, during a standoff between residents, with support of Opposition members, and demolition workers, Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton claimed that the squatters were not in the path of the highway and that Government was relocating them for ulterior motives.

According to Ali, these political leaders are not concerned about the benefits the construction of this highway will bring to citizens.

“We're building the entire infrastructure out in Mocha that [the Opposition] neglected; passing a new four-lane highway through there that they neglected; increasing the value of lands in that area that they neglected. But in a politically-opportunistic manner, they find an occasion to arrive themselves in numbers as if they have any care and concern.

“A Government that has care and concern is G government that [would do] exactly what we did – moving illegality to legality, offering a better life, offering improved condition. The ball is in the court of those [remaining] families… This government stands ready to welcome you and take you into your new homes and to remove you from the illegally-occupied reserve and to give you a better life. Choose wisely, think wisely, and do not be used opportunistically…,” the Head of State implored.

Displaced children

Meanwhile, with all the illegal structures on the Government reserve destroyed, those families that refused to relocate have now been displaced, including children.

Consequently, a team from the Education Ministry

FROM PAGE 3

on Friday visited the area to engage parents and students with a view of ensuring that the children attend school.

The team comprised officers from the Ministry’s Health and Family Life Education (HFLE) Unit and the Welfare Unit of the Department of Education of Region Four. They were led by Assistant Chief Education Officer (HFLE), Carol Benn.

According to Benn, her team was able to engage 16 children from the seven households and will work to ensure that they continue to receive an education.

She added that where frequent absences were noted, the parties have agreed to collaborate to end this.

Nevertheless, the team will return to the community sometime today to take supplies for these children so that they are all equipped to attend school on Monday.

Just over a year after taking office, the PPP/C Government passed the new NRF legislation with a stringent measure to ensure transparency and accountability with the revenues earned from the oil and gas sector.

The NRF Act 2021 allows for substantial improvement in the management of the natural resource wealth of Guyana, including the establishment of a Board of Directors which is responsible for reviewing and approving the policies of the Fund and monitoring its performance, thereby separating the management of the Fund from the Minister responsible for Finance. Another key amendment in the new legislation is that the Minister of Finance could face up to 10 years’ imprisonment if he fails to disclose the receipt of any petroleum revenue received by the Government in the Official Gazette within three months of receipt of such monies.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF), in its 2022 Article IV mission to Guyana in May-June of 2022, commended the PPP/C Government on the amendments made to the NRF Act.

It highlighted, “The NRF Act was strengthened recently. After a thorough review, and while restraining the spending of the oil receipts, the authorities amended the NRF Act in December 2021. The recent amendments set clear ceilings on withdrawals from

the Fund for budgetary spending.”

The PPP/C Government has stated that it intended to continue to manage Guyana’s oil resources in a clear and transparent manner to the benefit of present and future generations.

The Government made the first withdrawal from the NRF last year to fund major capital projects outlined in Budget 2022.

Only last December, the Finance Ministry announced that the third withdrawal for 2022 was made to the tune of US$207.6 million (G$43 billion) to go towards financing Guyana’s national development plans.

This was in addition to withdrawals made in May and July of last year, totalling US$400 million (G$83 billion).

Consequently, the accumulated withdrawals from the NRF for the year 2022 was US$607.6 million, equivalent to G$126 billion, in line with the amount approved in the 2022 Budget.

“The NRF Act 2021 came into operation on January 1, 2022, and as part of the Budget 2022 process, parliamentary approval was granted for a total of US$607.6 million to be transferred during the fiscal year 2022,” the Finance

Ministry had noted.

The NRF, which contains revenue received from Guyana’s profit oil as well as royalty payments and interest earned, had a balance of almost $290.1 billion as of November 30, 2022. This was according to the monthly financial statements, which were released by the Bank of Guyana.

A breakdown of that amount had shown that the Fund received $36.9 billion in profit oil payments for that month. Meanwhile, its total investment income had been $860.3 million at that time.

Currently, oil production activities are being undertaken by US oil major ExxonMobil and its co-venturers in the Stabroek Block using two Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels.

While there are only two FPSOs – the <<<Liza Destiny>>> and the <<<Liza Unity>>> – currently producing over 300,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd), it is estimated that production will climb to 810,000 bpd by 2027 when the Yellowtail development project, Exxon’s third, comes on stream.

The US oil major anticipates at least six FPSO vessels in operation by 2030 offshore Guyana.

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh

AG challenges High Court ruling that Police have no power to blacklist persons charged with indictable offences

Guyana Police Force (GPF) because she has been charged with multiple counts of conspiracy to commit a felony, contrary to Section 34 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Senior Police Superintendent Marcelene Washington, a naturalised citizen of the United States of America, moved to have her name removed from that list, which is compiled by the GPF’s Immigration Department.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, has filed an appeal against the ruling of High Court Justice Navindra Singh, that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has no authority to place persons charged with indictable offences on a blacklist. His contention is that Justice Navindra Singh had erred and misdirected himself in law when he made that ruling.

In a Notice of Appeal lodged at the Court of Appeal of Guyana on Thursday, Nandlall contends, among other things, that the Criminal Law (Procedure) Act restricts persons charged with an indictable offenceand who have been granted bail with surety - from leaving the jurisdiction without the permission of the court.

According to Nandlall, this restriction is contemplated and permitted by Article 148 (3) of the Constitution of Guyana.

He argues that Justice Singh was bound by the principle of stare decisis to follow the precedent of Clarence Hughes vs Attorney General (Civ appeal No. 57 of 1979), which exemplifies his position.

In the Notice of Motion requesting that the appeal be heard expeditiously, the Attorney General has posited that the decision of the trial Judge violates, and is in conflict with, express provisions of the Constitution, established principles of law, and precedent.

And in an Affidavit in Support of that Notice of Motion, the acting Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken has averred that Justice Singh’s ruling has deep and far-reaching ramifications for the rule of law, and in particular the administration of criminal justice in Guyana. Demonstrating that view by way of an example, Hicken explained, “In my position as Commissioner of Police (ag), I have knowledge that hundreds of persons charged with indictable offences and granted bail with sureties can now flee the jurisdiction with impunity, and certainly without the supervisory role of the High Court.”

Background

“Blacklisted” by the

According to a constitutional action filed by this senior Police official, after the indictable charges were read to her in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, and she was released on cash bail, she was informed that she was “blacklisted” from travelling beyond the borders of Guyana.

As such, through Attorneys-at-Law Dexter Todd, Dexter Smartt and Jevon Cox, Senior Superintendent Washington challenged the State’s decision to restrict her movement. In her arguments in this regard, she contended, among other things, that she is a citizen of the USA

Ruling

However, Justice Singh rejected this position, and noted that by creating such a list, the GPF/State has determined that the law authorises the Police to limit the movement of such persons solely because they have been charged with indictable offences.

“No such authority is reposed in the Guyana Police Force under any written law in Guyana,” Justice

ly passed Bail Act of 2022, particularly Section 11, is most instructive in this case. “Section 11 makes it very clear that conditions, including restricting a bailed person’s ability to travel, may be imposed by the court granting bail. Logically, if such conditions are not imposed, then they do not exist,” he added.

Justice Singh has consequently declared that the Guyana Police Force cannot restrict the movement of any person around or outside of Guyana, unless such restriction is provided for in the laws of Guyana, or are pursuant to an Order of Court. Cost has been awarded to this Police officer in the sum of $150,000.

Charges

Senior Superintendent Marcelene Washington is among serving and retired Police officials who have been charged with defrauding the Guyana Police Force of $10 million. Those charges were filed in 2021.

According to the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), those charged Police officials conspired with each other and with persons unknown to defraud the GPF of more than $10 million, which they were paid to revise the entire GPF’s raft of Standing Orders, but they failed to present the revised document.

Raising the ante… …at

Mocha and beyond

You know, dear reader, your Eyewitness isn’t given to saying, “I told you so”!! And whenever he does, it’s just to remind you that his analysis - of whatever he’d predicted - was on the ball. So, like they say, he wants to forewarn you, so you can be forearmed. He’s talking about what went down at Mocha on Thursday, of course. The day before – meaning it was written even earlierhe’d reviewed the background to the Mocha standoff and explained that the PNC were determined to create the “garrisons” of Jamaican politics in our dear ole Mudland. These garrisons are “owned” by the political parties, and are controlled by armed bandits and criminals. Even the Police enter at their peril!! We had an early experience after the 2002 jailbreak, when the escapees turned Buxton into a garrison - and HUNDREDS were murdered. After that gang was wiped out by 2008, there’d been a lull…but your Eyewitness discerns the seeds of other garrisons being planted - starting with Mocha. This was how he ended the prescient piece: “So where do we go from here?? Downwards, that’s where!! Sooner rather than later, guns gonna be pulled!!”

And lo and behold, it was worse!! A channa bomb, or Molotov cocktail, was thrown by a protestor - caught on the video feed - into the driver’s cab of the excavator conducting the demolition!! It, of course, immediately burst into an explosive flame, which caused the operator to jump out to save his life!! Now, this is attempted murder!! Whoever threw the explosive device - which had an incendiary accelerant - had to put it together at least the night before. So, he came to the Mocha demolition exercise – along with a host of Opposition officials and supporters – with the PREMEDITATED intention to take out the excavator driver!! This is attempted murder, fellow Guyanese.

by naturalisation, and it is a condition of her naturalisation that she has to travel there every six months to sustain her citizenship.

In her application filed at the Demerara High Court, she listed the Attorney General, Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn and Hicken as respondents. Nandlall, the Government’s principal legal advisor, had denied that Senior Superintendent Washington was “blacklisted” from travelling, but rather asserted that the Immigration Department would formulate an “administrative list” of persons charged with indictable offences as a protocol and guidance to that department, and if such persons attempted to travel at the borders, they would be advised to seek permission from the court.

Nandlall had also contended that Article 139 (1) of the Constitution of Guyana restricts this senior Police officer’s right to travel, pursuant to a bail order made by the court.

Navindra Singh has declared.

According to Justice Singh, the respondents clearly “misdirected” themselves with respect to their contention that Article 139 (1) restricts this Police official’s right to travel pursuant to a bail order made by the court. Justice Singh pointed out that that constitutional provision does not restrict the movement of an individual who has been granted bail by a court of law.

He explained that bail, as defined by the Black’s Law Dictionary, is to obtain the release of (oneself or another) by providing security for a future appearance in court.

“Should the court granting bail determine that other conditions should be imposed, and impose such conditions – such as restriction of the movement of the bailed persons – only then does that become a condition attached to the bail,” Justice Singh has said in his written ruling.

In fact, Justice Singh has reasoned that the recent-

SOCU — an arm of the GPF — revealed that the GPF has a raft of Standing Order which comprises 104 such Orders. The entire raft of 104 Standing Orders of the GPF was completely revised by civilian Police Analysts who worked at the GPF Strategic Planning Unit between July 2018 and March 2019, SOCU has said; but former Police Commissioner Leslie James had hired and paid these charged Police officials to do the same revision when it had already been done.

SOCU therefore contends that these past and present officers conspired together and gave themselves a job that clearly should have gone to the Tender Board by law, because of the sum of money involved.

Senior Superintendent Washington, who previously served as the GPF’s Finance Officer, is also facing three charges of allegedly falsifying bills for food provided to Police ranks. She is jointly charged in this respect with Deputy Police Superintendent Frank Jackman-Wilburg, Superintendent Lorraine Saul, and Assistant Superintendent Roxanne Griffith-Adams.

These charges have stemmed from a massive investigation conducted by SOCU into a $300M fraud allegedly committed at the Police Finance Office by several high-ranking officers of the GPF.

Luckily the flames were quickly extinguished by the Police; and, as mentioned, the driver had the presence of mind to jump out of the cab. Your Eyewitness is quite concerned, however, that the perpetrator wasn’t apprehended by the Police. But he guesses they were trying to save the excavator!! Ironically, in view of the Opposition’s lamentations – not to mention the gnashing of teeth! – of discrimination, the contractor hired for the demolition was an African Guyanese! Like the fifty that got contracts to build bridges (pun intended!) in Buxton!! So here it is, an African Guyanese could’ve lost his life and the contractor his multi-million-dollar excavator. Ah, well…your Eyewitness supposes that this will be chalked up as acceptable collateral damage.

