Guyana Times - Sunday, April 14, 2024.pdf

Pres. Ali to deliver keynote address at 2024

Local Content Summit

127MW of ‘firm power’

installed by PPP/C Govt in 4 years – Finance Minister

– says could’ve been supplemented by 165MW hydro project

Exxon’s Whiptail permit now caters for decommissioning fund

Establishment of Transitional Presidential Council in Haiti paves way for new elections

– Caricom lauds move, remains ready to assist country to return to normalcy

Teen dies days after bike exploded in Essequibo accident

More locals needed in oil & gas workforce – Min Bharrat

– says local content sensitisation workshops to be hosted across Guyana

‘Allegedly’ missing teen now wanted for 3 murders – strict timelines for submitting insurance also included

- another man being sought for Arimu Backdam double-murder

PNC/R must not sink to greater depths – Forde – reprimands Chairman for intolerance against party stalwart

28-Y-O slapped with multiple cybercrime charges

GDF corporal dies during training at Tacama

6 EBD residents nabbed with gun, ammo & narcotics

SUNDAY, APRIL 14, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

127MW of ‘firm power’ installed by PPP/C Govt in 4 years – Finance Minister

– says could’ve been supplemented by 165MW hydro project

Even as Government grapples to address the issues at the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Incorporated, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh has disclosed that no other administration has done more to enhance the state-own power company, which has seen an injection of some 127 megawatts of new capacity under the current People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) regime.

During a live broadcast on Saturday, Dr Singh conceded that the current spate of power outage is “unacceptable”, but assured that Government is working on bringing solutions to the citizens.

He recalled that when the PPP/C was returned to office in August 2020, that administration was met with an electricity sector that was “in total collapse”, with further dilapidated infrastructure at GPL and a system that was incapable of meeting the needs of the country.

He outlined the interventions made by this current Administration, which started just a few months into its tenure. Under the instruction of President Dr Irfaan Ali, some 9.6MW of emergency power was installed at the Canefield, Onverwagt and Sophia substations within just four months of being in Government.

Government also moved to ship in the 46.5MW of Wartsilla engines that were procured by the previous A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) regime, but were left stranded in Finland. These were brought in and installed at the Garden of Eden power plant in 2021.

“So, the 9.6 megawatts of emergency power, the 46.5 megawatts that were installed at Garden of Eden, the 28.9 megawatts that were installed at Columbia, the 6 megawatts that were installed at Onverwagt, in total gives us 91 megawatts of power that we have installed since we returned to office…,” he explained.

“[We’re acquiring] an additional 36 megawatts from a power ship… Once those 36 megawatts are brought online, which we

anticipate to happen within the next three weeks, the People’s Progressive Party would have installed 127 megawatts - in the four years that we have been in office - of firm power onto the network,” Dr Singh posited.

This power ship is being procured from a Qataribased power company –UCC Holding - and will be connected to the national grid at Everton via the Berbice River. Moreover, another 33MW of capacity from solar power initiatives would also be plugged into the network in the future.

Amaila Falls Hydropower Project

But, according to the Finance Minister, these could have been significantly supplemented by the 165-megawatt Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP), which was shelved by the APNU/AFC Coalition.

“We would have had another 165 megawatts of power from Amaila currently supplying the network had the very APNU/AFC not derailed Amaila. Today, our national grid would have been getting another 165 megawatts of power,” he argued.

The AFHP, a brainchild of the previous PPP/C Administration, has been on the cards since 2011, but the APNU and the AFC Opposition parties, having a one-seat majority in 2014, barred the project from becoming a reality, and then shelved it when they subsequently took office as a Coalition.

However, the resuscitation of the project was one of the PPP/C 2020 Election Manifesto promises, and in 2021, the current Government engaged China Railway Group Limited to construct the hydro proj-

ect. However, those discussions ended in a deadlock when the company wanted to change the model.

According to reports, the company was unable to secure the necessary financing under a build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) model, thus it requested that the contract be changed to an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) model – which was rejected by the Government.

Then in October 2023, the Request for Proposals (RFP) for the construction of the Amaila Falls Hydro Project under the BOOT model was relaunched. Four companies – Rialma S.A. (Grupo Rialma) from Brazil; China International Water & Elec. Corp; Lindsayca

He noted that a mere 17.2MW of generating capability was installed by the Coalition Administration between 2015 and 2020. Of this amount, only a mere 8.7MW was added to the Demerara Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS) – the country’s main power grid during this period.

“So, not only did they [Coalition] derail Amaila using their one-seat majority during the 2011 to 2015 period; not only did they derail Amaila [during their tenure in office from 2015 to 2020]; but they also failed to offer an alternative.

Where is the alternative that the APNU/AFC offered to address the reality that demand is grow-

CH4 Guyana Inc., and a group made up of OEC, GE Vernova and Worley – had submitted tenders to be prequalified for the project. The Government has since been evaluating the proposals received.

No alternatives

Minister Singh’s remarks on Saturday come on the heels of criticisms by the APNU/AFC Opposition over the recent heightened power outages across the country. GPL has blamed the situation on engine failures at different locations. At least two engines are currently down.

However, Dr Singh has argued that the Coalition regime failed to enhance the capacity of the national grid during its five-year tenure in office. He said they did not invest in new generating capability, adequately invest and maintain the engines, or upgrade the aged infrastructure and equipment in the local power sector.

ing? Where is the alternative? They spent five years in office and installed barely 8 megawatts – just over 8 megawatts of power to the DBIS. Where is the Amaila alternative that APNU/ AFC was offering and would’ve offered to the people of Guyana,” Dr Singh questioned.

Nevertheless, the PPP/C Government is pursuing the hydropower project, and this will be bolstered by its flagship Gas-to-Energy project, which includes a 300-megawatt power plant and a Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility at Wales, West Bank Demerara, utilising natural gas that will be a pipeline from oil production activities in the Stabroek Block Offshore Guyana.

The power plant is expected to come on stream by March 2025, adding 228MW of capacity to the national grid in the first instance, and the remaining power would be installed by next year's end. (G-8)

Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh

The Amaila Falls Hydropower Project

Need for a solid Opposition in a democracy

With the PNC evidently undergoing a meltdown, the insight of former Harvard professor and Canadian politician, gleaned from his two tenures on the practise of politics in Canadian democracy - especially from the perspective of an opposition leader – is apropos.

“Opposition for opposition’s sake is the modus operandi of most parties out of power, but it is precisely the political “game playing” that active and attentive voters so despise, wishing politicians would support or oppose measures on merit alone. Realistically, legislators rarely decide measures on merit alone, and opposition politicians generally oppose government measures whatever their merits.

The opposition indeed must oppose, and, through criticism and amendment, make legislation serve the public interest. Government measures are put to the test of adversarial justification in committee and in the chamber itself. The opposition is called “loyal” to remind the public that, for all the venom of parliamentary debate, opposition is integral to the proper functioning of a democratic system. Indeed, it is in opposition that you are supposed to learn how to govern. In a functioning democracy, all opposition parties properly deserve to be treated as a government in waiting, though the government in office and the media rarely do. In a free society, one would expect government and opposition to compete on equal terms. In reality, the media accord the government a platform the opposition can only envy.

One of the defining features of a proper democracy is that it must “normalize” and “naturalize” disagreement, for it is through structured disagreement that democracy arrives at its rough-and-ready version of the public interest. Adversarial justification is democracy’s chosen method for establishing the public good. If so, opponents are supposed to accept each other’s basic loyalty and legitimacy.

Democracy is, or ought to be, a politics of adversaries, never a politics of enemies. An adversary today is a potential ally tomorrow. An enemy can never become an ally. An enemy is to be destroyed. The politics of compromise is impossible, unless the opposition enjoys the status of loyal and legitimate adversary.

Democracy, being a system of structured antagonism, must find ways to contain the emotions that antagonism inevitably arouses. The representative function demands restraint in the face of the temptation to think of politics in the metaphors of war, as a battle in which no holds are barred.

When adversaries grapple for power, it is only too easy to treat each other as enemies. A democratic politician has to keep asking himself whether, in his attack on an opponent, he has crossed the line that separates legitimate public criticism from mendacious advantageseeking. In the heat of the moment, the line can be hard to discern, let alone respect. Winning at all costs becomes a self-sufficient justification. Where democracy has gone under, as in Weimar Germany, the politics of adversaries has been replaced by a politics of enemies, and politics soon spilt out of the legislature into the streets, where violence soon settles all questions.

Democracy has proved its resilience, but at a cost. Public disenchantment with excessive partisanship is nearly universal in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. For a considerable portion of the active democratic public, “politics” itself has acquired a bad name. The word has degenerated into a term of abuse for any form of spiteful, dogmatic, rhetorical game-playing, the essential purpose of which is to obscure, rather than reveal, the essential public issues at hand.

Nevertheless, democracy itself does offer a remedy for excessive partisanship. Electorates relish combat, and they like fighters, but they frequently punish those who hit below the belt, and by sanctioning bad behaviour at the polls, voters help ensure that democratic combat remains a contest between adversaries, not enemies. Indeed, we should add this to our original list of essential conditions of democratic health. Democratic representation works when institutions control corruption, when debate is sufficiently truthful to allow democracy to address society’s real problems, when a culture of public service survives; and finally, when democratic opponents treat each other as adversaries, not as enemies.

Government ‘on track’ with addressing mental health issues

Dear Editor,

Let me remind our Guyanese people that “All World Health Organization (WHO) Member States ‘are (or should be) committed’ to implementing the Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013–2030, which aims to improve mental health by strengthening governance, providing community-based care, implementing promotion and prevention strategies, and strengthening information systems, evidence and research.

In this regard, it is good to see that “Mental Health Services (MHS) are expected to be decentralised and expanded across the country over the next few years (in order) to improve access and efficiency.” This gets my loud and echoing ‘amen.’

