Guyana Times - Sunday, April 9, 2023

From Capoey to Ireland: 1st Guyanese recipient of Ireland Fellows Programme Scholarship tells all

Reg 9 landowners benefit from steel, cement

Works intensify to deliver Schoonord-toCrane 4-lane highway ahead of deadline

Govt to launch agriculture project for youths, women in South Pakaraima

UG student stabbed during robbery at ECD bar succumbs

Bartica resident busted with gun, ammo

NWD man stabbed to death after allegedly caught stealing

0ver 200 businesses owned by women on display at "We Lift 3"

UG student stabbed during robbery at ECD bar succumbs

Eighteen-year-old

Anand Jerry, a student at the University of Guyana (UG) has succumbed to the injuries he received during a robbery outside a popular bar along Success Railway Embankment Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

The robbery was committed earlier this month but Jerry had been fighting for his life at the Infectious Diseases Hospital at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.

Alexandra Jerry, sister of the now dead teenager, confirmed that her brother had passed. “I cannot believe you have gone and left us Anand. My one and only brother I literally cannot believe it. You had so many plans, so passionate about your dreams… Only God knows what exactly happened…Rest in perfect peace my brother," she posted on a social media platform.

Guyana Times was informed by one of Jerry’s relatives that he had gone to the bar with his friends on April 2 to "lime".

However, while sit-

ting outside the establishment, several masked men snatched a phone from one of his friends. In doing so, the friend fell to the ground. At that point, the teenager saw what had happened and intervened but one of the bandits hit him in the head with a gun and stabbed him in the neck.

As the teen collapsed, gunshots were reportedly heard. The men were seen pointing guns at the patrons of the bar.

The gunmen subsequently made good their escape. When Jerry regained consciousness, he asked his friends to take him home, but they ended up taking him to the Georgetown Public Hospital due to the injuries he received.

The tragic and senseless loss of Jerry has left the community in shock and disbelief. His family, friends, and the wider community are calling for justice to be served and for those responsible for this heinous crime to be brought to justice.

The Police are yet to make an arrest in connection with the incident.

Dead: Anand Jerry

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, Apr 9 – 06:00h – 07:30h and

Monday, Apr 10 – 06:30h – 08:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, Apr 9 – 05:55 – 07:25h and

Monday, Apr 10 – 06:20h – 07:50h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

Parika and Supenaam departure times –05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily

WEATHER TODAY

There will be sunshine during the day. Expect clear skies at night. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly to North-Easterly between 2.68 metres and 5.36 metres.

High Tide: 06:17h and 18:46h reaching maximum heights of 2.78 metres and 2.63 metres.

Low Tide: 12:18h reaching a minimum height of 0.41 metre.

LOTTERY NUMBERS

SUNDAY, APRIL 9, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt to cover fees for ‘echo’, ultrasound tests done for GPHC patients at private institutions

– private hospitals agree to reduce fees following meeting with President

The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government will be offsetting all expenses incurred by patients of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) to conduct echocardiograms (echo) and ultrasound tests at private hospitals. This will be executed in an effort to clear the waiting list at the public hospital.

This announcement was made by President Dr Irfaan Ali while addressing the congregation at the Unity Baptist Church, Leonora, West Coast Demerara (WCD) on Good Friday.

According to the Head of State, this initiative is aimed at patients who are on the waiting list at GPHC for the aforementioned tests, while the Government sources the necessary equipment.

According to President Ali, some 3000 persons are waiting for echocardiogram tests and another 2000 are on the waiting list for ultrasound tests. This number is bolstered by the fact that regional hospitals often refer patients requiring these tests to the GPHC.

Importantly, it was explained that the decision to have the tests conducted at private hospitals was reached after these private institutions agreed on a reduced fee following a meeting with the President.

Meanwhile, in his World Health Day message, the President spoke about his Government’s efforts to bridge gaps in the local healthcare system. According to him, the ultimate goal is to ensure that all Guyanese, regardless of their economic status, enjoy the “best” care in the country.

According to him, equitable healthcare is an important metric by which the Government looks to improve the health sector. To this end, President Ali pointed to the investments that are being made in upgrading regional and district

hospitals and all health clinics across the regions.

“As part of the transformation of the local health sector, Guyanese can look forward to continued improvements in equity and healthcare, whether you reside in the deep reaches of the hinterland or the coastland, my Government is working to narrow health gaps and to bring health quality closer to every citizen.”

Among the new hospitals being constructed are a paediatric and maternity hospital. He assured that every regional hospital will soon be able to offer a suite of diagnostic services, including computerised tomography, scans, echocardiograms, ultrasounds and X-rays.

“As we improve our

health infrastructure, we are also boosting the human resources of the health sector including through expanded training of nurses and other health personnel.

World Health 2023 Day provides hope and optimism.

“The COVID-19 pandemic is receding, global health cooperation is now recognised as indispensable towards ensuring the health of the world’s citizens, the world is becoming more vigilant and more watchful in respect of future challenges,” he expressed.

Advances in the healthcare system in Guyana have been galloping along. Earlier this year, Woodlands Hospital launched its stem cell services and immunotherapy – becoming the first in the country to offer such

ground-breaking medical technology to the population. At the time, President Ali had made a commitment that by 2030, Guyana will offer healthcare services that are internationally recognised.

“In the next seven years, we are not trying to, by the grace and help of God, in the next seven years we are building in Guyana, a first world healthcare system for our citizens and a healthcare system that is fit for purpose and one that will provide global healthcare services for the rest of the world. Mark this night,” the Guyanese leader had declared.

“There is no rest in this sector in getting it to where we want to be.”

Moreover, he said as more and more innovations take place in the sector, he called in financial and medical specialists as well as policymakers to start discussions on modern health insurance plans.

He had also announced the forthcoming establishment of a National Medical Scientific Council. This council, President Ali had noted, would bring the country’s best medical talent to investigate “not old technology but the best-in-class medical science development that can be applied in Guyana to help us here”.

President Dr Irfaan Ali as he made the announcement

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Genocide against Tutsis: Lessons

Last Friday, April 7th, Rwanda commemorated the 29th anniversary of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis, when over 800,000 of them, along with some moderate Hutus, were massacred by the majority Hutus. Ahead of the International Day of Reflection, the UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide had noted that history shows hate speech can be a precursor to the commission of atrocious crimes, as happened in the Holocaust and in the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, and therefore should be avoided. As Rwandan President Paul Kagame and his wife lit the symbolic flame at the Gisozi National Memorial in Kigali, he cautioned, “We cannot, however, ignore the fact that things like violence and hate speech persist. Not so far away from here.”

An official report on the Genocide against the Tutsis offered a chilling background that is instructive for present-day Guyana: “Organizers of the genocide used ideology to bring Hutu to fear and hate Tutsi. They then used the institutions of the state to transform the fear and hate into the myriad acts of hunting, raping, and killing that made up the genocide. To make the ideology deadly, the leaders had to be able to give orders and see them executed — for this, they had to control the military, the administration, and the political parties. They used the radio, too, to disseminate propaganda, but without the other channels of command, the radio itself would not have sufficed.

“Among the false ideas drawn on by political leaders and propagandists backing the Hutu leader Habyarimana was the following: Tutsi were foreign to Rwanda, and had no right to live there; Despite the 1959 revolution, when 20,000 Tutsis were killed, Tutsi continued to enjoy higher status and greater wealth than Hutu, and were in some way responsible for continuing Hutu poverty, and Tutsi posed a danger to Hutu, who were always the victims, whether of Tutsi military power or of Tutsi cunning (use of their women to seduce Hutu, use of their money to buy Hutu), and so Hutu had a right and a duty to defend themselves.

“From 1990 through the 1994 genocide, propagandists used newspapers and later the radio to disseminate these ideas hostile to the Tutsi. It was particularly the last idea — that Hutu were threatened and had to defend themselves — that proved most successful in mobilising attacks on Tutsi from 1990 through the 1994 genocide. In late 1993, the Chief of Staff of the Rwandan Armed Forces warned the men under his command that the (Tutsi) enemy was still intent on taking power, and would do so at any price. Emphasising that they were not to put their faith in negotiations and that they must really “understand what kind of enemy” they were fighting, he circulated a report from a military commission that had examined ways to defeat the enemy.

“The report divided the enemy into two categories, the principal enemy and partisans of the enemy. The principal enemy was: the Tutsi inside or outside the country, extremist and nostalgic for power, who have NEVER recognized and will NEVER recognize the realities of the 1959 social revolution, and who wish to reconquer power by all means necessary, including arms. In defining the partisans of the enemy, the military commission made the necessary nod towards democratic openness, saying political opponents should not be confused with the enemy. But then it condemned Tutsi and those Hutu who opposed President Habyarimana. In several places, it used “Tutsi” as equivalent to enemy, and it said that Tutsi were unified behind a single ideology: Tutsi hegemony.

“The document deplored the loss of Hutu solidarity, which it blamed on enemy machinations. It listed the establishment of multiple political parties as an advantage for the enemy, and warned that infiltrators had led these parties to favour the RPF. It asserted that opponents of Habyarimana were “turning public opinion from the ethnic problem to the socio-economic problem between the rich and the poor.”

It behooves leaders in plural societies like Guyana to remember the lessons of Rwanda.

Dear Editor, Since its re-election to the Government in August 2020, the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has increasingly adopted approaches to neutralise racial volatility and promote inclusiveness on one side of our political paradigm. The Party continuously supports this commitment through an open, tangible development push in communities nationwide.

But on the other side of the paradigm, the main Opposition forces depend on the unpopular and malignant stigmatic overtones of the racial divide to remain relevant. Although stigmatist influence of the Opposition has been more impacting around election time, the PPP/C has always sustained the use of improving citizens' wellbeing and inclusiveness over racial division.

The PPP/C's preparedness in soliciting citizens heading into these LGEs is targeting citizens' national conscience and development focus on supporting its recommended teams of candidates. The generality of such an approach strengthens a position from which the interest of all could be incrementally addressed or accelerated, and should reject or dent the Opposition's hostilities and unproductive schematics.

When one considers the mentioned extant framework, a realistic measure of “Quality Elections” must be addressed within the context of the Guyana Elections Commission's preparedness and delivery, together with contesting candidates' quality, character and commitment. This year, with the quality of candidates chosen for the LGEs, there will

be greater inclusiveness and stronger people's participation at the grassroots level. Candidates as potential councillors, including prominent people in business and influential community leaders as competitors, have put their hands up, which augers well for strengthening our local democracy.

Therefore, we must ensure the streamlining of constructive and objective support to select a team to advance an appropriate agenda for service and development, thereby providing the avenue for our people to work and live together in peace and harmony.

The criterion and clear mindset of the People's Progressive Party is to develop Guyana and unite our people. This focus is the central driver of President Irfaan Ali's “One Guyana” motto as a realistic endeavour. With togetherness and quality leadership, this noble commitment to working together for a better Guyana will end petty corruption, and lead to a better life for our people.

It establishes a meaningful counter to the typical PNC clandestine agenda, as politics should never be used as an "any means necessary” game for creating hardships for our citizens. Therefore, the PNC's favoured practices must be dispelled, including its tool of advancing convenient delays, election rigging, and promoting racial hostility.

Recognising the preceding, we must continue a united action in the current setting, as this is critical to achieving plural gains as “One Guyana”. Significantly, we must recall that most Guyanese were united in 1992 in the battle against

"rigged" elections, and reunited again in 2020 to prevent the APNU/PNC/AFC from stealing the Government. So now is the best time for our people to unite and build a better Guyana, to live better with quality leadership and genuine respect for the Government's development programme.

While the Government is making tremendous progress at the national level, the time is now for us to have greater collaboration and togetherness at the village level, in order to promote development. The root causes of petty corruption and slow movement at the NDCs will be removed with solid councillors willing to see growth in their communities. Mature councillors will put development in the communities first, and not personal interest.

Editor, the PNC/APNU Commissioners have been incessantly irrational in their attempts to derail the progress of GECOM. With their increasing attacks on Chairwoman Justice (retired) Claudette Singh, they continue the demonstration of lacking objectivity. The situation demands that GECOM be vigilant and more aggressive in its approach to the preparation for the holding of these LGEs.

The latest commotion stems from the majority decision at the Commission meeting to appoint a Deputy Chief Election Officer (DCEO) against their favourite recommendation. Alexander and his cabal are trying to make a case to favour the strategic placement of a former controversial Region 4 Registration Officer, whose previous record has signalled alarming considerations and solid public complaints. GECOM must

never consider the employment of such highly questionable characters.

As Registration Officer, Ms Marshall was at the centre of many issues surrounding the broadsheet introduction in 2015, and refused a recount requested by the PPP/C counting agent. There was excuse after excuse! She was never available at the critical time of an inquiry, and her office was often closed. With all the 'jiggery-pokery' that took place, it would seem her role was part of the elaborate plan to ensure the recount requested by the PPPC would not be carried out. The Peoples' lawyers would have thoroughly examined this matter if the PPPC's petition to the Court had been called.

In 2016 and 2018, the condemned former CEO Keith Lowenfield proposed Ms. Marshall as Registration Officer for Region #4, which the PPPC vehemently opposed. This resulted in a move to shelter her from further public scrutiny through substitution. In 2020, the PNC/ Lowenfield cabal again tried to put her as RO in Region #4, but she was not appointed, given the objections and protests. Consequently, Lowenfield catapulted the 'rigger' Mingo into the position, and eventually she was appointed Voter Registration Manager. Albeit the laden baggage of improprieties and suspicion of some people on the GECOM staff must be thoroughly examined.

With the date for LGE drawing closer, all hands must be on board for free and fair elections.

Sincerely,

Neil Kumar

The vaqueros taking part in Rupununi Rodeo 2023 are being escorted by Police to the venue at Tabatinga, Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo) on Saturday (NCN photo)

Quality LGE must serve to unite our people and influence a rejection of racism and hate-related politics

The PNC has self-destructed Good job on TB Campaign

Dear Editor, I am glad to read that “Guyana (is) on track to end TB by 2030.” This is like ‘big’ news. Tuberculosis, or as we say, TB, worldwide, was pushed aside, because of the Covid crisis, which is still not fully over. The statistics show that COVID-19 has in fact reversed progress in the fight against TB by over a decade. This was the natural result that defaulted from the necessary input and emphasis on the Covid pandemic, and thus, access to essential TB prevention and care services in 2020 was severely affected. Overall, globally, in 2020, an estimated 9.9 million people were ill with TB, and an estimated 1.5 million people died from TB, including 214,000 persons living with HIV (HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus).

Here in Guyana, we are on the TB trail and not taking it lightly. I read from the Director of the Tuberculosis Programme, under the Health Ministry, Dr. Jeetendra Mohanlall, that there is an actual decline in the incidence rate since efforts were made to tackle TB. As I did mention, Covid derailed smooth runnings that led to the lack of daily DOTS (Directly Observed Therapy) for patients. All this means is that trained

healthcare workers or other designated individuals (excluding a family member) were not on hand to provide the prescribed TB drugs and watch the patient swallow every dose.

Dr. Jeetendra Mohanlall explained that “(Although) We’re on track to end TB by 2030. we still have some challenges ... We still have some struggles in Region Four where we’re not getting the full daily DOTS.”

He noted that this led to some 396 new cases being detected or an incidence rate of 53 per 100,000 at the end of 2022. The thing is that the Ministry of Health is ever vigilant and aggressive, as the country actually “… made great strides over the years to reduce the incidence of TB ... (as) If we reflect back to 2012 when we actually rolled out all TB services in the 10 regions for detection and treatment, we had 92 per 100,000. Over the years, we were able to reduce it.”

Another noteworthy observation, and as intimated earlier, is where c0-morbidity is a factor. This is always going to take a lot, but the country has reasons to be proud. The record shows that “Instances of Tuberculosis and HIV co-infection also existed, but this has been on the decline. (As)

In 2012, the co-infection rate was 32 percent when compared to 16 in 2022.

Editor, in being realistic, Dr. Jeetendra Mohanlall explained that “We continue to work together with our colleagues from the HIV programme. There is a lot of work to do, but over the years, we have managed to drop the burden of TB co-infection with a lot of prevention. On the note of prevention, we have new medications to introduce in the country for latent TB infection.” The Head was referring here to “A combination pill of rifapentine and isoniazid (that) will be rolled out soon to decrease the pill burden.”