Anyhow, the PPP Government keeps playing catch up in the war the PNC have unleashed to justify their campaign to remove the PPP from office “by any means necessary”!!

Gotta step up!!

…in the US Congress

As if we didn’t know already, democracy can be a messy business. Inevitably so since every person –through their representatives – has a finger in the pie!! If you wanna know how messy it could get, just turn on your TV or smartphone and look at what’s happening – or NOT happening!! – in the US Congress.

We know the Republicans won the House 222 to the Democrats 213, don’t we?? So, the next step is for them to elect the Speaker from their ranks; which shouldn’t be a problem, since they have the votes, no?? NO!!

In the US, the Representatives and Senators are much more independent than here. How independent?? Think Charrandas and his “no…no…no” vote!! Anyhow, Republican nominee McCarthy has been opposed by 20 of his hardline colleagues, who fear he’ll give away the store!!

History’s being made, since, after 11 rounds of voting, he hasn’t gotten the majority!! Longest in 164 years!!

…on democracy

Economic giant Japan’s usually quiet on the international stage. That’s changing. The Japanese are rearming, and just denounced rising “authoritarianism”. “We must rebuild a World Order based on the fundamental values of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.”

Bad news for PNC!!

Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com

The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Guyana Times’ editorial policy and stance

Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC

Justice Navindra Singh

Senior Police Superintendent Marcelene Washington

Police Commissioner (ag) Clifton Hicken

Less hassle for low-income earners to open bank accounts – VP Jagdeo

Low-income persons will face less difficulty in opening bank accounts amid many instances where the system had caused disintermediation among the population.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo indicated during a stakeholders’ meeting at State House on Thursday that in easing the restrictions, persons conducting transactions of up to $500,000 can just walk in without any difficulty and get it done. Additionally, they would not have to specify the use of these monies to the institution.

“You walk in. You can open an account and open an account without all this fancy forms to fill up; withdraw your money without telling the bank what you’re using it for. It’s causing disintermediation here. People are scared of going in the banks,” he outlined.

Depending on the level of transactions, different requirements would be needed. Those depositing higher

figures on an annual basis would have to go through the normal channel.

Strategies

Meanwhile, President Dr Irfaan Ali told the commercial banks that in light of the current developments, consideration should be made to rethink their strategies regarding infrastructure.

“Because of the infrastructural transformation that is taking place, you need to rethink your strategy with the suppliers and the input for infrastructure. We have gone out and give quarry licence, but then a lot of the projects are held up at the bank. And there is a clear demand for quarrying for which we now have to push to get imported,” he underscored.

According to the President, the banks must match what is happening in the country.

“The banks must follow the development of the country and a clear path to match what is happening with the development of the country,”

he stressed.

On the other end, the Guyanese leader noted that in conversations with commercial banks, it was found that businesses were not granted loans owing to shortcomings on their end to provide relevant proposals and other details.

Bodies of Berbice men found at separate locations

The bodies of two men were on Thursday discovered at separate locations along the Corentyne, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

This follows the discovery of the motionless body of a man on Wednesday at Princetown, Corriverton.

According to the Police, the body of Satyacharran Karamchand, 52, called "Imbai", was discovered in a trench at Number 77 Housing Scheme Corriverton while the body of Ramesh Balkissoon, 57, was found lying in a trench

on the Bloomfield Public Road.

Balkissoon’s body bore a mark on the left side of the abdomen and blood was seen running out of his left ear. The body is at Ramoo's funeral home awaiting a post-mortem.

Meanwhile, Karamchand’s sister, Monica said her brother lived with her and was a diabetic, but would consume alcohol frequently.

About 06:20h on Thursday, he had breakfast after which he left the yard and then about 08:30h, she

heard persons shouting on the street saying, “come see ah man in the drain".

Upon checking, she saw her brother lying face down and in a motionless state in the drain. He was pronounced dead when taken to the Skeldon Hospital.

The body is currently at the said Hospital Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination.

On Wednesday, the body of Emanuel Mangal, 30, of was discovered in a yard. Prior to the discovery, Mangal was seen imbibing with a neighbour.

Corentyne woman gets bail for stabbing reputed husband to death

ACorentyne woman was on Friday granted bail in the sum of $200,000 for allegedly stabbing her reputed husband to death.

Lakeisha Garnett, called “Keisha”, 24, appeared at the Number 51 Court before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh, and a manslaughter charge was read to her.

She was not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that on Monday, January 2, 2023, at Corriverton, she killed Jason Bownauth.

As such, bail was granted and she was scheduled to return to court on February 27.

Bownauth and Garnett had two children.

Police had related that on the day in question, the duo was at the home of the suspect’s mother at a family

function when an argument broke out between them. This results in the now dead man slapping the woman twice.

The woman subsequently went home, but she was followed by her reputed husband. At home, the couple continued to argue during which the man reportedly

slapped the victim again.

The woman then armed herself with a knife and stabbed the victim once to his chest. Bownauth was taken to the Skeldon Public Hospital, where he was transferred to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, but died while receiving treatment.

“Out of the total loan seekers, more than 65 per cent of them didn’t have a business proposal. And this is the problem. Some businesses believe that research and development, investing in somebody to write your business plan or proposal is a cost you shouldn’t take. It is not a cost. It is an investment,” Dr Ali said.

“Our maturity in the Private Sector also has to

understand that we have to do things differently…It is also the proactiveness of the Private Sector. That is why I said we have to do some introspecting.”

In the next eight years, the Vision 2030 of resilience and stability is a critical component which Government is working on to ensure success for the country. The Head of State noted that this would lay the foundation for the

economy to perform beyond this timeline. He added that this vision would shape a Guyana that was very different than what is seen today. The Government wants to build a country that is very deliberate in the architecture that we’re building from macro-economic stability, he said, for resilience, sustainability, and to ensure continuous growth and development. That is key.

President Dr Irfaan Ali, Prime Minister Mark Phillips, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo and Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh at the stakeholders’ engagement

President Ali addressing the gathering on Thursday evening

Murder suspect Lakeisha Garnett

Murdered: Jason Bownauth

Over 2kg ganja found in backpack of accident victim

his backpack were picked up by the minibus driver and taken to the Vigilance Police Station, where the accident was reported.

A corporal at that Police Station checked the motorcyclist’s bag for

identification documents and discovered a bulky parcel wrapped in transparent plastic, containing the cannabis. The narcotics were subsequently weighed and amounted to 2,850 grams.

The motorcyclist was escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was admitted a patient in an unconscious state. Further investigations are in progress.

Man found with stolen car parts remanded to prison

Police ranks have discovered more than two kilograms of ganja in a backpack belonging to a male who was involved in an

accident with a minibus at Coldingen, East Coast Demerara on Thursday.

This male was driving a Honda 150 motorcycle, CJ 1871, when he col -

lided with minibus BXX 6632, being driven by a 65-year-old man of Ann’s Grove, ECD. Rendered unconscious by the impact, the motorcyclist and

Currently before the court in relation to a carjacking charge, Romaine Travis Watson, a 26-year-old resident of Kuru Kururu village on the SoesdykeLinden Highway, has been remanded to prison for the offence of unlawful possession.

Watson, called "Monkey", a driver by profession, was arraigned be-

fore Vigilance Magistrate Fabayo Azore on Thursday, and has been remanded to prison until February 24, 2023.

On January 3, a party of Police ranks from the Vigilance Police Station, on a mobile patrol in the vicinity of Annandale Market, East Coast Demerara, observed heavily tinted silver-grey Toyota Premio motorcar PVV 3945 driv-

ing off at a fast rate, and they pursued and intercepted the vehicle.

Watson was driving the vehicle at the time, and he was detained. A search of the vehicle unearthed four doors belonging to a silver-coloured Toyota Premio: two were in the back seat, and the other two were in the trunk.

As a result, Watson was told of the offence, cautioned, and arrested.

Labourer remanded on attempted murder charge

Vishumnauth Kissoon, aka “Sunny”, a 36-year-old labourer of Lot 720 Good Hope Phase 1, East Coast Demerara, was on Thursday arraigned before Vigilance Magistrate Fabayo Azore on a charge of attempting to commit murder.

He was not required to enter a plea to the indictable charge, and has been remanded until January 24.

The cannabis that was found in the accident victim’s bag

Remanded: Vishumnauth Kissoon

Romaine Travis Watson

The four silver-coloured Toyota Premio car doors that were found in Watson’s possession

Lowenfield, Mingo refuse to testify as Election CoI continues

…Senior Superintendent Phillip Azore remains silent …former Top Cop recalled

The Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the March 2020 elections continued on Friday with former Chief Elections Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Keith Lowenfield and former embattled Returning Officer for Region Four, Clairmont Mingo indicating that they would not testify owing to their pending court cases.

Both Lowenfield and Mingo were summoned by the Commission.

Their lawyer, Attorneyat-Law Nigel Hughes indicated to the Commission that both of his clients were defendants in criminal proceedings relating to the 2020 elections, hence they would not testify.

Lowenfield and Mingo then took the stand during which Chairman of the Commission, Retired Justice Stanley John informed them that they were not bound to answer any questions that would incriminate them.

The two former GECOM officials both reaffirmed their decisions to remain silent.

Both men, along with other GECOM employees as well as party members from the People’s National Congress (PNC)-led A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), have been charged with a slew of electoral fraud charges.

It was revealed during the CoI that Mingo attempted to use a spreadsheet with concocted figures to tabulate the votes for Region Four – Guyana’s largest voting district. A subsequent national recount had revealed that the then RO had heavily inflated the figures from the region in favour of the APNU/Alliance For Change (AFC) coalition.

GECOM Chair, Retired Justice Claudette Singh had testified in December 2022 that both Mingo and Lowenfield had repeatedly refused to abide by specific instructions by the Elections Commission as well as the courts regarding the electoral process to be used to tabulate the votes and eventually declare the results of the elections.

Only on Thursday, former APNU/AFC Ministers Dr Karen Cummings and Volda Lawrence along with the party’s Chief Scrutineer Carol Smith-Joseph, who are also facing electoral fraud charges, opted not to give evidence after being summoned by the Commission.

The same position was

adopted by several other GECOM employees who were called to testify before the CoI last December due to pending investigations and criminal charges against them.

They cited Article 144 (7) of the Constitution of Guyana, which states: “No person who is tried for a criminal offence shall be compelled to give evidence at the trial.”

In total, some 32 electoral fraud cases have been filed in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts against several political activists and GECOM officials including Deputy Chief Elections Officer Roxanne Myers stemming from the events that unfolded following the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, which resulted in a five-month political and electoral impasse.

Meanwhile, Friday’s hearing also saw Senior Superintendent of Police, Phillip Azore using his right to remain silent as well when he appeared before the CoI in response to being summoned.

However, CoI Commissioner, Retired Justice Carl Singh, informed the officer that previous testimonies had placed him

in certain events that took place on March 5, 2022 at the Ashmins Building and further enquired whether he would still maintain his position. In response, Azore insisted: “I would like to remain silent.”

Earlier this week, former acting Police Commissioner Leslie James had testified that he had put Azore in charge of the Georgetown Division and to take control of the Ashmins Building, which was being used as the Command Centre for Region Four, after contact could not be made with then Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Edgar Thomas.

At the time when Azore took over, not only was he a deputy to the Commander, but Thomas was also unaware that his command was taken away – something which James had confirmed.

“[Thomas] would’ve been unaware that his command was taken because he was not contacted… The [Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) Maxine Graham] was instructed to communicate the decision that he was no longer in command, because we didn’t want a conflict be-

tween himself and the person who was stood up as the commander… [But] in all fairness to Mr Thomas, he may have been ignorant of the change in command that was made,” the former Top Cop had explained.

Nevertheless, James returned to give further evidence before the CoI on Friday morning regarding his decision to have Thomas replaced by Senior Superintendent Azore, among other things. During his testimony, the former Police Commissioner related that he expected Azore to extend professional courtesies to Thomas.

“The Police Force is a disciplined organisation and at that time, Mr Thomas was still superior to [Azore],” James posited.

Thomas had told the Commission during his testimony in November 2022

that he was ignored by Azore when he questioned why he [Azore] showed up to take control of Ashmins Building.

