Guyana Times - Sunday, December 18, 2022

Guyana-EU political dialogue

EU to help mobilise public, Private Sector investments in Guyana

resolving Schengen visa issues

Coming out of the eight rounds of political dialogue between Guyana and the European Union (EU), the bloc has renewed its commitment to facilitating public and Private Sector investments in Guyana, as well as supporting the country in other areas, including electoral reform.

Dialogue between Guyana and the EU took place recently at Ramphal House, Foreign Affairs Ministry. The dialogue took place under the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP)-EU Cotonou partnership agreement, a framework agreement adopted in 2000 for collaborations between the two blocs

of countries.

According to a statement from the Ministry, the EU reaffirmed its commitment to providing assistance to Guyana in a number of areas, including good governance, eco-tourism, public finance management, health and importantly, fostering business investment.

“The EU will remain a loyal supporter of civil society. A new modality will aim at mobilising public and Private Sector investments in Guyana. Promoting investments is part of the 300-billion-euro initiative global gateway, which aims at connecting Europe to the world via investments and partnerships on digital, climate and energy, transport,

health, education and research,” the statement said.

Support was also pledged by the EU in resolving the issue of Schengen visa access, which was raised by Guyana during the meeting. Concerns have been expressed for some time that visas for Guyanese to travel to the EU still have to be processed in neighbouring Suriname. According to the Ministry, “the two sides agreed to continue working together to address the challenges that are currently being experienced.”

Guyana’s pioneering status as the first country to sign a Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) with the EU to promote the sustainable trade of legal timber, and the equally-historic US$750 million carbon credit sale Guyana recently embarked on with Hess Corporation, was also hailed by the EU.

Inclusive development

Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd remarked on the Government’s approach to development and oil and gas, as well as how the Government is facilitating inclusive development.

“Minister Todd also emphasised the need for small, developing countries like Guyana that has a number of inherent vulnerabilities, including vulnerability to climate change, to be fairly assessed when making decisions about economic support and cooperation,” the Ministry said.

Electoral reform

Guyana’s ongoing electoral reform was also acknowledged by the EU, which reiterated its commitment to support this process as a follow-up to the election observer mission it car-

ried out in Guyana for the 2020 General and Regional Elections. Guyana, meanwhile, reiterated its commitment to “democracy, good governance, the rule of law, and human rights”.

The Government passed long-awaited amendments to the Representation of the People Act (RoPA) earlier this month, after impassioned debate from both sides of the House and arguments for and against the electoral reforms, which ran past midnight.

The Bill zeroes in on electoral challenges and loopholes that were evident during the 2020 polls and seeks to address them. Not only does the Bill increase the number of polling places, it also mandates the Registrar of Deaths submit the names of the deceased so they could be removed from the list.

The Bill also caps the

number of electors that can be assigned to a particular polling station to cut down on the long lines and the subdivision of the regions.

According to Section 6 (A) of the Bill, the polling districts of Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) and Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) will be divided.

The Bill also provides that the Statements of Poll (SoPs), among other certified forms, be distributed to the Chief Elections Officer and the Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

Additionally, it provides for the Returning Officer to post an electronic copy of the SoPs on the Commission’s website to be publicly viewed. Strict fines and penalties are attached for breach of these reforms in the amended Bill. (G3)

Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd

European Ambassador to Guyana, Rene van Nes

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Sunday, December 10 – 00:00h-02:00h and Monday, December 19 –01:00h-02:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, December 18 –12:25h-13:55h and Monday, December 19 – 13:10h-14:40h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Rain showers with instances of thunder are expected during the day, with cloudy skies in the mid-afternoon and into the night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North North-Easterly to East NorthEasterly between 1.78 metres and 4.92 metres.

High Tide: 12:21h and 23:51h reaching a maximum height of 2.24 metres.

Low Tide: 18:22h reaching a minimum height of 0.87 metre.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2022 |

Govt doing well managing transformational projects while meeting needs of citizens – VP

Vice President

Bharrat Jagdeo has stated that he is pleased that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has not only managed to get the big transformational projects underway, but has been balancing that with meeting the needs of citizens.

“We are very pleased with the big policy changes we’re making and getting these major things that require a lot of technical work going whilst we’re not forgetting the concerns of our people – the roads and water and electricity and cost of living…”

“So, it’s not just focusing on those [major] things but balancing the big things that will transform whilst trying to improve the lives [of citizens] and adjust to unexpected things like the costof-living increases. That’s why our policy-making is so diverse, varied and caters for different level of problems,” Jagdeo posited.

Within this month alone, the PPP/C Administration has been able to kick off some of its flagship projects. Among these is the massive carbon credit deal Guyana signed with Hess Corporation on December 2.

This was after Guyana become the first country to receive certification of over 33 million carbon credits by the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART). That issuance of the REDD+ jurisdictional carbon credits paved the way for the US$750 million agreement with Hess, which is one of the partners operating in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana.

The US oil major will be buying 2.5 million credits per year for the period 20162032. While the deal is for a 10-year period, that is, 2022 to 2032, Government was able to negotiate, as part of the sale agreement, for Hess

to also purchase some 12.5 million carbon credits from the period 2016 to 2020 – referred to as “legacy credit”.

“We now have the largest forest carbon trading scheme in the world, ever… And for only 30 per cent of our credit, we have sold at a minimum of US$750 million. So, 70 per cent of our credits remain to be sold,” the Vice President noted.

Another major development that occurred this month as well is President Dr Irfaan Ali launching the much-anticipated auction of Guyana’s remaining oil blocks offshore on December 9. This is in keeping with Government’s push to develop the country’s petroleum resources expeditiously.

There will be 14 oil blocks up for tender: 11 in the shallow area and three in deepsea areas. These blocks will range from 1000 square kilometres (sq km) to 2000 sq km, but with most of the blocks being approximately 2000 sq km.

That bidding process is currently on and will run until April 14, 2023. Government is looking to have potential contracts signed by the end of May next year.

Meanwhile, only last week, the Guyana Government signed a US$759 million contract with CH4 and Linsayca, for construction of the Integrated Natural Gas Liquid Plant and 300-Megawatt Combined Cycle Power Plant at Wales, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

These two plants are major components of the PPP/ C’s flagship initiative – the Gas-to-Shore project, which

would significantly slash electricity costs in Guyana by at least half of the current rates.