Let me stitch in here that global best practices speak of what Guyana is doing. Worldwide, Usually, two types of medication (rifampicin and isoniazid) are taken every day for three months. Sometimes, the treatment period is six months, with only one type of medication (isoniazid). So, we can be confident in the Director’s words which elaborated that “To treat latent TB infection currently, we’re using isoniazid daily for six months and with this combination that we will be launching soon, we will be giving the patients once a week for 12 weeks. That’s

half the time and only once a week.”

In terms of geographic progress and modern technology, the news is that “Guyana has moved from one TB site in the year 2000 to now having some 21 sites across the country, and five established TB clinics in the prisons.” It gets better as “Another site will be created at Soesdyke next for which staffers are being trained. The ministry had also rolled out regional testing for TB using the Gene X-pert technology, that is the international method (GeneXpert is a rapid molecular test that allows the detection of M. tuberculosis and simultaneously detects resistance to the antibiotic rifampicin, all in less than two hours.)

I remind my readers that Tuberculosis is a disease caused by germs spread between persons through the air. While it typically affects the lungs, it can also affect other parts of the body including brain, kidneys, or spine. Despite being preventable and curable, TB remains a challenge, causing 1.5 million deaths globally every year. (G12).

The word then is ‘take no chance.’

Yours truly,

H Singh

Opening of Leguan Hospital’s Maternity Ward

Dear Editor, Leguan Hospital is being transformed, rehabilitated and modernised; thanks to the efforts of the New York-based diaspora, Leguan will have a spanking new Maternity Ward located within the hospital compound from next Wednesday. That is the day when the new ward is slated to be inaugurated and opened to the public for patients. Reconstruction, rehabilitation and refitting of the ward is largely funded by the Indo-Caribbean Federation of New York.

The public is invited to the opening ceremony on Wednesday at 11:00AM, courtesy of the ICF NY and the Leguan Cottage Hospital. Refreshments will be served.

The Indo-Caribbean Federation, which organizes the annual Indian Arrival Day celebrations in NY, among other activities, including charitable giving, started the rehabilitation of the Maternity Ward and the Patients’ Waiting Area in October last year with funds raised among the IndianGuyanese diaspora in New York City.

In an invited comment, ICF President Mr. Ralph Tamesh said: “We do charitable work throughout Guyana and USA. We commit to helping uplift the lives of neglected communities. We were approached to assist with the rehabilitation of the

Leguan Maternity Ward. We agreed! We did a fundraising event in NY, and work was done in record time.

“We have finally completed this much-needed project, and scheduled its opening so as to make women feel comfortable and at ease when they visit the hospital for checkups or delivery of the baby. The project will help the entire island of Leguan.

“This is not our only public health project in Guyana. We are doing our part from the diaspora to assist and rehabilitate hospitals. We recently assisted Port Mourant Hospital, and now Leguan Cottage Hospital, and we plan to do the same elsewhere”.

Mr. Tamesh further said: “Some of the items that we donate include two 42 inches TVs, a water cooler, four ceiling fans for the delivery room and the maternity ward, two new beds for the maternity ward, two new cabinets for the patients in the maternity ward, two baby cradles, installation of a new sink in the maternity ward, new cabinets in the delivery room, a trolley for the delivery room”.

Tamesh said the ICF purchased five new benches for the Waiting Area, where patients wait to see the doctor on clinic day, “and we will also equip the administrative office with a laptop and printer and a new sign at the entrance of the

Hospital. This project was fully financed by the IndoCaribbean Federation and its supporters in New York. We are looking forward to the public’s attendance as we commission the Maternity Ward”.

Tamesh commended the executives of the ICF for

their fundraising drive and the hard work they put in to make the project a success. He expressed appreciation to donors and everyone else who assisted in making this project a reality.

Yours truly,

Vishnu Bisram

Dear Editor, Self-destruction, as defined by the Oxford and Cambridge Press, reads thus: “It is the behaviour of a person - in this case an organization - that is likely to make them fail.” It is tantamount to suicide, and the PNC have done it all by themselves. They were already on the verge of collapse when the coalition of sorts was torn apart by the Charrandas no-confidence motion, as other members in that grouping began soul-searching as to their role in a party that never really cared for the masses.

Instead of turning the searchlight inwards and looking into the core issues that Charrandass raised in his no-confidence appeal, the PNC became more locked in their ways to vindictively ostracise all dissenters from their midst. It was a brutal move; subtle at first, but then became openly obvious thereafter when the mouth-foremost, educated idiot David Hinds came lashing out. He repeatedly affirmed that the new political union of PNC/WPA will continue to hold strongly to their Black Supremacist views, irrespective of Indians and those of moderate Blacks in the party.

Hinds and Ogunseye have been relentless on this theme, never letting up ever since. They were adamant that they are going forward with that setup of the Black

Republic in Guyana. In this regard, they set about in that passive-aggressive mode of theirs, playing the victim at times, when they would claim that every Black person who died met their demise due to some ghastly deed of the PPP/C party. On other occasions, they would preach race hate and glorify criminals. These guys never stop to think that these statements would cause a deleterious effect on their party.

Norton, as Leader of the Opposition, never chided nor disassociated himself from the utterances of the political pests around him; rather, he supported those utterances, cheerleading them on that destructive path of division and backwardness. This was the final nail in the PNC’s coffin, as races from all across the Guyanese society begin walking away from that party. Persons began to see the party for who they really are, and did not want to be mentioned with that political union.

So, come the next Local Government Election, there would be great surprises for the party. I predict that there will be huge inroads made in the PNC strongholds. Many areas that were considered impregnable would fall. I would again return to this topic when the time is right.

Respectfully,

Neil Adams

RABBITS AS PETS (EASTER SPECIAL)

Over the many decades of writing on small animal care, I have never addressed issues associated with the rearing of rabbits. Dogs and cats have been the focus of my attention. I have been noting that more homes are adding rabbits to their households as pets, and we are encountering an increasing number of cases of ailments of these pets at the clinic.

Today is Easter Sunday. I have no doubt that those cute, furry little Easter Bunnies will be given to adoring children as Easter presents. And no time is better than now to offer some information and advice on rabbits.

It is a fact that, apart the genuine constitution of rabbits being fragile, they succumb to ailments quickly. Indeed, symptoms tend to become evident when their ailments are well advanced, and by the time they arrive at the clinic, they are either in a state of shock or in an almost comatose condition.

One colleague, Dr. Paul Murphy, posited that although emerging and critical care principles are similar for all animals, rabbits are easily stressed and require extra special attention and handling, and must be evaluated efficiently and stabilized quickly, even before reaching at a definitive diagnosis.

In our clinic, more often than not, the following

rabbit ailments are experienced:

Ear Mites

Skin Infections

Overgrown Incisors

Body lesions caused by predators (dogs, owls, hawks)

Diarrhoea

All these conditions are avoidable with good management. They are also treatable once they are detected early.

I am sharing with you below, a heartwarming and heartbreaking story from my dear nephew Deje Dias, on his love affair with rabbits. I hope you will find it helpful when you consider choosing a rabbit for a pet. He touches not only on the management, feeding and protection of these furry pets, but also on the emotional support to humans that rabbits provide.

THE JOYS AND REALITIES OF HAVING RABBITS AS PETS IN GUYANA –

by Deje Dias

On my 25th birthday, my now-wife Andrea sur -

prised me with my first pet rabbit, Thumper. He was already on solid food, making him easy to take care of as far as infant animals go. At this stage, a portable container with interchangeable pee pads, pellets, and some water was all he

Thumper was given free access to our yard. I must say that rabbits are one of the easiest pets to have around an open yard. Second perhaps only to tortoises, whom you can literally forget for years, and they will manage on their own. We kept food and water out in a corner of the yard for Thumper, and he happily settled.

I should emphasise that the primary diet of rabbits comprises of grass and dark, leafy greens. Please do not feed your rabbits exclusively on carrots and lettuce. That is a misconception perpetuated by the Bugs Bunny cartoons, which we all enjoyed watching when we were kids. Carrots are indeed a great treat, but too much is associated with

and Thumper thrived well on these feeds, fed in moderation and alternated regularly. We found that grass was the most essential feed-ingredient. After acquiring two companions for Thumper – Alfie and Lola – all three roamed happily in our yard.

(NB: don’t get rabbits of different sex from the same litter. They don’t know any better!)

Rabbits, like cats, are very independent. They are not great attention seekers, but do acknowledge your presence and nurturing. Our rabbits, like clockwork, would greet my dad and me every morning and every afternoon as we leave and return from work. It was very cute and endearing. It was a two-way affair; we eagerly looked forward to those daily greetings.

the now denuded lots alter the hunting patterns of predatory birds. With fewer places to hunt, their radius of interest changes, and they look for prey beyond the known borders. We found Thumper decapitated one morning; head cleanly removed with very little blood. Wildlife persons surmised that the act was perpetrated by either an owl or a large hawk.

needed for upkeep. Our ultimate goal was to have him old and strong enough to be free to thrive in our large yard. This formula worked magnificently for 5 years. After the kit stage,

stomach ailments and teeth decay. I have seen many rabbits in miserable condition due to overfeeding on carrots. Pellets, Pak choi, eddo leaf, bora, fruit (as a treat) are recommended by the experts,

I see rabbits as majestic living statues which, most of the time, are contented just going about their day. They evoke that “fuzzy” feeling, joy, and wave of inner peace just watching them hopping around or snoozing. Perhaps it is a similar sensation that fish lovers get from staring into an aquarium. For me, the rabbit response is better! It was relaxing to peep at them through a window and forget your troubles for that short while.

Our rabbits were a hit with visitors; and friends, passers-by and neighbours would always keenly look into our yard to chance a glance of them. Word got out that their favourite treat was banana. They were then conditioned to sprint to any child or stranger who came into the yard, as they were sure to get a banana or carrot in exchange for a scratch and a pat on the head.

A spirit of our yard was lost when Thumper left us tragically. For 5 years, my rabbits were safe, or so I thought. Our neighbourhood began to change with the advent of the oil industry. Construction in Guyana is booming, and my area is no different. Fields and grass lands are being cleared at unprecedented rates, and

Tragedy struck us a second time. With five active construction sites popping up in our neighbourhood over the last 6 months, there has been a proliferation of stray dogs, which have now taken up residence within one square block. They are, no doubt, receiving meal leftovers from the site workers. We found Lola’s remains one morning. From our security cameras, we noted that three dogs made it into the yard at night, gaining access by jumping on our garbage bins. Ganged up by 3 dogs, our speedster did not stand a chance. I am remorseful over my rabbits’ demise, which was in part due to my failure to recognise the new dangers and adapt accordingly. I feel strongly that rabbits should be allowed to be free in the yards of Guyana. But safety protocols to protect them from predators must be in place, together with proper care and feeding regimes.

You should not keep rabbits as pets until you can guarantee their safety and good management.

It is unethical to court danger to beloved pets. If you can keep rabbits in an open yard: free to jump, play and become the heart and soul of your family, you can be assured of immense joy and satisfaction. It requires more effort than keeping fish in an aquarium, but is less demanding than cats and dogs. Definitely economical, too. And the cuteness cannot be rivalled. Rabbits are a true joy.

Thanks to Dr. Steve Surujbally for encouraging me to write this article. This is now a love letter from the Dias family to our very beloved rabbitsAlfie, Lola, and Thumper.

GCCI, Canadian High Commissioner meet to discuss removing visa restrictions for Guyanese

year. A release from the Foreign Affairs Minister noted that the two officials spoke on improving bilateral relations between the countries and visa-free travel is viewed as a key pursuit.

It also follows the removal of visa restrictions for visitors to the United Kingdom (UK). Since November 9, 2022, holders of a valid Guyanese passport have no longer required a visa to enter the UK, following a decision by the UK to remove visitor visa requirements for Guyanese to travel to

their country, for up to six months.

The decision to remove visitor visa restrictions for travel to the UK was announced in October during a press conference hosted by the British High Commission. According to British High Commissioner to Guyana Jane Miller, OBE, the removal of visa requirements is for an indefinite period.

President Dr Irfaan Ali, who was present at the press conference, had described the decision as a demonstration of British confidence in Guyana. While he urged Guyanese

to take up the visa-free opportunity for travel, he had also cautioned them to be conscientious and not abuse the visa waiver.

“What the UK Government has done for us, is demonstrate confidence in us as a people and a country. And I think we should applaud the UK. Demonstrating that trust would go no small way in pushing others because the UK is part of the developed world. And you can’t tell us you have security concerns beyond a certain level, that the UK doesn’t have,” President Ali had said.

Guyana is closer than ever before to having visa restrictions removed from travelling to Canada, with the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) providing an update on negotiations following a meeting with Canadian High Commissioner Mark Berman.

A few days ago, GCCI’s recently elected President, Kester Hutson, and Senior Vice President Richard Rambarran, visited the High Commissioner of Canada at his residence in Bel Air Gardens.

In a statement afterward, GCCI explained that both sides discussed the issue of visa processing for Guyanese citizens seeking to enter Canada, as well as the need to improve transportation infrastructure for cargo shipping and direct flights between the two nations.

“The High Commissioner assured Mr Hutson and Mr Rambarran that discussions were underway to remove visa restrictions altogether in the future, a decision that both parties are optimistic about,” GCCI explained.

Another topic of discussion during the meeting was the potential for strategic partnerships between Guyana and Canada in various sectors, including agro-processing, tourism, and other traditional sectors.

“The High Commissioner emphasised the importance of maximising the opportunities available in both nations through collaboration and cooperation. To this end, GCCI is currently working to organise more outgoing trade missions to Canada, with the aim of fostering stronger ties between the two countries,” GCCI said.

“In closing, Mr Hutson expressed his gratitude to the High Commissioner for his engagement and commitment to strengthening the relationship between Guyana and Canada. With continued cooperation, there is no doubt that both nations can achieve great success together,” the chambers added.

Last year, Berman revealed to the media that the Guyana Government had approached Canada, seeking visa-free travel for visitors. It is a request that had been forwarded to Ottawa, which is Canada’s political centre.

During a reception in honour of the visit of Energy NL Trade Mission to Guyana, Berman had also announced that the High Commission in Georgetown is pushing for a Canadian airline to offer non-stop services between the two countries.

The Government’s talks with Canada on visa-free travel also follow similar talks it has entered into with Italy, for visa-free travel. Talks

with Italy were initiated when Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd met with the Non-Resident Ambassador-Designate of the Republic of Italy, Fabrizio Nicoletti, last

From left: GCCI President Kester Hutson, Canadian High Commissioner Mark Berman, and GCCI Senior Vice President Richard Rambarran

Duo slapped with felonious wounding charges

Two men were on Thursday slapped with felonious wounding charges when they appeared at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court.

Kevin Persaud, 18, of Logwood Enmore, East Coast Demerara (ECD), and Kishan Baichu, also known as “Bruck Up”, 30, of Ninth Street Foulis, ECD, appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore, who read the charges to them.

The charges were in relation to an incident involving Suresh Seunarine, who sustained injuries as a result of an alleged attack. While the Police did not give any details on what actually happened on the day of the incident, it is clear that the consequences of the altercation were severe.

During the hearing, Persaud pleaded guilty to the offence, admitting his role in the incident. Baichu

Charged: Kevin Persaud

entered a not guilty plea.

The seriousness of the charges was not lost on the court, with Magistrate Azore emphasising the gravity of the offence and the potential consequences for those found

Charged: Kishan Baichu

guilty.

Persaud, who pleaded guilty, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. On the other hand, Baichu was remanded to prison until May 16, 2023.

…from the Venezs

The Venezs became too slick for their own good when - after questioning the jurisdiction of the World Court to deal with the controversy they provoked on our western border – they proposed the Brits gotta be a party to the case in front of the same Court!! Now, they can’t have it both ways, can they?? If they’d won their point, Britain would’ve had to belly up to the bar at The Hague!! But now that they’ve lost, they can’t very well insist that the Court has no jurisdiction, can they??

In for a penny, in for a pound!! And even though the pound ain’t doing so well nowadays, it certainly carries more weight that those Bolivars Venezuelans use to wipe their behinds!! Now, some folks might be wondering why Maduro and company wanted to rope in the Brits. It’s rather elementary - if you’ve been following the thought process of our bellicose western neighbour!! You see…when the Border was originally arbitrated, the tension between the Brits and their erstwhile American ex-colony had been somewhat elevated. The reasons oughtn’t detain us today. But the moment they lost, the Venezs always blamed “perfidious Albion”!!