Also on Friday, Superintendent of Police Crystal Robinson, who was the Divisional Commander for Region Two in 2020, also

took the stand on Friday during which she testified about instructions given to them to pass on certain information including copies of Statements of Poll (SoPs) from various polling stations to the hierarchy of the Police Force via a WhatsApp group that was created.

Former Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo

Former Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield

Man drops bag with high-powered weapons, ammunition after seeing Police

Ranks of a CID Special Patrol of Regional Division 4 'A' have unearthed two high-powered assault weapons and matching ammunition during an operation conducted in Norton Street, Georgetown on Thursday.

According to reports, the CID ranks were on patrol duty within the vicinity of Norton Street, Georgetown when they observed a male acting suspiciously as he carried a green-and-orangecoloured haversack in his right hand.

Upon seeing the Police, the suspect dropped the haversack and ran into an alleyway. Ranks gave chase, but he managed to escape. The bag was retrieved, and upon inspection, an AK-47 assault rifle, an AR-15 rifle, one circular magazine containing 44 live rounds of 7.62x39 ammunition; and two AR-15 magazines, one containing eight live rounds of 5.56x45 ammunition, were found.

The firearms, magazines, and ammunition were dusted for fingerprints before

being marked, sealed and lodged as investigations continue.

Less than a month ago, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum had reported that a total of 78 illegal firearms were taken out of circulation last year. He had also said that serious crimes in Guyana are becoming more weaponised with the proliferation of guns manu-

factured in Brazil and the United States being brought into Guyana through the community of Lethem.

“We have taken out of circulation a number of illegal firearms. Region Four ‘A’ has the highest rate of illegal firearms seized. Revolvers accounted for the highest type of illegal firearms taken out of circulation…followed by shotguns. The main origin of illegal firearms is the

United States of America, followed by our neighbour Brazil,” Blanhum had said.

He had added that the issue of illegal firearms had been a longstanding concern, and from all indications, more and more of these weapons are ending up in the hands of criminals. As such, the Guyana Police Force had said it is working to stem the flow of these illegal weapons into Guyana.

2 busted with shotgun, ammo & ganja during Police operation in Plaisance

He was arrested on Boxing Day, when a party of Police ranks was conducting surveillance in the vicinity of Victoria Road, Plaisance in a private vehicle.

The cops have said that while they were in the vicinity, they saw the 27-yearold man standing on the street taking out a ziplock bag from a black plastic bag that was alongside him. As such, they approached the man, and he started to walk away. However, they managed to stop him and conducted a search of his person.

During that search, they found in the waist of his pants, a ziplock bag containing a number of leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis.

The black plastic bag was searched, and eight

Mastermind among 5 arrested as Police find missing weapons

Police have arrested five persons including the mastermind who is a security official in relation to the disappearance of several weapons from the Radar Security and Supplies Company last year.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum on Friday stated that detectives from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters made the breakthrough in the case after one of the suspects led investigators to a location in South Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

He said during their raid on the property, two of the six stolen weapons were recovered. The probe is ongoing.

In December, two employees of the Radar Security and Supplies Company had been taken into Police custody after six firearms and a quantity of ammunition were allegedly stolen from the entity between Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

It has been reported that two single-barrel shotguns valued at $950,000; four 9mm Taurus pistols valued at $1,400,000, and five Taurus .32 pistols valued at $1,425,000 were stolen.

he checked the firearms on Christmas Day, and all were intact. However, at 18:30h on Boxing Day, a 65-yearold Weapons Training Officer from Enterprise, East Coast Demerara (ECD) visited the location and met a 57-year-old security guard from Tucville, Georgetown, who was on duty.

The Weapons Training Officer observed that the door to the office was not secured, but was rather left ajar. He then entered the office, where he observed that the padlocks on the strongbox had been cut off, the chain that secured the firearms was also cut, and the firearms mentioned were missing. However, two other shotguns were left in the strongbox.

The Weapons Training Officer claimed that he then informed the owner of the security service of his findings.

Detectives were summoned to the office, and they observed that the padlocks and chains had indeed been cut. The two shotguns were removed from the strongbox and lodged. The office was checked, but there was no sign of breakage.

Police reported that about 05:15h on Friday, ranks attached to the Sparendaam Police Station, East Coast Demerara (ECD) acted on information received and went to a two-bedroom house at Robert Road, Plaisance, ECD, where they found a quantity of narcotics, along with an illegal firearm and ammunition.

Based on reports received, upon arriving at the location, a search was conducted in the first bedroom of the house, in the presence of the two occupants – a 30-year-old labourer [of the said address], and a 23-year-old plumber who resides next door.

During the search, the

ranks discovered a 12-gauge double-barrel shotgun with its serial number filed off and four live matching cartridges.

The suspects were asked if they were licensed firearm holders but remained silent. They were, however, then told of the offence committed, cautioned, and arrested.

A further search was conducted in the other bedroom in their presence, and a black plastic bag containing 286 transparent ziplock bags containing a quantity of suspected cannabis was also found.

The two suspects were told of the offence committed, and were subsequently escorted to the Sparendaam Police Station along with

the cannabis, which was found to weigh 580 grams.

They were placed in custody pending further investigations and charges.

Only a week ago, a 27-year-old unemployed male resident of Victoria Road in Plaisance, ECD was arrested after he was found with a quantity of ganja on his person.

small ziplock bags containing a number of leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis were found.

The man was told of the offence committed, and was arrested and escorted to the Sparendaam Police Station, where the cannabis was weighed in his presence; it amounted to 28 grams.

Also missing were 25 12-gauge cartridges; 538 rounds of .32 ammunition, and 18 rounds of 9mm ammunition. These items were allegedly stolen from the security company’s office at Lot 79 Carmichael Street, Georgetown.

The office is located in the middle flat of a three-storey wooden building. An office to the western side has a wooden door to the eastern side, and that is secured by a manufactured Yale lock.

In that said office, there is a steel ‘strongbox’ in which the security firm secures the firearms and ammunition. The strongbox is secured by two padlocks. Inside the strongbox, the firearms are chained and padlocked with three padlocks.

The firm’s Chief Security Officer, a 72-year-old resident of Guyhoc Park, Georgetown, claimed that

The 57-year-old security guard was questioned, and he claimed that at 17:00h on Boxing Day, he took over duty from a 36-year-old security guard from Paradise Housing Scheme, ECD, who had handed over the key for the said office that housed the strongbox. He claimed that he did not check the office door, nor did he go into the office.

He was arrested, and a search was carried out at his home, but nothing was found.

Checks were made for the 36-year-old security guard at his stated address at Paradise, ECD, but no one was seen at the house, which seems to have been abandoned.

The Weapons Training Officer was also arrested and questioned, and his home was searched, but nothing was found.

The weapons and ammunition recovered by CID ranks

The items that were found in Plaisance, ECD

2023

President Ali departs for official State visit to India

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Friday departed Guyana for a seven-day Official Visit to India, where he would be conferred with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA) for the year 2023.

The Guyanese Head of State is slated to be the Chief Guest at the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (PBD) – Indian Diaspora Day event – which will be held from January 8-10, 2023 in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. He will be bestowed with the 17th PBSA award –the highest honour conferred on overseas Indians – by Indian President Droupadi Murmu during the valedictory session of the Convention on January 10.

President Ali will join 26 other persons of Indian origin/non-resident Indians who have been recognised by the Government of India for their

outstanding achievements both in India and abroad for this year’s awards.

While in India, the Guyanese Leader will also participate in the Pradesh Government Global Investors Summit and other engagements with officials of the Government of India and agencies/organisations of the Private Sector of India.

Accompanying President Ali on this visit are Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd; Minister within the Ministry of Local Government, Anand Persaud, and the Director of Projects at the Office of the President, Marcia Nadir-Sharma.

Earlier this week, it was reported that a high-level delegation comprising both Government officials and local Private Sector representatives would join the Head of

State.

A jury-cum-awards committee, with the Vice President of India as the Chairman, the External Affairs Minister of India, Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar as the Vice Chair and other distinguished members from various walks of life considered the nominations for the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards 2023, and unanimously selected the awardees. The awardees represent the excellence achieved by the Indian Diaspora in various fields.

High Commissioner of India to Guyana, Dr KJ Srinivasa has officially congratulated President Ali on being the recipient of the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award, calling it a recognition of the outstanding contributions of President Ali to Guyana and his efforts

Over 1000 acres of Batavia land leased to mining company –

to bring about the rapid and equitable development of the country.

employment, other opportunities for residents

The High Commissioner also expressed hope that the Guyanese Leader’s visit to India for the PBD 2023 and subsequent interactions with the top political hierarchy, including President Murmu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, would provide the necessary impetus for further strengthening bilateral partnerships between

India and Guyana.

President Ali is also slated to engage India’s External Affairs Minister and other dignitaries as well as have high-level interactions with the business/private sector of India especially pertaining to the agriculture, agro-processing, health, pharmaceutical, infrastructural, Information Technology and energy sectors.

In his New Year’s message for 2023, High Commissioner

Srinivasa had called upon Guyanese to work for the growth and success of Guyana and to play an active role in fulfilling “Guyana’s unique destiny”.

With the receipt of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award, President Ali will join former Guyanese Presidents Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar who were also bestowed with this prestigious award in 2004 and 2015, respectively.

GPHC appoints new Directors

Amining and lease agreement was on Friday signed between Batavia Village Council, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and EKAA HRIM Earth Resource Management Incorporated, bringing new opportunities to residents.

The company will soon establish a quarry business, and engagements with the community have led to adherence to all duly-constituted procedures under the Amerindian Act.

One agreement was signed for leasing of the land, while another dealt with tributes – representing two sets of funds that will be paid to the village.

The lease covers 1089 acres of land to the company, with a mining pit of 13 acres. The remaining land will serve as a buffer zone.

Amerindian Affairs Minister Paul Sukhai, during the signing ceremony, stated, “They will get the market rate. They have

agreed to that and incrementally, the buffer zone will have a different rental fee, but it will be increased over the 15 years.”

She regarded this development as “groundbreaking” for the village, which is located seven miles away from the Bartica township. Along with bringing income to the community, the Minister pointed out, that this venture will stimulate development for the residents.

“I am pleased that they are at the conclusion of all the negotiations, and the partnership which was formed way back in early last year has developed into a relationship that is now concluding with a full agreement for mining,” Sukhai stated.

She added, “We believe that the mining for quarry is important for our country. We depend on aggregates to move forward and to ensure the massive infrastructural projects undertaken by our Government.”

Director of the company, Jesvin Pradeep Kumar explained that some 40 persons from the village would gain employment to work at the Batavia operations.

“We have two categories in which they will work. It will be skilled and unskilled…We started the project in the middle of last year, so we had to do the prospecting with the support of the Ministry and the villages,” Kumar shared.

Toshao of Batavia, Oren Williams regarded this initiative as a way of changing lives in the community.

He expressed, “This is a very good opportunity for us to improve the lives of our residents in the village. We have seen this as a project that will change a lot of things and the lives of our people.”

The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) has appointed Dr Navindranauth Rambaran as Director of Medical and Professional Services (DMPS) and Leslyn Holder as Director of Nursing Services.

They emerged as successful candidates for the posts through a meticulous selection process that commenced in 2022.

Dr Rambaran, who previously held the post of Consultant/Head of the Department for General Surgery at the GPHC for six years, and Head of the Accident and Emergency Department for four years prior, brings to the DMPS post a wealth of medical and managerial experience and knowledge.

He is also the elected Chairman of the Medical Council of Guyana. Dr

Rambaran is well-respected within the medical fraternity and among colleagues at the GPHC for his stalwart leadership and tactical management approaches. He assumed his new role effective January 1, 2023.

In addition, Holder, formerly Assistant Director of Nursing Services at the GPHC, assumed the role of Director of Nursing Services on December 12, 2022.

Holder, who has been a Registered Nurse for almost 25 years, has practised nursing in Guyana and the United Kingdom prior to jumpstarting her career as Quality Improvement Manager in 2018 at the GPHC.

She has a background in Health and Social Care Leadership and Management and has worked in mental health, disability, and older peo -

ple services. She holds a Master’s Degree in Public Health Administration and brings a combination of administrative and functional experience to this new role.

It is worth noting that the post of Director of Nursing Services (Matron) had been vacant for the past six years, leading to a significant gap in nursing management at the hospital. Both appointments represent substantive and progressive additions to the current management team as the GPHC positions itself as an internationally-comparable healthcare facility.