These major milestone initiatives were advanced while Government has been working on addressing the anomalies in the salaries of specific categories of public servants. Already, some 8000 members of the Joint Services have benefited from over $1 billion in salary increases, while another $1.5 billion was injected into the salary adjustments for over 5000 healthcare workers.

President Ali has reassured that other groups of public servants, such as teachers, would also benefit from similar pay adjustments.

This is in addition to an across-the-board eight-percent retroactive salary increase for all public servants this year.

According to VP Jagdeo, the slew of other measures implemented by the PPP/C Administration has further contributed to offsetting the burden on Guyanese households. These include cash

grants to various groups, cutting certain taxes to prevent passing on imported high rates, and increasing disposable incomes.

“Overall, I think we’ve managed to get more people employed. Eleven thousand people under the parttime jobs initiative alone are now working and getting a salary to take home… We’ve had more people trained. So, I think, overall, we’ve put a lot of effort into it – a lot of behind-the-,scenes work to make these things happen so it’s pleasing that things are going in that direction,” Jagdeo stated.

However, despite all of these achievements, the Vice President said Government was still not satisfied and would continue to work to do much more for Guyana and its people.

“Next year, we will return to it with this same vigour and the same focus and the same orientation, and the same goal in mind which is to change people’s lives for the better,” he said. (G8)

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

Views

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Presidential security

It is amazing how casual we are about the security of our President, even though he is guarded by a specifically designated and dedicated unit called the “Presidential Guard”. It is our hope that the incident that occurred on Saturday morning would never be repeated. A civilian was allowed to breach security and reach close enough to a Presidential Guard at State House, where the First Family resides, and demand that he be allowed to see the President without being frisked. His demand rebuffed, he whipped out a knife that was secreted in his pants’ waist and stabbed the Guard five times without any other Guard interceding.

It would be the height of irresponsibility to not infer that this armed intruder, who wanted to see the President, might not have intended to use the weapon to assassinate the Head of State, as he attempted to do to this Guard by going straight for his neck.

After the stabbing, the assailant was then allowed to wrest a gun from another Guard. That she is female is immaterial, since all Presidential Guards should be trained at the same high level to perform their tasks. The now armed intruder fled onto New Market Street, where Presidential Guards returned fire at the gunman, who was hit in the head, abdomen and legs. Both he and the stabbed Guard were rushed to nearby GPHC, where the surgical staff immediately operated on them simultaneously. It is hoped the intruder would survive, so that he can be interrogated.

The above is in no way intended to criticize the individual Guards, but to serve as a commentary on the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) of the unit when they are guarding the Presidential Residence. Over the last two years following the derailing of the PNCOpposition rigging attempt, the said Opposition and their spokespersons – official and unofficial – have made increasingly personalised attacks on the President for allegedly discriminating against their supporters to such an extent as to create an “emerging apartheid state”. Such a description not only connotes extreme racist nature of Ali and his Government, but inevitably, the “necessary” violent reaction by the Opposition members of the ANC in the paradigmatic apartheid state of South Africa against state officials.

As such, those responsible for the Presidential security must ratchet up their SOPs at all events where the President appears. President Ali is undoubtedly a “people’s person”, and with an informal approach in executing his role to get up close and personal with ordinary citizens. This will undoubtably pose a further challenge to the Presidential Guard Unit, but there will have to be adjustments from both sides. We in Guyana have always lived in dangerous times fuelled by extremist exhortations from the Opposition. The “mo’ fyaah; slow fyaah” strategy of PNC Leader Desmond Hoyte led eventually to hundreds of deaths in our beleaguered country.

One intriguing facet of the entire episode is that it has been revealed that the would-be assassin is a citizen of Nigeria - Bethel Ikena Chimezie. “Chimezie” is an Igbo name –the tribe that dominates in eastern Nigeria. He is 25 years old, and arrived here in early 2020, according to one report, along with six other Nigerians. It is imperative that the immigration entry records at Timehri be checked on whether he arrived before the March 2020 elections. He was employed by a security firm - Amalgamated Security Services (Guyana) Inc - a month later, aged twenty-three. According to the Immigration laws, individuals who intend to work have to be in possession of documents from their prospective employers.

Amalgamated claimed in a press release that Chimezie had the requisite Police Certificate of Character for this type of work, which allows persons to bear arms. But since on the requisite form this Certificate is issued to Guyanese citizens, the Police must say what kind of background check was conducted for this foreigner. Amalgamated must be asked whether he also had “security” experience, and how this was verified. While Winston Felix was then head of the hived-off Immigration Department from Ramjattan’s Public Security Ministry, the former would have allowed Chimezie into the country, and the latter would have given him permission to bear arms.

How can we end the hunger pandemic?

As 2022 comes to a close, we are facing a food crisis that is worse than any other in recent memory. According to the World Food Programme (WFP), more than 828 million people are going to bed hungry every night. The number of those facing acute food insecurity has more than doubled, from 135 million to 345 million, since 2019, and nearly 50 million people are already on the verge of starvation. Unless immediate action is taken, the coming year will be defined by unprecedented levels of hunger.

This crisis did not come out of the blue. The combined consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and climate change, from disrupted supply chains and soaring inflation to extreme weather events, gradually left millions of people all over the world unable to put food on their tables. While this food crisis is indisputably global, it is not affecting everyone the same way. Some of the countries and communities that were already suffering from conflict, political instability and extreme poverty are also shouldering the worst of this most recent crisis.

Take the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, for example, which includes some of the world’s most food-insecure countries, such as Syria (113th on the Global Food Security Index) and Yemen (111th). Even before the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, some 55 million people living in the region were undernourished.

As the pandemic and the war in Ukraine disrupted supply chains, hindered deliveries of essential grains, and caused unprecedented increases in commodity prices and en-

ergy costs, countries across the region started experiencing shortages of the most basic food items. Countries that were already suffering from conflict or economic crises (such as Yemen and Lebanon) took the hardest hit.

Traditionally, the international community – led by United Nations’ institutions and international NGOs –tries to address regional food crises with humanitarian aid appeals and campaigns that aim to meet the most immediate needs of affected populations. But the global catastrophe we are now walking towards cannot be addressed with humanitarian aid alone. A new approach is required.