I actually was quite absorbed as I went through the Government’s “National Mental Health Action Plan and National Suicide Prevention Plan 2024-2030”, which is expected to be a guiding policy document to aid in the achievement of the goals of making these services more accessible.

Here is another reminder, as it shows that Guyana is in line with the WHO mandate. Back in June 2022, the World Health Organization released its largest Review of ‘World Mental Health’ since the turn of the century. The detailed work in this

Review provides a blueprint for governments, academics, health professionals, civil society and others with an ambition to support the world in transforming mental health, as it needs that input in a sustained manner.

Editor, this urgency from our leaders is not about being post-COVID reactive, as globally, long before the COVID-19 pandemic, just a small fraction of people in need of MHS had access to effective, affordable, and quality mental health care.

For example, according to the Review, 71% of those with psychosis worldwide did not receive mental health services. While 70% of people with psychosis were reported to be treated in high-income countries, only 12% of people with psychosis received mental health care in low-income countries. For depression, the gaps in service coverage were wide across all countries: even in high-income countries, only one-third of people with depression received formal mental health care, and minimally adequate treatment for depression was estimated to range from 23% in high-income countries to 3% in low- and lower middle-income countries. Pathetic at best!

As I am viewing this ‘lack of parity’ in global services being meted out, I cannot help but be happy that this is exactly what Guyana

is bent on preventing. That is why Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, explained that “…the PPP/C Government has been creating the legislative architecture to facilitate changes in mental health care and suicide prevention… and …one of the main things that they have looked at in the development of this action plan is ‘decentralisation’ of Mental Health Services across the country.”

Elaborating on this, the Director of the Mental Health Unit at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Timothy Morgan, said, “…this will foster the move of Mental Health Services into communities… as …we are mostly looking at the mental health strategy in terms of addressing mental health issues more holistically; in a more humanistic way, and we are protecting those persons’ human rights and ensuring their dignity.”

On this latter issue, that of ‘protecting those persons’ (with mental health issues) human rights and ensuring their dignity,’ we must bear in mind, and as the Who Review points out, that “Stigma, discrimination and human rights violations against people with mental health conditions are widespread in communities and care systems everywhere; (yet some) 20 countries still criminalize attempted suicide. (although) Across coun-

tries, it is the poorest and most disadvantaged in society who are at greatest risk of mental ill-health and who are also the least likely to receive adequate services.”

So, Editor, as the “WHO’s comprehensive Report highlights why and where change is most needed, and how it can best be achieved, it calls on all stakeholders to work together to deepen the value and commitment given to mental health, reshape the environments that influence mental health, and strengthen the systems that care for people’s mental health.”

Guyana scores well here, as “One of the collaborative partners that aided in the drafting of the action plan was the Pan American Health Organization/ World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), which was represented at the recent launch by Assistant Director Dr. Rhonda Sealey-Thomas, who noted that “PAHO is pleased with the work that Guyana has done over the past years to prioritise mental health and strengthen mental health legislation… (applauding) the Government for the progress that the country has made in addressing the mental health challenges of the population through the implementation of several actions.

I, too, am very pleased.

Yours truly,

HB Singh

Sunrise at Saddle Mountain in the Rupununi Savannahs of Region 9 (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo). The two, round, forested hills are joined to each another by a rocky saddle, hence the reason behind the name Saddle Mountain (A Path to Travel photo)

Agriculture sector has survived and progressed

Dear Editor,

The agriculture sector has survived the worst period ever in the annals of our country, and this is not only because of the implementation of sound economic policies, but can be directly attributed to the incomparable leadership qualities of the subject Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha. His ability to be decisive; make high-quality and tough decisions on the spot; his visionary and inspirational leadership; his passionate and creative manner in executing decisions; his approachable and humble characteristics, all allow him to have a free flow of information from stakeholders, whom he contacts in his daily outreaches and which he effectively utilizes for their benefit and ultimately that of the nation.

This is a far cry from the Coalition’s Agriculture Minister, and there is no comparison, only contrast. It is an undeniable fact that the Coalition woefully and willfully neglected the entire sector; there was no will for its survival, and the only plausible reason was to exact vengeance on the sector, which, since the days of

the PNC of old, made little investments and their only objective was to ‘milk’ the sector dry to enrich those affiliated to the party. This approach was more evident in rice and sugar.

In rice, the farmers had to fend for themselves, and when the Coalition took over in 2015, they ensured that steep rates and taxes and lack of investments in roads and infrastructure made farming impossible. It was deemed to be private business by the Coalition. This speaks volumes of the clandestine intent of the Coalition, which was laid bare. Each and every year under the Coalition, the sector had to suffer billions in budget cuts, making it virtually impossible for the sector to progress.

Sugar was marked for special treatment under the Coalition. According to Ramjattan and Nagamootoo, the industry was the bottomless ‘dark hole’ and the sugar workers were the ‘raiders of the Treasury’.

The Coalition thought it was better to make a surgical dismemberment of the sugar industry, which would make it impossible

for it to survive; and during its second term in office (the planned rigging would have ensured this), the complete dismemberment would have been accomplished and the death knell of the industry would have been sounded.

The sufferings of over 7,000 sugar workers are well documented, and their only crime was supporting the PPP/C. The Coalition, having willfully destroyed the industry, would then have ample justification for its closure.

This cannot be denied, since the handiwork of the Coalition in destroying the cultivations and factories even in the remaining three grinding estates is still glaring for all to see. Canes can only come from the cultivations, and when thousands of hectares were wantonly abandoned, where would these canes have materialized from? When the factories are debilitated and in dire need of repair, where will the available canes be ground?

This Government has invested billions of dollars to rehabilitate and resuscitate the cultivations and the factories, and Rose Hall Estate is the symbol of what

this Government is capable of accomplishing and how the subject minister can steer his sector to achieve this monumental success. Soon all the fields will be machine-friendly and production will climb astronomically. Soon the cost of production will be drastically reduced and viability will return to GuySuCo; and soon ‘the cup will run over’.

The agriculture sector survived the willful and malicious assault from the Coalition for 5 long years. The bombardment was relentless and unceasing, and it was only the PPP/C as a strong Opposition and Dr Jagdeo as an exemplary leader that gave hope to those in the sector. It was the promises of a bright future which kept hope alive in the breasts of all Guyanese, especially the promises to reverse all the wrongs of the Coalition, which devastated the economy, and to reopen the closed estates.

As soon as the PPP/C took office, these promises materialized. However, this Government has had to deal with other challenges as well. The COVID-19 pandemic was in full swing, and

A look at the PNC's upcoming congress and a myriad of problems immediately sets in

Dear Editor,

Not that this party congress and who is "selected" has any particular relevance on a Guyana landscape; it certainly doesn't. However, it is interesting for us to take a look at what obtains within the inner sanctums of that party.

In the first place, it is a corrupt party, corrupt to the very core; which means that it would be awfully difficult to get transparent and accountable leadership from within that political entity. It is a wellknown and established fact that the PNC rigged every election since adult suffrage was introduced into this country. It is a dishonourable badge that its members wear even to this day.

It is their trademark, which they brazenly tried to get a court of law to legalize. How revealing that was! Their rigging qual-

ities have even infected their own party, to the extent that force is applied to get the desired outcome. there is the usual gunplay at congress and elections.

At the last party congress, in which Granger was "selected", Norton had to run for his life after that gun episode. One wonders if there will be a repeat of the same at their upcoming August congress.

To add more fuel to this sordid affair, Amna Ally has come out swinging. She is quoted in the news as saying that "Norton was unfit to be the leader of the PNCR". Further, as saying that "Norton comes across as a racist who does not understand the importance of transparency and accountability” Those are very strong words from a longstanding party executive.

Let's analyze her statements. In the first place, Amna, being an Indian

woman and past secretary of that party, was unceremoniously forced out of office when Norton took over. The same went for Geeta Chandan-Edmond. So, Amna was right that Norton has an abhorrence for Indians being in any position of importance in the party.

Looking at her remarks from another angle opens a can of worms, because it is not only a Norton hangup, but one that the PNC holds dear: women are meant to be, and are viewed as, "chattels" in the hands of the men of that party. We all are aware of the many scandals that surrounded prominent women of that party whenever it came to holding office. It is in the public domain that many "favours" have to be given before a position can be granted. Even Burnham in his heyday had never viewed women as amount-

ing to anything of importance, and so it has been ever since in that party.

Norton, for his part, is on the ropes, if not on the canvas. Nobody wants him! At the onset of his move for leadership, all the bigwigs of the PNC resigned. Wasn't that a warning signal that this man was not wanted? The great repulsion for the man is also reflected in the many brainless statements he has made. So, things seem to be heating up as congress draws near.

If party elections are transparent, and this is a highly improbable expectation, then another leader will be chosen. But if the usual PNC Rigging trademark is applied, then Norton will be back. We eagerly await the outcome of this latest imbroglio of the PNC.

Respectfully,

Neil Adams

presented severe challenges not only to the financial resources, but the human capital had to be safeguarded. This had a negative impact on the agriculture sector, but through sound socio-economic policies it survived.

But this was not all. When it rains it pours, and this literally happened in 2021, when a state of emergency had to be declared. Again, the Government team and the minister went to every nook and cranny to help communities combat the great deluge. Here again, the ineptitude of the Coalition and the dire neglect of the sector was exposed, and billions had to be spent to save not only the agriculture sector, but the entire nation.

Again, the sector survived from the devastation meted out by the Coalition, from the dire consequences of the COVID-19, and from the destructive floods in 2021 to now. Since 2023, there has been El Nino - the most severe drought for a long time - but the minister has never failed to take up the gauntlet. In 2021 and thereafter, he ensured that

flooding would be something of the past, and has since worked assiduously to ensure adequate irrigation to every area affected by the drought.