And they played to the sentiments of the then greater part of the world that was under Imperial rule, that they were being taken advantage of by the big, bad British Lion!! And boy, did they again play this “poor bullied us” card from the moment the Yanks again entered the picture, when the Brits were about to grant us Independence around 1962!! Convinced that Jagan was a Commie, the Yanks under JFK didn’t have to do much to convince the Venezs to create the controversy on the canard that the 1899 Arbitral Award was flawed for fraud!!

In parting, however, before granting us Independence under the connivance with the PNC of Burnham, the Brits made the latter sign onto the Geneva Agreement. So, the Maduro Administration would like to again use the Brits as a whipping boy, especially since the Yanks have him in their sights!! Anyhow, the World Court just weighed in with their decision, whether the Brits are an indispensable party to Guyana’s claim. And they’ve unanimously declared “NO WAY, JOSE!!!” Which, of course, infuriated Maduro even further, since his first name ain’t “Jose” but “Nicolas”!!

So, what does this mean for us?? Well, for starters, it signals to Maduro that the decision on the substantive matter – which is about the Geneva Accord, since the 1899 Award is “full and final” – is gonna be for us!! So, what is Maduro gonna do?? Some folks think he might invade. Your Eyewitness doesn’t think so. He’s already making gooey eyes at the Yanks to remove their sanctions!!

He gotta go along!!

…the Opposition

Now, before your Eyewitness can consider this critical matter, he gotta first address his mind to who exactly are the “Opposition”!! After all, even before they were bounced out of office in 2015, the APNU/AFC coalition – now the “Opposition” - had fissioned like those atomic bombs dropped over Nagasaki!! “APNU” had seen JFAP and WPA dump them, cause they didn’t like being measured for orange jumpsuits - after Mingo’s rigging attempt!!

David “Sanctimonious Gangster” Granger, however, had two scions of the JFAP and WPA instantaneously conjured up – Abracadabra!!- two new parties, and made them fullfledged members!! So, what about the rump WPA?? Are they part of the Opposition?? Then there’s the AFC. They’ve parted ways as per the pre-nup they’d signed. And they won’t be contesting the LGE.

So, from where your Eyewitness sits, he thinks that the old adage – a house divided gotta fall! – is playing out. So, all the huffing and puffing from one of the old coalition members is just adding to global warming!!

…new economy

While we laboriously clear, plough and plant – and hopefully reap – soya and sweet corn in our Intermediate Savannahs – let’s keep an eye on the Masters of the Universe from Wall Street. They actually set prices via “futures?!!-

1 killed following series of accidents leading to Rupununi Rodeo

The ongoing Rupununi Rodeo was overshadowed by a series of unfortunate vehicular accidents that took place along the trail heading to Lethem on Thursday into Friday. At least one person has reportedly died while several others are injured.

The dead man has been identified as 28-yearold Abdul Straker of Robb Street, Bourda, Georgetown, while those injured are Winton Daniels, 28, of Mocha Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara; Keswin Howes,

23, of Providence, EBD; Robin McKenzie, 29, of Robb Street, Bourda; Kevin James, 29, of Robb Street, Bourda and Kenrick Brathwaite, 28, of Mocha EBD.

With respect to the fatal accident, Police stated that the driver of vehicle PRR 4027 was speeding south along the eastern side of the trail and

Photos and videos of multiple accidents on the Lethem Trail have been circulating on social media, depicting a large entourage of vehicles heading to the event.

Prior to the rodeo, authorities had urged all participants and spectators to exercise caution while travelling to and from the event. The Police

while negotiating a bend, he reportedly lost control of the vehicle, which turned turtle. It reportedly came to a halt on the eastern side of the trail.

Traffic Department implored everyone to take the necessary precautions to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.

Sadly, this is not the first

As a result, the driver and the five occupants received injuries and were picked up in a conscious condition by public-spirited citizens and taken to the Linden Hospital Complex, where Straker died while receiving medical attention.

The driver and the four other occupants were treated and admitted to the hospital.

time accidents have occurred along the Lethem Trail during the rodeo weekend. Last year, an accident in the Tabatinga area left several people injured.

The repeated occurrence of such accidents highlights the need for increased attention to safety and caution during the rodeo weekend.

Dead: Abdul Straker

Those Indentured Indians: Girmitiyas

Contra some recent comments, IndianGuyanese were shipped out from a British India that had been pillaged and looted (not coincidentally a Hindi word), with its native cottage industries, especially in textiles, destroyed to create millions of peasants as “surplus labour” that sought a “vent”. Irrespective of particular origins, they were othered into “coolies”: persons at the bottom of the social ladder, to provide labour on plantations. After the abolition of slavery, in an era of supposed “progress”, they were subjected to an “agreement” specifying the conditions of their labour. It is this agreement, which they pronounced “Girmit”, that they defined themselves as “Girmitiyas - people of the agreement. This act of naming was their seminal act of signalling their appropriation of agency.

They knew it was a one-sided contract. But they “banded their belly” to fulfill their side of it, because it opened more opportunities than in British-ravaged India; to which most chose not to return, confident that after they had finished their indentureship, they had the ability “to produce two blades of grass where there was but one”.

They were labelled “docile” for “keeping their word”, but when the planters broke theirs, they rebelled. These are shown by the number of court cases filed against Girmitiyas, and the number of strikes they staged even in the face of the “leaden argument”.

Girmitiyas marked the transition from a world in which slave labour was abandoned, but the world of “free labour” had not yet been born. They were kept in that intermediate state of being neither slave but certainly not freedmen. The transition was not for humanitarian reasons, as the colonizers would have it, but for the more prosaic reason of greater profits for the empire. However, as immigrants escaping British-generated landlessness, joblessness, famines and debt, they were determined to work their way up and out, even when other groups balked. Their motto, as one scholar put it, became “laboro ergo sum” – “I am because I work”.

Girmitiya became the inaugural “Indian”, since in the colonies it didn’t matter from which region or rank one originated; they were all “coolies”. When a group is ostracized, it becomes more cohesive: solidity of the group is directly proportionate to the impressed pressures. But they became also less bogged down by the deadweight of caste etc. From the moment they stepped into the Depot in Calcutta and were handed those new clothes, they were liberated from the caste semiotics of clothes and how they were worn.

When Girmitiyas were shipped to the various Imperial colonies to work on the sugar plantations, in each case, they encountered groups already there. The constant were the ruling Europeans, who exercised total control through their laws; coercive forces; and hegemonic, discursive structures already deployed in India. It is now a sociological truism that groups placed in proximity with each other will engage in a “social comparison process”. While initially Girmitiyas were placed at the bottom of the social ladder, they inexorably elevated themselves because of the same derided culture that conferred the value of hard work. But it exacted its price in suicides, alcoholism and domestic violence.

However, as Girmitiyas became the progressive, upwardly mobile group, it created a negative sense of group worth in those displaced. In response, the latter claimed greater legitimacy to the national patrimony - through Christianity/Westernization, earlier arrival, or “greater suffering” etc. In the decolonisation, “democratizing” wave after WWII, these factors led to the present politics of entitlement” against the background of Girmitiya unprotectedness. While the British had ostentatiously arranged for a “Protector of Immigrants”, which, with some notable exceptions, took over from the “Protector of Slaves in the Amelioration Period”, these operated more in the breach than not. It left a lasting legacy of Girmitiyas not expecting much justice from “law and order”. But more insidious were the formation of armies and Police Forces staffed exclusively from non-Girmitiyas, which further exacerbated the tensions between these groups.

The state, however, is the property of all citizens, which include Girmitiyas, and must be manned by what Hegel called a “universal class” representing all. In plural societies, this demands that the groups be proportionally represented in them. If not, leaders from the dominant elements will always be tempted to seize power or demand partiality in political conflicts.

Girmitiyas cannot accept the principle of opponents, that: “what we have is ours and what you have is negotiable”.

Works intensify to deliver SchoonordCrane 4-lane highway ahead of deadline

With contractors working to expedite the completion of the SchoonordCrane four-lane highway in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), President Irfaan Ali has announced that the project might be completed months ahead of schedule.

The Head of State during a recent update on the ongoing works, noted that the objective is to work three shifts every day throughout the holidays to complete this project “in the fourth quarter of this year, months ahead of schedule”. The initial timeframe was that the project would be completed by mid2024.

It was shared on Friday, “In the last 24 hours, more than 10,000 cubic yards of sand were delivered and stockpiled on this project which is equivalent to

more than 250 truckloads of sand.”

In September 2022, some $11.8 billion in contracts were signed for the construction of the Schoonord to Crane four-lane highway – a project that is part of a much larger initiative to establish a secondary road link to Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE). One of the challenges to execut-

ing this project was getting the sand across the current Demerara Harbour Bridge, which has weight limits.

This four-lane highway from Schoonord to Crane will be a modern road with features that will allow for easy and free flow of traffic at both ends. These include two roundabouts, 11 reinforced concrete box culverts, 36 pre-stressed

bridges, and road signage and markings.

The project was awarded to eight contractors – VR Construction Inc, Avinash Contracting & Scrap Metal Inc, L-Heureuse Construction and Services Inc, GuyAmerica Construction Inc, AJM Enterprise, Vals Construction, Puran Bros Disposal Inc, and JS Guyana Inc.

Meanwhile, the Crane to Parika phase of the project is currently under review, and works are expected to commence later this year. When completed, the new highway will ease the current traffic congestion, often caused by a bottleneck during peak hours at the Harbour Bridge. There is only one main highway leading from the bridge, passing through Vreed-enHoop and leading towards Parika.

Ravi Dev

Trucks delivering materials for the construction of the Schoonordto-Crane highway

Reg 9 landowners benefit from steel, cement subsidies

The first 58 landowners in Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo) on Saturday received their Steel and Cement Housing Subsidy vouchers from the Housing and Water Ministry’s Central Housing and Planning Authority.

Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal and Permanent Secretary Andre Ally led the distribution of the vouchers at the Regional Housing Office in Lethem.

The Steel and Cement Housing Subsidy programme is the brainchild of President Dr Irfaan Ali, to provide support for Guyanese seeking to construct their own homes, whether on Government or private lands. Persons building homes estimated at $6 million and below will re-

ceive steel and one sling of cement; while homebuilders with estimates above $6 mil-

lion to $25 million will receive two slings of cement.

Minister Croal noted that

the programme will provide a number of economic spinoffs in the region. The first

distribution will see over $13 million being directly invested. It will also promote occupancy within housing schemes and boost homeownership in the hinterland.

Beneficiary, Ekema Glenn applauded the Government for the initiative, as he said the voucher places him in a better position to construct his home.

“Currently, I’m living with family and I’m renting. Renting can be very burdensome so this will give us a great boost in starting my home,” Glenn said.

Beverly Rodrigues, another beneficiary, stated that she is living with her family and said that the voucher presents a life-changing op-

portunity.

Rodrigues expressed, “Without this, I wouldn’t have started building my house. I’m so overwhelmed that I get this.”

Suppliers in Region Nine thus far are R&R Hardware, Fabra Enterprise, M&U General Store, Nicholson Trading, Anil’s Shop and Sucil Kissoon. All suppliers are required to sell the building materials at the predetermined cost set by the Ministry.

Two tenets must be in place before the subsidy is released - ownership and an approved building plan. Persons occupying private lands can also apply.

Region Nine beneficiaries of the steel and cement subsidies

Minister Croal addressing the recipients

Managing environmental complaints

It is the duty of the EPA to take a number of steps to control pollution, including conducting investigations and inspections to ensure compliance with the Environmental Protection Act and Regulations, and providing information and education to the public regarding the needs for and methods of protection of the environment. The dedicated Complaints Unit, in collaboration with the Communications Department and Legal Unit, oversees the complaints management process by ensuring that the functions listed above are executed.

The nature of complaints received by the EPA encompasses every sector and scale from manufacturing to mining. The majority of complaints are noise, air (fumes, odour) and solid waste management related, and occur mostly on Guyana’s coast in Regions 2, 3, 4, and 6. These instances of pollution usually stem from small operations such as furniture manufacturing, mechanic and auto-body shops, animal rearing, and dumping of household waste.

Standard Operating Procedure for complaints management

You too can assist the Agency, members of the public can report environmental complaints utilising any of the following methods:

● Complaints 24-hour hotline number: 592-2255469; or

● E-mail: complaint@epaguyana.org.

Please note, complaint reports MUST include:

i. Nature of the complaint;

ii. Name and address of business/entity/person causing the pollution;

iii. Name of the complainant (person making the complaint); and

iv. Contact information and address of complainant.

You can also message us on Facebook. Complaints can also be made to our regional offices in Whim, Berbice and McKenzie, Linden:

1. Whim Office – 337-2201; and

2. Linden Office – 444-2313.

Enforcement actions

The EPA makes every effort to work with operators to ensure that their business causes little to no environmental damage; there are some instances however where hard enforcement becomes a necessity.

• Warning Letter

• Enforcement Notice

• Prohibition Notice

• Cease Order

• Prosecution

Remember your first line of action should be to make contact with your local government authority (Regional Democratic Council/Neighbourhood Democratic Council) on the matter. Please be assured the Agency will treat all information received from the public with strictest confidence. Complainants, however, should be willing to attend court and testify should the matter require legal action.

You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O Communications, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, or email us at: eit.epaguyana@gmail.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Mother of 2 starts business to spend more time with family

she lives a distance away from her farm, and would visit only once a week, she has trouble with termites destroying her crops, which puts her business at a greater disadvantage. Gonsalves shared that being a part of the Uncapped Market place brings her lots of opportunities in terms of connecting with existing customers, meeting new ones, and getting feedback on how she can better her products and deliver the

best items to customers.

Persons who are interested in purchasing Gonsalves’s products can find them in supermarkets such as Bounty, DSL, Coss Cutters, and Food Max; or can buy them at the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) facility located at 7 Robb & Alexander Streets, Lacytown, Georgetown, Guyana. Persons can also call to order at (592) 6426341, or visit her location at 101-102 Ivan Road,

Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara.

Uncapped Marketplace is a marketplace created by the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) that brings businesses together to facilitate exchange in commerce and aid in their individual growth. It connects buyers with sellers of authentically made Guyanese products, and harnesses the strengths of small and medium-sized agro-processors.

There is nothing more important to a mother than her children. This is proven by 50-yearold Marcia Gonsalves, who ventured off into the world of business all in an effort to support her family and spend more time with her two children.

According to Gonsalves, she wanted to spend more time with her children when they got home from school while still bringing in a source of income to support her family.

“I started the business because I wanted to be home with my children and as well make an income so I can send them to school, so they could get a good education… and when they come home, I could be here with them,” Gonsalves told iNews.

‘Marcia’s Products’, which was birthed in 2014, adds a difference to the Guyanese market with the production of a variety of cassava bread and other or-

ganic products. This unique business features a variety of unique products, which include square and round cassava bread, garlic- and onion-flavoured cassava bread, coconut oils, cassareep, and more.

Gonsalves shared that when she first started some nine years ago, she was only making the round cassava bread and cassareep; however, as the years went by and her skills became more advanced, she started to expand her business and introduce more products. This hardworking businesswoman shared that most times she works alone, but usually gets help from her husband and daughter, when they get home from time to time. She also hires part-time workers to assist her occasionally, depending on her workload.

Gonsalves usually makes 100 packs of each variety of cassava bread on a monthly basis to supply her customers. In the future,

she hopes to supply markets outside of Guyana and reach the needs of more of her international customers. While speaking to this publication, she shared that she has customers as far away as from Canada and England, who buy her products to take home for their families.

"My future plan for the business is for it to be expanded where I could supply the markets out of Guyana; to supply customers out of the country. Because a lot of customers come in the country…and they purchase from me to take home for their family," she revealed.

In her business, the biggest challenge Gonsalves has faced is getting the amount of cassava that she needs on demand. She highlighted that her farm is not producing as much, so she usually has to buy from other farmers, which poses a challenge when the crop is not in season. Given that

Marcia Gonsalves displaying some of her products at the recent UncappeD Marketplace event held at the National Stadium

Ten young ladies were short-listed as finalists from more than 29 applications to vie for the title of Miss Guyana Culture Queen.

The pageant is slated for June at the National Culture Centre, but the finalists, who were chosen from several parts of the country, are undergoing training.

Back in 2019, Guyanese designer Randy Madray had secured the franchise for the pageant, and had unanimously selected Arya Richmond to represent Guyana at the international pageant, which was held in St. Kitts & Nevis. In that pageant, Richmond copped the first runner’s-up place.