A “triple nexus” approach, which, as defined by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), “utilises the combined expertise of the sustainable development, peacebuilding and conflict mitigation, and humanitarian aid sectors in overcoming collective challenges”, could be the answer. The triple nexus approach requires humanitarian aid, development and peacebuilding actors to work together on longterm initiatives that aim to reinforce (not replace) national and local systems. With this approach, the ultimate goal is not only to resolve, but also to anticipate and prevent, crises. It aspires to reduce people’s needs, risks and vulnerabilities, while increasing their resilience.

The UN agreed to adopt such an approach to crisis resolution, dubbed “the New Way of Working”, at the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit. In the years since, however, this approach has only been implemented on a project-by-project basis.

If we are to overcome the interconnected challenges leading to hunger across the

world today, the triple nexus approach should not be a characteristic of some UN projects in certain localities alone; it should be the basis of all crisis resolution efforts.

Our world is becoming more polarised every day, with social cohesion being eroded and conflict increasing. Actors involved in the conflict seem to be under the impression that they can resolve all major problems affecting their allies by definitively defeating their adversaries. But the global food crisis we are currently facing is proof that they are wrong.

This crisis is a testament to the high levels of interdependence in the modern world. It demonstrates that we cannot continue with an “Us vs Them” rhetoric while “our” wellbeing is so deeply reliant on “their” actions, and vice versa.

In a world where a conflict in Eastern Europe can leave people struggling with hunger in the MENA region, the only way to resolve crises and protect lives is through solidarity and collaboration. Thus, the UN should view the Ukraine war and its devastating effect on international food and energy markets as an opportunity to demonstrate the need for the adoption of the triple nexus approach at a global scale.

All UN agencies, national governments, aid organisations and donors desperate to mitigate the economic consequences of the Ukraine war should strive to coordinate and collaborate, so that they can go beyond addressing the immediate needs of affected populations and help them become more resilient to such crises.

In our interconnected world, ensuring that there is food on everyone’s table is highly dependent on leaders thinking proactively and prioritising their people’s wellbeing over their ideological alliances.

An example of such proactive thinking is the Turkish- brokered July 22 deal between Russia and Ukraine that ensured the continuation of Ukrainian wheat exports to Lebanon (a country that imports 72 percent of its wheat from Russia and Ukraine). The arrangement not only prevented severe shortages of core food items in a country already on the verge of economic collapse, but triggered a much-needed dialogue between the two warring parties.

Today the world is facing a never-before-seen web of crises that would continue to have severe consequences for many years to come. If the international community is to respond to this unprecedented food crisis effectively, it needs to ensure humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding actors are working together to come up with processes and initiatives that would not only meet people’s immediate needs, such as food and shelter, but also strengthen resilience. Meanwhile, leaders should be moving away from polarising politics and towards benefit optimization, that may at times require the bending or breaking of ideological fronts.

A world without hunger is still possible, but only if we work together. (Al Jazeera)

(Sultan Barakat is a Professor in Conflict and Humanitarian Studies at Qatar Foundation’s Hamad Bin Khalifa University, and is an Honorary Professor of the University of York. He is a world-renowned scholar known for pioneering the study of war-torn societies and their recovery. Logan Cochrane is an Associate Professor at HBKU (College of Public Policy), and Adjunct Professor at Hawassa University (Institute for Policy and Development Research))

President Irfaan Ali chatting with a teen at the launching of the "Neighbourhood Study Hub' for children of Tiger Bay and neighbouring communities (Office of the President photo)

By Sultan Barakat and logan CoChrane

PNC’s dodging of LGEs must be rejected!

Dear Editor, Various media headlines are being punctuated with the screaming, excuse-laden, ‘spoilt child’ tantrums of the PNC and their opposition cohorts' futile efforts to frustrate GECOM’s hosting of the overdue Local Government Elections (LGEs).

The PNC’s actions must be widely rejected and condemned! Their target is to make a mockery of the Local Government System in areas perceived to favour PPPC support, while their consistently overwhelming error is to confuse the ‘One Guyana’ Agenda. This is not about PPPC support areas, but concerns improved service delivery to all Guyanese!

History confirms that the PNC never wanted to contest LGEs. GECOM records contain many blots and blank spaces concerning LGEs during the twenty-eight years of PNC dictatorial governance leading up to 1992.

During this period, any affirmative actions in this respect were merely effective hopeful afterthoughts. PNC obviously will continue to dodge and regurgitate flimsy positions aimed at delaying the inevitable.

One should note that the first LGE - after decades of absence, when the dictatorial PNC rulewas held in 1994 under the PPP/C Government. The PNC’s dilly-dallying has since been in place.

It is necessary to highlight the hypocrisy of those suddenly-emerged writers who have only recently managed to acquire refills of ink for their dried-up pens. Those persons were silent when the power-hungry PNC in the APNU/AFC coalition, with very short notice of finalisation, increased the Local Authority Areas by 10, to 80. There was no complaint of illegality when the PNC also changed Constituency boundaries without the necessary con -

sultations to off-balance the PPP/C. Then several communities voiced serious disagreements with the gerrymandering of the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils’ boundaries by the Government through the Ministry of Communities, and the condemnatory writers of today had no ink.

It is important to note that in some of the new areas created by the PNC/ APNU/AFC, no systems were put in place to ensure the sustenance of service and support of the citizens through the collection of rates and taxes etc.

Consequently, the PPPC’s timely action through Hon. Nigel Dharamlall, Minister of Local Government, to reverse the created anomalies is justified.

By law, the Minister of Local Government has responsibility for demarcating the geographical boundaries while dividing the country into Regions, Municipalities, Local

Authority Areas or constituencies. On the other hand, GECOM has a demographic or administrative responsibility to facilitate the holding of elections in a smooth and timely manner. As such, GECOM may, administratively and collectively, agree that a division has too big a population, and then ‘sub-divide’ that division to expedite and facilitate easy voting on election day.

The PNC’s proclivity to use underhand methods seems to have pushed their current orchestrators out of touch with realistic positions. Hence, they must educate themselves that electoral geographical boundaries are to be demarcated by the Minister, and demarcation of the electoral divisions for the electors to vote is the responsibility of GECOM.

It is without contention that Article 72(2) of the Constitution empowers the Minister to define and/ or modify the boundar -

ies of neighbourhoods and People’s Cooperative Units within the neighbourhoods and the establishment of Local Democratic Organs.