Since the dry spell began, the Ministry of Agriculture ensured that no expense is spared in saving the crops and livestock, thereby protecting the livelihood of the nation. Billions are again being expended to achieve this, yet the Coalition is blind to see where the monies are going, and their spurious and vexatious presentations during the Budget debate can only be surmised as willful ignorance. They failed to do what this Government has achieved so successfully.

I am sure that, in the latter half of this year, the agriculture sector will attain tremendous success and will reap the benefits of all its sagacious, insightful and wise investments. Agriculture will always survive under this Government, and its manifold benefits will have far reaching positive effects not only on Guyana, but on the Caribbean as well.

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

FINAL CHAPTER

We have spent an inordinate amount of time dealing with the several aspects of this viral disease complex which causes respiratory distress in cats.

We were obliged to divert from the topic of PUPPY AILMENTS be-

FELINE “FLU” (continued)

cause Guyana’s practising veterinarians are currently confronted with an increase in the number of cases of cats exhibiting severe sneezing, nasal congestion, and thick fluid discharge from the mouth and eyes. Consequently, we felt that it was imperative that we deal with this current ailment, which is creating great pain and suffering to the cats in a household as well to the caregivers in the home.

Previous columns dealt with the description and definition of this viral disease complex, as well as the symptoms and the treatment associated

Tract Disease (FIRTD). They may be either modified live or inactivated virus vaccines. There are several modified live or inactivated virus vaccines available on the market.

These vaccines are relatively successful in controlling the disease and decreasing the virus shedding. However, I must add that the vaccines do not

PREVENTION

(1) Vaccination: The best possible preventative intervention is vaccination. Vaccines, live, are available to protect cats (especially the young ones) from Feline

completely protect against a development of the carrier state. Also, modified live vaccines (MLV) may induce a mild form of respiratory distress. Your vet will advise you accordingly. I only advise the

teries, shelters, and commercial establishments which sell cats and kittens, or in any multicat environment. Cats in these environments are at a high infection risk.

If the animal is already exhibiting heave and over symptoms previously described, then the cat cannot/should not be vaccinated.

or a home. The latter ‘facility’ has been included because it is not seldom that cat lovers might have well over twenty cats in their homes. Only recently, I encountered a most charming and well-meaning cat-loving family having forty cats and kittens, none of which were vaccinated. Six of them were exhibiting symptoms

(2) Hygiene:

The environment in which cats reside (cattery, pet shelter, pet shop, household, etc.) must be constantly and vigilantly sanitized with the appropriate and reliable cleansing and disinfecting material/chemicals. Jeyes fluid and Chlorox seem to be the more efficient disinfectants. The usual pleasant, scented household wipes will not do the job optimally. Diluted bleach (1 part bleach to 30 parts water) seems to offer some degree of efficacy. Chlorhexidine and ammonium compounds less so.

(3)Improved home care and husbandry: This is an important consideration in the fight to prevent the spread of FIRTD. Do not overcrowd the facility – whether it is the pet shop or the breeder’s station, or a humane society’s shelter,

of FIRTD (what we are loosely calling “Cat Flu”). In such circumstances, the other cats are guaranteed to become sick, and some will succumb.

Behaviour:

Caregivers and clinic/ shelter/hospital staff should wear gloves and wash hands frequently, especially after attending to infected cats and cleansing of feed bowls, instruments used in dayto-day management, cages, and areas where the cats frequent. A shelter protocol that caregivers must adhere to for reducing the level of infection and spread of the disease should be documented.

Vets, cat caregivers, animal health assistants, clinic staff must be exemplary in advocating and following the above guidelines.

(5)Reducing the viral burden on the infected cat:

Caregivers must try as much as possible to clean the cat’s face, mouth, and nose, thereby removing/minimizing the accumulation of snot (nasal discharge) and saliva. The tissues or paper towels should be accumulated in airtight containers and incinerated.

Now that we have completed the publications as-

The shelters, cat caring homes, breeding establishments, etc. must try their utmost to decrease exposure of their wards to stray/abandoned/orphaned cats and kittens which are roaming the towns and countryside, the highways, and byways.

(4)Staff Exemplary

sociated with “Cat Flu,” let me again recognise and thank the graphics team of the Sunday Times who accentuate and beautify the Pet Care Column to support the messages offered each week. The readers of the column, via their calls and comments, and I appreciate the appropriate enhancement of the text by the GT staff.

PNC/R must not sink to greater depths – Forde – reprimands Chairman for

Opposition Member of Parliament Roysdale Forde, SC, who is challenging current People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) leader Aubrey Norton for the leadership of that party, is lamenting the depths to which that party has sunk when it comes to intolerance for dissent.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Forde has been critical of PNC/R Chairman Shurwayne Holder, whom he has said needs to exercise greater tolerance when it comes to dissent. This is after Holder had criticized PNC/R stalwart Amna Ally and her contributions to the party after she had branded Norton as an unfit leader.

“Differences in opinions and choices between and among leaders and rank and file members are the foundations for healthy discourse, development, growth and necessary change. These are the values on which great democracies are built,” Forde wrote. “It is of concern to me that what should be normal healthy discourse has degenerated to a level of which we must not sink.

The party must not show intolerance to dissent, but must nurture appropriate and elevated disagreement and discussions.”

Forde pointed out that Ally has given more than five decades of unstinted service to all leaders of the party; from the very first one, Forbes Burnham, to the one preceding Norton, David Granger. Forde noted that Holder, by virtue of his high position, has a particular duty to temper his language and show respect.

“For years I have admired Cde. Ally’s hard work, dedication and commitment, and that of other women who are the vanguard of this Party…

intolerance against party stalwart

my brotherly caution to (Holder) as Chairman of this great party is to exercise tolerance and greater temperance, particularly when differences arise between him and members of the Party family, particularly those who have given unstinted service and commitment to the Party.

“In such a high office, where much is given, much is expected. His is the duty to demonstrate and cultivate respect for those who would have served the Party from its years when it was seen as a towering force of political power to its current position as a government in waiting. Our Party comrades must be commit-

ted to respect each other,” Forde also said. Forde noted that disagreements within the PNC/R are nothing new, and in fact contribute to the health of democracy within the party. But he referenced the ground rules laid by those who have previously led the party, such as Burnham, whom he said encouraged aggressive but healthy discussions that were nevertheless underlined by respect.

“Historically, these are the tenets of the PNCR that set us apart from all other political parties. We must be proud of, and never cease to value, transparency in all that we do,

which helps the public to appreciate the standard set. We must work diligently to ensure our highly valued democratic expressions and exercises do not reduce us to rancour or divisions,” he wrote.

“We have been told that Mr. Burnham encouraged healthy, aggressive discussions, but abhorred intolerance, disrespect and senseless disruption. These are values party stalwarts were nurtured on, and which we of this generation must inculcate as a standard of political excellence,” the attorney-at-law added.

Ally, a former Minister of Social Cohesion and former PNC/R General Secretary, came under attack after allegedly referring to the present leader of the PNC, Aubrey Norton, as an “unfit leader”, who was responsible for divisions in the party. She has now thrown her support behind Forde, who recently publicly declared his intention to challenge Norton for party leadership at the next congress. In a social media post, Holder, a first-time PNCR Parliamentarian, blasted Ally and questioned her

record in the party.

“Where was this former Minister and General Secretary for the last four years? How has she contributed to the development of the party and the fight against the PPP? She didn’t even have the decency to facilitate a handover process to the new General Secretary when the faction she created lost at the last congress. While I respect her right to endorse whomever she sees fit, I don’t believe Amna Ali has the moral authority to say who is unfit to lead the Party… my gloves are off! I will say much more at the right time,” Holder had further written.

It has been announced that the PNCR congress would be held before August 31, 2024.

In March, Forde launched his campaign to run for the leadership of the PNCR – the leading party in the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)majority Opposition – at the upcoming Biennial Delegates Congress, where the party elects its Leader, Chairman, Vice Chairman and 15 members to sit on its Central Executive Committee (CEC).

APNU MP Roysdale Forde, SC PNC/R Chairman Shurwayne Holder PNC/R stalwart Amna Ally

Teen dies days after bike exploded in Essequibo accident

Seventeen-year-old

Shane Lall of Cullen Village, Essequibo Coast, who sustained severe burns on his body following an accident along the Perseverance Public Road in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), has died.

The teen took his last breath at the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was being treated for first-degree burns.

It was reported that on Wednesday at about 09:30h, the young man was driving a motorcycle on the western driving lane of the pub-

lic road at Perseverance, proceeding north at a fast rate when he lost control of the motorcycle and it crashed into a motorcar and burst

into flames.

The injured teen was rushed to the Suddie Public Hospital after the accident, but because of the extent of his injuries, he was transferred to the ICU at the

Georgetown Public Hospital.

One relative had stated, “He went going home with speed, and he couldn’t control the bike and he run into the car in front he. They give him a 50/50 chance to survive.”

Murkier…

…and murkier PNC

Just when your Eyewitness thought the PNC had hit a new low with the infighting between Aubrey Norton and Royston Forde for the head honcho position, there comes the right honourable G/town Ex-Mayor, Pandit and ex-GDF Staff Sergeant Ubraj Narine, accusing Norton and one of his hand-picked allied executives of “racism” against Indian PNC members!!

Now, competition for leadership is expected – even salutary – for political parties, even when they get bloody!!

Remember the PNC was founded on a leadership struggle by Burnham against Jagan!! And Desmond Hoyte did what everyone thought was impossible and expelled long-time PNC strongman Hamilton Green when the latter vied for leadership. It was just a continuation of the tradition!! But to bring racism into the open??

Burnham always cited his non-racial street cred by citing that when he broke away from Jagan, two of the top Indian leaders – Latchmansingh and Jainarine Singh -- followed him, and did not follow Jagan!! Never mind the former died early and the latter quit - and accused Burnham of racism!!