In 2020, plans were moving apace to host a pageant, but this was hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, in 2023, plans are moving full steam ahead to host the pageant, after which a queen will be crowned and subsequently Guyana, at the international pageant billed for August.

The ten delegates will make their first public appearance when the sashing ceremony is held on April 22 at the Umana Yana. On pageant night, the 10 contestants will compete in several segments of the pageant, including national costume, talent, swimwear, evening gown, and intelligence.

Is a 26-year-old Social Worker who is passionate about volunteering, assisting vulnerable groups, educating herself, and advocating for betterment. Guyana can expect Denica to bring her unique style, passion and authenticity, and have a Berbician take the title of Miss Guyana Culture Queen 2023!

Is a 21-year-old Content Creator who is passionate about promoting diversity through Performing Arts. In her transition from ‘that girl to THIS woman’ Guyana can expect Jasmaine to use this pageant as a stepping stone to learn more about her beautiful culture, and educate others locally and regionally!

Is a 19-year-old student at the University of Guyana, pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Optometry. Her passion now is solely focused on becoming a better version of herself.

Guyana can expect sass, beauty, confidence and intelligence from self-assured Tamia, who is gunning for the title of Miss Guyana Culture Queen 2023!

Is a 19-year-old Telemarketer who is passionate about women’s advocacy.

Guyana can expect consistency from Lisa as she aims to make an impact on her people, and make a change in whatever way she can not only while in the pageant, but even after.

Is a 23-year-old General Clerk in the Guyana Police Force, and a student at the University of Guyana who is passionate about dance, animals, and physiotherapy.

Guyana can expect a whole lot of confidence, assertiveness and flair from Keri throughout the Miss Guyana Culture Queen journey!

Is a 20-year-old Telemarketer studying Psychology at the University of Guyana. Her passion lies within behavioural sciences, and she aspires to make significant strides where mental health awareness is concerned.

Guyana can expect to witness Kayla as her best self, and be swooned by her charisma and passion!

Is a 20-year-old Aeronautical Engineering student whose passion lies in advocating for women’s equity and empowerment, martial arts, and volunteering at youth basketball in Guyana.

Guyana can expect Shemina to use this pageant to amplify her voice, as her focus is to become another one of Guyana's ambassadors for change, cultural promotion, and empowerment for all.

Is a 19-year-old Junior Clerk at a local bank, studying for a Bachelor of Chemistry degree at the University of Guyana. She is passionate about advocating for mental health in the Caribbean.

Guyana can expect Quissieana to complete the mission of being a representation of dedication, resilience and perseverance, as portrayed by female leaders who are willing to inspire others.

Is a 23-year-old Advertising Assistant who is passionate about writing.

Guyana can expect a young, vibrant woman who is willing to come out of her shell and stand firm for what she's passionate about, as she uses this platform to champion the change she wants to see in her country, and represent people like herself.

Is a 21-year-old 2nd-year medical student and owner of Maisha's Bakery, who is passionate about baking, medicine and literature.

Guyana can expect Tamasha to bring her A-game, as she aims to bring authenticity, elegance, and confidence to everything she does. Watch out for it!

Kayla King:

Keri Duncan:

Siani Archer: Tamasha Oxford:

Quissieana Odle: Shemina Peroune:

Tamia Dodson:

Lisa Hassan:

Denica Henry:

Jasmaine Assanah:

From Capoey to Ireland: 1st Guyanese recipient of Ireland Fellows Programme Scholarship tells all

with a quality education from a higher education institution (HEI) in Ireland free of cost.

Fully funded with a selection of climate and environmental courses across all Irish universities, it was perfect, Henry thought. The one-year application process entailed a preliminary screening application and a detailed application and interviews, after which Henry was accepted and ready to travel halfway across the world to her new home for a year in September 2021.

Growing up in Capoey, a small Amerindian village in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), life was simple: there was the spanning Capoey Lake, the peaceful skies, the expansive forest, and the love for it all. The choice then for Sara Henry to work within nature was also simple.

“There was always a sense of the larger-thanlife importance of the natural environment, spe-

while maintaining the country’s forests to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change, and Henry found herself wondering what this meant or did not mean for communities like hers.

Her interest in nature led her to undertake an undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies at the University of Guyana, and an eventual job as a Senior Planning and Monitoring Officer

ademic underpinnings of governance and decision-making, and reconciling that with how conservation has unveiled itself in our landscape.

As luck would have it, shortly after, she came across an advertisement

on LinkedIn for the Ireland Fellows Programme Scholarship. The one-year master’s level programme, available to those within Small Island Developing States (SIDS), was designed to equip early- to mid-career professionals

Henry found her place within the Environmental Leadership programme at the University of Galway. “Everyone was so friendly and helpful, there wasn’t ever hostility towards me as an international student, be it in the city or at the university. All of my

interactions with professors were positive, and as hungry as I was to learn from them, they were curious and respectful of my perspectives and work experiences,” Henry said. Her personal interactions with her course director, Dr Gesche Kindermann, and her Marine Planning and Policy Professor Dr Liam Carr were what Henry considers the most uplifting. They both built her confidence in her ability to make a future meaningful contribution to this field, and even beyond the scope of Guyana.

“When people such as these believe in you, the imaginary limits to your abilities dispel like a candle lit on a dark night,” Henry remarked.

cifically related to our freshwater lake and the forest,” Henry said. “I often joke that I could’ve been an archaeologist, but even if I was, I’d still be outdoors.”

It was in 2009, however, when Guyana launched its first Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), establishing a vision for inclusive, sustainable development that Henry really started to give serious thought to exploring the environmental field. Radio and TV programs were inundated with messages of the Government’s plans to advocate for development

at the Protected Areas Commission (PAC).

Yet, after five years of working at the PAC, Henry recognized her capacity gaps and the need to pursue further education if she were to continue being useful in her field of work.

“I wanted to have a better understanding of the global context of biodiversity conservation, and be able to contrast what works where and why, and therefore how and what improvements can be made here at home,” Henry said.

She added that she also sought a better understanding of the ac-

Sara Henry on the Black Rock at Moco Moco Village

Henry in Ireland

From Capoey to Ireland: 1st Guyanese recipient...

Although the COVID-19 pandemic limited the range of in-person networking and intercultural events the programme typically offers, Henry was able to meet her classmates and immerse in Irish culture for the first time at a dinner coupled with Irish river dance performances on St. Patrick’s Day in March 2022.

“I was able to meet fellows from different corners of the world,” Henry said. “The main skill reinforced was to keep an appetite and attitude through active listening; to learn of the cultures, and be able to share our Guyanese culture as

well.”

Perhaps what was most intriguing to Henry was the experience of race dynamics in Ireland and within her programme. “Obviously I was a non-Irish, non-white person, but also I did not tick the box for African, Indian, Chinese, or any of the major global ethnicities. On a multicultural stage such as what exists in Galway city where I lived, people don’t know, or particularly care until they meet you, about where you’re from; but, from the outside, naturally associate you with some part of the world, based on your ethnicity,” she said.

“No one had ever heard of an Amerindian, and frankly did not care. I found this refreshing, and rather than focusing only on that aspect of the Guyanese culture, most times I had to keep my explanations about Guyana at the macro level,” Henry said.

She explained that few people she met in Ireland had even heard of Guyana, and her packaged introduction related to her home country’s geography in South America, its connection with Caribbean culture, English is the mother tongue, the six main ethnicities it held, and that she

could not claim to be representative of how a ‘true’ Guyanese looks.

“During this year, I was first a Guyanese girl, then an Amerindian girl; and I found this fascinating and a stark contrast to living in Georgetown,” she said.

Having graduated from the University of Galway in November 2022, Henry now works as a freelance conservation consultant, as she decides on her fulltime role. She also volunteers with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) United Nations Small Grants Programme, where she works with civil society

groups to develop proposals to solve environmental issues and improve the wellbeing of local people.

“After an intense year, it felt great to take a relatively slower pace,” Henry has said.

She intends to use the knowledge and skills she developed during the fellowship to improve the efficiency of systems in Guyana, particularly taking into consideration one of the modules she explored on the roles of communities, non-governmental organizations, private sectors, and governments in environmental conservation.

The main takeaway from her experience in Ireland is that she should continue to keep an open mind to new academic perspectives, cultures and adventures, and to be able to reconcile new learnings with existing knowledge as she continues to evolve her worldview.

“A positive and confident mindset is also key to success,” Henry has said. “This does not mean the absence of fear and hesitancy due to uncertainty, but a resolution of making it work and finding solutions. This is the resolve that carried me through.”

GFS averts major fire at Imam Bacchus Rice Mill

The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) came in for high praises after firefighters managed to avert a potentially devastating fire at the Imam Bacchus Rice Mill on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam).

Based on the information received, the mill was in the midst of its busy harvest operations when a fire broke out in an electrical transformer. Due to the quick response of the company’s employee response crew, who immediately summoned the Fire Department, the fire was quickly extinguished on

the ground.

However, the fire inside the transformer box continued to burn but after some time, the situation was under control.

Fireman E James explained that upon arriving at the scene, their first priority was to contain the fire and then work with GPL to cut the electricity. The firefighters then used their hoses to cool the transformer until they could safely open it up and put out the flames.

The management of Imam Bacchus & Sons expressed their deep gratitude to the Fire Service for their professional and

swift action.

The company’s CEO, Aadil Baksh, noted that tractor-trailers are constantly moving through the mill every day as farmers deliver the first crop of the year. A shutdown due to a significant loss would have affected the livelihoods of workers and farmers and been a catastrophe. Imam Bacchus & Sons Ltd, a third-generation, family-owned business that produces the Imam brand rice and noodle products, is relieved and grateful for the Fire Service’s effectiveness and quick action.

Imam Bacchus Rice Mill

D&I to execute over $1B in works in farming areas

The Agriculture Ministry through the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), continues to make critical interventions in farming communities, to aid in the mitigation of flooding.

This is critical as Guyana takes the lead in Caricom achieving food security as part of its vision to lessen the almost $5 billion food import bill by 25 per cent by the year 2025.

Only recently the NDIA signed over $500 million in contracts to aid in flood mitigation and improve the drainage and irrigation systems in several areas in Regions Two, Three, Six and Eight.

The NDIA is current-

ly inviting bids for the impoldering of farmlands in Bethany Creek in Region Two with an engineer’s estimated cost of over $25 million.

In addition, bids are being invited for the rehabilitation of drainage channels at Aliki and Beribissibali, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), Region Three, with an engineer’s estimated cost of over $91 million.

Also, a new pump station is expected to be constructed at Letter Kenny/ Bloomfield outfall channel, Corentyne, Region Six, at an engineer’s estimated cost of over $936 million.

The agency is also seeking contractors for the supply of irrigation pipers for Uruberu Road,

Paramakatoi, Region Eight, at an estimated cost of over $8 million.

All bids must be deposited into the tender box at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) located at the Ministry of Finance, Main and Urquhart Streets, Georgetown, on or before Thursday, April 13, 2023, at 09:00h.

According to the Ministry, bids will be opened in the presence of those bidders or their representatives who choose to attend the event in the boardroom of NPTAB. A whopping $19.7 billion was set aside in Budget 2023 for critical drainage and irrigation works in several areas countrywide. Work being done in one of the regions

NWD man stabbed to death after allegedly caught stealing

the haversack to be his.

Police stated that at the time, the suspect whipped out a knife from his waist and dealt the victim one stab to his abdomen. The victim managed to run to the Port Kaituma Police Station where he reported the stabbing incident.

Bartica resident busted with gun, ammo

The businessman related that the suspect ran into his office and placed the gun on the counter.

Police stated that the serial number on the firearm was filed off and the maker’s name was not visible.

An East Coast Demerara (ECD) resident was arrested in connection with the stabbing to death of a labourer at Port Kaituma Water Front North West District (NWD) on Friday evening.

Dead is 24-year-old Joel Ramjit of Red Hill, NWD.

Police stated that on April 1, the 44-year-old suspect booked a room at

an apartment complex and remained there until April 7.

However, at about 23:00h on Friday, he reportedly secured his room and left but a short while after Ramjit was seen jumping through a window from his room with a haversack on his back.

Ramjit was nevertheless cornered and taken to the suspect who identified

The ranks, Police stated, observed the victim’s intestines were protruding and immediately rushed him to Port Kaituma Hospital, where he was admitted in critical condition.

The suspect was arrested in his room where a blood-stained black-handled knife suspected to be the murder weapon was found. Ramjit subsequently succumbed to his injuries at about 08:00h on Saturday. The suspect is expected to be arraigned with the capital offence of murder in the new week.

A32-year-old Bartica resident was on Friday taken into custody following the discovery of an unlicenced 9mm pistol and six live matching rounds of ammunition.

Based on information received, on the day in question at about 10:48h, Police acting on information received, intercepted a motor vehicle bearing registration number PAB 8976, at First Street, Bartica.

At the time, the vehicle was being driven by “Don

King”, of First Avenue, Bartica.

Police stated that the suspect drove away and made his way to Mongrippa Hill, Bartica, where he sought refuge in the office of a 30-year-old businessman. However, he was subsequently arrested.

“Don King” was told of the offence he committed, cautioned and admitted ownership of the firearm. He was arrested and escorted with the firearm to Bartica Police Station. He is expected to be charged shortly.

The gun and ammunition that the suspect was carrying

0ver 200 businesses owned by women on display at "We Lift 3"

Human Services and Social Security Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud has met with the women who will display their businesses at the highly anticipated ‘We Lift 3’ activity, during a simple orientation exercise on Lamaha Street, Georgetown.

The exhibitors were briefed on what is expected of them during the third iteration of the event, to be held at the Movietowne Parking Lot on April 15 and 16. This annual event – the largest expo of

its nature in the Caribbean –is directed towards promoting and empowering women entrepreneurs across the country. This year, approximately 200 women-led businesses will be showcased, increasing from the previous two editions by nearly 200 per cent.

“We Lift this year is going to be phenomenal, because I know you will put out your best, and this year’s theme is an eclectic upmarket. I wanted to create that kind of vibe as a little bit different from the WE Lift before, not only changing

the venue, but changing when people come in, what they do. Every section will have a theme that your product will fit in…,” Persaud told the participants.

“We also want to work with you going forward through the female business incubator on marketing, packaging, promotion of your product and so much more…we are working with a company, so that soon you will be able to sell your product on the Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN)

App,” Persaud said. The WIIN App is an extension of the WIIN programme, created to provide Guyanese women with the training and tools to allow them to achieve financial independence and stability. As at 2022, over 500 businesswomen across the country were registered on the WIIN app, with over 8000 registering for the WIIN programme as at February 2023.

Gabriela Rodriguez, one

of the exhibitors, in expressing her gratitude for being able to participate in this year’s event, said: “I am very honoured and grateful for this opportunity to be one of the persons as part of ‘We Lift 3’. I am really excited to see what will happen, and I am thankful to the Ministry of Human Services for supporting women in business, and it is a blessing.”

Another exhibitor, Rhonda Brotherson, is excited

to be back for her second time at We Lift. She has commended her experience at We Lift 2.

“I think it is an excellent initiative for women who have small businesses to be put on the forefront to showcase what we have in the best way we can. Be creative with our displays and interact with people who only get to see our small businesses just online,” Brotherson has said.

Some of the exhibitors who will participate in "We Lift 3"

Minister Persaud addressing the gathering

Robin Hollow Blocks certified to National Standard

The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) has certified Robin Hollow Blocks under its Product Certification Programme to manufacture four and six-inch blocks which meet the requirements of the National Standard.

The certificate was handed over by GNBS Technical Officer Latchman Mootoosammi to the proprietor of Robin Hollow Blocks, Raphael Singh at the business Lot 166 School Street, Prospect, East Bank Demerara (EBD) location.

He also received a plaque from GNBS Technical Officer Keon Rankin to be displayed to customers as a symbol of this achievement.

During the handing-over ceremony, Singh noted that he always strives to manufacture quality blocks

and is proud to join the GNBS’ Product Certification Programme. “With this certification, customers will know that my product is keeping with quality requirements, and I am committed to keep-

ing that standard,” he said.

Robin Hollow Blocks is now the fourth concrete hollow block company to be certified by the GNBS. The company is now permitted to use the National Standards

Mark on the four (4) and six (6) inch blocks. The certificate is valid for one year.