The management of the GPHC is confident that these newly-appointed Directors will augment the ongoing efforts of the team to strengthen and improve the quality of health care being provided at the hospital.

Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai with Toshao Oren Williams and EKAA HRIM Director Jesvin Pradeep Kumar after the signing

EKAA HRIM is part of a group of companies under Texila American University, focusing on mining, recruitment, oil and gas, and agriculture.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Dr Irfaan Ali

New Director of Medical and Professional Services (DMPS), Dr Navindranauth Rambaran

New Director of Nursing Services, Leslyn Holder

76 informal settlers in Reg 3 receive land titles

you require development for yourself, and development for yourself has to start with you having the ability to own your own space," Minister Croal said.

He further noted that the Titles put the landowners in a position to provide safer and more stable housing for their families.

A total of one hundred seventy-four (174) informal settlers have been residing in these three areas for years. Registration for the ownership documents was done during December 1011, 2022, following a meeting with the Minister in September 2022.

Processing of the remaining Titles will continue with the cooperation of the other persons.

Atotal of 76 residents from regularised sections of Greenwich Park (Railway Embankment), Stewartville/ Uitvlugt Sideline Dam, and Tuschen (Railway Embankment) in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) have received their Land Titles during an exercise held at the Greenwich Park Primary School on Thursday.

Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal presented the Certificates of Title to a number of residents at the activity.

Parliamentary Secretary Vickash Ramkissoon and Regional Chairman Ishan Ayube also handed over some of the Titles during the event. Other regional officials, the Director of Community Development at the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA), Gladwin Charles; and staff were also present.

The Minister has said that the regularisation process is a part of the Government's plan to transform the country and improve the living conditions of Guyanese.

"We understand that

Croal further noted that the Central Housing and Planning Authority recorded some 13 squatting areas in the region after an assessment last year, and the agency will be working to deliver Titles to these areas during the first quarter of 2023.

He further noted that no new squatting area will be recognized, as Government takes a strong stance against the illegal activity and the Ministry of Housing and Water has also implemented a structured housing programme that eradicates the need for squatting.

In zero-tolerance zones, the Minister said, CHPA will have to proceed with relocation and resettlement programmes, which would be done with a humanitarian approach, to ensure that all parties are satisfied. To this end, the Minister pleaded with residents in squatting areas to do the "right thing" and work with the Government to facilitate a smooth process.

Bibi Farida Khan, who has been living at the Stewartville/Uitvlugt Sideline Dam for more than four decades, expressed sat-

isfaction with the work of the Ministry on Thursday. She noted that the land title now represents a legacy she can leave for her children, and is ecstatic that she can close this chapter of her life. “Now I get my title, so I'm very happy [and] proud of the Government for doing something good for us."

Another resident of the Sideline Dam, sixty-fiveyear-old Rohan Kishun, who has been residing in the area for close to forty-five years, also spoke of his contentment with the work of the Government.

With his ownership document in hand, he now plans to renovate his home.

"Me gah mek up me place and so on, and live better," Kishun said, as he expressed his happiness at receiving the title.

During Thursday's activity, several infrastructural projects ongoing in the region were highlighted by the Minister, including the Schoonord-toCrane Four-Lane Highway.

Construction is also ongoing on the first 100 low-income homes through an MoU with Republic Bank.

$346M contract inked to reconstruct North West Secondary

ensuring children receive a proper education. Moreover, Minister Manickchand said education delivery in Region One would see further development, with new schools scheduled to be built at Waramuri, Hosororo, and Kwebana over the next few years.

Months after the North West Secondary School at Mabaruma, Region One (Barima-Waini) had been gutted by fire, a contract has been inked to rebuild the facility to the tune of $346.2 million.

The contract, inked on Friday, January 6, 2023, has been awarded to Aruca Investments, which has been

given 14 months to complete the project under the supervision of the project consultant, Innovative Engineering Services.

During the signing ceremony, Education Minister Priya Manickchand called on the contractor to deliver quality service, and complete the project in the time agreed.

She said that since its destruction by fire, the school’s

students and teachers have been tremendously inconvenienced.

The Minister told the contractors and the consultant company that the completion of the school is not like any other project they have worked on. She explained that the way they approach this project in terms of quality and time taken to complete it can change many lives by

MoE Permanent Secretary Alfred King noted that rebuilding of the North West Secondary School is a critical component in the Ministry’s efforts to attain universal secondary education. King, explaining that the Ministry is working on achieving universal secondary education, added that this project is important to achieving that goal.

Giving a brief overview of the project, Special Projects

Officer Ron Eastman said that, after extensive consultations, a design was approved for the new building. The reconstructed North West Secondary School will

be a two-storey building with 23 classrooms, three science labs, a sanitary block and an accessible lift.

Also present during the signing ceremony were Deputy Chief Education Officer, with responsibility for Amerindian and Hinterland Education Development (AHED), Marti DeSouza, and Director of the School Boards Secretariat, Deonarine Hardat.

On September 25, 2021, the North West Secondary School was destroyed by fire. The Ministry of Education has since been providing persons affected with support, and had made alternative arrangements to facilitate the students enrolled at the secondary school until it is rebuilt.

Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal handing over a title to one of the residents

A section of the gathering on Thursday

Education Minister Priya Manickchand

An artist’s impression of the school to be constructed

Education Ministry Permanent Secretary Alfred King and a representative from Aruca Investments signing the contract

7,000 bivalent COVID shots to arrive in Guyana this month – Dr Anthony

Pfizer were sourced.

In the distribution of primary doses of the vaccines, the Health Ministry has recorded an 80 percent coverage, while 40 percent have been administered their second dose. In Guyana, approximately 77,100 persons have taken their first booster dose, but only 4,682 have returned for their second dose.

Government is expecting the arrival of 7,000 doses of the Pfizer bivalent COVID-19 vaccines, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony has announced.

These vaccines, ordered through the COVAX mechanism, are expected to arrive by the last week of January 2023.

“The bivalent vaccines are more effective… We’re expecting to have those vaccines by the last week of January. Once we get those vaccines, we’ll urge people to come out and get the bivalent vaccine,” the Minister said during the Covid-19 update on Friday.

The bivalent COVID-19 vaccines include a component of the original virus strain, to provide broad protection against COVID-19, and a component of the omicron variant, to provide better protection against COVID-19 caused by the omicron variant.

The Minister has reminded that Pfizer, Moderna,

Johnson and Johnson, and Sinopharm vaccines remain available for the population at present.

Meanwhile, Dr Anthony has said that as cases continue to rise, Government is encouraging persons to get their booster shots and still take the necessary precautions.

“It is recommended that for persons to get the bivalent vaccines, they should get their primary doses –which means the first and second dose. This is something we will be looking at. Once we get it, we will put out suitable advisories so that people can access these vaccines.”

At a later date, more of the bivalent vaccines should become available for Guyana.

In managing the virus locally, Guyana has used Sputnik V, Sinopharm, Johnson and Johnson, Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines to immunize the population. Thereafter, Mrna from Moderna and

“We’re urging persons who have not received their booster doses to come to one of our vaccination sites and get their booster doses. We have seen that, with Omicron, it has at least 500 different subvariants,” Dr Anthony has cautioned.

Infections

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry has reported that another death has been recorded from the virus, thus raising the death toll to 1,290. The latest fatality is a 75-year-old male from Region Two, who died on January 3, 2022. In addition, 51 new cases have been recorded, raising confirmed cases to 72,397.

There are 17 persons in institutional isolation, 311 in home isolation, and four in institutional quarantine.

In the country, surveillance is being done for 329 active cases across the regions. Broken down, this translates to 51 in Region One (Barima-Waini); 39 in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam); 23 in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara); 124 in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica); nine in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne);

61 in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni); one in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni); one in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and 10 in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Additionally, there are 17 persons in hospitals -

13 of whom are at Ocean View while two are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

“People need to be more cautious as they go about their business. A lot of people complain of flu-like symptoms. However, most of the persons who complain of flu,

they’re not going to get their COVID test; and in many instances, instead of flu, it can be COVID. So, our appeal to everyone is: if you have flulike symptoms, you should go and get a COVID-19 test, just to rule out COVID,” the Minister has admonished.

New Indian-built ferry to arrive in February

courts in all three counties sit nearly simultaneously during these assizes.

The DPP also enters plea bargain agreements with lawyers, at their request and after due consideration of the matter, and also extends advice to the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU), and other Government agencies.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has said that, in 2022, it received 237 committal documents from magistrates’ courts across the country: 115 were from Demerara, 45 were from Berbice, and 77 were from Essequibo.

Of these 237 depositions, 141 were indicted, 23 charges were discontinued, 63 are receiving attention, and 10 were remitted to the magistrates’ courts.

Besides examining com-

mittal records, the functions of the DPP include presenting indictments in the Criminal Assizes at the High Courts in Demerara, Berbice, and Essequibo. During these criminal sessions, one or more state counsel and/or special prosecutor(s) would be assigned to prosecute the cases listed to be heard by the sitting trial judges.

There are four assizes for the year in the county of Demerara, and three assizes each in the counties of Berbice and Essequibo. The

Further, prisoners who are awaiting trial in the High Courts and other parties to criminal matters can complain to the DPP if they are not satisfied with the Police investigations.

The DPP also receives letters from attorneys-at-law about issues concerning their clients’ cases. The Office of the DPP would take the appropriate action.

Complaints received on misconduct by members of the Police Force are sent to the Commissioner of Police for action to be taken by the Office of Professional Responsibility. Complaints can also be made to the Police Complaints Authority for their action.

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill has said the Indian vessel MV MA Lisha is expected to arrive in Port Georgetown in February. His announcement was made in an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI) on Wednesday.

“Sometime in February, that vessel should be arriving in Port Georgetown, and that will be big for us in 2023. As I speak to you right now, we have three persons in India waiting for the boat to sail from Kolkata to Chennai, where it will join a submersible vessel and will be floating down to Port of Spain, and then the boat will sail from Port of Spain to Georgetown,” he said.

The new $2.5b (US$12.7M) vessel MV MA Lisha -- taken from the native Warrau language, this word means

“friendship” -- is being funded by the Government of India, and will ply the GeorgetownNorth West District (BarimaWaini) route. Being built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited, this ferry would incorporate special features to mitigate challenges faced by travellers.

It has a passenger capacity of 294, which means the boat can carry 276 revenue-paying passengers and 18 crew members. It also can carry 14 sedan-type vehicles, along with two trucks. Business people and others who ship produce from and into the interior would now be able to use containers of 10ft X 10ft dimension, since the vessel can carry 10 such containers.

The issue of spoilage would be significantly reduced, or eliminated, since the boat also has a refriger-

ated cargo capacity and cold room storage that would accommodate 43.98 cubic metres of merchandise.

The front of the vessel has a roll on-roll off facility which would enable it to discharge and board cargo at its port immediately without the use of a stelling. It also has a side boarding capacity.

To this end, there would be significant upgrades to the Kingston stelling, owned by the Transport and Harbours Department, to facilitate the new vessel. Works on the Port Kaituma, Mabaruma and Morawhanna stellings are also being executed.

Meanwhile, captains and mechanical staff from the Transport and Harbours Department, who were sent to India for training, have returned and are awaiting the arrival of the vessel to train other staff.

MV MA Lisha

Bivalent Pfizer COVID vaccines

384 persons to receive land titles by end of 1st quarter of 2023

In keeping with the Government’s aim to transform Guyana and improve the living standard of Guyanese countrywide, some 384 persons are expected to receive land titles by the end of the first quarter of this year.

This was a commitment made by Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal on Thursday during a land title distribution in Region Three.

Minister Croal said an assessment was conduct-

ed last year in the region, and 13 unregulated areas were discovered. They include Plantation Good Hope, Vergenoegen, Philadelphia, Barnwell, Zeelugt, Greenwich Park North, De Kinderen, De Willem, and Tuschen.

“Work is ongoing, the surveying work is ongoing; and I am therefore committing to all of those persons within that area, just the 384 possible persons: by the end of this first quarter, I want to

come back with the team to Region Three to be able to hand over those certificates of title,” the Minister has said.