Anyhow, the tradition remained: of Indians being placed in the top tier of the party, albeit as bridesmaids, like Winston Murray, but never as the bride. But with the past Chairman Amna Ally supporting Forde as the new leader and saying that “Norton wasn’t fit to be leader” all hell’s breaking out. Rather than assuming it as a factional matter – that Aunty Amna belongs to the Granger faction that hates Norton’s guts and backs Forde - the goodly Pandit has released the race genie from the bottle into which it had been pushed back!! Amna and he are Indians, he asserts!!

Aunty Amna also expanded on her early denunciation of Norton to bring out the racial angle. She referred to former Treasurer Mr Faaiz Mursaline – an Indian - who resigned as a result of being forced to sign blank cheques with no supporting documents. Then she invoked the case of Geeta Chandan, whom Norton had appointed as General Secretary of the PNC, but who was forced to resign after it was alleged that she was set up to disgrace herself in the National Assembly!!

The only Indian in the Exec whose “name wasn’t called” was Mahipal – who’s facing other accusations to bring him down!! But earlier, when a PNC-allied group supporting Norton had allegedly made a statement that the GDF should turn their guns on Indians, Mahipal, Chandan and Narine had denounced the statement. And were branded “slave catchers” who were betraying their comrades to deliver them to the PPP!!

So, what lies ahead for the PNC on the race question? For one, they cannot win any election without expanding their present base by bringing in Indians. So, they’ll have to fall back on brute force and ignorance!!

…before light?

Hey…your Eyewitness lives in Guyana, so he gotta express frustration at the blackouts that he and other Guyanese have been forced to endure. But he’d like to remind all and sundry that, back in 2013, everything was set for the Amaila Falls Hydroelectric Project to be launched, with financing and contractor in place. By now we would’ve been enjoying 165MW of electricity, which would’ve taken care of all our needs, and then some!!

But guess what? It was the PNC and AFC that scuttled the project, after they announced they’d pull the plug if they were elected. The political risk was too great for the contractor Sithe, and they pulled out. Now, this doesn’t mean that GPL gets a free pass on not taking care of business now – especially after those seventeen generators were brought in late last year. Why aren’t they all hooked up?

It’s great that ten Cuban power engineers are coming in, but the management team’s gonna have to get with the programme. Patience is wearing thin!!

…PNC barge

Back in 1988, during the height of the blackouts, then Deputy PM Robert Corbin bought a touted 10-megawatt power barge from Miami for US$3 million. It never produced more than 4 megawatts of power, and soon blew up!

Dead teen Shane Lall

The scene of the accident

Exxon’s Whiptail permit now caters for decommissioning fund

– strict timelines for submitting insurance also included

The Guyana Government has approved ExxonMobil Guyana’s sixth project offshore, the Whiptail project, but some changes have been made to strengthen the regulation of production, among which are the imposition of a decommissioning fund and a timeframe within which the company must submit its insurance.

It was announced on Friday that the Guyana Government has approved the US$12.7B Whiptail Project. And after receiving these required Government and regulatory approvals, ExxonMobil had said in a statement from its Texas, US headquarters that it has made a final investment decision (FID) for the Whiptail development.

They will also be required to agree to the “terms and conditions for the disbursement of payments for the cost of decommissioning, to protect the state from the risk of having to fund decommissioning liabilities.”

It was explained that the terms and conditions agreed on shall consider, among other things, the creation, structure, role, ownership and governance of the fund; as well as verification, investment strategies, payment and disbursement procedures, and winding up the fund.

In the Uaru permit, Exxon’s fifth project, provision was made for a decommissioning plan which the licensee would detail in consultation with the Minister and appropriate Government regulators.

Insurance

However, the Whiptail permit also mandates that

One of the changes in the Whiptail permit is the inclusion of a decommissioning fund, in accordance with section 61 (4) of the Petroleum Activities Act (2023). Additionally, Exxon will be required, within 24 months of the date of the licence, to agree to the terms and conditions that administer the decommissioning fund.

the licensee must have, at all times, insurance in keeping with the Petroleum Act. The permit also noted that copies of said insurance must be provided within 90 days before startup.

In the Uaru permit, it had said that copies of the insurance shall be provided to the Minister.

“The licence holder shall provide copies of the said insurance documentation to the Minister no later than 90 days before start-up, and shall provide such additional

GPS on massive recruitment drive to get ‘quality’ officers

The Guyana Prison Service (GPS) has re-

cently intensified its efforts to recruit high-quality officers. Multiple recruitment drives have been conducted in various regions across the country, attracting a significant number of potential candidates.

The GPS has said its countrywide recruitment drives have been a massive hit. However, despite the turnout of around 120 potential recruits for the exams, only 37 have been shortlisted.

Assistant Superintendent of Prisons

Abeid De Cunha, the Prison School Administrator, has emphasized the importance of selecting ‘quality’ over quantity to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of the Prison Service.

“Of that number, we were able to shortlist 37 persons, who are already interviewed. Provided approval is granted, we will very soon have those persons enter the Prison Service…this is the only job in the world where you can leave school and be a supervisor. As you are hired, you will go through

your basic training, you will be trained to be supervisors, because you have to supervise the prisoners…,” he explained.

De Cunha has highlighted the plethora of opportunities awaiting recruits within the Prison Service, and has shared on personal accomplishments and opportunities he has encountered during his tenure.

“Since 2007, I have worked at the Guyana Prison Service. I not only worked, but was worked on

to mould me into the prison officer that the Service requires. That moulding required several facets of training, inclusive of occupation safety and health… the years of experience have brought me to that point to use the techniques learned in the different training programs, to bring up ranks… and to guide them into the correct path”, he explained.

Recently, acting Director of Prisons Nicklon Elliot hinted at potential revision to the entry requirements for recruits. He stressed the significance of a solid secondary education as the basic prerequisite for candidates, along with the completion of a written examination.

According to the Prison Director, higher requirements would attract more competent candidates and ensure their retention within the Service.

However, Elliot acknowledged the challenges faced by the GPS in recruiting and retaining skilled personnel, citing efforts to improve conditions of service and address issues such as allowances and salaries.

documentation and details in such form and manner as the Minister may require from time to time,” the Whiptail permit further states.

Whiptail is expected to add approximately 250,000 barrels of daily capacity by the end of 2027, when it is slated to come on stream, thus bringing the country’s production capacity up to approximately 1.3 million barrels per day. The multi-billion-dollar Whiptail project, which is expected to last for at least 20 years, would include up to 10 drill centres with 48 production and injection wells.

“Our unrivalled success in developing the Guyana re-

source at an industry-leading pace, cost, and environmental performance is built on close collaboration with the Government of Guyana as well as our partners, suppliers, and contractors. The Stabroek block developments are among the lowest emissions-intensity assets in ExxonMobil’s upstream portfolio, and will provide the world with additional reliable energy supplies now and for years to come,” President of ExxonMobil Upstream Company, Liam Mallon, has said in the statement.

Meanwhile, the floating, production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel for the Whiptail project, to be named Jaguar, is under construction. Back in October 2023, SBM Offshore announced that it was awarded the front-end engineering and design (FEED) contract for the Whiptail FPSO. The Dutch company had said, upon completion of the FEED contract, that it would eventually construct and install the FPSO, but this second phase of work is dependent on project approval by the Guyanese Government.

On Friday, SBM Offshore announced that ExxonMobil had confirmed the award of contracts for the Whiptail development, thus cementing the construction and installation of the Jaguar FPSO by the Dutch company.

Under the contract, ownership of the vessel would be transferred to Exxon before the FPSO’s installation, and SBM Offshore is expected to operate the FPSO for 10 years under the Operation and Maintenance Enabling Agreement signed in 2023.

The Jaguar FPSO’s design is based on SBM Offshore’s industry-leading Fast4Ward® program that incorporates the company’s 7th new build, a multi-purpose floater hull combined with several standardized topside modules.

The FPSO will be designed to produce 250,000 barrels of oil per day, will have an associated gas treatment capacity of 540 million cubic feet per day, and a water injection capacity of 300,000 barrels per day. The FPSO will be spreadmoored in a water depth of about 1,630 metres, and will be able to store around 2 million barrels of crude oil. (G-3)

Murdered Corentyne woman strangled, stabbed – PME

Following the discovery of the battered body of a 52-year-old woman in the backlands of Number 54 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, an autopsy has revealed the gruesome manner in which the woman was killed.

According to the police, a postmortem examination (PME) conducted on Saturday morning on the body of Ninawattie Nandalall, called ‘Sharda’, of Lot 14 Number 55 Village, Corentyne, has determined that the cause of death was asphyxiation, incise wound to the neck, and fracture of the cervical spine. The body has been handed over to relatives for burial.

Nandalall’s semi-naked body was found by her son in the Corentyne backlands on Friday morning. Her son, Bhojdev Narinedat, told Guyana Times, “De condition wha me see me Muma hut!”

The woman had ventured to the backdam around midday on Thursday to pick

mangoes, but had never returned. According to the son, they went in search of the woman on Thursday night until 03:00h the following morning, but their efforts were futile. They had returned to the backdam later on Friday morning to resume the search when he made the gruesome discovery.

“My two cousins take one dam and I take the other. While walking, I watched un-

der the bush, and then, about 75 feet away from me, I saw a red cloth and a blue shirt, and when I walk close, I realized that it was my mother,” he detailed. The son added, “It was blood all over her face. Her neck get a cut, and from here come down was naked.”

Police are alleging that Nandalall was murdered in the backdam at some time between 12:30 hours on April 11 and 07:40 hours on April 12.

Initially, three persons were arrested in connection with the murder, but two males: an 18-year-old and a 25-year-old, have since confessed to raping and killing the woman.

Regional Commander, Senior Superintendent Shivpersaud Bacchus, told reporters that the two suspects, who also reside in the same village as Nandalall, provided investigators with details of what transpired. They remain in custody as investigations continue.