Rankin congratulated the block manufacturer and encouraged him to work towards maintaining the requirements of the standard. He indicated that the Bureau is proud of the commitment demonstrated to join its list of companies in Guyana that have been granted certification for concrete blocks.

In addition to certification, the GNBS offers testing of concrete blocks. Concrete hollow blocks of common sizes including three, four and six inches can be tested. Testing is also provided for concrete cubes and cylinders in accordance with standards. Samples of these items can be submitted to the GNBS’ Flat 15, Sophia Exhibition Complex, Georgetown Office and sub-

sequently a test certificate is provided.

This year, the Bureau also commenced offering Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) for concrete blocks and structures and cubes. Non-Destructive Testing of concrete structures is a useful service to homeowners concerned about the quality of their concrete floors, walls, posts, fences, bridges etc; or contractors and engineers who are involved in the construction or the approval of new structures.

Other products currently certified to National Standards under the GNBS Product Certification Scheme are PVC pipes and gold jewellery.

The GNBS is urging local manufacturers, domestic block makers, contractors and homeowners, to submit their concrete hollow blocks and structures to its testing laboratory for testing. The results would determine the strength and surface hardness of concrete blocks and structures. (GBNS Feature)

Owner of Robin Hollow Blocks, Raphael Singh, and GNBS Technical Officer Keon Rankin affix a Certification sticker to the block-making equipment

Concrete hollow blocks manufactured by Robin Hollow Blocks

Prawn production, cage fishing for countrywide expansion

production of prawns will be conducted in Regions Five and Six. Government is already in the process of constructing the ponds for this project.

In addition, production has also increased massively for the brackish water shrimp from 10,000 to 90,000 kilograms.

“We are about 80 to 85 per cent of the project so far. I am hoping at the end of the project, we can reach the target that we planned now about 120,000 kilograms monthly… With those projects that we have in Region Six, of course, people across the country are looking forward …They need help too

to start that kind of shrimp production in areas like Regions Five and Two. So, we will be working with the farmers,” the Agriculture Minister underlined.

Approximately $500 million was expended last year in the fisheries sector, especially for the brackish water shrimp production.

President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali made several commitments during his visits to the landing sites where enhancement work will be done including lights, sheds, and washroom facilities, among others. So far, approximately 75 landing sites have been improved throughout the country.

Guyana continues to make major strides in the fisheries sector with the implementation of various initiatives aimed to expand productivity. The production of prawns and the lucrative marine cage project are expected to further boost the country’s aquaculture sector significantly since they will be expanded countrywide.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha during

“We have rolled out the cage culture that the President spoke about. This year, we will be setting up, approximately, another 50 cages around the country. That means that we have to enhance our areas like at the Satyadeow Sawh aquaculture station so that we can have these fingerlings to supply to those cages and produce our fingerlings… In the aquaculture area, we are looking to build an in-

an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI) related that the Government has had many successes over the last two years in the aquaculture sector. He noted that the Government will continue to work aggressively to transform the sector.

dustry.”

A popular and financially successful method of producing marketable fish currently is fish cultivation in cages.

Cage fishing was first introduced last year in Mainstay/ Whyaka, Region Two.

Minister Mustapha emphasised that this year, the

Brackish water shrimp

A shrimp pond

Preliminary work completed on 2nd Exxon audit of US$9B cost oil – VP Jagdeo – assures Govt

Preliminary work has been completed on the second Esso Exploration and Production

has been pushing for timely completion of audits

Guyana Limited (EEPGL) cost oil audit of expenses totalling US$9 billion, which was being undertaken by a

consortium of local companies. This was recently revealed by Vice President

Bharrat Jagdeo, during a press conference where he defended against criticism by the Opposition A

Partnership for National Unity (APNU). The Opposition has been claiming that the first audit of ExxonMobil’s pre-contract expenses was kept secret by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government.

Jagdeo noted that not only was the first audit contracted when APNU was in office and therefore should have been public knowledge for the Opposition, but the PPP/C Government has also expedited work on the second audit.

“The audit was contracted by the PNC… the second audit, we made it clear why we wanted local content. And the second audit has been done. The preliminary work is completed now and it has to go through all of that.”

The Vice President acknowledged that the criticism of the length of time it takes to complete the cost oil audits is a fair one. Jagdeo assured that at the policy level, they ensure that they press the technical people to complete their audits in a timely manner.

“We as policymakers, press the technical people too. To get this going, complete the work. We have a ton of things to do, from the policymaking side. We cannot be running technical issues all the time; you hire people to do that. So, it’s going slowly, but it’s getting the required attention at the technical level.”

“What would have been even more distressing is if our GRA or our Ministry had just said, all right we accept it and let’s go forward. Or allow Exxon to get away with some spurious explanation. It’s taking long, but they’re sticking doggedly to it. And we’re not going to lose a single dollar,” Jagdeo said.

According to Jagdeo, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Ministry of Natural Resources have had the first cost oil audit in their hands for some time and thus allegations of secrecy are baseless.

“This audit has been available between the GRA and the Ministry of Natural Resources, to a minimum of 20 staff for the last two years. They’ve had this audit. So, it’s not a secret. It’s in GRA and they’ve had

maybe 12-15 persons who’ve been looking at this audit. So around 20 technical staff had copies of this audit and looked at it. So, we don’t accept that it’s secret.”

“The sloth in addressing the concerns is accurate. It’s going too slowly. But we’re not going to lose… billions of dollars. The reason you can’t lose billions of dollars is because the audit itself says that there’s about $200 million of expenditure that is being challenged… you can’t lose it because it’s been identified as potentially a source that if Exxon can’t give proper explanations, will be removed from the cost bank and go back into the profit share. It’s not money you will lose. It’s just that the country will recover it. That is the purpose of the audit.”

The US$751,000 cost recovery contract for the second audit, which covers profit oil from the years 2018, 2019, and 2020, was signed in a room full of stakeholders and suppliers last year May, during a workshop on local content.

The local auditors include Ramdihal and Haynes Chartered Accounting, as well as Vitality Accounting, who was present at the signing. Chateram Ramdihal was physically present at the event, while Finance Professor Floyd Haynes tuned in virtually.

The post-2017 sum is believed to be over US$9 billion, inclusive of sanctioning expenses for the Liza Phase One and Two projects. When the PPP/C Government assumed office in 2020, it took over the shepherding of audits for ExxonMobil’s pre-contract and other pre2017 costs.

The pre-contract cost audit was conducted by the UK firm, IHS Markit, which was hired by the previous Administration four years after oil was first discovered offshore. There is an additional sum of approximately US$400 million from 2016 to 2017, which it is believed will also come under the rubric of cost oil.

The former Government has received much criticism for agreeing to these costs without an audit being done.

The audit of cost oil claims is critical to ensuring that Guyana does not lose out on millions in oil revenues.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

US$18M signing bonus siphoned off by APNU/AFC played no role in ICJ case – VP Jagdeo

General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Bharrat Jagdeo has strongly rejected implications by the APNU/ AFC that the US $18 million signing bonus it received from ExxonMobil, had any role to play in Guyana advancing the border controversy case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The General Secretary addressed the matter during a press conference at the Freedom House, Georgetown, on Thursday afternoon.

On Thursday morning, by a 14 to one vote, the ICJ handed down its ruling that the United Kingdom cannot be considered an indispensable party in the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy case.

Following the announcement of the ruling, APNU’s Volda Lawrence made a social media post that read, ‘APNU+AFC Take a bow. Return on $18M US sign-

ing bonus’.

She was referring to the US$18 million signing bonus ExxonMobil had paid to the APNU/AFC Administration when they signed the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) for the Stabroek Block.

That signing bonus, however, was only disclosed to the public follow-

ing intense criticism from the media and Opposition parties.

“The signing bonus was provided for, and the Government received it. They never informed the country that they received it. The Ministry of Finance established an account outside of the Consolidated Fund, and outside of

the balance sheet of the Central Bank, and deposited the signing bonus in that account. When asked about this signing bonus, the [then] Minister of Finance replied ‘We never requested, nor did we receive a signing bonus’, although his Ministry had authorised the creation of the account, and he knew that the money was sitting in the account almost a year after he gave that answer,” Jagdeo reminded.

He pointed out that the APNU/AFC, at the time refused to transfer the money to the Consolidated Fund, which was contrary to Guyana’s financial laws and the country’s Constitution, and therefore illegal.

“Public money can only be kept in three accounts: The Consolidated Fund, a deposit fund, which has to be created by the Ministry of Finance…. And thirdly, money can be placed into accounts that are created by special legislation. This

money was placed in none of those accounts. We had to go to the court to get them to transfer the money,” Jagdeo explained.

The APNU/AFC had initially claimed that the money was invested offshore to accumulate interest. However, they later backtracked and said that the funds were going to be utilised to pursue the ICJ case against Venezuela.

“Now, our argument was that if they needed 18 million US dollars to pursue our case at the ICJ, the PPP will support that. If they need $100 million— and I recall saying this in

Opposition—US$100 million to present the best case, we will support it. But they did not have to do it in an illegal or surreptitious fashion. They could have placed the money into the Consolidated Fund, and easily said, ‘We had to appropriate money for our case to the ICJ’, and they would have had our 100 per cent support,” the General Secretary asserted. He expressed distaste that on a day when Guyanese should be celebrating the ICJ ruling, the occasion was instead marred by tasteless political sniping.

PPP/C General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo

Govt to launch agriculture project for youths, women in South Pakaraima

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Saturday told residents of villages in the South Pakaraima, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) that the Government will launch a special agriculture project for youths and women in that part of the region.

The Head of State made this announcement while meeting with residents of South Pakaraima at Karasabai.

The President explained that the project will be done in consultation with the villagers. “In every community, jointly with your resources and some of ours, I want us to see how we can launch an agricultural project that is sustainable but must be led by young people and women as far as possible.”

President Ali also took note of the issues affecting specific villages with regard to infrastructure, healthcare, water and other issues.

He added that he

has instructed Local Government and Regional Development Minister Nigel Dharamlall to look at the options where the road can be raised and upgraded in phases. Dr Ali also handed over seven tractors and two AllTerrain Vehicles (ATVs) to the communities.

The meeting also saw the presence of Regional Chairman Bryan Allicock; National Security Advisor, Captain Gerry Gouveia; Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken; GO-Invest Head, Dr Peter Ramsaroop,

and other Government officials.

In the latter part of 2022, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government enacted a policy to ensure that local women and youth have a percentage of ownership in all new agricultural investments, as part of its efforts to make agriculture more sustainable.

“In Guyana, for example, we have now made a policy that all the new investment in agriculture, driven by technolo -

gy, would have a percentage owned by women and youth. So, in all investments we’re making in livestock, 35 per cent of those farms must be owned by women and 30 per cent of those farms must be owned by youth,” he said.

“This is how we’re going to ensure sustainability. If we’re not in a position to encourage the next generation, young people, to be part of agriculture and see

it as something exciting, innovative, and challenging, that utilises technology, then we will not be able to create a sustainable framework for the produc -

tion of food and the sustainability and resilience of the agriculture sector.”

According to Ali, the Government must protect the vulnerable.

Residents at the meeting on Saturday

The ICT hub in Karasabai

The tractors that were handed over to the various communities

NCD Commission lobbies for increased HPV, HBA1c testing

The Presidential National NonCommunicable Diseases (NCD) Commission wants to see more action taken to lift testing rates for Haemoglobin A1C (HBA1c) and the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in Guyana, citing that access can be improved across the country.

On the occasion of World Health Day, Chairman of the Commission, Dr Leslie Ramsammy penned disappointment on the HPV campaign as he highlighted the need for more awareness. HPV testing is critical for Guyana to identify persons at risk for cervical and other cancers.

“We are disappointed that the education and awareness programme and the strategies to lift the HPV vaccination among boys and girls appear stag-

nated and little effort is being made to improve HPV vaccination coverage. Equally, we are disappointed that HPV testing is still very inaccessible in Guyana,” Dr Ramsammy shared.

The former Health Minister explained that

for three years, the Commission has advocated for more robust testing for HBA1c in primary healthcare but it is still difficult to access in the public health sector.

“Very few persons have access to HBA1c testing in health posts and health centres and in district hospitals. Disappointingly, very few people have access to HBA1c testing in regional hospitals still as we observe WHD 2023. We urge the Health Ministry to correct this lapse.”

The NCD Commission continues to advocate for more action to address the social determinants of health. Without a robust campaign to address the social determinants of health, the Chairman said no development strategy is effective if, at the core, it does not cater to individuals and

communities to have access to quality health services.

The Government of Guyana has increased significantly, its health investment, with more than a doubling of the per capita investment in health between 2020 and 2023.

At least seven new hospitals have already started construction and all existing hospitals will be re-developed. The physical and technological infrastructure of the public health sector is being transformed. Human resource transformation has also begun. A telemedicine programme is linking people from the most remote communities to doctors at GPHC.

In acknowledging these advances, the Ministry of Health was urged to elevate the strategies and actions to manage and control cancers in our country.

“We are aware of specific actions the Government has embarked on with Mount Sinai of New York and with the Chinese Medical Brigade to elevate the cancer response programmes in Guyana. We feel Guyana can, indeed, do more to elevate the cancer response to protect our people.”

Food and nutrition remain a major strategy in the fight against both NCDs and Infectious diseases. While children are still exposed to unhealthy foods, Ramsammy said efforts to mitigate the problem remain timid.

“Front of the Package labelling cannot be yet another slogan. We must advocate and ensure that it happens. Salty, sugary, ultra-proceed food is killing us and we remain on the sidelines as bad food kills more of us than any infec-

tious pandemic has ever done. More than 74 per cent of our deaths are now due to the NCDs,” he positioned.

More than 32 per cent of all NCD deaths are premature – which he noted is an opportunity for Guyana to do more. The Ministry was lauded for creating the Diabetic Centre at Lusignan as it adds to the vision of having quality diabetic services for all citizens.

It added, “The last Diabetic Treatment and Care Guidelines, Edition 3, was published in 2008. Since then, no amendment has been made. We congratulate the Health Minister for his personal leadership to ensure that the guidelines are updated to include many new innovations in the new guideline, which is being developed with support from Mount Sinai.”

GPF to host “Flava De Stage” dance competition

- $1M up for grabs

In an effort to build better relations with youths around the country, the Guyana Police Force in collaboration with Men on Mission has launched its inaugural dance competition “Flava De Stage”.

The competition will feature local dance competitions within each Police Division, leading up to the final, which is slated for May 13, 2023, at Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary, Georgetown.

According to the GPF’s Public Relations Officer, Stan Gouveia, “One of the things that the Commissioner of Police seeks to, is to build partnerships with young people, to be able to get them to be meaningfully occupied in things that they enjoy and to be able to take them away from the temptation of other things. Which is going to help us also to build better relations with our vulnerable youths...so that they could see the Police in a different light.”

Speaking with this publication on Friday, Gouveia shared that Commanders for each of the 12 Police Regional Divisions throughout the country are set to run off a dance competition before the end of

this month, where they will select a final team to represent them at the finals.

He shared that each group that is entering the competition at the national level must consist of no less than six and no more than twelve members between the ages of 16 to 30.

He also unveiled that the winning team of “Flava De Stage” will be chosen to represent Guyana at the official Caribbean Dance Competition (CDC) which is expected to host its first competition in Guyana sometime in August. According to Gouveia, after recognising the work the GPF is doing, the committee responsible for selecting dancers to represent Guyana at the regional competition reached out to the Force to select a team.

“That will have many of the Caribbean countries who will be competing in that regional competition. So, Guyana will have to obviously vie a team and the organisers are actually going to…award the winning team…to represent Guyana,” Gouveia shared.

‘”Flava De Stage” is completely entry free for both contestants and spectators. The competition will feature a number of amazing segments and local artists including Granny

Ivy, Timothy Roberts, and more. Additionally, there will be 14 Police ranks performing throughout the night.

First-place winners will

take home a prize while second, third, and fourth-place winners will be awarded $600,000, $300,000, and $100,000 respectively. According to Gouveia,

the Force is also working to have trophies to be presented to participants. Interested persons can contact their Regional Commanders to get infor-

mation on the competition. Groups are encouraged to dance to any genre of music of their preference, be it Afro Beats, Soca, Chutney, or any other.

NCD Commission Chairman, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

MESSAGES

Easter provides many pertinent lessons for teaching tolerance, love – PPP

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) takes this opportunity to extend Easter Greetings to all Guyanese, especially our brothers and sisters from the Christian community.