Significantly, it must be noted that, in 2016, the PNC went about LGE without any consultation with the PPP/C. Again, in 2018, the bullies, PNC/ APNU+AFC, in addition to the ten created new Local Authority Areas, made changes to the boundaries in fourteen other areas. Although the gerrymandering of boundaries was carried out with the PNC and the GECOM staff, the PPP/C swept the polls and won comprehensively by more than fifty thousand votes. Even in some of the newly established towns, such as Mabaruma and Lethem, and in several New NDCs, the PNC and the AFC were humiliated.

The PPP/C’s massive victory at the LGE polls prompted the PPP/C to move the Motion of No Confidence against the

Eyepass must stop!

Dear Editor,

I must say I am significantly beguiled to see the bungling Mayor of Georgetown again being at the forefront of a fascinating scenario, this time in relation to the vendors’ fiasco involving the Government.

Again the question must be asked, “Where exactly does the Mayor’s interest lie?” While the vendors have to earn a living, they must not be allowed to conduct their business in a manner that would inconvenience everyone else.

For the longest while, the PPPC Government has been trying to regulate the vendors to conduct their business in a respectful and law-abiding way, which even included taking land away from a popular businessman and giving them, regulating the Bourda Mall etc. As fate would have it, lawlessness and disrespect prevail, and many continue their atrocious behaviour and defy the rules.

I’ve no qualms with them conducting their business to earn a living, even though they have more advantages than the store owners, but the issue is with the way they are conducting business. Many of these vendors are selling more stuff than a store has, and they are blocking ingress into stores and encumbering walkways and pavements in such a way that it is as if you’re walking into a congested/compacted store on the pavement.

In addition to encumbering the pavement, many park their vehicles or carts on the road next to where they sell, and erect structures in such a manner that

people cannot pass. It’s as if they are at home. People are then forced to venture further out on the road, putting their lives at risk and forcing motorists to stop almost in the middle of the road, causing additional traffic chaos.

It’s very unfortunate to see the Mayor making himself noticeable for the wrong reasons, instead of sitting down and coming to an amicable agreement with all stakeholders.

Editor, of recent, there has been a series of writers seemingly bent on resurrecting racial tension in Guyana, and the situation regarding the Mayor and vendors seems to escalate this tension, especially on social media.

Additionally, a prominent lawyer took centre stage and mendaciously made the accusation that East Indians are more favourably honoured by the PPP/C Government. If my info is correct, this is the same person who is always in front of some sort of negative situation, and after it escalates, he would meticulously disappear, leaving chaos and confusion.

In 2014, when the NoConfidence Motion was passed in Parliament against Donald Ramoutar and his Government, this lawyer ran to the PPPC with the crooked math and was rejected. Incidentally, the same thing occurred against David Granger and his Government, when he sang the same song and was accepted by them, and the Guyanese people and the world witnessed a whole new comic show while he mysteriously shied away

from going to the CCJ to put forward his argument that caused Guyana to be haywire.

From all indications, the Opposition seem to have realised that with the work the PPPC are doing throughout the country, even though many are riddled with corruption and incompetence, there’s no way, coalition or not, they would come anywhere close to winning an election anytime soon, so their only alternative is to establish Guyana as being favourably one-sided to East Indians, and hopefully create mayhem in Guyana. It seems as if some people are only around to see Guyanese live in misery.

Editor, on July 18, 2012, three men protesting for what they believed in were shot and killed in Linden. Arising from that,

the Government make a few promises to the people of Linden as part of compensation. One of the promises was the Lindeners would get their own television station, and I was contracted to set up the control for the station and train the staff. Various stakeholders from Linden were part of the decision-making process for the station, and at the change of Government, we broadcast a signal on the channel. Even though the APNU/AFC Government was in power, they did nothing to help the television station; instead, they dissolved it.

They conducted no investigation to give the people of Linden any sort of hope that the three men did not lose their lives in vain. Today, Linden is seemingly the same way.

What I am saying is that

people should be cautious of what cause they are fighting for. There are many who would incite and encourage you to go do this, but they would not be there to fight with you. No doubt, there are those who are calling for people to take to the streets, that’s an excitement for them to see the country in disarray while they are in the safety of their homes and paid security.

APNU/AFC Government.

The PPP/C is fully prepared to face the polls, while it is a known fact that PNC Opposition elements are very afraid. Their plans didn’t pay off, and the new LAAs didn’t deliver to them the expected votes, because the PPP has made inroads.

Now it is necessary to strengthen our communities to deliver the required level of service, and our people must be allowed to elect their leaders at the local level.

The PNC, under the poor and fragmented leadership of Aubrey Norton, would be humiliated at the next LGE. Hence the PNC will continue to make all sorts of objections to not contest the LGEs.

GECOM is aware of the trickery, and must proceed with the election without any further undue or unnecessary delays.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

Should people choose to support the troublemakers, they should do it for the right reasons, and not because they are being told to. Don’t become like the three men who lost their lives in Linden and are forgotten. As their relatives, we must stop this eyepass!

Sincerely, Sahadeo Bates

WHAT NOT TO DO TO PETS DURING THE FESTIVE SEASON

For decades, I have made use of the opportunities provided by media houses to plead with pet owners to avoid transferring their gay abandon and excessiveness of the holidays to their four-legged wards. The season is upon us, and promises to be particularly enjoyable, with the great ease from the COVID -19 pandemic. Let’s make it a great holiday season for our pets too.

So, what should we not do to our pets during the holiday season?

(1) Incorrect feeding

Humans seem to have this fixation with overstuffing themselves during the festive seasons, and we then carry our gourmand self-indulgence over to the pets. Actually, many see Christmas as a bacchanalian rite, with heathen pleasure splurges that have nothing to do with the birth of Christ.

I am not going to get into that theological debate, but I am convinced that many of us believe the festive season must extend to animals also.

So, we feel that our pets must gorge themselves full of all the Christmas goodies (or residues therefrom). Well, that is wrong. Dogs and cats could not care less if there is boxing on Boxing Day and no garlic pork/beef on Christmas Day. They would be just as happy if they received their usual bland fare. [I say “bland” because the food that we give our companion animals should be free of spices, since some spices can trigger an allergic reaction].

I shall share with you something of interest that I was taught at a refresher course/

further education series in which I participated some time ago.