The hull of the Jaguar FPSO, which will be used by Whiptail Project

Assistant Superintendent of Prisons Abeid De Cunha, the Prison School Administrator

Dead: Ninawattie Nandalall, called ‘Sharda’

SUNDAY, APRIL 14, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Gov’t urges exportation of unpopular wood species to combat deforestation

The Guyana Government is encouraging the exportation of unpopular wood species while restricting exportation of the more popular ones, among which are greenheart, purpleheart and kabukalli.

Guyana has over 1000 wood species, and among the lesser known or not regularly used ones are letterwood, bullet wood, crabwood, tatabu, shibadan, tauroniro, mora, dukali, keriti, silverballi.

Natural Resource

Minister Vickram Bharrat has said the move is part of an effort to sustain Guyana’s deforestation rate, which is currently the second low-

est worldwide. According to the minister, this change is supported by Guyana’s Log Export Policy, which was instituted in 2009 and allows

the country to meet the local and international demand for wood.

“It enables us to earn from the exportation as well as to satisfy the local demand on the market, which has increase significantly. Our deforestation rate is at 0.306; our intention is to keep it there, or carry it down even further. Our commitment in the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS 2023) is 0.07 percent, which is way above what we are right now,” Minister Bharrat has said.

Value-added

Even though this initiative would play an integral

role in sustaining the sector, the minister has reaffirmed his position on the need to expand value-added production. He is contending that investing in value-added products could be the key to ensuring long-term viability of the forestry sector, and has as such issued a call for local, regional and international companies to invest in a furniture factory and other innovative ideas that would propel the sector’s revenue.

“We need a recognized world-class furniture factory in Guyana, so that these hotels that are being built right now, they can purchase furniture right here from Guyana instead of im-

porting it. Which will create opportunities for Guyanese, because it actually means you can set up that…furniture factory,” he has posited.

President Dr Irfaan Ali recently announced that Government would be embarking on a venture to create wood-based homes to cater to those in that particular niche market. The project, being executed by Dura Villa Homes Guyana, would be constructing 50 homes for Trinidad and Tobago, 500 homes for St Vincent and the Grenadines, 25 homes for St Lucia, and 100 homes per month for Barbados.

These eco-friendly, resort-style homes would feature an exotic blend of natu-

ral landscaping and modern architecture, as well as locally-sourced trees, to give its residents a full ‘Amazonianstyle’ living experience.

The homes to be constructed in the Caribbean countries aforementioned starts from Gy$10 million, or US$50,000.

The wood work and engineering for the structures are conducted in Guyana and shipped to these countries where they would be put together.

They include a variety of bedrooms, baths, vaulted ceilings, covered porches, hardwood cabinets, and open floor plans, among other amenities for sustainable and contemporary living.

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat

SUNDAY, APRIL 14, 2024

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Establishment of transitional Presidential Council in Haiti paves way for new elections

– Caricom lauds move, remains ready to assist country to return to normalcy

The Caribbean Community (Caricom), which is chaired by President Dr. Irfaan Ali, has lauded the creation of the Transitional Presidential Council in Haiti, which paves the way for that beleaguered country to eventually hold elections and return to some semblance of normalcy after weeks of gang-fuelled violence.

In a statement on Friday, the Heads of Government of Caricom welcomed the announcement, made through a decree, that a nine-member Transitional Presidential Council, including seven voting and two non-voting members, had been appointed.

and constitutional government,” Caricom said in its statement.

“Caricom has supported Haiti, its sister nation, through the challenging process of arriving at a Haitianowned formula for governance that will take the troubled country through elections to the restoration of the lapsed state institutions

“Following on from the agreements reached in Kingston, Jamaica on 11 March, which brought together a diverse group of Haitian political, private sector, civil society and faithbased stakeholders, the Transitional Presidential Council has devised a framework setting out the creation, organization and functioning of the Council, and

arrived at a political accord that articulates the way forward.”

According to the Caricom Heads of Government, they “fully endorse” the principles of the political accord. Particular note was also taken of Article 16, which states, “The mission of the Presidential Council is to put Haiti back on the road to dignity, democratic legitimacy, stability and sovereignty, and to ensure the proper functioning of the State’s institutions.

“It is also clear that one of the priorities of the newly installed Presidential Council will be to urgently address the security situation, so that Haitians can go about their daily lives in a normal manner; safely access food, water and medical services; children can return to school; women can move around without fear of horrific abuses; and so that businesses can reopen.

“There are still daunting challenges ahead. Caricom stands ready to continue to support the Haitian people and their leaders as they determine their future in a sovereign manner through this transitional period on the path to stability, security and long-term sustainable development for Haiti,” Caricom has further said.

On Friday, Haiti formally announced the creation of the nine-member Transitional Presidential Council which will be tasked with choosing the country’s next Prime Minister and Cabinet, a long-awaited move, considering the spate of violence in Haiti.

It was announced in the decree that the Council would exercise certain presidential powers until a new president-elect can be inaugurated, no later than February 7, 2026. The council’s mandate will thus end on that date, with no provi-

sion for an extension.

Previously embattled Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry had announced he would resign once the council had been created and a new Prime Minister chosen. Henry’s announcement in March had come amid mounting pressure from a spiralling security breakdown and concerted efforts from Caricom and Haitian stakeholders, with the assistance of the international community, to broker a way forward.

Coming out of these crucial talks among Caricom Heads in Jamaica on how to return Haiti to a state of normalcy, the regional bloc had announced that the Presidential Council would be established to guide Haiti towards elections and the restoration of order.

This announcement was made by Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley when she addressed the media at the press conference following the talks. Mottley said 80 to 90 per cent of proposals put on the table were agreed to by the stakeholders.

Further, Mottley explained that the next interim Prime Minister would work with the Presidential Council to establish a government. Additionally, a provisional Electoral Council would be established as a critical institution.

Mottley noted that, as a regional community, Caricom has agreed with its international partners on four principles, including that persons on the Presidential Council should not run in any future elections in Haiti.

Haiti has been engulfed in turmoil since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. The streets have since been overrun by gangs, and there has been a continuous cycle of violence.

That violence flared even more when, in February, criminal gangs in the capital Port-au-Prince conducted coordinated attacks targeting police stations, prisons, critical infrastructure, and civilian sites in the city.

On March 2, armed gang members raided two penitentiaries, reportedly freeing some 3800 inmates, after which Haitian authorities announced a three-day State of Emergency and imposed a nighttime curfew. (G-3)

Caricom Chairman, President Dr Irfaan Ali

Venezuela agreed for the ICJ to resolve its border controversy

Once again, the Maduro government attempted to have their cake and eat it on the settlement of the border controversy he has been exploiting to save his collapsing regime. Insisting that Venezuela does not recognize the ICJ’s jurisdiction to conclusively settle the controversy, he yet sent his VP Delcy Rodriguez last week to submit a “counter-memorial” to plead their case before the Court’s deadline expired. And once again, they reiterated that the Geneva Agreement of 1966 remains the sole legitimate framework for resolving the dispute, as agreed upon by both nations. “This Agreement is in force and is the regulatory framework that must be complied with in good faith by the parties, in accordance with international law.”

This time, however, VP Delcy Rodriguez, as part of the evidence presented to the ICJ, claimed that ExxonMobil paid US$18 million to the Guyanese Government to take the case to the ICJ in a “notorious violation” of the 1966 Geneva Agreement. We know that the US$18 million was the measly bonus accepted by Trotman of the APNU/AFC coalition Government for signing the even more measly PSA to exploit the Stabroek Block. But we believe we Guyanese must understand clearly that we have been diligently following the Geneva Agreement from its inception in 1966 into the present. If Maduro and Venezuela are serious about their adherence to that Agreement, then we will demonstrate they cannot reject the jurisdiction of the ICJ.

The Geneva Agreement consists of a mere eight Articles, with Art 1-4 outlining the steps to be taken to resolve the controversy, where Venezuela claims the Arbitral Award of 1899 settling our border is null and void. Articles 1, 2 and 3 mandated the establishment of a Mixed Commission and outlined its mechanisms, one of which is to submit reports every six months. After four years – which would be 1970 - if an agreement was not reached, within three months of receiving the final report Art 4 declared, “(t)hose Governments shall without delay choose one of the means of peaceful settlement provided in Article 33 of the Charter of the United Nations…(and)…failing agreement on this point, to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.”

In 1970, however, the two governments agreed to a 12-year Moratorium in the Protocol of Port of Spain, which expired in 1983 when Venezuela refused to extend it. It was then that, in accordance with Art 4, Venezuela and Guyana both agreed that the matter be passed on to the UN Secretary-General. And that he “shall choose another of the means stipulated in Article 33 of the Charter of the United Nations, and so on until the controversy has been resolved, or until all the means of peaceful settlement there contemplated have been exhausted.”

The Secretary-General conducted Good Offices from 1990 to 2017, in which he appointed four Personal Representatives - Alister McIntyre (1990-1999); Oliver Jackman (1999-2007); Norman Girvan (2010-2014) and Dag Halvor Nylander (2017-2018) - who unsuccessfully engaged in intensive high-level discussions to resolve the controversy. Venezuela was in full agreement with the matter being in the hands of the UN Secretary-General, and engaged fully with his personal representatives.

In the hiatus after the passing of Girvan in 2014, former SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon communicated to the parties, on 15 December 2016, that he concluded the Good Offices Process would continue until the end of 2017 with a strengthened mandate of mediation, and that, if significant progress had not been made by that time towards arriving at a full agreement for the solution of the controversy, he would choose the International Court of Justice as the next means of settlement, unless the Governments of Guyana and Venezuela jointly requested that he refrain from doing so. Guyana did not indicate that he should refrain, and on 30 January 2018, his successor Antonio Guterres chose the ICJ as the means to be used for the solution of the controversy.