Easter is a very sacred time for Christians across the world. It marks the Resurrection of Jesus

Christ, and provides many pertinent lessons for all humanity: teaching tolerance, humility, love and respect for others, with an abundance of hope that one can rise to a brighter future despite being confronted with insurmountable challenges.

It is this hope that gives meaningful purpose to all

mankind, for both personal and societal advancement.

Let us be motivated by what Jesus Christ’s Resurrection signifies, and be encouraged by the knowledge that, through resoluteness in the face of adversity, we can all persevere.

Like many of our national holidays, Easter

transcends religious boundaries. Guyanese from all walks of life participate as families and communities gather nationwide for the traditional kite-flying. Our Party also takes this occasion to remind of the need for safety while flying kites.

Once again, Happy Easter to all!

ERC urges Guyanese to promote harmony, good relations

The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) extends Easter greetings to all Christians and fellow Guyanese at home and in the diaspora.

Easter is traditionally known as a time when Guyanese truly come together, especially in

kite-flying and at social gatherings. Easter befits the true spirit of our national observances, which continue to foster togetherness of our peoples from many cultures.

The significance of the Resurrection is an inspirational turning point, and

offers mankind the universal message that there is always hope for a new beginning in the face of adversity. It brings comfort and motivation for the path to continuity, even in what may be seen as the end.

As the kites of differ -

ent colours and sizes soar and buzz high in the skies once more, let it symbolise our collective and sustained efforts in rising to the challenges to remove barriers of misunderstanding and prejudice.

Let the significance of the occasion of Easter guide us to renew our commitment to individually and collectively endeavour to build on the strides

made in the fostering of tolerance and respect.

The Commission urges Guyanese to ensure that the true significance and message of Easter remains alive, and its religious teachings inspire us to promote harmony and good relations across our dear land.

Peace and fellowship for the Easter holidays!

The People’s National Congress Reform wishes all Guyanese a happy Easter. Let us all make a greater effort to engage in self-reflection, to share love, to spread joy, and to offer forgiveness for the greater national good and our shared destiny.

May this glorious season remind us of God’s love for us, and of our responsibility to show compassion and support for one another.

Easter is one of the most important seasons of the Christian faith - starting from Palm Sunday, then Good Friday, and finally Easter Sunday.

Palm Sunday reminds us of Jesus’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Good Friday reminds us of His brutal treatment, culminating in crucifixion. Easter Sunday reminds us of Jesus rising from the dead. Each of the Christian Gospels explains the purpose for which Jesus came into the world. In John 3:16, Jesus Himself tells of God’s love and concern for mankind. Not only does God say He loves us, but He has demonstrated that love by sending

Jesus with the express purpose of sacrificing His life so that mankind might be redeemed.

It is the Christian’s belief that the blood of Christ shed on a cross at a place called Calvary is the full price for man’s redemption.

Christians also believe that, beyond the suffering and the horrors of crucifixion, they can still rejoice in the glory of His Resurrection and His triumph over the grave. Let us be reminded, therefore, that when circumstances seem at their worst, there is still reason for hope.

During this Easter, let us reflect on the full meaning of Jesus’s sacrifice and God’s love for us. Let us recommit our responsibilities to our fellow humankind.

Happy Easter, and God bless our nation.

Make greater effort to share love, joy & offer forgiveness for greater national good – PNCR

MESSAGES

Enduring message of Easter remains relevant today – GAWU

The observance of Easter is one of the most prominent events on the calendar of Christianity. Today, Christians in Guyana and around the world would be celebrating Easter and commemorating the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Easter is a time to reflect on the values of sacrifice, hope, and forgiveness at the heart of Christ’s message. Traditionally, Christians will attend church, spend time with family, and organise Easter egg hunts for children. As the holiest day of the Christian calendar, Easter is also an opportunity to recognise the strength of one’s faith in helping overcome life’s obstacles. As we consider our present-day situation, the enduring message of Easter remains relevant. It reminds us, to some extent, of the challenges Christ and His disciplines faced in their times, and the adversities they had eventually overcome. It is a story of perseverance and the will of people to confront those who seek to thwart what they stand for, despite the tall obstacles put in their way. It is also a re-

minder that even the darkest of periods are only but a period, and eventually that will soon pass. Indeed, we are confident, like in times before, that as peoples have been gripped by one crisis or the other, we again will overcome and persevere, and we will become stronger and better for it all.

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) at this time extends Easter Greetings to all Guyanese, and more especially to members of our Christian Community, both here and around the world, on this most auspicious event of the Christian Calendar. For the members of the Christian Community, the Easter story represents the fulfilment of God’s Prophecy that mankind would be offered the hope of eternal life through the sacrificial death of His

Easter reminds that love can transcend differences, overcome prejudice – AFC

The Alliance For Change (AFC) extends Easter Greetings to all Guyanese, especially our Christian brothers and sisters. The message of Easter - that of hope, sacrifice and love - is as relevant today as it was over 2000 years ago.

Easter is an important time in the Christian calendar, and as we reflect on the life of Jesus Christ and celebrate His Resurrection, we are reminded that love for each other and for humanity can transcend differences and overcome prejudice.

In Christian theology, God’s love for humanity is repeated and reinforced throughout the scriptures.

Son, Jesus Christ, and His subsequent Resurrection from the dead.

It is this faith which has kept the worldwide Christian Church alive,

and enabled its followers to significantly contribute towards making the earth

a better place for all mankind.

This message of divine love and admonishment to man to show love is a common thread throughout religions.

Easter is also a time when Christians remember Christ’s sacrifice, and are inspired by the belief in His Resurrection. It is this message of hope for a better life that we all must cling to. The belief in that our tomorrow can be better that our today.

The Alliance For Change remains committed to working with all Guyanese across political, ethnic, social, economic, and any other divide to ensure that our collective tomorrow is better than our yesterday.

Happy Easter!

Lula at 100 days: President stalls in quest to reshape Brazil

AGovernment’s first 100 days in office can be a sort of honeymoon, with voters and politicians hopeful for a new start. But for Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, despite some signs of progress, the past three months have been marked by a certain weariness.

In the social arena, his game has been strong, with Lula reinstating programmes aimed at bolstering low-income housing, water delivery and financial aid for needy families.

And after Brazil’s grim return to the World Food Programme’s Hunger Map, with more than 33 million Brazilians going hungry last year, Lula relaunched the National Council for Food and Nutritional Security, abolished under former President Jair Bolsonaro.

“We can see that he wants to do good things for the poor — something the former President didn’t do,” Rosangela de Fatima Silva, who lives in the southeastern city of Diamantina and works at a kitchen serving local housing activists, told Al Jazeera.

But governing has not been an easy task. The nature of Lula’s Coalition Government raises a number of internal contradictions, experts have said — and without a solid base in Parliament, some projects may struggle to get approved.

In addition, the January 8 storming of Government buildings by Bolsonaro supporters laid bare the apparent animosity towards Lula among some ranks of the country’s security services, resulting in a wave of dismissals for their alleged inaction.

“Lula 3.0 is different

St Kitts PM still working towards universal healthcare

Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew on Friday said that universal health coverage (UHC) remains a “political and social imperative” for the twin-island Federation and would remain a priority for his sevenmonth-old Administration.

“The team is working assiduously to determine the financing mechanisms needed to support the implementation of a sustainable national health insurance scheme,” said Drew, who is also the Minister of Health.

All”, Drew, a medical practitioner said, that the fight against non-communicable diseases (NCDs) was real.

dented impact on the health system, and the lives and livelihoods of people here.

from Lula 1.0 and Lula 2.0,” Evandro Menezes de Carvalho, coordinator of the Center for BrazilChina Studies at the Getulio Vargas Foundation School of Law in Rio de Janeiro, told Al Jazeera.

“As he returns to office, Lula finds a Congress and society more conservative than the ones from his previous terms. Their agenda is, for the most part, not the same as that of the Workers’ Party,” he added. “Lula no longer has the popularity he once had — and Brazil’s economy is no longer the same.” (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

US to test faster asylum screenings for migrants crossing border illegally

The Biden Administration next week will begin testing faster asylum screenings for migrants caught crossing the USMexico border illegally, the Department of Homeland Security said on Saturday, part of preparations for the end of COVID-19 border restrictions in May.

US asylum officers will conduct initial asylum screenings for a small number of migrants within days while they remain in the custody of border authorities, Homeland Security spokesperson Marsha Espinosa said. The inter-

views will take place over the phone and migrants will have access to legal counsel during the screenings, she said.

US President Joe Biden, a Democrat, has implemented new border restrictions in recent months as he grapples with record numbers of migrants caught crossing illegally. Republican former President Donald Trump also used rapid asylum screenings to speed up the resolution of cases but those screenings were conducted by US Customs and Border Protection personnel and without the guar -

antee of legal representation.

The experiment with faster asylum screenings "will inform best practices" if the Administration decides to apply it more broadly in the future, Espinosa said. The spokesperson declined to say where on the border it would be implemented next week.

Reuters first reported in December that Biden officials were weighing whether to use the accelerated asylum screenings among other Trump-style restrictions. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Honduras again extends emergency powers to fight violent gangs

Honduras' Government on Friday extended until late May emergency powers that suspend some constitutional rights, part of an anti-gang push implemented by leftist President Xiomara Castro in the Central American country's largest cities.

Earlier this week, Castro's Government deployed soldiers across the nation to fight violent criminal groups.

This is the third extension - this time by another 45 days - of the so-called state of exception that is now set to expire on May 21, the Government said in a statement.

The crime-fighting policy applies to 123 local districts covering the largest population centres and allows authorities to restrict freedom of movement and assembly, as well as to search homes and make arrests without a warrant.

In a message to mark World Health Day (WHD), which is being observed under the theme “Health for

“The NCDs, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer are major contributors to morbidity and mortality and major obstacles to our attaining “Health for All,” he said, noting that since coming to office the Ministry of Health (MOH) has strengthened the Health Promotion Unit by recruiting a communications personnel and acquiring new production equipment.

But he said emerging infectious diseases like COVID-19 had an unprece-

“COVID -19 alone significantly delayed our progress towards “Health for All”. Reemerging diseases like norovirus is the pathogen causing the current gastroenteritis outbreak,” he said, adding “we are all responsible for playing our part in controlling this outbreak by practicing proper hand hygiene”.

Prime Minister Drew said other re-emerging diseases like chikungunya and zika are circulating in Latin America and the Caribbean, “and it is just a matter of time before we are affected. (CMC)

Tobago fishermen to write PM to address Flying Fish issue with Barbados

The All Tobago Fisherfolk Association (AFTA) intends to write to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley on Tuesday to deal with the problem of fishermen from Barbados who AFTA claims are overfishing in Tobago’s water. AFTA president Curtis Douglas said “enough is enough.”

He said AFTA would be sending letters to all concerned, since the “overfishing by the Bajans are causing fish processors in Tobago to go out of business and the employees sent home.” Douglas said the Bajans have been “plaguing

the Tobagonians for years.”

He said during the COVID-19 pandemic the fish population increased. However, he said for the last year, fleets of Bajan vessels have been operating in Tobago’s waters illegally.

When asked he said the vessels can be identified as Bajan because of the identification markings on the boat. He said when the Flying Fish is overfished it creates a greater problem since many other commercial species depend on the them for food.

He said this creates a shortage of commercial spe-

cies, causing higher prices on the retail market.

Douglas said in February 2022 he raised the issue with THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine “but it was not addressed.”

On Saturday Nikesha Pantin-Charles, the Secretary of Agriculture in the THA advised Guardian Media to contact Assemblyman Nigel Taitt who she said has the portfolio of Marine Resources and Fisheries. When contacted Taitt said he would not be able to comment until he has further information.

(Trinidad Guardian)

US court gives Peru's ex-President

Toledo more time to fight extradition

AUS court ordered a two-week pause on the extradition of Peru's former President Alejandro Toledo, wanted in his home country on charges of taking millions of dollars in bribes as part of a continent-spanning corruption case.

The US court of appeals based in San Francisco gave Toledo the 14-day reprieve in an order issued late Thursday, a day after a lower court and a panel of appellate court judges rejected an appeal by Toledo to stall his return to Peru.

The pause will allow Toledo, 77, more time to petition judges to reconsider his case.

Peru's President from 2001 to 2006, Toledo is wanted on charges he accepted more than US$25 million in bribes from Brazilian construction company Odebrecht in exchange for help in obtaining public works contracts.

Multiple leaders from across the Americas have been implicated in the Odebrecht case, including three other former Presidents

of Peru.

Prosecutors in the South American country are seeking a more than 20-year prison sentence for Toledo.

He has denied soliciting or receiving bribes and does not face criminal charges in the US. Reuters could not immediately reach the former President or his defence team for comment.

Toledo was arrested in the United States in 2019, following a formal request by Peru's Government for his extradition.

(Reuters)

"This legal measure has made it possible for security authorities to capture more than a hundred members of criminal organizations," the statement added.

The decision to continue with the policy underscores a change in tack by Castro, who previously criticised the role of the military in past Administrations and pledged to "demilitarise citizen security" during her successful 2021 presidential campaign. (Reuters)

Blockade lifted at Colombia coal mine Cerrejon

Protesters in Colombia's northern La Guajira province have lifted a four-day blockade of a rail line and the entrance to an export terminal used by coal miner Cerrejon, the company said on Friday.

The blockade, which was affecting operations, was led by residents from three communities in Media Luna, the company had previously said.

"It has been lifted," a

Cerrejon spokesperson told Reuters, adding normal operations will now resume.

Blockades of roads, the rail line and other Cerrejon facilities are common and regularly result in losses for the company.

Wayuu Indigenous communities have had a long-running dispute with Cerrejon, which is owned by Anglo-Swiss commodities giant Glencore, over water use and pollution, dust, noise and health issues.

Cerrejon is under a court order to comply with environmental and health requirements, including by reaching agreements with Wayuu communities. The company has said it has signed 302 agreements, including 11 with communities in Media Luna. In 2020 a UN Special Rapporteur said the mine should suspend some operations on health and environmental concerns, a call which Cerrejon rejected. (Reuters)

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva

Around the World OIL NEWS

“It was heart-breaking”: Ukraine children back home after alleged deportation

OPEC+ production cuts set to weigh on biggest Gulf economies

The surprise OPEC+ production cuts will drag down economic growth in the biggest Arab Gulf economies this year, including in the world’s top crude oil exporter Saudi Arabia, bank Emirates NBD said in a new estimate this week.

The biggest OPEC producers in the Middle East and several other members of the OPEC+ pact announced on Sunday a total of 1.16 million bpd of fresh production cuts. Saudi Arabia will cut 500,000 bpd and said that the move was “a precautionary measure aimed at supporting the stability of the oil market.” The reduction is on top of Russia’s current 500,000 bpd cut which was extended until the end of the year.

As a result of the cuts, Emirates NBD revised down its 2023 gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecasts for several GCC countries, following the announcement of voluntary oil production cuts by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, and Oman from May through the end of 2023.

Economies in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) –Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE –are set to see headline GDP growth at 2.3% this year, down from 3.2% previously projected, the bank said.

If Saudi Arabia maintains the 500,000 bpd cuts through the end of 2023, average crude production will drop by more than 4% from 2022 levels, and GDP growth could be 2.1% this year, down from the 3.1% expected earlier.

“While investment in boosting capacity in the oil & gas sector will continue, we now expect overall hydrocarbon GDP to decline by -2.0% in 2023 against a previous forecast of 2.0% growth,” Khatija Haque, Head of Research & Chief Economist at Emirates NBD, wrote.

“With the non-oil sector growth estimate unchanged at 4.8%, headline GDP for the kingdom will likely reach 2.1% this year, a full percentage point lower than we had previously expected.”

The outlook for the UAE’s GDP growth was revised down to 3.4% from 3.9% previously, while Kuwait is expected to see economic growth of just 0.2%, slashed from 2.4% previously, and Oman at 1.7%, down from 2.8%. (Oilprice.com)

Chinese military rehearses encirclement of Taiwan

China’s military is rehearsing the encirclement of Taiwan during three days of military drills.

Beijing - which views Taiwan as a breakaway province of China - called the operation a “stern warning” to the island’s Government.

The exercises began hours after President Tsai Ing-wen returned from a trip to the United States.

The Taiwanese Defence Ministry said 71 Chinese military planes and nine ships crossed the Taiwan Strait median line.