The lecturers from the largest pet food manufacturers in the world, and who worked at the foremost companion animal nutrition research institute on the planet, advised us that over 50 percent of all ailments among pets stems from incorrect nutrition. I am certain that figure is well over 80 percent during Christmas.

The problem is that the vet has to raise himself/herself from a favourite chair or recliner to look after a pet

which has “just” developed a “life threatening” malady, which in truth is just a reaction to a piece of chocolate or some such incorrect bit of feeding.

The moral of the story is that there is absolutely no need to overfeed or extra-feed “Rover”/”Felix” during the holiday season. Feed your companion animals the normal everyday diet, as usual!

Of course, since no veterinarian (well, with few exceptions) can tell the flustered client to go to hell on a Christmas Day, he/she has to deal with the product of the owner’s careless feeding habits relative to his/her pets.

Let me use this week’s “Pet Corner” column to tell all my old, new, and potential friends that (i) I need rest, and will be using the “Season” to catch up on some needed sleep. (ii) I am getting crotchetier as the Christmases go by (this will be my 53rd Christmas “helping out” as a veterinarian), so I am quite prepared to bite/scratch anybody who brings a dog/ cat to me late on

Boxing Day or New Year’s Eve, unless it is a genuine emergency. Maybe I should have titled this article “What not to do to Vets during Christmas!”

(2) Scaring pets with explosives

I know it would not be Christmas if we do not involve ourselves with squibs, sparklers, firecrackers, and an assortment of explosive devices. We sometimes even involve our pets in these undertakings, sometimes just to observe how they react to torture!

When I was young – in Jurassic times – we used a piece of carbon (with the appropriate amount of spittle) and an Ovaltine tin to produce a loud noise at every Christmas season. There were no squibs in those days; or, if there were, we either had no money to buy them or, simply, we found more fun creating the bang with some spat-upon carbon and applying a flame at the hole at the back of the tin.

Ruimveldt.

The idea of tying firecrackers to dogs’ tails is an offence under the law. One can be charged, and even be incarcerated. Terrorising dogs and cats is not a joke. If a friend wants to commit such acts of barbarism, distance yourself from that person. He/she must not be a friend; such a person is certifiable, and needs psychiatric help.

Simply put, exposing pets to squibs, firecrackers, or any type of explosive device is one of the greatest cruelties one can administer to an animal.

(3) Christmas baths

Dogs should not be given baths often. Cats (who groom themselves constantly) hardly ever need baths. It seems that pet owners, having cleaned up their houses totally for Christmas, feel compelled to remain in cleaning mode.

God help ‘Rover’, the cleaning frenzy is on! ‘Rover’ and ‘Felix’ get dunked into the big basin or under the

Well, dogs and cats have sensitive ears. The noises from the explosions disorient and traumatise them. They do not know what to do; they cannot cope with the unexpected and loud sounds. They run indoors and into doors, and hide in secluded places which they think can afford them security (bathrooms, under beds, in cupboards, etc). They jump from verandahs and hurt themselves. They run away from home (you can see them wandering around our roads, lost and with anxious/frantic looks) and are struck down by uncaring motorists.

Last year, a German Shepherd from Kitty was picked up by a good Samaritan in South

standpipe. Of course, the drying might pose a problem, especially during the December rains. The animal may then be placed in a draught, and a ‘cold’ results. If you feel that something must be done to your animal’s coat during Christmas, then brush it. End of story.

Enough for today. When shopping, there is really no need to buy any toy for your pet; but if you must, please purchase playthings that are recommended for your breed and size of pet, and (i) are not easily destroyed, (ii) if ingested, will cause no harm, and (iii) are not powered electrically when in use (plugged into an electrical outlet).

Enjoy your Christmas preparations.

Ogle-Eccles bypass contractor among bidders vying to reconstruct Linden-Soesdyke Highway

are no strangers to Guyana, having submitted bids for several contracts and won a few. China Railway First Group’s contracts includes the East Coast highway expansion project.

On the other hand, China Harbour completed expansion works on the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), to the tune of US$9 million. These works had included an extension of the Airport’s boarding corridor in order to accommodate two more passenger boarding bridges, providing the Airport with a total of six boarding bridges capable of facilitating larger Code D and Code E aircraft.

Development Bank (IsDB). Earlier this year, a team from the IsDB visited Guyana on an appraisal mission for the loan request.

The IsDB team was led by Atiq Ahmad, Lead Global Transport Specialist, Economic and Social Infrastructure Department, General Directorate for Global Practices & Partnerships of the IsDB.

through the Public Works Ministry, had previously pre-qualified contractors for the upgrade of the Linden-Soesdyke Highway. The Government had applied for financing from the IsDB toward the cost of the project and intends to apply part of the proceeds of this financing to payments under the contract for the reconstruction of the Highway.

Ashoka Buildcon Limited, which won the contract for the Ogle-to-Eccles bypass road project earlier this year, is among the bidders seeking the contract for the reconstruction of the LindenSoesdyke Highway.

The Government is currently seeking a contractor for the reconstruction of the Linden-Soesdyke Highway. Based on the bids that were recently opened at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), both local and foreign companies participated in the bidding, including several familiar names.

Ashoka Buildcon

Limited signed a US$106 million contract in June of this year for the four-lane Ogle, East Coast Demerara (ECD) to Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD) bypass road.

The Indian company will be constructing a main alignment four-lane road stretching some 7.705 kilometres. The project, dubbed phase one, has a two-year construction period. The proposed road will commence at the junction of the Ogle Airport entrance road and the East Coast Demerara Public Road. It follows the existing Ogle Airport Road for about 1.2km from the East Coast Road to Ogle Airport Junction.

The main alignment will traverse the residential areas of Courida, Prado Ville, connecting to the Eugene F Correia International Airport and ending at the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) factory area. Thereafter, the balanced length of the proposed alignment will traverse the abandoned cane fields.

Other bidders Meanwhile, also bidding for the Linden-Soesdyke Highway reconstruction project are China Railway First Group, China Road and Bridge Corporation, and China Harbour Engineering Company Limited.

These three companies

Aronco Services Incorporated, a Trinidadian company, also submitted a bid for the Linden-Soesdyke Highway project. Meanwhile, BK International Incorporated was one of the more prominent local companies to bid. A total of 15 bids were received for the project, most of which were from international companies.