In reaffirming Government’s commitment to working with all communities and ensuring that the needs of Guyanese are met, Minister Croal declared, “You have a compassionate and caring Government. You have a loving President, who understands your plight and will ensure that resourc-

18 months’ jail for armed robbery convict

An 18-month prison sentence has been imposed by Suddie Magistrate Esther Sam on Collin Henry, also called “Fatboy”, a 19-yearold labourer of Jib Public Road, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), who has been convicted of armed robbery committed on 68-year-old Hassan Ali, a pensioner and butcher who lives a few lots away from Henry.

On August 28, 2021,

while armed with a dangerous weapon, Henry robbed Hassan Ali of $300,000 in cash, an XR motorcycle valued at $500,000, a cellular phone valued at $32,000, and a wristwatch valued at $3,500, all totalling $835,500.

After reviewing the evidence in the matter, Magistrate Sam on Thursday found Henry guilty as charged, and consequently imposed the custodial sentence on him.

2 more maternal deaths recorded at GPHC

complicated cases.

Dr Anthony reported that the 40-year-old woman had hailed from New Amsterdam, and had been transferred to the Infectious Diseases Hospital at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown after developing complications and requiring intubation. She eventually died after numerous attempts to save her life had failed.

es are available within the ambit of our total budget to bring development to you, as

a people.”

Reiterating that no new squatting in the area would

be recognized, Minister Croal has further urged persons to follow the correct procedure to apply for a house lot. He noted that transformation and development is occurring in the region at a rapid pace, and the Schoonord-toCrane four-lane road project is included.

Some 76 persons from regularised sections of Greenwich Park (Railway Embankment), Stewartville/ Uitvlugt Sideline Dam and Tuschen (Railway Embankment) in Region Three received their land titles on Thursday. Some 2,800 house lots were allocated in Region Three.

To date, over 4,660 new lots have been allocated. At the end of 2022, over 723 land titles were processed.

Bartica lad critical after being struck by speeding car

Aseven-year-old boy who hails from Potaro Road, Bartica, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) is now in critical condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital after he was struck down by a motor vehicle on Thursday.

He was identified as Wesley Hopkinson, a third grade pupil of the Potaro Primary School.

Reports are that the child had just gotten out of a minibus just around 14:00h and as he was attempting to cross the road, he was struck by the car that was driven by a 35-year-old female who was at the time allegedly speeding.

After the accident, the driver was taken into custody. She is currently assisting with investigations.

The child was taken to the Bartica Regional Hospital, where he was treated, but given his critical state, he was airdashed to Georgetown by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Air Corps.

A statement from GDF

stated that doctors at the hospital had made a request through the Regional Health System for the child to be medevacked, after which, the GDF was contacted and the requisite approval was granted to transport the lad.

“… the lad has suffered a substantial injury and had to be intubated prior to travel,” the statement read.

The Bell 412 aircraft departed at approximately 20:20h and landed at Base Camp Ayanganna at 21:15h on Thursday. The child was then transported by ambulance to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Up to press time, the child’s condition remained the same. This was confirmed by the child’s mother, Cinella Hopkinson.

Essequibo labourer remanded for setting fire to elderly woman’s house

Three weeks after a 38-year-old woman had succumbed at the Georgetown Public Hospital after giving birth, that health facility has reported that two other women have succumbed during childbirth. These are a 31-year-old who died on January 6, 2023, and a 25-year-old who died on January 1, 2023.

This was revealed on Friday via a press statement, which read, “The GPHC expresses its sincerest condolences to the families of the deceased, and will make every effort to provide all the necessary support during this difficult time, to render any as -

sistance and information needed,” the release added.

“The GPHC is appealing to the public to respect the confidentiality of the deceased and her family, and to allow them to mourn their unfortunate loss peacefully.”

In the latter part of December 2022, the 38-year-old woman succumbed to health complications days after giving birth. In November, 2022, two pregnant women: a 19-year-old and a 40-yearold, lost their lives at the GPHC and the Infectious Diseases Hospital respectively. It was reported that both women had extremely

The teen who died had had pre-eclampsia – a hypertension disorder that can occur during pregnancy.

“This resulted in the person having several seizures before even coming to the Diamond Hospital, and then (being) sent to the Georgetown Hospital.” This teen had reportedly died shortly after giving birth to twins, and the babies were stillborn.

In addition to those cases, back in October, 2022, a 31-year-old mother of two, Rashanna Dindayal of Lodge, Georgetown, and her unborn child had died at that city hospital. Also, Navita Maraj, a 39-yearold mother of five, and her unborn child had died at the GPHC on October 29.

An Essequibo Coast labourer was on Thursday remanded to prison by Magistrate Esther Sam for setting fire to an elderly woman’s home.

Safraz Rafeek, 46, was not required to plead to the indictable charge for the offence of setting fire to a dwelling house committed on December 30, 2022.

The property belongs to 62-year-old Tewatty Nandalall of Lot 47 Jib Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast. Rafeek’s matter was called at the Suddie Magistrate's Court.

The case has been adjourned until January 13 and was transferred to the Anna Regina Magistrate's Court.

Nandalall had told the Guyana Times that a relative had threatened to set her house on fire. She lived alone at the house and at the

time of the fire, she was attending a religious function at Hampton Court when she received a message that her house was on fire.

The woman’s husband and her son passed away recently.

“My entire house is destroyed… everything inside

is damaged…I don’t have a home anymore. I have to stay by my daughter for the time cause I don’t have anyone else to stay by. My husband and son passed away, and only me alone went living. I really need help getting back my house,” Nandalall has related.

Remanded: Safraz Rafeek

Tewatty Nandalall

Jailed: Collin Henry

Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal

Hospitalised: Wesley Hopkinson

The Georgetown Public Hospital

Comprehensive water resource management plan in place – Pres Ali

– Management Committee to be re-established early this year

President Dr. Irfaan Ali on Thursday evening told stakeholders at an engagement at State House that the Government has in place a comprehensive plan to deal with water resource management in Guyana.

He said the Water Resource Management Committee would be re-established early this year to deal with stormwater and groundwater, as well as surface water management and development.

With over 80 per cent of Guyanese living along the coast, and with the massive industrial development underway in the capital city, President Ali said there is need for a massive expansion of the drainage system along the coastline.

“We have already surmised that we need a massive expansion of pumps and pumping stations across the coastline, be-

cause we have to deal with things realistically,” he underscored.

There is also a huge demand for land for housing and agriculture on the

coast.

President Ali revealed that the country is almost at 100 per cent utilisation of lands available for housing.

“We’re at a critical point

in terms of land that should be left for the wet zone, land that is available for agricultural development. So, what we have to use to utilise technology, utilise now

the type of equipment that will enable us to take the water off of the land, and that is the more dynamic pumping system in terms of getting the water off…

“That is going to be part of the integrated water resource management framework that we’re working on developing,” he explained after the Private Sector had raised concerns about there not being enough areas to store water during a prolonged rainy season and high tide.

Meanwhile, Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo noted that most of the storage areas have been utilised due to the pressure for housing. He referred to the Hope Canal, which was built by the PPP/C Administration to provide drainage from the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) into the Atlantic Ocean. The Vice President said that when

the Government was constructing that canal, several individuals and organisations had been against the project, but had that project not been in place, the entire East Coast Demerara and Region Five would have been under threat of flooding.

“When we started building the Hope Canal, because we recognise that if every rainy season we had to release water into the Mahaica Creek, it would flood the whole of Region Five…millions of dollars of losses, US$$30 million one year. It costs us about US$16 million. So, in a single year, loss from flooding could pay back for the Hope Canal,” the VP noted.

Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips, Senior Minister in the Office of the President, Dr Ashni Singh, and other Government Ministers were also in attendance.

Govt’s part-time jobs addressing labour shortages – VP Jagdeo

...10,000 women currently employed through the initiative

scored.

VP Jagdeo noted that this is the reality of living in a capitalist free-market system; therefore, he encouraged the Private Sector to train more persons while, at the same time, offering viable salaries.

During the State House discussion, the Vice President, along with President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips, Senior Minister in the Office of the President, Dr Ashni Singh, and other officials addressed members of the Private Sector and fielded a number of questions.

Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has said Government’s part-time jobs programme is addressing labour shortages while also supplementing household incomes for families.

Speaking on Thursday evening during a discussion at State House in Georgetown, the Vice President, addressing members of the Private Sector, noted that there are currently 13,000 persons employed through the programme, 10,000 of whom are women.

“Most of them never had a job before. That’s bringing people into the workforce, women into the workforce. So, we’ve got a good run-up against labour shortages, which we’d have to supply at some point in time from imported labour. But if we can bring women into the workforce, we can add another 100,000, maybe 150,000

noted.

The initiative was conceptualised as part of the PPP/C Administration’s plan to not only supplement household incomes, but to address the significant deficit of over 70,000 jobs inherited when it assumed office in August 2020.

In Region Six, the sugar belt, thousands of sugar workers had lost their jobs due to the closure of the estates by the APNU+AFC Government. In this regard, the programme has provided opportunity for persons to earn.

“We went to Region Ten, and we have 1,164 persons working in that region who did not have a job. Many of them are women, single mothers who are looking for jobs… These are people who never were in the workforce.

Ninety per cent of them, or maybe 95 per cent, were

never in the workforce,” VP Jagdeo pointed out.

Through the initiative, persons can work for 10 days per month in the respective Government agencies and Ministries and earn up to $40,000 for their efforts.

During the discussion, it was noted that the Private Sector has to compete with Government for employees, the part-time jobs and the annual salary increases and tax incentives offered by the Government being cited as examples. In response, the Vice President urged the Private Sector to offer more competitive wages to retain its employees.

“People must have more mobility. They’re not serfs or slaves to a particular fast-food place or the Government of Guyana…if they can find a better opportunity, they should move to it…that’s the kind of thing, labour mobility,” he under-

2 juveniles among 3 arrested after shotgun found in BBP

tion received, Police went to Johanna South, Black Bush Polder, and encountered two men standing next to silver-gray 212 motor car PNN 3838.

A search conducted on that vehicle unearthed nothing illegal, but when ranks went to a nearby yard, they observed a male in a storeroom.

Two juveniles are among three persons in custody following the discovery of a shotgun in Black Bush Polder (BBP), Region Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne) on Friday.

The adult in custody is reportedly from Mount Sinai, West Canje, Berbice, and he had previously

been before the court on a series of matters, including robbery, possession of arms and ammunition, and throwing marijuana over the prison wall.

Police say an intelligence-led operation on Friday afternoon resulted in the arrest of these three males.

Based on informa -

They conducted a search of that storeroom, and unearthed one single-barrel shotgun with the markings CBC, along with three 12-gauge cartridges. The serial number of the weapon was filed off.

These three men have been arrested, and are assisting with investigations.

Guyanese to the workforce,” Dr Jagdeo

A section of the gathering on Thursday evening

Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo during Thursday’s discussion at State House

President Dr Irfaan Ali addressing stakeholders on Thursday

Regional

29 killed during arrest of El Chapo's son

His father, Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, is serving a life sentence in the US after being found guilty in 2019 of drug trafficking and money laundering. His trial revealed some of the brutal details of how Mexico's drug cartels operate.

The six-month surveillance operation to capture Guzmán-López had the support of United States officials, Sandoval said.

Peru protesters clash with Police in airport takeover attempt in Puno

Dozens of protesters attempted to take over an airport near Peru's border with Bolivia Friday as part of anti-Government protests, prompting Police to use tear gas to disperse them.

Protesters set fire to a police tank outside the Inca Manco Capac airport in Juliaca, in Peru's Puno region, according to images on social media and local television.

ported 15 injured, including two Policemen. The Health Ministry did not immediately confirm the reports.

Andean Airports of Peru, which operates the Juliaca airport, said services were suspended "due to the violent acts and lack of security."

In December, protesters forced the temporary closure of three airports in Peru.

Congress, a charge he denies.

Up to 49 blockade points were reported Friday in different regions of the country, an uptick from the day before, the Ombudsman's office said in a statement.

In the Ica region, on Peru's central coast, protesters have blocked a key highway, stranding dozens of passenger and cargo transport vehicles.

At least 29 people were killed during the bloody operation to arrest of the son of Mexican drugs kingpin "El Chapo", the Mexican authorities say.

Ovidio Guzmán-López, 32, alleged to be a leader of his father's former cartel, was captured in Culiacán and flown to Mexico City on Thursday.