The line is an unofficial dividing line between Chinese and Taiwanese territory.

One of the ships fired a round from its deck as it sailed near Pingtan island, China’s closest point to Taiwan, Reuters reported.

Chinese state media said the military drills would “simultaneously organise patrols and advances around Taiwan island, shaping an all-round encirclement and deterrence posture”.

It added that “long-range

More than 30 children were reunited with their families in Ukraine this weekend after a long operation to bring them back home from Russia or Russian-occupied Crimea, where they had been taken from areas occupied by Russian forces during the war.

Mothers hugged sons and daughters as they crossed the border from Belarus into Ukraine on Friday after a complex rescue mission involving travel across four countries.

Dasha Rakk, a 13-yearold girl, said she and her twin sister had agreed to leave the Russian-occupied city of Kherson last year because of the war and go to a holiday camp in Crimea for a few weeks. But once in Crimea, Russian officials

Iryna embraces her 13-year-old son Bohdan, who went to a Russian-organised summer camp from non-government controlled territories and was then taken to Russia, after he returned via the Ukraine-Belarus border,

said the children would be staying for longer.

“They said we will be adopted, that we will get guardians,” she said. “When they first told us we will stay

Tel Aviv car-ramming kills Italian tourist and injures 7

longer we all started crying.”

Dasha’s mother Natalia said she had travelled from Ukraine to Crimea via Poland, Belarus and Moscow to get her daugh-

ters. Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula has been occupied by Russia since 2014.

“It was terribly difficult but we kept on going, we did not sleep at nights, we slept sitting up,” she said, describing her journey to the camp.

“It was heart-breaking to look at children left behind who were crying behind the fence,” she said.

Kyiv estimates nearly 19,500 children have been taken to Russia or Russian-occupied Crimea since Moscow invaded in February last year, in what it condemns as illegal deportations.

Moscow, which control chunks of Ukraine’s east and south, denies abducting children and says they have been transported away for their own safety. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Iran installs cameras in public places to identify, penalise unveiled women

rocket artillery, naval destroyers, missile boats, air force fighters, bombers, jammers and refuellers” had all been deployed by China’s military.

Taiwan considers itself a sovereign State, with its own Constitution and leaders.

But China sees the island as a breakaway province that will eventually be brought under Beijing’s control - by force if necessary. China’s President Xi Jinping has said “reunification” with Taiwan “must be fulfilled”.

Although China often holds drills around Taiwan, the “encirclement” is being seen as a response to Taiwan’s President Tsai meeting US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Wednesday.

President Tsai said on Saturday that her Government would continue working with the US and other democracies as the island faces “continued authoritarian expansionism” from China. (Excerpt from BBC News)

An Italian tourist has been killed and seven other people injured in a suspected car-ramming attack near a beach in Tel Aviv, Israeli medics say.

Italy’s Foreign Minister said Israel had identified the man killed as Italian citizen Alessandro Parini, 36.

A doctor told Israeli television the wounded included three British nationals and one other Italian.

Footage from the scene showed an overturned car near a promenade and an Israeli Police officer opening fire.

Local Police said the suspected attacker was shot dead by officers.

Police have named him as Yousef Abu Jaber from Kafr Qasim, an IsraeliArab city.

The attack came after two British-Israeli sisters were killed and their mother injured in a shoot-

ing in the occupied West Bank earlier on Friday.

Police in Tel Aviv said at 21:25 local time (19:25 BST) a 45-year-old man drove a Kia car along the city’s beachside boardwalk, hitting several pedestrians before overturning on the lawn of the Charles Clore Garden.

They said a Police officer at a nearby petrol station heard the commotion and, after running to the scene, saw the driver of the car “trying to reach for what looked like a rifle-like object that was with him” and then “neutralised him”.

The Israeli ambulance service said that, aside from the alleged perpetrator, there were a total of eight casualties from the attack and that all were tourists.

Of those wounded, three suffered moderate injuries and four sustained only light injuries, it said. (Excerpt from BBC News)

In a further attempt to rein in the increasing number of women defying Iran’s compulsory dress code, authorities are installing cameras in public places and thoroughfares to identify and penalise unveiled women, the Police announced on Saturday.

After they have been identified, violators will receive “warning text messages as to the consequences”, Police said in a statement.

The move is aimed at “preventing resistance against the hijab law,” said the statement, carried by the Judiciary’s Mizan news agency and other State media, adding that such resistance tarnishes Iran’s spiritual image and spreads insecurity.

A growing number of Iranian women have been ditching their veils since the death of a 22-yearold Kurdish woman while in custody of the Morality Police last September.

Mahsa Amini had been detained for allegedly violating the hijab rule. Security forces violently put down the

protests following her death.

But although risking arrest for defying the obligatory dress code, women are still widely seen unveiled in malls, restaurants, shops and streets around the country. Videos of unveiled women resisting the Morality Police have flooded social media.

Authorities have accused the Islamic Republic’s “enemies” of using the attacks to undermine the clerical establishment. But suspicions have fallen on hardline groups operating as self-declared guardians of their interpretation of Islam.

Saturday’s police statement on the hijab law called on owners of businesses to “seriously monitor the observance of societal norms with their diligent inspections”.

Under Iran’s Islamic sharia law, imposed after the 1979 revolution, women are obliged to cover their hair and wear long, loose-fitting clothes to disguise their figures. Violators have faced public rebuke, fines or arrest. (Excerpt from Reuters)

in Kyiv, Ukraine April 8, 2023

Iranian women walk through rain in a flower market, ahead of Nowruz, the Iranian New Year, in Tehran, Iran March 16, 2023

The attacks in the West Bank took place hours after the Israeli military carried out air strikes on targets belonging to the Palestinian militant group Hamas in southern Lebanon and the Gaza Strip

ARIES

(March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

GEMINI (MAY 28June 20)

CANCER

(June 21July 22)

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

You have the drive to get things started, but don’t fall short. Ask someone you trust to pick up where you left off. It’s better to share the glory rather than let things fall apart.

Don’t take on too much. Others may count on you, but you’ll fall short if you try to do everything yourself. Delegate jobs to qualified people and focus on what you do best.

Live, learn and reset. Life is a series of choices; evaluate what’s important to you and act accordingly. Ask yourself what makes you happy. Practice loyalty, understanding and patience.

Get moving and work diligently to get unfinished business out of the way. You’ll feel better once you put the past behind you and free up time and space to pursue your dreams.

You’ll encounter opportunities, but you may not be able to take advantage of all of them. Rearrange your schedule and call on someone who can step in and help you out. Focus on home and family.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

You’re in the driver’s seat, so don’t take a break when you should press forward. Traveling, pursuing education and going directly to the source will be in your best interest.

Don’t pressure others or let anyone manipulate you. An opportunity is only worthwhile if you can afford to take advantage of what’s available. Don’t spend what you don’t have.

Listen to your emotions and lay down some ground rules that protect you from getting involved in other people’s business. You can listen to people and offer suggestions, but don’t take charge.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

CAPRICORN

(Dec. 22Jan. 19)

AQUARIUS

(Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES

(Feb. 20Mar. 20)

Don’t share your thoughts and feelings with everyone. Someone will be eager to steal your thunder and take ownership of something that belongs to you. Be secretive and stay focused.

Step outside your comfort zone and discover a unique way to improve your life and important relationships. Taking note of what’s important to others will give you valuable insight.

Walk away from what you have no control over and put your energy into something that will make a difference. Be passionate about doing your own thing, and opportunities will come your way.

Charm, intuition and hands-on help will bring high rewards. How you deal with others will determine what you get in return. A financial gain, gift or joint venture is apparent.

Peanuts

Calvin and Hobbes

Pickles

Pele FC Alumni soccer games celebrating youth education… Wins for Buxton Stars-U18, St. Cuthbert’s Females, Santos Vets, Pele Seniors

The Youth Education Celebration activity of the Pele FC Alumni Corporation 2023 commenced successfully on Thursday evening last at the Georgetown Football Club Ground when the USAbased body, along with its local chapter, Pele Football Club, hosted a series of soccer matches under the theme ‘Celebrating Youth Education’.

It’s under this focus that the Alumni comes to these shores yearly to conduct what’s now become a tradi-

tion and much-anticipated event: The Youth Education Seminar, which will attract some 130 youths this year. This three-day activity commences on Tuesday, April 11, at the Police Sports Club at Eve Leary in Kingston, Georgetown.

Thursday’s focus was all on a series of goodwill matches featuring a number of sister clubs from within and outside of Georgetown.

The action commenced with Buxton Stars Under-18 taking on their counterparts from Pele FC. The visit-

TATA IPL 2023…

ing youths triumphed 4-1 on account of a brace from Antwone Layne and one each from Swade Edwards and Osafo Browne. This was after Pele had first scored, compliments of Shawn Murray.

In the female clash between Santos and St. Cuthbert’s Mission, after falling behind when Santos broke the deadlock, St Cuthbert’s eventually found the Santos rhythm, and were unstoppable thereafter in marching to a comfortable 6-1 triumph.

Fiona Benjamin blasted a hat trick, the only one in the four matches played. Teammate Britney Poonsammy hammered in a double, and the other goal was scored by Amelia Bangatt.

The veterans’ clash between Santos and Pele saw a number of former national players rolling back the years, including Omali Nassey, Terrence ‘Old Head’ Lewis, Sheik Kamal, Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson, Travis Grant, Solomon Austin, National

cricketer Christopher Barnwell, Justin Bentick, and Rawle ‘Overseas’ Jones for Pele.

The Santos line-up included Jermaine Fraser, Lennox Charles and Dwayne Ally, among others; and it was the vets in all white who triumphed by a 4-2 margin in the end.

In the final match of the evening, a senior clash between Pele and Black Pearl ended in a 1-0 victory for the host, thanks to Under-18 Captain Matthew Layne’s strike.

All the teams were presented with trophies, while each player also received a medal.

A number of former national and other Pele players who have come home for the programme were on hand to witness the matches. They have all expressed satisfaction with the rollout of the programme to date. Those players, as well as the locally-based members, will be involved in a social event (meet-and-greet) to be held at the Herdmanston Lodge next Friday, April 14.

Jaiswal, Buttler and Boult help Royals thump Capitals

The first over of each innings pretty much set the tone for the result. Yashasvi Jaiswal carted Khaleel Ahmed for five fours to start Rajasthan Royals’ innings, after they were sent in by Delhi Capitals; and when the chase started, Trent Boult expanded his collection of lethal first overs by dismissing Impact Sub Prithvi Shaw and #3 Manish Pandey off backto-back balls.

Capitals were zero for 2 after one over; Royals were 20 without loss. That was how massive the difference between the two sides was in Guwahati. Royals’ winning margin of 57 runs was justified, as Capitals suffered a hat-trick of defeats to start their season.

Buttler, Jaiswal bash away

Royals headed into this match with the highest run rate in the powerplay among all sides to have batted for at least 12 overs during that phase this season. That figure stood at 11.83, and they furthered their reputation by hammering 68 in the first six overs against Capitals. The assault was led by Jaiswal, who was on 41 from 21 balls by the end of the first six; Buttler, at the other end, was on 24 from 15. And that was down to 14 fours smashed until then - 56 runs out of 68.

After Jaiswal had targeted Khaleel in the first over - boundaries flowed over midwicket, through deep third, to deep extra cover, over longon, and above short third -

Buttler went after Anrich Nortje. Three boundaries were hit in the second over, with the third one being the most effortless yet most impressive: it looked as soft as a pat on the back, pushed wide of mid-off with superb timing and placement.

As if that were not enough, Nortje had more to suffer: off the last ball of the fourth over, he turned around from mid-on and sprinted a

lasted all of three deliveries. Shaw went flicking across the line as Boult pitched one full on fourth stump, and ended up getting an outside edge. Sanju Samson, behind

the day with 3 for 29.

Warner’s consolation fifty

Warner limped to 65 from 55 balls, as only two others entered double figures in Capitals’ chase. His stand of 64 for the fourth wicket with

Lalit Yadav gave them a flicker of hope, but it was too little for them to rebuild from 36 for 3 in the sixth over. A third defeat in a row duly followed, leaving Capitals with some thinking to do. (ESPNCricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

Rajasthan Royals (20 ovs maximum)

BATTING R B

Yashasvi Jaiswal c & b Mukesh Kumar 60 31

Jos Buttler c & b

the stumps, flung himself to his right to grab it one-handed and give Capitals a rude shock.

good 25 yards, attempting to catch a mis-hit from Buttler over his right shoulder. But he ended up juggling, and the ball popped out of his hands. Buttler was on 18 at that stage; he finished with 79.

Just after that, Jaiswal reverse-swept, cut and swept Axar Patel for three fours in the fifth over. He finished with 60, as the opening stand of 98 ended in the ninth over.

Impact Player strategy Capitals substituted Khaleel with Shaw to start their chase of 200, but Shaw

Royals, in turn, opted to bring in M Ashwin for Buttler when Capitals were 42 for 3 after seven overs. However, his services turned out to be a mere formality: he was brought on only when Capitals needed an unrealistic 82 from the last four overs, and he almost had the wicket of David Warner straightaway. The batter swatted straight to extra cover, where Jaiswal was stationed, but he was found to be standing a few yards beyond the circle when the ball was delivered, resulting in a fielding-restriction violation. It was thus called a no-ball, and Ashwin’s only over went for 11.

Boult lets it rip, again Boult had started the season with 2 for 21 against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Both of those wickets came in the first over. Tonight, for the fourth time in his IPL career, Boult nabbed two wickets in his team’s opening over. Although credit for the first wicket might equally go to Samson, the ball landed on a perfect line and enticing length: Boult pitched it on the fuller side on middle and off, angling it slightly across to have Shaw edging behind. Next ball, he got one to angle into the comeback man Pandey, who was undone by the fuller ball darting in. It took Warner a bit of convincing to get Pandey to review; the latter knew where the ball was heading. Replays confirmed it would have smacked into leg stump. That over finished a double-wicket maiden, and Boult’s first spell read 2-1-9-2 before he ended

Mukesh Kumar 79 51

Sanju Samson (c)† c

Nortje b Kuldeep Yadav 0 4

Riyan Parag b Powell 7 11

Shimron Hetmyer not out 39 21

Dhruv Jurel not out 8 3

Extras (lb 1, nb 1, w 4) 6

TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 9.95) 199/4

Did not bat: Jason Holder, Ravichandran Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Trent

Boult, Sandeep Sharma, Murugan Ashwin

Fall of wickets: 1-98

(Yashasvi Jaiswal, 8.3 ov), 2-103

(Sanju Samson, 9.5 ov), 3-126

(Riyan Parag, 13.5 ov), 4-175

(Jos Buttler, 18.3 ov) •

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Khaleel Ahmed 2-0-31-0

Anrich Nortje 4-0-44-0

Mukesh Kumar 4-0-36-2

Axar Patel 4-0-38-0

Kuldeep Yadav 4-0-31-1

Rovman Powell 2-0-18-1

Delhi Capitals (T: 200 runs from 20 ovs)

BATTING R B

Prithvi Shaw c †Samson b Boult 0 3 David Warner (c) lbw b Chahal 65 55

Manish Pandey lbw b Boult 0 1

Rilee Rossouw c Jaiswal

b R Ashwin 14 12

Lalit Yadav b Boult 38 24

Axar Patel st †Samson b Chahal 2 6

Rovman Powell c Hetmyer b R Ashwin 2 2

Abishek Porel † c

Hetmyer b Chahal 7 9

Kuldeep Yadav not out 3 7

Anrich Nortje b Sandeep Sharma 0 1

Mukesh Kumar not out 1 1

Extras (lb 2, nb 1, w 7) 10

TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 7.10) 142/9

Fall of wickets: 1-0

(Prithvi Shaw, 0.3 ov), 2-0

(Manish Pandey, 0.4 ov), 3-36 (Rilee Rossouw, 5.4 ov), 4-100 (Lalit Yadav, 12.6 ov), 5-111

(Axar Patel, 14.5 ov), 6-118

(Rovman Powell, 15.3 ov), 7-138

(Abishek Porel, 18.2 ov), 8-139

(David Warner, 18.6 ov), 9-140

(Anrich Nortje, 19.2 ov) •

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Trent Boult 4-1-29-3

Sandeep Sharma 4-0-20-1

Ravichandran Ashwin 4-0-25-2

Jason Holder 3-0-28-0

Yuzvendra Chahal 4-0-27-3

Murugan Ashwin 1-0-11-0

Members of the Pele FC senior team with members of the Pele FC Alumni following the presentation of trophy and medals

Captain of the Female Team of the St. Cuthbert’s Mission receiving the winning trophy from Pele’s Dr. Colin Watson in the presence of her teammates

Yashasvi Jaiswal celebrating his 25-ball half-century

Jos Buttler teeing off

David Warner struck a half-century, but couldn’t quite get going

East Demerara are first Tiger Rentals’ U13 Champs

The Tiger RentalsGuyana Football Federation (GFF) Under-13 Boys’ Development League concluded on Thursday last at the Federation’s National Training Center (NTC) at Providence, East Bank Demerara with the East (Coast) Demerara Football Association becoming the first InterAssociation champions. With four games on the cards on Thursday, both the East Demerara and Georgetown Associations were tied on points in the race to the inter-association championship. However, while East Coast thumped East Berbice, Georgetown

TATA IPL 2023…

was not as fortunate in their encounter with the East Bank Association team.