Following this decision, Guyana filed an application instituting proceedings against Venezuela with the International Court of Justice on 29 March 2018. It was thus the UN system and its Sect General, rather than Exxon, that decided on selecting the ICJ in accordance with the Geneva Agreement. The paltry bonus was simply used to pay legal fees.

But while Maduro will continue to play the rogue in the international system, Guyana’s faith will be vindicated when the ICJ rules in its favour, in accordance with international law.

GDF corporal dies during training at Tacama

Corporal Leroy Thom of the Infantry Battalion of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) died on Friday evening after complaining of feeling unwell during training exercises involved in a Section Commanders’ Course. The late corporal had been a resident of Blueberry Hill in Linden.

Based on reports received, Thom com -

plained of feeling unwell during a routine training event, and was taken to the Medical Centre at the Colonel John Clarke Military School at Tacama, Upper Berbice River, where he was attended to by a registered nurse and medics. However, after his condition deteriorated, a request was made for a medevac, and a team of medical specialists from the Georgetown Public

Hospital was deployed to the training school at Tacama.

Upon arrival, the team made every effort to resuscitate Corporal Thom, but he was eventually pronounced dead. His body was later flown to Georgetown.

“The Force has since notified the soldier's family of the incident,” a release from the GDF stated, while adding that a Board of Inquiry

Dead: Corporal Leroy Thom

(BoI) will be established to investigate the circumstances surrounding Thom’s death.

Ravi Dev

6 EBD residents nabbed with gun, ammo & narcotics

Six persons have been arrested between Friday and Saturday following several police operations conducted along the East Bank Demerara corridor, which have led to the discovery of several illegal firearms, rounds of ammunition, and narcotics.

Police have said that on Friday, a 34-year-old woman was arrested at her Grove, EBD apartment following the discovery of 100 kilograms of cannabis concealed in a barrel within the apartment's ceiling. Acting on information received, police went to the woman’s home and found

her, her 57-year-old father and another female present. Ranks undertook a search of this home, and located the

hidden barrel containing numerous parcels of ganja.

The woman was arrested, cautioned, and taken to Divisional Headquarters 4B, where the seized narcotics were weighed and amounted to 101.7 kilograms. Investigations are ongoing.

On the same day, ranks on motorcycle patrol apprehended a man with

three grams of cocaine in the Grove Squatting Area. Reports are that two ranks observed the 58-year-old man acting suspiciously and decided to search him. They unearthed a transparent plastic bag containing a rock-like substance in his possession.

He was arrested, and the substance tested positive for cocaine which weighed

three grams.

On Saturday, between 4:00h and 7:00h, ranks attached to the Timehri Police Station raided several spots, including a farm at Yarrowkabra on the Soesdyke/ Linden Highway, where a 60-year-old resident of Kuru Kururu and a 48-year-old resident of the Yarrowkabra Extension community were arrested.

Their apprehension came after a search of their living quarters unearthed a 12-gauge shotgun, eight cartridges, and two cartridge casings hidden in the roof.

Two camouflage military shirts were also found in a security guard's quarters, leading to his arrest as well. The trio are currently in police custody.

Meanwhile, a 78-yearold resident of Yarrowkabra and his 48-year-old son have been taken into custody following the discovery of a shotgun at their premises.

The items that were found during the raid on the EBD

SUNDAY, APRIL 14, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

‘Allegedly’ missing teen now wanted for 3 murders

- another man being sought for Arimu Backdam double-murder

Nearly one month after his mother took to social media, pleading for the public to help locate her missing son, the police on Saturday issued a wanted bulletin for 19-year-old Romain Henry in connection with the brutal murders of gold miners Zaheer Mohammed Sheriff, Donvan Washington and Shawn Albert.

Another man, 21-yearold Kellon Fredericks, is wanted and being pursued by the police for the said crimes.

Henry’s last known address is Onderneeming

raigned for the murder of Zaheer Mohammed Sheriff and Donvan Washington. They face separate charges of being accessories after the fact of murder, and have been remanded to

Sandpit, Essequibo Coast, while Fredericks resides in Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo (EBE).

Henry’s mother, in a social media post, stated that her son vanished on March 15, 2024, but a brutal crime was committed on March 3. She claimed Henry had contacted her that night, citing illness and stating he was staying with a taxi driver.

However, communication ceased thereafter. Despite posting a photo on WhatsApp, the woman said, Henry did not respond to her messages. She had accused the taxi driver of being involved in her son’s disappearance. He was detained by police and later released on bail.

The mother remains adamant that the driver knows the truth about her son’s disappearance. Fredericks, already known to law enforcement, was the subject of a wanted bulletin in February for armed robberies committed between December 2023 and January 2024.

Earlier in the week, Travis Fredericks, 32, and Fernando Fredericks, 28, both miners of Tuschen Housing Scheme, were ar-

prison until April 25, 2024.

RECAP:

Fifty-year-old Sheriff, a father of three and resident of Byderabo Road in Bartica, and his 26-yearold porter Donovan Washington, also a fa-

ty of Sheriff.

Investigations later revealed that Sheriff was the owner of a six-inch land dredge operation at Arimu Backdam, and he had ‘washed down’ on that morning before leaving the camp with Washington to go to Bartica on an ATV.

According to the police, the general manager of Sheriff’s operation reported that about five minutes after his boss had left camp, he heard several loud explosions, which he suspected to be gunshots. He said he went to investigate, and, about 500 metres from the camp, found both Sheriff and Washington lying in the trail with gunshot injuries about their bodies.

Police said the 39-yearold manager reported observing that both of Sheriff’s firearms and the gold were missing. He later made a report to the Bartica Police Station.

Sheriff’s body, when

ther of three and resident of Seventh Avenue in Bartica, were riddled with bullets at Arimu Backdam, a Cuyuni riverine community.

It was reported that two masked men on a red all-terrain vehicle (ATV) carted off from these deceased persons 102 ounces of raw gold, valued at $37 million, and two licensed firearms (a .32 pistol and a 12-gauge shotgun), proper-

examined, revealed that he was shot in his right upper chest, upper right thigh, upper right arm, and left upper back.

Washington’s body, when examined, revealed that he was shot to his lower abdomen, left chest, left shoulder, left hand, and left elbow; and he had four wounds to the right thigh, two to the left thigh, and one to his back.

Wanted: Romain Henry Wanted: Kellon Fredericks

Travis Fredericks and Fernando Fredericks

Murdered: Zaheer Mohammed Sheriff and Donvan Washington

SUNDAY, APRIL 14, 2024

More locals needed in oil & gas workforce - Min Bharrat

– says local content sensitisation workshops to be hosted across Guyana

The Guyana

Government is not satisfied with the number of locals presently employed in the oil and gas sector, considering the rapid development of the country’s economy.

Currently, some 6000 locals are actively contributing to the sector’s growth, which represents almost 70 per cent of the total workforce and a 24 per cent increase in Guyanese hired. Of the 6000 locals, over 900 Guyanese are employed as plant and machine operators; 1,203 as professionals, including accountants, lawyers, and engineers; and another 485 as technicians.

‘Alleged’ missing teen...

The scene of the shooting was processed, and one .32 magazine with eight live matching rounds, seven 9mm spent shells, and three .32 spent shells were found.

In addition, Henry was implicated in the murder of pastry vendor Shawn Albert while he was attempting to flee from armed bandits at

Onderneeming Sand Pit, located on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two, in August 2019. Henry and others were accused of shooting Albert while he was selling pastries within the Onderneeming community.

It was reported that two armed men approached the pastry van and demanded

cash. When the salesman resisted, the gunmen opened fire on them. The salesman reportedly took cover in the bus and ordered Albert to drive. Albert obeyed, but crashed into a fence, and as the bus came to a halt, the gunmen ran towards it and relived the salesman of between $60,000 and $70,000 in cash.

During a recent discussion on the Guyana Dialogue programme, Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat disclosed that Guyana is producing a total of 645,000 barrels of oil per day, and this

number is projected to increase to 1.3 million barrels by 2027. As such, he believes that number of locals in the sector must complement Guyana’s oil and gas operations.

“6000 is quite significant, but we are not satisfied. We’re working right now to build out the Guyana Technical Training College in Port Mourant in Berbice, to ensure that we train more of our people so that they can be employed directly in the sector,” Minister Bharrat has said.

Further, he said Government has been in talks with oil companies to offer scholarships to Guyanese, so they can develop their knowledge

helicopter services, offshore catering services, machining and fabrication services, and hazardous waste management.

These partnerships comply with the Local Content Act, as well as contribute to business expansion, capacity development, and knowledge sharing within the country’s oil and gas industry.

In 2024, a local company will, for the first time, be providing specialised subsea services through a joint venture with a Norwegian company. Other initiatives that are onstream for 2024 include a paid partnership programme with the 45 Tier

of the industry.

Another announcement made by the minister is that the Government would be moving to conduct local content sensitisation workshops around the country. This is to ensure that more people are familiar with the opportunities in the sector.

Private Sector Development

Meanwhile, he disclosed that the Local Content Legislation has facilitated numerous partnerships between local and foreign companies, encouraging collaboration in the emerging petroleum industry.

Notable alliances include joint ventures and partnerships that would be providing shore base facilities, offshore support vessel services, offshore

One contractors, targeting 100 paid internships and the development of an enhanced digital platform to allow immediate notification of employment opportunities.

According to Bharrat, more public-private partnerships like the ones aforementioned can play an integral role in ramping up Guyanese local oil and gas employment numbers.

He noted that Government is willing to work with companies that have innovative ideas that would contribute to the development of the economy.

“We need to work with every single stakeholder, once they are serious of the development and once they want to work with us in developing Guyana…,” he said.