But during and after the arrest, 10 soldiers and 19 suspects were killed.

Furious gang members set up road blocks, set fire to dozens of vehicles and at-

tacked planes at a local airport.

A further 35 military personnel were injured and 21 gunmen were arrested, Defence Minister Luis Cresencio Sandoval said on Friday.

Guzmán-López – nicknamed "The Mouse" – was extracted by helicopter and flown to the capital before being taken to a maximum security federal prison.

He is accused of leading a faction of his father's notorious Sinaloa cartel – one of the largest drug-trafficking organisations in the world.

The US had put out a reward of up to US$5 million for information leading to his arrest or conviction, as well as that of three of his brothers who are also thought to have kept their positions of command in the group.

But a federal judge in Mexico has now suspended any extradition process against him, according to local media.

The operation, which began at dawn in Culiacán, in Sinaloa state, north-west Mexico, sparked a wave of violence from armed cartel members. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Divided Venezuela Opposition faces unity challenge ahead of primary

Venezuela's splintered Opposition, which appointed new leadership this week, faces enormous short-term challenges as it chooses a presidential candidate and tries to maintain talks with a less diplomatically isolated Government, lawmakers and analysts said.

The Opposition national assembly on Thursday chose new leadership and will appoint a commission to manage foreign assets, including oil refiner Citgo Petroleum, after it voted last week to remove Juan Guaidó as its interim president.

Guaidó in 2019 won the recognition of scores of na-

tions including the United States after the widely disputed election that kept Nicolás Maduro in power. Because of its backing abroad, the Opposition is able to control assets in other countries, like US$1 billion in gold stored at the Bank of England.

Supporters of the move to oust Guaidó, whose international backing gradually dwindled, cited his failure to remove Maduro –who enjoys military support - -and a need to build unity ahead of elections tentatively scheduled for 2024.

But an Opposition revamp will take time and risks fragmentation of voting at a June primary.

The removal of the interim Government "ended up undermining attachments among Opposition leadership," said Piero Trepiccione, of Caracas' Gumilla thinktank. "It's not easy to reconstruct unity."

Three main Opposition parties – Democratic Action, A New Era and Justice First – backed the interim Government's removal, while Guaidó's Popular Will and others rejected it.

"We'll do everything possible (to re-build unity), but today there are more values and principles separating us than bringing us together," said Popular Will lawmaker Adriana Pichardo. (Excerpt from Reuters)

T&T Govt proposes Kangaloo as President, Opposition objects

Current Senate

President Christine Kangaloo has been put forward as the sole nominee for President of T&T, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has said.

Persad-Bissessar said the Opposition was concerned that an active politician was being considered and has, therefore, objected to the appointment.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley is meeting with Persad-Bissessar for discussions regarding the appointment of a person to

Acting President Christine Kangaloo

serve as President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

The talks are being held at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s.

Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Camille Robinson-Regis and Minister of Energy and Energy Industries and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Stuart Young are also present.

Senator Wade Mark and Member of Parliament for Pointe-a-Pierre, David Lee were also in attendance. (Trinidad Guardian)

Protests against President Dina Boluarte resumed this week after a two-week pause, following violent clashes in December that left 22 dead after the removal and arrest of former President Pedro Castillo. News outlets in Puno re-

Demonstrators demand Boluarte's resignation, the closure of Congress, constitutional changes and Castillo's release. The former President is serving 18 months in pre-trial detention while being investigated for "rebellion" after illegally trying to close

"We have already supported last year's strike, we have been unemployed for about 10 days and the truth is, with the pandemic and all that there has been, we want to continue working," said Jose Palomino, a driver affected by the roadblock.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

FTX teams in US, Bahamas to coordinate crypto recovery efforts

was filed in Delaware, which included more than 100 FTX entities including FTX Trading and crypto hedge fund Alameda Research.

Bahamian regulators have seized FTX assets, which officials said was meant to safeguard assets that will ultimately be returned to creditors of FTX Digital Markets.

FTX's US-based bankruptcy team have agreed to coordinate with liquidators winding down the crypto exchange's operations in The Bahamas, resolving a dispute that threatened the recovery of what could be billions of dollars in lost funds.

In a joint statement on Friday, the two sides said they will work to share information, secure property and coordinate litigation against

third parties.

FTX’s US bankruptcy team has been at odds with Bahamian officials since November, when competing bankruptcies were filed in the two countries.

The Securities Commission of the Bahamas began liquidation proceedings on November 10 against FTX Digital Markets Ltd, the company's Bahamasbased unit. The next day a US Chapter 11 proceeding

John Ray, who took control of FTX after founder Sam Bankman-Fried resigned in November, had accused Bahamas-based liquidators of colluding with the disgraced founder to undermine the US bankruptcy case and shift assets to the Bahamas.

Ray’s Attorneys had refused the liquidators’ demand for access to internal systems and Slack and email accounts, saying they “did not trust” the Bahamians with information that could be used to siphon assets away from the US bankruptcy team. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Asot Michael labels PM Browne’s legal letter a ‘red herring’

Former Antigua Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) member Asot Michael had until 16:30h Friday to respond to a letter by Prime Minister Gaston Browne’s legal team in relation to a defamation claim against the incumbent St Peter MP.

Speaking on state media, Michael said that he would be in touch with his lawyers, but claimed that the letter was not a priority for him.

“That is a red herring … my lawyers will deal with that when the time comes; I am not going to be intimidated by [Browne’s lawyer, Dr David] Dorsett or the Prime Minister,” he

said.

The political drama surrounding the two men has enveloped the Antigua and Barbuda general election cycle, as once former colleagues have engaged in a war of words.

Michael, who is seeking a fifth term as the parliamentary representative for St Peter, has flooded the media landscape with advertisements lambasting Browne.

In an address to the nation on New Year’s Day, Michael made several claims against the Prime Minister, which Browne has called “a big lie and falsity to the extreme”.

According to the letter sent from Browne’s le -

gal team to Michael, “Our client is firmly of the view that you are well aware of the fact that your statements are patently false, but you have nevertheless made them in order to seek a political advantage in your attempt to be elected as the parliamentary representative for the constituency of St Peter as an independent candidate and to undermine the electoral prospects of our client and the party which he leads at the upcoming election slated for 18 January 2023”.

Browne and his lawyers have demanded that Michael issue a “satisfactory” apology and pay for the legal fees incurred.

(Antigua Observer)

Burning vehicles are seen blocking a road following the arrest of Ovidio Guzmán-López

Oil settles flat, with weekly decline on recession worries

Oil prices were little changed on Friday as the market balanced a weaker US dollar and mixed US jobs reports, but both crude benchmarks ended the first week of the year lower due to global recession concerns.

Brent futures fell 12 cents, or 0.2 per cent, to settle at US$78.57 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 10 cents, or 0.1 per cent to settle at US$73.77.

For the week, both Brent and WTI were down over eight per cent, their biggest weekly dives to start the year since 2016. Both benchmarks had gained about 13 per cent during the prior three weeks.

"The oil market might be regaining some composure following the bloodbath earlier this week, but the upside potential remains limited, at least in the near term. The economic outlook is clouded," PVM analyst Stephen Brennock said.

US services industry activity in November contracted for the first time in more than 2-1/2 years, according to a report from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM).

But another report showed the US economy added jobs at a solid clip in December, pushing the unemployment rate back to a pre-pandemic low of 3.5 per cent as the labour market remains tight.

That US jobs report caused the US dollar to rally as investors bet that inflation is easing and the US Federal Reserve (Fed) need not be as aggressive as some feared.

A weaker dollar can boost demand for oil, as dollardenominated commodities become cheaper for holders of other currencies.

Atlanta Federal Reserve (Fed) President Raphael Bostic said the latest US jobs figures are another sign that the economy is gradually slowing and should that continue the Fed can step down to a quarter percentage point interest rate hike at its next policy meeting.

The world's top crude exporter, Saudi Arabia, lowered prices for the Arab light crude it sells to Asia to its lowest since November 2021 amid the global pressures hitting oil.

Stock markets in China, the world's largest crude oil importer, logged a five-day winning streak on Friday on investors' expectations that the Chinese economy would soon emerge from its COVID woes and stage a robust recovery in 2023.

But, more countries around the world are demanding visitors from China take COVID tests, days before China drops border controls and ushers in an eagerly awaited return to travel for a population that has been largely stuck at home for three years.

Eurozone inflation tumbled last month, but underlying price pressures are still rising and economic growth indicators are surprisingly benign, suggesting that the European Central Bank will keep raising interest rates for months to come.

India's Government expects economic growth to slow in the financial year ending March, as pandemic-related distortions ease and pent-up demand for goods levels out going into 2023. (Reuters)

Around the World

Ukraine war: Russians accused of opening fire despite Putin’s unilateral truce

Aunilateral ceasefire called by President Vladimir Putin appears to have had little effect on the ground, with Ukrainian officials accusing Russians of opening fire in several areas.

A Ukrainian rescue worker was killed in a Russian strike, while Russian State TV said the city of Donetsk was hit.

Russia ordered a 36-hour unilateral ceasefire, to coincide with the Orthodox Christmas.

Ukraine rejected it saying Moscow might use it to reinforce troops.

Russia's Defence Ministry insisted it was observing the truce along the entire "line of contact", starting at 12:00 Moscow time (09:00 GMT) on Friday.

It said its forces had only returned fired during the ceasefire when the Ukrainian army had attacked Russian positions.

Air alerts were reported across Ukraine shortly af-

ter the purported truce began, and then the governor of Kherson region said a strike on a fire station left rescuer dead and four other people wounded in the main city, liberated in November by Ukrainian forces.

The eastern city of Kramatorsk also came un-

Boy aged 6 detained after shooting teacher in Virginia

Asix-year-old boy has been detained by Police after shooting a teacher in the US state of Virginia, officers say.

The shooting happened shortly after 14:00 local time (19:00 GMT) at Richneck Elementary School in the city of Newport News, Chief Steve Drew said.

It is unclear how the child obtained the gun, but Drew said the incident was not "an accidental shooting".

The teacher – who has not been named and is said to be in her 30s – was left with life-threatening injuries.

She was taken to a local hospital and is being closely monitored by doctors. The incident took place in a first grade (ages six to seven) classroom after an altercation between the pair.

But Drew emphasised that the shooting had been an isolated incident and stressed that officers "did not have a situation where some-

one was going around the school shooting".

Officials said that while the school – which has around 550 students – had metal detection facilities, students were checked at random and not every child was inspected.

Police declined to name the weapon used in the incident, but said the boy had used a handgun.

School District Head Dr George Parker said officials would "be looking at any instance that may have occurred that may have caused this incident".

"This is terrible, something like this should never occur," Dr Parker added. "We want to ensure nothing like this happens again."

He said the school would be closed on Monday, and pledged that students and parents would be offered support to help them deal with the traumatic event. (Excerpt from BBC News)

der attack and more than a dozen buildings were damaged, Ukrainian officials said.

Luhansk regional leader Serhiy Haidai warned that Russia's Christmas truce was "a lie and a trap", advising residents not to attend Orthodox Church services

or gather in crowded places as the Russians could plan "terrorist attacks".

Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko warned that overnight temperatures in the capital would drop to -11C and called for electricity to be carefully used.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

US House brawl over McCarthy raises worries about Republican governance

The bare-knuckle political fight among Republicans over Kevin McCarthy's run for Speaker of the US House of Representatives could signal trouble ahead when lawmakers need to agree on bigger issues, like addressing the nation's debt ceiling.

Republicans captured a thin House majority in November's midterm elections, breaking the hold

Biden awards medals to US Capitol officers on Jan 6 anniversary

United States

President Joe Biden has presented 14 people with the country’s second highest civilian honour, in recognition of their efforts to “defend the integrity of our elections”.

The award ceremony was held on Friday to mark the two-year anniversary of the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, when protesters attempted to violently disrupt the certification of the 2020 presidential election.

For the first time in his presidency, Biden awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal, a distinction established in 1969 to pay tribute to those who “performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens”. It is the second-highest civilian award after the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The medal was given to nine law enforcement officers who served at the US Capitol during the attack, as

well as five election workers who refused to go along with former President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the results of the election.