For East Coast, Isaiah Williams lit up the NTC with 4 goals to lead the charge in his team’s 6-1 victory; and Shekiel Callender and Mark Glasgow contributed one each to the East Coast tally. Rayon Captain was the lone marksman for East Berbice.

Jason Williams, Michael Correia and Nyhil George each netted once for the East Bank Football Association in its 3-1 win over Georgetown FA. For the capital city side, Enzo Matte was the only youngster to find the back of the net.

In other matches on the final game day, Reyson Mingo’s solitary goal was all it took for West Berbice to defeat Bartica Football Association. And Upper Demerara Football Association enjoyed a 2-0 win in their clash with West Demerara. Devon Stewart and Pharez Noble were the ones to beat the keeper for the victory. With the InterAssociation component of the Tiger Rentals U-13 league concluded, the Intra- Association part of the league is still ongoing. The U13 league was first launched in May 2022 with a $10M price tag from the title sponsors.

Chennai Super Kings hand Mumbai Indians a drubbing

-courtesy of Jadeja, Santner, Rahane

Chennai Super Kings

lost their premier seamer, Deepak Chahar, to injury after he had bowled just one over. They were already without the match-winner from their last game, Moeen Ali (illness), and Ben Stokes (injured), but Ravindra Jadeja and Mitchell Santner combined to carve up Mumbai Indians’ middle order on a Wankhede pitch that offered some grip and turn.

tough initiation to the IPL, as Ishan Kishan took him for three fours in his first over, the third of the innings, which cost 14 runs overall. Magala, a death-bowling specialist from South Africa, was operating early in the powerplay because Chahar had left the field, clutching his hamstring after bowling the first over.

But Deshpande stepped up, drawing movement off the surface to beat Rohit’s outside edge and hit the top of middle

4, 6 against Deshpande, before the seamer struck back to have him dragging an offcut-

ry. Before Robin Uthappa retired from international and Indian cricket last September, he used to be the enforcer for Super Kings in the powerplay

Deshpande also pitched in with the wickets of Rohit Sharma and Tim David, as Super Kings limited Mumbai to 157 for 8. Ajinkya Rahane, another Mumbai boy, dashed out of the blocks for Super Kings, hitting a 19-ball half-century to set up their chase. His 27-ball 61 on Super Kings debut allowed Ruturaj Gaikwad and rest of the batters breathing room, after Devon Conway had fallen for a duck.

In the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, who has been sidelined from the entire tournament with a back injury; and Jofra Archer, who sat out of this game as a precautionary measure, Mumbai’s attack lacked experience and penetration.

Rohit, Kishan start strongly for Mumbai

As Santner suggested during the mid-innings chat, the ball slid onto the bat nicely in the early exchanges before the pitch slowed down. Rohit charged out of the crease third ball and pumped Chahar over extra-cover, before backing away and carving Deshpande over point for four in the next over.

Sisanda Magala had a

and off with a beauty. Kishan then smashed Magala for two more fours, helping Mumbai end the powerplay at 61 for 1.

Left-arm spin is right for CSK

In Super Kings’ previous game, against Lucknow Super Giants at Chepauk, Jadeja bowled just one over, as MS Dhoni kept him away, first from Kyle Mayers and then from Nicholas Pooran. On Saturday, Dhoni brought Jadeja into the attack immediately after the powerplay, and the allrounder responded by having Kishan hole out for 32 off 21 balls.

Jadeja kept bowling into the Wankhede pitch, and came away with the wickets of Tilak Varma (22) and Cameron Green (12) as well.

Santner might not have played this game had Stokes or Moeen been available for selection, but he proved his worth once again. In stark contrast to Jadeja, Santner tossed the ball up at a much slower pace, and dismissed both Suryakumar Yadav (1) and the left-handed Arshad Khan, who had been promoted to #6 to counter him and Jadeja.

Tim David, who was pushed down to #7, went 6,

ter to deep midwicket. After taking a pasting in the powerplay, Magala unleashed his yorkers and slower variations at the death to finish with 4-037-1.

Rahane slots into Uthappa role

After Conway fell in familiar fashion, chopping on in the first over, Rahane went on an unfamiliar boundary-hitting spree in the powerplay. He crashed Arshad for 6, 4, 4, 4, 4 in the fourth over, and by the end of the powerplay, he had zoomed to his half-century, setting Super Kings up for a net run rate-boosting victo-

and middle overs. Rahane slotted into this role straightaway, affording Gaikwad space to go at a run a ball or thereabouts.

Mumbai brought in left-arm spinner Kumar Kartikeya as their Impact Player, but Super Kings messed with their plans by promoting their spin -hitter Shivam Dube to #4. Kartikeya eventually bowled Dube for 28 off 26 balls, but the game was all but up by then. Rayudu, who replaced Chahar as Super Kings’ Impact Player, and Gaikwad completed the formalities

SCOREBOARD

Mumbai Indians (20 ovs maximum)

BATTING R B

Rohit Sharma (c) b Deshpande 21 13

Ishan Kishan † c Pretorius b Jadeja 32 21

Cameron Green c & b Jadeja 12 11

Suryakumar Yadav c

†Dhoni b Santner 1 2

Tilak Varma lbw b Jadeja 22 18

Arshad Khan lbw b Santner 2 4

Tim David c Rahane b Deshpande 31 22

Tristan Stubbs c Gaikwad b Magala 5 10

Hrithik Shokeen not out 18 13

Piyush Chawla not out 5 6

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

TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 7.85) 157/8

Did not bat: Jason Behrendorff

Fall of wickets: 1-38

(Rohit Sharma, 3.6 ov), 2-64 (Ishan Kishan, 6.4 ov), 3-67 (Suryakumar Yadav, 7.2 ov), 4-73 (Cameron Green, 8.2 ov), 5-76 (Arshad Khan, 9.1 ov), 6-102 (Tilak Varma, 12.6 ov), 7-113 (Tristan Stubbs, 15.6 ov), 8-131

(Tim David, 16.6 ov) •

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Deepak Chahar 1-0-10-0

Tushar Deshpande 3-0-31-2

Sisanda Magala 4-0-37-1

Mitchell Santner 4-0-28-2

Ravindra Jadeja 4-0-20- 3

Dwaine Pretorius 4-0-28-0

Chennai Super Kings (T: 158 runs from 20 ovs)

BATTING R B

Devon Conway b Behrendorff 0 4

Ruturaj Gaikwad not out 40 36

Ajinkya Rahane c Yadav b

Chawla 61 27

Shivam Dube b Kartikeya 28 26

Ambati Rayudu not out 20 16

Extras (lb 4, w 6) 10

TOTAL 18.1 Ov (RR: 8.75) 159/3

Did not bat: Ravindra Jadeja, MS

Dhoni (c)†, Dwaine Pretorius, Mitchell Santner, Sisanda Magala, Tushar Deshpande

Fall of wickets: 1-0

(Devon Conway, 0.4 ov), 2-82

(Ajinkya Rahane, 7.6 ov), 3-125 (Shivam Dube, 14.2

with seven wickets and almost two overs to spare.

Super Kings have notched up their second successive victory, and will be bolstered further by the arrival of Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana ahead of their home game against Rajasthan

Royals on April 12. On the other hand, Mumbai slipped to their second successive loss, and are still searching for their first points this season. (ESPNCricinfo)

Tiger Rentals’ U13 Inter-Association champions, East Demerara Football Association, celebrating their victory (Delano Williams Photo)

Mumbai boy Tushar

Ajinkya Rahane hit a half-century on CSK debut

Ishan Kishan felt right at home at the Wankhede

CSK celebrating with Ravindra Jadeja

Bartica Easter Regatta 2023: ExxonMobil Football Cup…

Middle Mazaruni Warriors squeeze past Eteringbang to lift trophy

Dorwin George’s 53rd-minute goal, along with airtight goalkeeping from the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, Joel Yhap, delivered the Championship Trophy and prize to Middle Mazaruni Warriors in the final of the ExxonMobilsponsored Bartica Easter Regatta Football Cup.

In a riveting contest last Thursday evening at the Bartica Community Centre Ground, Middle Mazaruni Warriors and Eterinbang served up a memorable final that was witnessed by a large and appreciative crowd. The exchanges were end-to-end, and the respective goalkeepers held things scoreless by some good defensive work at both ends.

However, a 53rd minute strike from the crafty

PMTC Easter Cup horse meet 2023…

Epic showdown anticipated today

Thetrio of Nasrudeen 'Junior' Mohamed, Therbhuwan 'Turbo' Jagdeo and Fazal Habibulla will settle their differences today when the highly-anticipated Easter Cup horse meet is hosted at the Port Mourant Turf Club in East Berbice.

Described as a titanic clash that would leave two of them proverbially licking their wounds, the epic question is: which one would walk away with bragging rights and top prizes? Only a deadheat could change the training result, it is surmised.

‘Junior’ will saddle the undefeated Alado, who, for the first time in his two-race career in Guyana, will be racing outside of the Rising Sun Turf Club in Region Five. The Master Z Stables owns this USA-bred colt who will be having his seasonal bow in the showpiece curtain event, which is the eighth race on the Easter Sunday card at Port Mourant.

Alado has won the Guyana Cup and the President’s Cup to establish a new record, and is attempting to become the first horse to win three consecutive ‘Cup’ races in his career of three starts in Guyana. This has never been achieved by any other horse in the running of the Cup’s 'Triple Crown' races.

Alado will be having a

rematch with Turbo's Wild Texas Tom, their both having finished first and second respectively in the Guyana Cup back in August; and the supporters of both horses will be relishing the spectacle and prospects of this rematch.

Turbo has thus advised patrons and horsemen to arrive early at the track to avoid being inconvenienced. He advises that strict security protocols would be in place on Sunday.

Turbo, who is fielding top horses Wild Texas Tom, Our Stuie, and T&T-bred Coup D'etat, is flying in T&T jockeys to partner one of his runners.

‘Uncle Fazal’, who will be sporting an 'Alado' eyewear presented to him by Junior to improve his 'vision', is like a raging bull about the chances of his filly, Ariana's Vision.

Junior also has Looking To Heaven in the race, but she has to improve significantly,

CARIFTA Games 2023…

as she was soundly trounced by Ariana's Vision in their clash on 12th March at the Rising Sun Turf Club.

Looking To Heaven, who chalked up a hat-trick of wins and was defeated by Ariana's Vision when she was on course for a beaver-trick, needs the run, according to Junior. He has declared her much fitter for this return match-up.

The seven-horse field is rounded off with Ice Kreem Sundae, who will be having his first start on Sunday for Junior, and could be the desert to be shared with Alado, Wild Texas Tom and Ariana's Vision.

The supporting event on this competitive holiday Sunday card is the six-and-ahalf-furlong sprint for West Indian-bred three-year-olds and Guyana-bred three-yearold horses. This is the sixth race on the card, and seven horses are entered in this

event.

Turbo has the home advantage with three T&Tbred runners in Red Ruby, Renaissance Man and Gypsy King. They come up against recent winner Princess Samiah, along with the experienced Ruff Tide, Rachel and El Dorado Queen.

The fifth race on the card could produce future Guyana Cup contender/s, as there are three recent imports from T&T - Soca Symphony & Game Changer, and the USAbred U Can’t Handle This.

Soca Symphony is highly respected as she hails from the Derby-winning mare Soca Rhapsody, and her sister, Soca Harmony, won last year's T&T Derby. She is a versatile sort, and will be at her best in this sprint. Game Changer, who accompanied her on the trip to Guyana, is an improving sort. The change in scenery could be her 'game changer.'

However, the Javed Aliowned Soca Symphony has raced at a much higher level than Game Changer in Trinidad, and gets the nod over her stablemate, who is also owned by Ali.

Turbo believes this is the most competitive Easter Sunday card ever staged at Port Mourant, hence he is advising patrons and horsemen to arrive early. The approximate post time is noon.

Jamaica’s Nkrumie, BVI’s Hodge suffer injury blows on day one

Two of the marquee athletes at the 2023 CARIFTA Games, Jamaica’s Bouwahjgie Nkrumie and BVI’s Adaejah Hodge, have suffered injury setbacks on day one of the 50th edition of the games at the Thomas A. Robinson Stadium in the Bahamas on Saturday.

Nkrumie, who ran a National Junior Record 9.99 to win the Class 1 Boys 100m title at the ISSA Grace Kennedy Boys and Girls Championships in Kingston last week, was

and alert Dorwin George proved to be the crucial difference, as Eteringbang, for all their effort, could not respond in like manner.

Yhap was excellent between the uprights throughout the competition, and was rewarded with the MVP Trophy for his efforts.

The third-place clash between losing semi-finalists Rivers View and A.K Galaxy produced a comfortable 5-2 win for Rivers View - led by a hat-trick from Antonio Jones and one goal each from Andel Norton and Andrew Simmonds. Getting on to the score sheets for A.K Galaxy were Esteban Martins and Sheldon Parris.

Meanwhile, in the female supporting match, Rivers View edged Potaro Strikers by two goals to one.

Kares CrossFit Caribbean Championships 2023… Banks DIH gives

backing to April 15-16 showdown

comfortably leading his heat in the Boys Under-20 100m, before pulling up injured and falling to the track with about 30m to go.

Hodge, the Austin Sealy Award winner from last year’s CARIFTA Games in Kingston, was scheduled to go in the first heat of the Under-20 Girls 100m, but was pulled from the race as a precaution, after feeling some discomfort while warming up.

The 100m semi-finals and finals are scheduled for later on Saturday. (Sportsmax)

This year’s edition of the Kares CrossFit Caribbean Championships, set for this Saturday and Sunday at the National Aquatic Centre and the National Park respectively, has attracted generous support from leading beverage giant Banks DIH Limited.

Through the company’s Rainforest Water, athletes, officials and patrons can be assured of remaining hydrated during their workout, and for the duration of the competition. There will be other products from Banks DIH, including Banks Malta and Powerade, and fans would also be treated to samples of the company’s TrisKits crackers and cookies.

Banks DIH Water

Beverages Manager Colin King and Biscuit Manager Shenisa Fredericks were on hand to present the sponsorship to Kares Caribbean CrossFit Organising Committee Member Mary Fung-A-Fat. King lauded the organisers for maintain-

ing and improving on the Kares Caribbean CrossFit competition, which will feature the best athletes from six nations, including Guyana, competing this Saturday and Sunday.

“Banks DIH is always happy to be associated with activities of this nature and magnitude. As corporate citizens, we have always fulfilled our mandate of empowering our people in every sphere of endeavour, and this competition is just another of those that we are committed to,” he declared.

Noting that the weather is very humid, King posited that Rainforest Water is the preferred product the athletes, officials and patrons can use to keep hydrated, so they can perform to their optimum.

Ms. Fung-A-Fat expressed gratitude to both Mr. King and Ms. Fredericks, as well as to the Management and staff of Banks DIH Limited for their unflinching commitment towards the event.

ExxonMobil’s Representative Mr. Ryan Hoppie taking time out for a photo with Bartica Easter Regatta 2023 ExxonMobil Football Cup champions, Middle Mazaruni Warriors

Banks DIH Water Beverages Manager Colin King handing over the sponsorship cheque to Ms. Mary Fung-A-Fat in the presence of Biscuit Manager Ms. Shenisa Fredericks

Nasrudeen ‘Junior’ Mohamed

Jamaica’s Bouwahjgie Nkrumie and BVI’s Adaejah Hodge