Only two months ago, a US$120 million loan for resurfacing the LindenSoesdyke Highway was approved by the Islamic

On the Government side, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill was joined by his Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Vladim Persaud; Dr Tarachand Balgobin, Director of the Project Cycle Management Division at the Finance Ministry, and Patrick Thompson, Chief Transport and Planning Officer. During the meeting, the IsDB team was introduced to their local technical counterparts in the Public Works Ministry.

At the time, Minister Edghill had reiterated the importance of the LindenSoesdyke Highway project, and assured the visiting team that there was already an accountability system in place to ensure this project was executed efficiently.

The Government,

The work in question involves the upgrading of the existing 72.43km two-lane, single-carriageway, rural arterial highway. The scope of work also includes milling of existing asphalt surface course; application of varying pavement structures above the milled sections of pavement inclusive of asphalt, sand asphalt, and sub-base; full-depth pavement reconstruction in certain sections; construction of two roundabouts along the alignment; sidewalk extensions to nine multi-span bridges; drainage work and utility relocation; and installation of roadway lighting.

The upgrade to the highway is part of several key plans that the Government has outlined for the Upper Demerara-Berbice region. (G3)

The Linden-Soesdyke Highway

Street crimes on major decline – Police

and I want to thank you for your support," Commander McBean has said.

He also reported that whereas the division had recorded 36 murders in 2020, just 21 murders have been recorded thus far for 2022, which is a 41.7% decrease, with a clear-up rate of 81%.

In its 2022 report on street crime in Regional Division 4A (Georgetown), the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has revealed that there has been a major decrease in crime in the district so far for the year.

This announcement comes just after the announcement of an overall

19.2% decrease in serious crimes in Guyana.

Commander of Division 4A, Simon McBean, has said the Division enjoys a 66.7% decrease in street crimes, and this reduction was achieved only by the Force’s hard work and dedication.

“This feat could not have been achieved without your hard work and dedication,

Only one day ago, the GPF announced a 19.2 percent decrease in serious crimes for the period January 1, 2022 to date. This decrease translates to some 331 less serious crimes being recorded for the year when compared to the same period in 2021.

While there are 12 regional divisions, Regional Division 4 ‘A’ (Georgetown) accounted for the majority of the crimes. Twenty-four percent of the country’s serious crimes were committed in this division.

Acting Police Commissioner Clifton

Hicken, giving his remarks on the performance of Regional Division 4‘A’, noted that even with these improvements, on January 2023, all ranks, from Constable to Assistant Commissioner, would be retrained to better deal with the demands and challenges made by members of the public. This, he said, would be one of the comprehensive plans to focus on the organization's strengths and weaknesses.

Just a few days ago, President Dr. Irfaan Ali said ranks would be retrained and retooled to function in the modern policing environment.

The new strategies would see Police officers being more community-based, with bold and innovative ideas which would lead to better relationships with citizens, and the strengthening of integrity and accountability. (G9)

Men leave $7M worth of ganja, gun in boat; escape from CANU

Déjà vu…

…again for PNC

Forget all the fancy tomes written by political scientists, the Bard’s “Richard III” is the ultimate political text.

Politics is about power and the compulsion to possess it being part of human nature that’ll never change!! Is there anything any modern ruler has done to secure power that wasn’t already tried by, say, Genghis Khan??

Anyhow, one lesson for politicians from “Richard III” is the importance of seemingly inconsequential support. In the middle of a critical battle, Richard famously cried out, “A horse, a horse! My kingdom for a horse!” His horse was killed and he became impotent!! He searched the battlefield for hours, killing everything coming his way with fatalistic rage.

Something similar is happening to Aubrey Norton. He’s locked in a life-and- death struggle for political survival in a political system in which no quarter has ever been shown. Politics in our dear mudland, dear reader, ain’t the usual garden variety type like, say, Barbados. They weren’t called “Little England” and us “the Wild Coast” for nothing!! It’s in our blood? We’ve had assassinations of political opponents ordered by a President (Burnham); armed bandits calling themselves “Freedom Fighters” taking on the Police Force while massacring innocent citizens in their sleep, and the PNC Opposition Leader (Hoyte) saying, “Bandits?? What bandits??”

Anyhow, here you have it: Aubrey Norton was elected Leader of the PNC after the party base turned against David Granger. He dared to listen to the entire world that the PPP had been elected fairly and he should demit office!! How dare he??!! Would Burnham have ever done that?? Hadn’t the British Parliamentary Group headed by Lord Chitnis declared the 1980 elections “more crooked than barbed wire”??! Did Burnham budge?? Aubrey Norton was elected to follow in his “Founder Leader’s” footsteps and remove the PPP Government with the PNC’s “sharper steel”!!

But here it is, even though the slate he’d put together was elected in toto, he’s seeing them jump ship like lemmings!! From the word go, your Eyewitness hasn’t seen head nor (well coiffured) hair of Elizabeth Williams Niles, first Vice Chairman, after the first week!! Similarly with General Secretary Geeta Chandan-Edmond, dropping out of sight for months while the weak excuse was given that she’d “taken leave”. She’s taken leave all right –she resigned officially last week!! And this week, Fiaz Mursalene - the party Treasurer - decamped!!

However, in the process of escaping, those men left behind a quantity of cannabis sativa (marijuana) worth $7M together with a shotgun.

CANU Officers reported that they had noticed two men in a speedboat heading for a neighbouring canefield, and that had led officers to the area. A subsequent search of the boat and surrounding area led to the discovery of five parcels containing a quantity of suspected cannabis, as well as a single-barrel 12-gauge shotgun and 12 live matching car-

tridges. However, by then the men had escaped.

The narcotics, along with the shotgun and ammunition, were taken to the CANU office at Skeldon, where the ganja weighed in at 57.2 kg, which has a street value of approximately $7 million.

Investigations are ongoing.

Earlier this month, five men and a woman were arrested after they were busted with a quantity of cocaine and marijuana by ranks of CANU at separate locations. (G9)

How in the world is the PNC gonna become an (absolutely necessary) alternative to the PPP, when he’s got no lieutenants to stand by him?? But that’s exactly the situation in which Robert Corbin had found himself, innit?? He made the wise decision to step aside for a contextually more acceptable candidate. Will Norton be as wise??