“Two years ago, on January the 6th, our democracy was attacked,” Biden said at the ceremony. “On this day of remembrance, … we honour a remarkable group of Americans who embodied the best before, during and after January 6, 2021.”

(Expert from Al Jazeera)

of President Joe Biden's Democrats on both chambers of Congress. But instead of moving quickly on their own priorities, a group of about 20 hardliners have prevented the House from getting started by forcing repeated leadership votes.

McCarthy hopes to win the House gavel in the end by making concessions to his hardline opponents, but his allies warn that those deals would make his job all the more difficult if he wins the speakership and has to corral his narrow 222-212 majority.

"They've shown that we can't govern, and now they'll help Biden get wins before his re-election," fumed Representative Dan Crenshaw, a Texas conservative who backs McCarthy.

The biggest challenge facing the House in the coming months will be addressing the US$31.4 trillion federal debt ceiling, which the US Treasury is expected to reach later this year.

(Excerpt

from Reuters)

Fourteen buildings were damaged by Russian missiles on Friday, according to Ukrainian officials

House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA)

Georgia election worker Shaye Moss receives the Presidential Citizens Medal from US President Joe Biden, while her mother — fellow election worker and honoree Ruby Freeman — applauds [Kevin Lamarque/Reuters]

DAILY HOROSCOPES

Offer suggestions, but don't offer your time or money. Someone will take advantage of you if you let compliments feed your ego. Know when to say no. Have faith in yourself and your abilities.

(March 21-April 19)

Refuse to let anyone limit you. Size up situations, look for the easiest way to accomplish your objective and implement what you must do to ensure success. A change of heart will offer insight.

(April 20-May 20)

(May 21-June 20)

(June 21-July 22) (July 23-Aug. 22)

Verify everything you hear before passing the information along. Learn from your mistakes and leave nothing to chance. Dress the part and know what you are talking about. Romance is favored.

You'll draw interest and suggestions that will make your life easier. Check for incentives and government assistance to help fund something you want to pursue. A partnership looks promising.

An open mind will invite information that puts a new twist on an old plan or skill. Reach out to someone you know can fuel the fire and get things up and running. A romantic gesture will pay off.

Engage in something that moves you. Get out and socialize, travel or learn something new. A conversation with someone close to you will change how you move forward. Start making things happen.

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

Take pride in how you present yourself. Show how dedicated you are to bringing about positive change and lowering your overhead. Put your heart and soul into your professional goals.

SUDOKU

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22) (Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

Step outside your comfort zone, and you'll discover something quite enjoyable. Express your feelings and offer insight to others. An educational journey will not disappoint.

Promptly take care of financial, contractual and health matters. Search for the best way to make your gifts and attributes profitable. Update your look and improve your surroundings.

Do what needs to be done and go about your business. Waiting for someone to pitch in will be a disappointment. Use your expertise and wherewithal to outdo any competition.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

(Feb. 20-March 20)

Change your surroundings to meet your needs. Make room for something to add to your daily routine or put time aside to work on personal growth or a creative project. Do what makes you happy.

Share your enthusiasm with someone who can appreciate it. A connection you make will encourage you to handle your money and investments differently. A hunch will pay off.

ARCHIE PEANUTS

CALVIN AND HOBBES

DILBERT

Fantastic Sarfaraz ton not enough as bad light has final say in Karachi thriller

An epic fourth-innings century to cap off a dream comeback series. The set batter getting severe cramps, and also running out of partners. Artificial light taking over. A late wicket just after the second new ball.

Eight down. Nervous expressions in the crowd. The light meter in business. Only spinners allowed to bowl. A good low catch at a crucial moment. Nine down. The umpire asking the last two batters to hurry up.

Eventually, it was all for nothing, as a thrilling Test

get of 319.

Sarfaraz Ahmed hit a career-best 118, Michael Bracewell grabbed four wickets, and the Pakistan lower order came to their rescue in a nail-biting finish in Karachi. Ten days of hard-fought cricket resulted in a series scoreline of 0-0, as Naseem Shah and Abrar Ahmed saw off the last 21 balls of the day with all 11 New Zealand fielders crowding their bats.

The match kept turning and twisting in its final two sessions. Pakistan were 80 for

Shakeel blunted them with a 123-run stand. And when Pakistan seemed to have taken one step towards the win, Bracewell got Shakeel. He was the sixth wicket to fall with the score on 203.

That is when Sarfaraz and Agha Salman added 70 to drag their side back, only for it to end with an across-the-line hoick off Matt Henry.

Sarfaraz lost Salman and Hasan Ali, and eventually himself as well, as the pendulum kept swinging. Bad light won the battle in the end, with three overs still left officially; this, after play had already extended almost until 6pm local time.

ended in a draw with New Zealand one wicket away, and Pakistan 15 short of their tar-

5 at one stage, with momentum in New Zealand's favour; just then, Sarfaraz and Saud

Adjudged Player of the Match and Player of the Series for 335 runs at 83.75, Sarfaraz was playing his first Tests in Pakistan. Imagine that. At the age of 35. Making a comeback into the side after nearly four years in the wilderness. And almost leading them to one of their most famous wins ever, at the city of his birth. The fairytale wasn't to be - he turned one into leg slip's hands off Bracewell and became the ninth wicket to fall - but he has done his reputation no harm. Sarfaraz re-

mains one of Pakistan's great fighters.

Karachi. Fading light. And a thrilling run-chase. It's all happened before, and it was happening again. Except, at the end of the 86th over, it became clear that New Zealand were really the only team that could win. Because at that point the umpires went up to Tim Southee and said he couldn't bowl his fast bowlers anymore. The light wasn't good enough for that. He resorted to spin, but if he thought Pakistan were get-

Djokovic sees off Shapovalov to set up Medvedev semi-final in Adelaide

Novak Djokovic set up a semi-final clash with Daniil Medvedev at the Adelaide International with a straight-sets win over Denis Shapovalov.

Shapovalov wilted under pressure on his serve at the end of both sets, as Djokovic claimed a 6-3 6-4 victory, though he felt the encounter was closer than the score suggested.

"The scoreline doesn't give you the right idea of what happened in the match, almost two hours for two sets, it was such a close match," Djokovic said in his on-court interview. "I just managed to stay men-

tally composed in the right moments and play my best tennis."

He wrapped up the win with a backhand volley after a Shapovalov double fault handed Djokovic the key break, teeing up a meeting with Medvedev, whom he beat in the 2021 Australian Open final before losing to the Russian in the US Open showpiece later that year.

Fellow former world number one Medvedev cruised to a 6-3 6-3 win over compatriot Karen Khachanov. Medvedev trailed 3-1 in the second set, but reeled off five straight games to surge into the last

four.

"We didn't play since 2019, that's pretty long," Medvedev said of his reunion with Khachanov. "Hopefully, we can play more matches at later stages of tournaments. It's never easy, I'm happy that I

managed to really raise my level, especially at the end of both sets, and I'm really happy to be through to the semis."

Sebastian Korda continued his superb run with a straightsets win over Jannik Sinner, who was bothered by a hip issue that later forced him to pull out of his doubles match.

Korda pulled away in the second set, after a tight first, to win 7-5 6-1, and has won 11 of his 14 matches since the start of October.

He will take on Yoshihito Nishioka, who overcame home hope Alexei Popyrin 7-6 (7-4) 6-7 (8-10) 6-2 for a place in the final. (Sportsmax)

at age 58

over a decade.

Gianluca Vialli has died at the age of 58. The former Italy, Chelsea, Sampdoria and Juventus player was originally diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2017, and after announcing he had been given the all-clear in April 2020, he was re-diagnosed the following year.

Vialli left his role as a coach with Italy's national team in December due to complications with the disease. He had hoped the move away from his job would be a temporary one, though reports emerged that Vialli's family had flown to London to visit

him in hospital.

His passing was confirmed on Friday, with tributes pouring in from across the world of football and beyond.

A striker in his playing days, Vialli spent much of his career at Sampdoria, before joining Juve in 1992.

He moved to Chelsea four years later, and in February 1998 was named player-manager after Ruud Gullit's sacking, becoming the first Italian to manage in the Premier League.

Vialli enjoyed success, going on to guide the Blues to an EFL Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup double, making him the youngest manager to win a UEFA tournament at the age of 33 years and 308 days, a record that stood for

In Vialli's first full season as player-manager, Chelsea claimed third spot – at the time their best finish in the Premier League – and also beat Real Madrid to win the Super Cup. The following campaign saw the Blues reach the Champions League quarter-finals and win the FA Cup.

Vialli, who made 59 appearances for Italy between 1985 and 1992, departed Chelsea shortly into the 200001 campaign, and later had a brief spell with Watford. (Sportsmax)

ting too close to the target, he could have brought back his quicks, at which point the umpires would've been forced to stop the game and call it a draw.

There could be debate around Shakeel's approach, who - like in the first inningskept bunting and blocking his way to 32 off 146 balls even as time seemed to be running out. His first real shot of intent came off the ball just before being dismissed, when he lofted Bracewell inside out over extra cover for four. When he went hacking next delivery, Daryl Mitchell grabbed a reflex catch moving to his left at slip.

Sarfaraz still had one last frontline batter in Salman for company, and together they made 70 runs off just 83 deliveries. And so commanding did Sarfaraz look against spin after the tea break that he pummelled Bracewell's offbreaks for four and six off successive balls in the 64th over, while using his trademark paddle sweep, before cracking two fours in a row in the 70th. That made Southee take Bracewell off, and turn to his seamers on a fifth-day pitch in the subcontinent. That's a big tick in the batting team's column.

Sodhi wasn't used after tea despite the rough outside both Sarfaraz and Salman's

leg stump. Instead, Ajaz Patel came on and took aim at the right-handers' pads. Sarfaraz did well to counter that, and while he was at the crease, the target seemed well within reach. Both Pakistan and New Zealand raced against time but lost.

Who knew the day would end this way after Bracewell and Sodhi struck thrice together in the morning, though much of that was down to Pakistan's batters either giving their wickets away or being unlucky. An adventurous Imam-ul-Haq was bowled after skipping down the track to Sodhi - the third time in four innings he was dismissed after charging down; while Babar Azam inside-edged to the wicketkeeper Tom Latham, who did well to move to his left despite being blinded by the batter. As for Shan Masood, he, too, decided that jumping out of the crease was the best way to go, only to be caught at midoff off Bracewell. But an age seems to have passed since all that happened this morning - followed by a wicketless middle session - as ultimately, the match became a seesaw ride between two excited children, who had to go home after their parents - like the umpires in this Test - said enough was enough.

(ESPN Cricinfo)

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Tim Southee 20-7-43-2

Matt Henry 21-3-69-1

Ish Sodhi 18-2-59-2

Michael Bracewell 20-2-75-4

Ajaz Patel 7-1-32-0

Daryl Mitchell 4-2-5-0

Bracewell opened the game for New Zealand

Sarfraz played the best innings of his Test career

Djokovic into semi-final

Former Italy, Chelsea and Juventus star Vialli dies

Gianluca Vialli has died at the age of 58

Keemo Paul excited ahead of maiden stint in South Africa

Guyana and West Indies all-rounder

Keemo Paul is excited to get going in the 2023 South Africa T20 League. The 24-year-old Guyanese, who landed in South Africa on Friday, will play for the Durban Super Giants in the SA T20 League.

"Finally in South Africa, after some pretty long flights. I am excited to be here, my first time here, first time part of the Super Giants family, and I cannot wait to get started. (To the fans), see you guys soon," Paul said.

In addition to Paul, Guyanese Romario Shepherd would feature in the SA T20 League. The tournament begins on January 10, and runs until February 11, with a break of one week between January 24 and February 2, in order for the bilateral ODI Series between South Africa and England to take place.

West Indians Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Odean Smith, Kyle Mayers, Obed McCoy, Johnson

Charles and Ramon Simmons would also be playing in this league.

This tournament has received a lot of media attention and scrutiny, with all six teams owned by IPL franchise owners. The opening fixture of the tournament will be played between MI Cape Town and Paarl Royals.

This tournament has attracted many top players from around the world, including Jos Buttler of Paarl Royals and Rashid Khan of MI Cape Town.

Jofra Archer is also among the big names to be featured in this tournament, the final of which would be played on February 11 at the Wanderers Stadium.