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat

Pres Ali to deliver keynote address at 2024 Local Content Summit

President Dr Irfaan Ali will deliv-

er the keynote address at the second Local Content Summit, slated for the Pegasus Suite and Corporate Centre in Kingston, Georgetown on April 16, 2024.

The event is being hosted by MBW Energy Support Services Inc (MBWESSI) and Prestige Management Consultants (PMC), in partnership with the Local Content Secretariat through the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Themed “Creating Value, Driving Economic Expansion”, the summit is geared towards knowledge sharing, for local businesses in Guyana to understand the benefits of becoming Local Contentcertified, and how to identify and capitalize on available and upcoming opportunities.

the upskilling of Guyanese talent”.

The organizers of the summit are honoured to have leaders and business owners confirmed to speak, noting that it is so important to have speakers who understand the need, who relate to the sector(s), and who are directly involved in the road ahead.

The summit aims to bring together policymakers, regulatory and support agencies and organizations, educators, operators and sub-contractors, industry experts, vendors/suppliers, investors, and the local private sector, among other stakeholders.

The Ministry of

MBWESSI and PMC are focused on ensuring that the Summit agenda is local content-centred, with a mixture of both panel discussions and featured presentations. The Summit aims to discuss the current Local Content Policy and certification process; local content for the oil and gas sector as a driver for economic expansion; the role of local content in the supply and value chain; joint venture both local and international; and bridging the capacity gap.

Natural Resources has fully endorsed this event, and has noted that “the Ministry, via its Local Content Secretariat, recognizes the vital importance of a conducive environment for local participation and development within Guyana’s petroleum sector. Further, as the unit legislatively empowered to monitor, implement and enforce local content in Guyana, its promotion not only drives economic growth but also contributes significantly to sustainable expansion for local suppliers and

28-Y-O slapped with multiple cybercrime charges

Joshua Rambarran, a 28-year-old man who allegedly enticed two children under 14 years old to send explicit images and videos to a Snapchat account, has been slapped with multiple cybercrime charges, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has said. Police have also said the illicit materials were shared within a Telegram group.

Rambarran was apprehended and subjected to questioning, during which statements were obtained. Subsequently,

the Director of Public Prosecutions recommended that he be charged with five counts of distributing child pornography through a computer system; publishing electronic data that is obscene with the intent to humiliate another person; child luring; and using a computer system to coerce, harass, intimidate, and humiliate a person.

Rambarran is scheduled to be arraigned in court in the new week.

The Summit’s opening plenary will include President Ali as the keynote speaker; Minister Vickram Bharrat as the featured speaker; CEO of the Local Content Secretariat, Martin Pertab; and Minister Deodat Indar, as well as CEO of MBW Energy Support Services Inc., Abbigale Loncke-Watson; and Anita Ramprasad of Prestige Management Consultants.

Additional speakers include Phillip Rietema of ExxonMobil; Cassandra Jaikarran of Ocean Air Logistics; Sharlene Seegolam of SLB; Martin

More locals needed...

“Today we see apartment buildings in almost every single community in Guyana, mainly because we put tremendous business opportunities for the private sector; which they are taking advantage of, but I think they can do much more working together in partnership and joint ventures with local and foreign investors,” Minister Bharrat explained.

Development

As Guyana continues to experience unprecedented growth, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government is looking to push increased involvement of the local private sector as well as the diaspora in the expansion of the country’s economy.

Earlier in the year, President Dr. Irfaan Ali indicated that Government was currently working on several initiatives to help

propel various sectors, including forestry, insurance, construction and agriculture, among others. He disclosed that soon the Government would be rolling out specific ways in which the private sector could tap into the available opportunities.

According to the Guyanese Leader, his Administration is build -

ing a country that would have macroeconomic stability, resilience and sustainability – all of which would ensure continuous growth and development.

According to President Ali, the key to building Guyana as one of the strongest economies in the world was the capability of the Guyanese people – which he strongly believes in.

Cheong of SBM Offshore; Renatha Khan-Bovell of Nobel Corporation; Dr. Natasha Gaskin-Peters of CLBD; Donna Rickford of Supreme Laundromat; Khrishan Singh of GAICO, and Kester Hutson of GCCI.

President Dr Ifraan Ali

CEO of MBW Energy Support Services Inc, Abbigale Loncke-Watson Prestige Management Consultants executive Anita Ramprasad

Charged: Joshua Rambarran

Hetmyer the hero as Royals take low-scoring thriller

Shimron Hetmyer came in with Rajasthan Royals needing 35 from 20. Perhaps it should never have got this close, given Punjab Kings' 147 for 8 felt at least ten runs too light on a pitch that had some bounce but no known witchcraft performed upon it. It had also seemed from Royals' own solid - but not rampant - 56-run opening stand, that they weren't

SCOREBOARD

Punjab Kings (20 ovs maximum)

Atharva Taide c Sen

b Avesh Khan 15

Jonny Bairstow c Hetmyer

b Maharaj 15

Prabhsimran Singh c Jurel

b Chahal 10

Sam Curran (c) c Jurel

b Maharaj 6

Jitesh Sharma † c Parag

b Avesh Khan 29

Shashank Singh c Jurel

b Sen 9

Liam Livingstone run out (Kotian/†Samson) 21

Ashutosh Sharma c Maharaj

b Boult 31

Harpreet Brar not out 3

Extras (lb 2, nb 1, w 5) 8

TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 7.35) 147/8

Did not bat: Harshal Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh

Fall of wickets: 1-27 (Atharva Taide, 3.4 ov), 2-41 (Prabhsimran Singh, 6.3 ov), 3-47 (Jonny Bairstow, 7.6 ov), 4-52 (Sam Curran, 9.3 ov), 5-70 (Shashank Singh, 12.1 ov), 6-103 (Jitesh Sharma, 16.1 ov), 7-122 (Liam Livingstone, 17.5 ov), 8-147 (Ashutosh Sharma, 19.6 ov) •

Trent Boult 4-0-22-1

Kuldeep Sen 4-0-35-1

Avesh Khan 4-0-34-2

Yuzvendra Chahal 4-0-31-1

Keshav Maharaj 4-0-23-2

Did

Fall of wickets: 1-56 (Tanush Kotian, 8.2 ov), 2-82 (Yashasvi Jaiswal, 11.4 ov), 3-89 (Sanju Samson, 13.2 ov), 4-113 (Riyan Parag, 16.4 ov), 5-115 (Dhruv Jurel, 17.2 ov), 6-136 (Rovman Powell, 18.3 ov), 7-138 (Keshav Maharaj, 18.6 ov) • BOWLING O-M-R-W

Arshdeep Singh 3.5-0-45-1

Kagiso Rabada 4-0-18-2

Sam Curran 4-0-25-2

Liam Livingstone 3-0-21-1

Harshal Patel 2-0-21-1

Harpreet Brar 3-0-22-0

sweating it.

But then Kagiso Rabada bowled his four overs for 18, and suddenly the back end of this match became tight. Rabada had taken two big wickets as well - of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson - and as such was doing as much as any Kings player to produce a match-winning hand.

The final word, though, went to Hetmyer, who, despite an excellent penultimate over from Sam Curran and a good effort from Arshdeep Singh, won with a six off the penultimate ball. There had been two sixes from Hetmyer in the leadup to that.

The last over

Curran dismissed Rovman Powell and Keshav Maharaj in the 19th over while conceding ten runs, and Royals needed another ten off the 20th over. Hetmyer was on strike, so it always seemed likely, but then Arshdeep delivered two glorious yorkers first up, which the batter could not make anything of, and the equation came down to ten from four.

The key shot in the final

fled across and thwacked it over deep fine leg, clinching a thriller.

Rabada's charge

over was Hetmyer's desperate wallop down the ground off the third ball. Arshdeep had not missed his length by much, but this was not quite in the blockhole. Hetmyer swung hard and managed to bully this ball into the boundary cushion - not over it - behind the bowler. Only centimetres were

in it. Had Arshdeep pitched a fraction fuller, Hetmyer would not have been able to get under it. Had Hetmyer not hit it with slightly fewer newtons of force behind it, the shot would have only brought four, and six would have been required from the last three.

Hetmyer muscled the next ball towards long-on and got two, but the worst ball of Arshdeep's over was the fifth one, and almost

anyone could have hit that for a boundary. This came juicy, knee-high, and on the stumps. Hetmyer shuf-

In defence of a modest target, Rabada was intense. He bowled two tight powerplay overs, off which just 12 runs came, and then bowled aggressively through the middle overs, as Kings were looking for wickets. He got Jaiswal with a short wide one the batter toe-edged, then claimed the prized wicket of Royals captain Samson when he jagged one back to hit the batter on the back leg. Rabada conceded only two boundaries, which was also the number of wickets he took.

Kings' underwhelming innings

Until the last two overs, in which Impact Sub Ashutosh Sharma made the most of a let-off and hit 20 off the last nine balls he faced, Kings never seemed capable of moving into high gear. Every time some semblance of a partnership seemed to be forming, a wicket fell. Often this was because batters fell for cross-bat shots to short balls that got big on them. They were 38 for 1 after the powerplay, 53 for 4 after ten overs, and 86 for 5 after 15.

From that point, Ashutosh, Rabada and, to some extent, Curran did well to make such a tight game out of this. (ESPNCricinfo)

Shimron Hetmyer emerged as the hero in Royals' narrow win

Ashutosh Sharma provided the Kings innings with its only period of positivity

Kagiso Rabada removed Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson in successive overs

Royals' spin frontmen Yuzvendra Chahal and Keshav Maharaj had a party out there

Rosignol Secondary Aims To Capture Top CSEC Golf Honors for Third Year

The Nexgen Golf Academy on Woolford Avenue came alive on Friday with dozens of students from Rosignol Secondary, Mahaicony Secondary and Berbice Educational Institute coming to take the practical golf examination for PE elective.