…in Fiji

Tolstoy famously said, “All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” But the aphorism also applies to nations – especially like oursdescribed as “plural societies”. Here, politics is desperate, but even though hard to believe, in Fiji, it’s even more so than us!! There, there’ve been at least four coups by the army, starting in 1987. As has happened here, the Indian indentureds whom the British shipped over to work in the sugar plantations still aren’t accepted as “real” Fijians, and it’s okay to overthrow Governments in which they even have a role!!

They’ve tried “democratic reform”, but, even then, the coups came. And the Indian Fijians fled. They just had an election on Dec 4th, with the incumbent PM - a coup leader - being challenged by another coup leader!! But they must’ve been following our political shenanigans, cause, with the Opposition leading, “a glitch developed” in the app reporting the results.

And when it was “fixed”, the Government then had an insurmountable lead!!

…on Masqueraders

Now, your Eyewitness likes his traditions as much as the next Mudlander. But masquerading started in the days of horses and biggies. Should they now be allowed to block traffic, when that’s already a national catastrophe??

Regional Commander of Division 4A, Simon McBean

Two men have managed to escape from ranks of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) who were conducting an op-

eration in the backlands of Plantation Skeldon in East Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) on Friday.

The ganja found in Corentyne, East Berbice

The boat that was found on scene

“It hard for me to get food” - pregnant mother of 6 seeks help for Christmas

By Andrew CArmiChAel

Rominia Benedict, a 29-year-old resident of Rotterdam, East Bank Berbice, and mother of six children, is now finding it difficult to cope since her husband has been imprisoned.

One of the wishes of this Region Six resident is to be able to enjoy Christmas with her children. Speaking with this publication,

related that she relocated from Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice) and is now residing in Region Six, which is closer to her husband’s relatives. She is hoping that the children can recommence attending school in January, after she has successfully completed their transfers. Benedict has been living in Rotterdam for the past two months.

She said her husband had been gainfully em-

The eight foot by ten foot house in which the young mother now resides has two hammocks and a mattress, which Benedict said is still inadequate apart from being uncomfortable.

The mother and the six children are living along Koker Dam in Rotterdam. She does not have a telephone.

When this publication visited, the woman seemed overwhelmed with com-

plaints for the kids, but was able to find joy in coping with the challenges as she looks forward to having her Christmas wish met.

Asked if she wanted the children to be put into an orphanage, she said no.

“I struggle a lot with my kids, and I wouldn’t like that to happen,” she said, adding that all she needs is some food items and zinc to cover her home, and she would be okay.

Benedict said she has met hard times, and on many occasions, she does not know where the next meal is coming from. She is hoping that, with a little assistance from anyone, her circumstances would be improved this Christmas.

Her children are aged 19 months; two, four, six, eight and 10 years old, and she is currently seven months pregnant. The 29-year-old is struggling to make ends meet after her husband was incarcerated for assaulting his parents.

“All the children is one father. Right now, things rough with me to look after the children. It hard for me to get food to feed them. The clothes, I can’t afford it,” she said.

She added that four of her children would usually attend school, but because of her circumstances, they were unable to do so for the past two months. She

ployed until the company suddenly folded, whereupon he was given $200,000 and they moved to Rotterdam, hoping for a better life.

“We use to live Corentyne. He buy a land from his father and his father (allegedly) sell back the land behind he back. That is how we end up coming here and end up like this. I ain’t even get light, so we have to sleep in the dark. I cook one time a day because I ain’t really get any foodstuff. Things really rough with me, because it is me alone and nobody don’t help me with nothing,” she said as she broke down in tears.

The mother of six said her mother was murdered when she was an infant, and she does not know her father. She related that she was raised by a stranger, for which she is grateful.

“When I meet 16, me and this boy take up,” she said referring to her husband.

29-year-old mother of six Rominia Benedict

Over 100 small businesses in Berbice each get $150K grant …as Small Business Bureau overwhelmed with applications

growth. He noted that there are many small businesses involved in poultry-rearing, farming, agro-processing and small retail shops.

Over 100 entrepreneurs in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) on Saturday received grants at the Small Business Bureau sought to develop the capacity of small businesses in Guyana.

that will see some 1400 persons receiving the grants.

Last week grants were given to businesses in Region Two. On Sunday, businesses in Region Ten will receive their grants; and next Thursday, businesses in

“The whole idea behind this grant, as with the mandate of the Government, is to promote entrepreneurship. And with this, our focus is mainly on sustainable growth - growing business from micro to small, and then to medium businesses,” Abraham said in an invited comment at the Business Incubator site at Belvedere, Corentyne, where the grants were given out.

He pointed out that the Small Business Bureau has this year been overwhelmed with applications for grants.

However, Candina Wright of the same community said she has already started a business. “I do knitting, and I sell cosmetics, clothes and kitchen utensils since last year.”

Another recipient is Brian Felix a farmer of Corriverton. According to him, he currently plants bananas and wants to move into the poultry business.

“I want to buy 100 ducks to go into that too, and I am very thankful for this grant,” he told this publication.

slow, and this money will help to give me a push. I am thankful for the grant, because it would help me a lot,” he said.

Vanessa Grant of Rose Hall Town said she is about to start her new business. She said she would be starting her poultry business with 100 chickens.

applications; so, in trying to meet a wider population and assisting more people, we ended up using a number that is more workable for the wider community.”

Some $20 million has been injected into the Region Six economy for startup and expansion of small businesses as more than 30 entrepreneurs each received a $150,000 grant. The Small Business Bureau is currently on a countrywide expedition

Region Five would receive theirs.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Small Business Bureau, Muhammed Abraham, said the idea behind giving the grant to small and micro enterprises is to springboard their

Meanwhile, one of the beneficiaries, Vanessa Philips of Corriverton, told this publication that she was going to start a retail clothing business. She said the money would be used to purchase supplies that are in the capital city of Georgetown.

Orin Chisolm of an East Bank Berbice community, who also collected a $150,000 grant on Saturday, said he currently rears chickens. According to him, he currently has 150 layers, and is trying to expand his poultry business.

“I want 200-and-something ducks…. I intend to go on the Corentyne to see if I can get them; I want some white ducks in the set. The poultry business is going

Each of these recipients had applied for $500,000, and on Saturday realized that they were receiving a $150,000 grant. According to the CEO of the Small Business Bureau, they were overwhelmed with applications for grants this year.