The six competing teams are: MI Cape Town, Paarl Royals, Pretoria Capitals, Sunrisers Eastern Cape, Joburg Super Kings, and Durban Super Giants. Below are the full squads:

Durban Super Giants Kyle Abbott, Matthew Breetzke, Johnson Charles,

Quinton de Kock, Akila Dhananjaya, Simon Harmer, Jason Holder, Christian Jonker, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Kyle Mayers, Wiaan Mulder, Keemo Paul, Dwaine Pretorius, Reece Topley, Prenelan Subrayen, Dilshan Madushanka and Junior Dala.

Johannesburg Super Kings Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Faf du

Plessis (c), Leus du Plooy, Donovan Ferreira, George Garton, Lewis Gregory, Reeza Hendricks, Alzarri Joseph, Janneman Malan, Aaron Phangiso, Caleb Seleka, Romario Shepherd, Malusi Siboto, Maheesh Theekshana, Kyle Verreynne and Lizaad Williams.

MI Cape Town Ziyaad Abrahams, Jofra Archer, Dewald Brevis,

Permaul and Chanderpaul to lead teams in Guyana Harpy Eagles practice matches

- first match is on January 12

The Guyana Harpy Eagles (GHE) will be engaged in the first of two four-day practice matches scheduled to commence on Thursday, January 12, 2023 at the National Stadium at Providence, EBD.

West Indies Test opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul is expected to feature in the game, while Shimron Hetmyer and Leon Johnson would be absent.

The second match will begin on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 and conclude on Saturday, January 20, 2023. The matches are scheduled to be played from 9:30h to 16:30h each day.

The first two rounds of this year’s West Indies Championship will be played in Grenada and Antigua from February 1, 2023 to February 11, 2023, and the last three rounds will be played in Trinidad, with the respective

dates being March 5-18, 2023 for the third-round matches; March 22, 2023 to March 25, 2023 for the fourth-round matches; and March 29, 2023

– April 1, 2023 for the fifthround matches.

The two teams identified to participate in the first GCB four-day practice match were selected by the GCB’s Senior National Selection Committee under the Chairmanship of Ravindranauth Seeram.

The players who are not available for this match include Leon Johnson, Clinton Pestano, Keon Joseph, Quentin Sampson, Steven Sankar, Shimron Hetmyer, Keemo Paul, Sherfane Rutherford, and Romario Shepherd.

See squads below.

Veerasammy Permaul X1: Veerasammy Permaul, Mathew Nandu, Tevin

Imlach, Kevlon Anderson, Akshaya Persaud, Rampertab Ramnauth, Shamar Yearwood, Junior Sinclair, Ashmead Nedd, Ronsford Beaton, Isai Thorne, Nial Smith, Richie Looknauth and Garfield Benjamin.

Tagenarine Chanderpaul X1: Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Kemol Savory, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Mavindra Dindyal, Anthony Bramble, Kevin Sinclair, Alvin Mohabir, Gudakesh Motie, Antony Adams, Shamar Joseph, Sylus Tyndall, Demetri Cameron, Jonathan Rampersaud and Zynul Ramsammy.

(A GCB release)

Sam Curran, Beuran Hendricks, Duan Jansen, Rashid Khan, George Linde, Liam Livingstone, Wesley Marshall, Delano Potgieter, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Grant Roelofsen, Waqar Salamkheil, Odean Smith, Olly Stone and Rassie van der Dussen.

Paarl Royals Ferisco Adams, Corbin Bosch, Jos Buttler, Bjorn Fortuin, Evan Jones,

Wihan Lubbe, Obed McCoy, Imraan Manack, David Miller, Eoin Morgan, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Jason Roy, Tabraiz Shamsi, Ramon Simmonds, Mitchell van Buuren, Dane Vilas and Codi Yusuf.

Pretoria Capitals

Eathan Bosch, Theunis de Bruyn, Shane Dadswell, Cameron Delport, Daryn Dupavillon, Will Jacks, Josh Little, Marco Marais, Kusal Mendis, Senuran Muthusamy, Jimmy Neesham, Anrich Nortje, Wayne Parnell, Migael Pretorius, Adil Rashid, Rilee Rossouw, Phil Salt and Shaun von Berg.

Sunrisers Eastern Cape Tom Abell, Marques Ackerman, Ottniel Baartman, Brydon Carse, Mason Crane, Jordan Cox, Junaid Dawood, Sarel Erwee, James Fuller, Aya Gqamane, Marco Jansen, Jordan Hermann, Sisanda Magala, Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs, Adam Rossington, Jon-Jon Smuts and Roelof van der Merwe.

Ronaldo’s Al Nassr debut delayed due to phone smash ban

Cristiano Ronaldo was left out of the Al Nassr team to face Al Tai on Friday as he served the first part of a two-match ban imposed by the English Football Association.

The ban was imposed in November in relation to an incident in the Premier League game between Everton and Manchester United last season. Ronaldo slapped a phone out of the hand of a 14-year-old Everton fan as he stormed off the pitch following the Red Devils' 1-0 defeat at Goodison Park.

Five-time Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo was unveiled by Al Nassr on Tuesday after signing a two-and-a-half-year deal with the Saudi Arabian club. After Ronaldo's move was confirmed, it was reported that Al Nassr were considering defying the ban, and were willing to pay any fine imposed by FIFA as a result. However, the 37-year-old did not feature in head coach Rudi Garcia's team for Friday's

Keemo Paul

match, suggesting Ronaldo will have to wait at least until January 22 to make his bow for the club in the home clash with Al Ettifaq. (Sportsmax)

Cristiano Ronaldo

Veerasammy Permaul

Guyana Harpy Eagles are preparing for the Regional Four-Day tournament

Foster calling for young leaders in Berbice cricket

By Brandon Corlette

Berbice

Cricket Board

President Hilbert Foster is calling on young individuals to step up to the challenge of taking up leadership roles in Berbice cricket. In a recent interview with this publication, Foster disclosed that his term is set to end in December 2023, and he has no immediate plans to continue as BCB President.

"I had offered my resignation in July out of total frustration, the clubs and the executives rejected it. My term ends on December 31, 2023, (and) I have no immediate plans to continue, because this work has become a fulltime job," Foster explained.

The BCB boss slammed

a few of the local administrators for taking up positions and not performing necessary roles.

"Let us keep our fingers crossed that, in 2023, there might be an inspiration. However, Berbice Cricket needs new leadership; there have been too many people in Berbice administration and the club level and the board level that just take the position for the sake of taking it.

As it has become the norm across the Caribbean, the work is left to very few. It is my sincere hope that those people who are not productive will find the time to admit it and move on, and to allow younger heads to take over. There are a lot of young people in Berbice who are looking to contrib-

ute. For people who have been in the system for 40 to 50 years, it might be time for them to move on," the BCB President has said.

As it relates to Foster's presidency and calling time, he said that, when the time arrives, he would walk away feeling satisfied with his work.

"If the club in Berbice feel that my time is up, I am willing to walk away, and I will do so with my head held high. I think (that), over the last five years, my administration has achieved what no other cricket administration in Berbice has achieved, and we will see what happens in 2023," Foster disclosed.

Foster was re-elected as BCB President in July 2022 at an Ordinary

General Meeting (OGM) for the third quarter. That OGM was held at the Port Mourant Cricket ground, and Foster was returned for another term as President.

That meeting was attended by all members, apart from Young Warriors CC and Mt Sinai CC, and was conducted in a calm and cordial atmosphere, which has become the norm at all BCB meetings.

Delegates approved minutes of the last OGM, and expressed satisfaction that all plans unveiled and promised made were fulfilled, including the visits by several legendary West Indies former players, gear was distributed across the county, and the board’s developmental programme was expanded.

India, Sri Lanka aim for fitting end to tight series

Just four days ago, India and Sri Lanka going into a T20 International (T20I) series in a 50-over World Cup year seemed futile from a sporting perspective.

But after two closely-fought contests put the series on an even keel, Saturday's finale could yet serve as an interesting precursor for the One-Day Internationals (ODIs) to follow.

On paper, Hardik Pandya's India don't boast of too much T20I experience. It's a young squad, but with players who've repeatedly 'been there, done that' in the high-pressure situations in the Indian Premier League (IPL). That came through in both the fixtures where they displayed their resolve till the very end to first eke out a win in Mumbai and then miss out narrowly in Pune.

Sri Lanka too have brought a lot of feistiness to the series that was on abundant display during their title run in this year's Asia Cup. Dasun Shanaka has helmed the side admira-

bly, shrugging off the disappointment of a forgettable World Cup campaign to improve the team's whiteball stocks. Expect anoth-

er game of small margins at the weekend.

When: India vs Sri Lanka, 3rd T20I, January 7, 07:00 PM IST

Where: Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot

What to expect: Rajkot has always been about big

runs across formats. In the four T20Is played there, two wins have come while batting first, the other two while bowling first.

Team News: India

The hosts have a decision to make in the pace department between two misfiring quicks in Arshdeep Singh and Harshal Patel, after India's death bowling suffered in the second T20I.

Probable XI: Ishan Kishan (w); Shubman Gill; Suryakumar Yadav; Rahul Tripathi; Hardik Pandya (c); Deepak Hooda; Axar Patel; Shivam Mavi; Umran Malik; Arshdeep Singh/Harshal Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal.

Sri Lanka

Dasun Shanaka, riding high on his match-winning effort, should retain the same XI that earned him series parity.

Probable XI: Pathum Nissanka; Kusal Mendis (w); Dhananjaya de Silva; Charith Asalanka; Bhanuka Rajapaksa; Dasun Shanaka(c); Wanindu Hasaranga; Chamika Karunaratne; Maheesh Theekshana; Kasun Rajitha and Dilshan Madushanka. (cricbuzz)

Sarfaraz Ahmed rates sensational Karachi century as his best

Sarfaraz Ahmed has said that his fifthday century that almost helped Pakistan pull off an epic chase against New Zealand in Karachi on Friday was the best in his Test career.

Speaking at the postmatch presentation after bad light forced a draw, with Pakistan needing 15 more runs to chase down 319 and New Zealand a wicket away from victory, Sarfaraz said that batting in the fourth innings was always a difficult task.

"Definitely I have more hundreds, but this was a fourth-innings hundred and in the fourth innings, it is not easy to bat anywhere in

the world. So, I think this is my best hundred," he said.

Sarfaraz came in to bat with Pakistan four down for 77, at the fall of Babar

Azam's wicket. Two overs and three runs later, Shan Masood was also gone.

Sarfaraz went on to score 118, batting close to five

hours, to take Pakistan to the brink of victory before he gloved one down to leg slip off Michael Bracewell.

The century capped a remarkable comeback for Safaraz. Having lost his place in the XI in January 2019, for four years he was on the fringes of the Test setup, but could not break back in. Now, picked ahead of the out-of-form Mohammad Rizwan, he notched scores of 86, 53, and 78 before registering his fourth Test century.

"I have been there with the team for four years and unfortunately I did not get a chance, but whatever cricket came my way, my effort was to keep playing my game

and keep giving performances and if Allah wants, then I would get an opportunity and I did get an opportunity," he said.

Sarfaraz said he was very tense, but Captain Babar and his team-mates gave him confidence.

"My state of mind wasn't very good when I came to bat the first time [in the series]. I was very tense, there was a lot of nerves," he said. "But the Captain gave me a lot of confidence and the boys in the team gave me a lot of confidence.

"I backed my form from domestic cricket and had a good performance."

Sarfaraz played the role of aggressor as he put on a

123-run partnership with Saud Shakeel. Once Shakeel fell, he put on a 70-run stand with Agha Salman, but he said that once those two got out, he had to go on the back foot.

"The effort was that when there were 140 runs left, the message from the team management and the captain was that you go after the ball," Sarfaraz said on the team's tactics on the final day. "But when the two wickets fell, I had to go a little on the back foot. But if those wickets hadn't fallen then, the result could have been a better one for us."

Delegates had unanimously rejected Foster's resignation letter which was to take effect on July 31.

BCB President Hilbert Foster

Sarfaraz Ahmed celebrating his fantastic fourth-innings century (AFP/Getty Images)

Dasun Shanaka has helmed the Sri Lankan side admirably, shrugging off the disappointment of a forgettable World Cup © BCCI

…making his Test comeback in this series, Sarfaraz Ahmed said he had to battle nerves the first time he walked out to bat