This is the third year that Rosignol Secondary has led the nation in number of students, with 100% electing to take golf as the PE elective. In 2022, Rosignol had 38 students growing to 53 in 2023 and 51 in 2024 and to date has achieved a 100% pass rate with 93% at Grade I. This year's class was led by Sirs Kevon Jawahir and Arudranaught Jaikarran. Mahaicony Secondary was led by Sir Akeem Wilson.

The Guyana Golf Association and Nexgen Golf Academy has pioneered golf in the Guyana Secondary Schools, donating thousands of balls and clubs so that more than 22,000 learners are given access to the sport on a weekly basis. It is projected that more than 300 students will choose golf as their PE elective at CSEC this year, an increase by over 200% from 2022. President of the GGA Aleem Hussain said, "We are proud to be associated with these amazing students, teachers, HM's and the Ministry of Education who have allowed us to elevate the sport in Guyana. In just three years, together we were able to accomplish milestones that other countries have struggled

to achieve."

CPCE Sports Coordinator Mr. Stanley Alkey commented, "the hard work that Mr. Hussain and his team has put in to bring Golf to every Guyanese student is immeasurable and we owe him a great deal for his efforts and dedication."

Teams of 4 will compete for trophies, prizes and bragging rights as Cyril Potter College of Education hosts its first national Drive, Chip and Putt Tournament on Saturday April 13 when 84 players will compete in the Guyana Beverages Inc/Nexgen Golf Academy event at the campus ground in Turkeyen.

The tournament is open to all categories of players and admission is free.

Kieron Edwards to lead new TTFA administration

Kieron Edwards has been elected new President of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA).

Edwards, leading Team Progressive, defeated Colin Wharfe and his Transformation team at the Elective Congress 3819 on Saturday morning at the Home of Football in Couva.

The new administration will be the first self-governed TTFA in more than four years. This as William Wallace's administration was removed months after he was elected in November 2019, as FIFA intervened and installed its Normalisation Committee in March 2020, citing financial concerns.

In keeping with the amended TTFA constitution, members were only asked to vote for a president. Edwards’ entire slate will serve alongside him.

“Our slate [did] the work and left it in the hand of the membership, and they made the decision,” said Edwards.

Edwards pointed out that his team will meet on Monday to hit the ground running to move football forward in the twin island republic. His administration comprises Colin Murray, Osmond Downer, and Jameson Rigues as the three vice-presidents, while Alicia Austin, Inspector Andrew Boodhoo, Allan Logan, Ryan Nunes, and Shelton Williams are the

Scotland ponders scaled-down 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow

Glasgow could step in with a scaled-back offering should no other host be found for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Last week, Singapore joined Malaysia in ruling out a bid, after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew as host in July because of rising costs.

Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) say their proposal would involve "no significant ask of public funds". It would include a core

programme of 10 to 13 sports - down from 20 at Birmingham 2022. The last resort plan would "utilise existing venues and accommodation options" in Glasgow, where the Games were held in 2014.

This week the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) said it was "considering multiple proposals" amid continued uncertainty over the event's long-term future.

"Our priority is to ensure a Games takes place in 2026 and we are en-

couraged by the news that the CGF are in advanced discussions with other nations. However, if an alternative solution cannot be secured within the coming weeks, we are ready to explore our concept with the CGF and key partners in greater detail, with the aim of delivering a world class-sporting event in Scotland using a model that could be replicated across the Commonwealth for future editions," CGS said.

"A feasibility study was commissioned in

December 2023 to assess Scotland's viability as a cost-effective alternative host, following the CGF's decision to make available £100m to host nations for a 2026 Games as part of the Victoria settlement agreement.

"We are satisfied that the concept developed could see a refreshed format for the Games, that would see it be delivered on time and on budget, providing significant benefit to the Scottish economy and a potential blueprint for a sustainable

ordinary members.

Looking ahead, Edwards revealed that his administration will review the positions of all TTFA staff including that of general secretary Amiel Mohammed, who was hired by the Robert Hadad -chaired Normalisation Committee.

“He is the general secretary currently and I will work with him until further notice,” said Edwards.

“Coaches that are under contract, we will honour those contracts and we will work with them. It is not a situation of moving this one (or that one), it is about giving support and enhancing what we do to ensure that we qualify for tournaments, and we do well in tournaments. That is the objective of the next executive going forward," he added.

He was gracious too to

outgoing Normalisation Committee, which included Nigel Romano and Trevor Nicholas Gomez, as well as members of Wharfe’s slate.

“It is one TTFA and we will work together with all members and your voice will be heard. It is about inclusion; the Normalisation Committee played a crucial role, and we need to acknowledge the service they did for Trinidad and Tobago," Edwards noted.

Meanwhile, Wharfe promised to continue doing what he can for football in Trinidad and Tobago.

“We at Team Transformation accept the result and will continue to work for football in any way that we think possible. I will continue to do my job (as TTPFL CEO) and the new executive will make determinations in terms of what tomorrow would look like,” he said. (Sportsmax)

Games model of the future," it added.

CGS also pointed out that additional funding for the estimated £130150m budget would come from commercial income, including ticketing, sponsorship and broadcasting.

A final decision from the CGF is expected by the end of May (Sportsmax)

Newly-elected TTFA president Kieron Edwards (left) and Robert Hadad, chairman of the outgoing Normalisation Committee.

West Indies Championships… Sinclair, Motie lift dominant GHE to victory

The young, newlook Guyana Harpy Eagles (GHE) squad kept their West Indies Championships title retention hopes alive with a thumping 212- run victory over the Jamaica Scorpions; compliments of a mastery display of spin from Kevin Sinclair and Gudakesh Motie on Day 4.

The Scorpions, at home at Sabina Park, Kingston Jamaica, began Day 4 in a strong position with 8 wickets in hand, chasing 296 more runs for victory.

However, their biggest hindrance would be Guyana’s impenetrable bowling attack that has helped them to three victories on the trot.

Similarly to the day prior, Nial Smith was the first to strike on Saturday morn-

Wilson returned as GAPLF President

…Audited finances presented

Franklin Wilson was returned as President of the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF) when that entity held its Annual General Meeting yesterday at the National Racquet Centre, Woolford Avenue and Camp Street.

There were three (3) new additions to the 8-member executive committee which will serve the sport for the next 12-months. Returning to serve apart from Wilson were Roger Rogers (Secretary). Maxwell Denny (Treasurer), Denroy Livan (Organising Secretary/PRO), and Committee Member, Farouk Abdool.

The new faces on the executive are Vice President Oudit Seenarain and Committee Members, Asha Sookoo and Kiana Benjamin.

Apart from the respective reports from the President and Secretary highlighting the progress of the Federation during the first year of the new executive which was elected in March of 2023, the highlight of yesterday’s AGM which took place

at the Racquet Centre, Woolford Avenue and Camp Streets, the presentation of the Audited Financial Statements was the highlight of the meeting.

Treasurer, Maxwell guided the members through the presentation of document which was not done for many years in the Federation. All the members present welcomed this necessary move by the Federation which was a promise made by Wilson when the new body was elected, one year ago.

The document in its entirety would be uploaded to the GAPLF Facebook page apart from being presented to the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, National Sports Commission, and the Guyana Olympic Association.

It will also be sent to the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) and South American Powerlifting Federation (FESUPO). Wilson thanked the Secretary, and Treasurer and the Executive Committee for their contributions which has resulted in a huge year for the sport in Guyana.

Apart from hosting

all the statutory competitions in 2023, the GAPLF was also represented at four international competitions including three World Championships and the South American Championships.

For reposing confidence in Wilson and his executive, by electing them for another year, Wilson said that the work of lifting the Federation to another level which commenced in 2023, will continue in 2024 and beyond.

Gratitude was also extended to all the sponsors of the GAPLF during 2023 which collectively added up towards the Federation’s success. Those recognised were the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, National Sports Commission, Fitness Express, E-Master Corporation, OPM, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, National Sports Commission, Guyana Olympic Association, John Fernandes Limited, the National Milling Company of Guyana, The Trophy Stall, and 592Tees, and Sunny & Sweetie Roti Shop.

ing, cleaning up Brandon King’s stumps for 15 from 38 balls.

King’s overnight partner, Kirk McKenzie was the next to fall for a 124-ball 40, on the account of an excellent catch from Raymon Perez at silly point.

The Guyanese bowlers continued to chip away at the Jamaican wickets, with Kevin Sinclair and Gudakesh Motie doing the majority of the heaving lifting.

Sinclair claimed 332 from 19 Overs, Motie picked up 3-32 from 16.1 overs and Isai Thorne claimed back-to-back wickets in one over to end with 2-30 from 8.

While McKenzie’s 40 was the highest on Day 4 for the Jamaicans; Peat Salmon continued their resistance with 30 from 62 deliveries, while Derval Green hit 19 in 18 deliveries and Abhijai Mansingh contributed 17 off 38 to get the hosts to 206 before being bowled out in 71.1 Overs, just before the lunch interval.

In other west Indies Championships Round 6 results, the Windward Islands Volcanoes wrapped up a 158- run win over the West Indies Academy inside three days on Friday

evening. Meanwhile on Saturday, Barbados Pride registered a 9- wicket victory over the Leeward Islands Hurricanes and Trinidad and Tobago Red Force eased past the Combined Campuses and Colleges by 123 runs.

The 7th and final Round of the West Indies

Championships will bowl off this Wednesday, April 17 in which the Guyana Harpy Eagles will come up against the Combined Campuses and Colleges at the Sir Frank Worrell memorial Ground, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. Play is expected to begin at 10:00hrs.

Kevin Sinclair and Gudakesh Motie had six wickets between them to rout the Jamaica Scorpions

GAPLF President Franklin Wilson (4th right), with his new executive committee from right. Maxwell Denny, Denroy Livan, Asha Sookoo, Kiana Benjamin, Oudit Seenarain, Roger Rogers and Farouk Abdool