“Initially we give between $200,000 and $300,000, it depends on the type of industry they have. Those who are into agro-production and agro-processing might get more. However, within the last tranche of applications, we had a huge increase. We normally get between 300 and 500 applications, but we ended up getting over 2000

However, he pointed out that the Small Business Bureau does continuous registration, and persons do not have to wait on a promotion by the agency to apply.

“Our focus is not only on grants. We are focused on developing businesses’ sustainable growth, so you can register and become a client at any time. We have help desks in all the different regions.”

For registration, an application needs to have compliance and business registration.

“Once you become a client, you have access to our services – grants, loans…”

Additionally, the Bureau provides loans, business development plans, and training for persons who are registered with the Bureau. (G4)

CEO of Small Business Bureau, Muhammad Abraham

Vanessa Grant collecting her cheque on Saturday

Candina White, the young businesswoman who participated on Saturday in a market day at Port Mourant organised by the Small Business Bureau

Anti-Indian Hate Discourse

It is interesting to listen to the narratives spewed over social media nowadays. They are part of a whole welter of formal and informal processes - language and performance dubbed “discourses” - that serve to fix the acceptable meaning of a given notion, and literally “hail” it into being. Identity and social action - including political action - are key features fixed largely by narratives and discourses.

“How are we made in our culture?” asked Foucault.

While not denying the importance of structural features, discourses are most crucial because they sanction certain kinds of action, and not others for most people. In times of heightened tension and conflict, narratives and discourses link individual and group identity, producing a sense of linked fate among groups. When violence is in the air, the fears also include concern for physical security and fears of extinction of self, family, and the group and its culture. Political actions – and reactions - are therefore highly influenced by the dominant discourses circulating at any given time.

The power of discourse lies in its ability to naturalise a particular way of interpreting something - be it an ethnic group, or a strategy for political struggle. There are two parts to the construction of identity within discourse: firstly, the creation of the ‘other’, with all negative qualities; and secondly, the comparison of that ‘other’ to the self – the antithesis imbued with all the “good” qualities.

The archetypal binary hegemonic discourse owed its success to its divisive framing of the identities in play, as well as to the ‘truthful’ nature it attributed to that framing.

After a brief moment of “us” (all Guyanese) against “them” (the British), the struggle for independence introduced complications into the narrative. Between 1958 and 1964, it was “coolie-rice” PPP Government locking Africans out of development (African narrative constructed by the PNC), or a “communist” Government determined to deliver B.G. into Moscow’s arms (the narrative of the West).

During the PNC regime of 1964-1992 - ushered in after a virtual civil war between Indians and Africans – the Indian narrative was of marginalisation through “racial” policies of a Government dominated by their African political opponents.

Between 1993 and 2011, the discourse was sharpened by PNC claims of “ethnic cleansing” and other anti-African Guyanese excesses of the PPP. These precipitated anti-Indian riots spawned by the allegation that the 1997 elections were rigged, and those segued into a decade-long, full-scale assault against the state and perceived supporters of the PPP by violent, terroristic gunmen. The latter were dubbed “Resistance Fighters”.

The fundamental process in the construction and reproduction of terroristic violence is the deliberate creation by critics and political entrepreneurs of a totalising and hegemonic social and political discourse that builds on the previous discourse of hatred, fear, and the justified use of extreme violence. After 2020, the discourse was given a new twist. The PPP – the “them/other”was now defined as creating an “emerging apartheid state” – the most extreme modern manifestation of the initial White-Black binary othering.

The Opposition define themselves as fighting for “democracy, freedom of speech, justice, workers’ rights, and presumably motherhood (good qualities). In contrast, in virtually every speech and article about the PPP, they are declared to be committing “economic genocide” against African-Guyanese. Millions genocidally murdered in Rwanda are invoked and placed on the head of Indian-Guyanese who, of course, are responsible for “installing” the PPP.

In this discourse, Guyana is in mortal conflict between good and evil, and that evil is real and must be opposed.

Critically, this framing locates evil in the nature of the PPP – and, by extension, their supporters - thereby stigmatising a whole category of people. Not to mention, it puts them at risk in an atmosphere dominated by a discourse of “us” against “them” and a history of political violence. It is a compelling discourse, and an act of demagoguery that vitiates the actions of the PPP and their supporters of any political content by de-contextualising and de-historicising them. They are simultaneously de-humanised and de-personalised.

What justification, ultimately, can be offered for ‘acts of evil’? The wages of sin, I am told, is death. In other words, holding that the PPP and their supporters are by nature evil (and racist to boot) rather than ordinary people, it is not difficult to see how attacks against them – a la Mon Repos - can become normalised.

State House shooting Shooter yet to be questioned by Police, still on ventilator

Two days after a man Nigerian breached the security at State House, injuring a security while looking for the President, investigators said that the suspect Bethel Ikena Chimezie has not been questioned about what transpired on that day.

On Saturday the Police said that this is due to the fact that man being seriously injured during a crossfire with their ranks, and he remains on life support.

“The suspect continues to be treated for his injuries, and based on the most recent update from the doctor in whose care he remains, he is still on a ventilator,” the Police said in a statement.

Additionally, due to the sensitive nature of this investigation, the Guyana Police Force said they can only confirm that contact has been made with law enforcement counterparts as it relates to information related to the suspect’s background and any other pertinent information.

Meanwhile, Telon Perreira, the police constable, who was stabbed five times by the suspect during the attack remains hopsitalised in a serious condition.

On Thursday, at about 07:30h, Chinezie made a demand to see President Dr Irfaan Ali at a southern guard hut, located near Carmichael Street, Georgetown. He was cautioned about having to be processed before entering the compound. However, the assailant resisted being processed and whipped out a knife from a pouch he was carrying, using same to stab one of the guards present, Teon Perreira, five times about his body and to his neck.

After injuring Perreira, Chienzie relieved a female guard of her firearm and retreated from the guard hut. It was then that shots rang out in the usually quiet neighbourhood, much to the alarm of those residing in the environs.

Civilian videos of the ordeal on Thursday morning captured Chinezie walking

backwards from the guard hut, but continuing to exchange gunfire with the Presidential Guards and other ranks. The severely injured Nigerian national was later surrounded, intercepted, and disarmed by ranks.

Both the injured guard and the attacker were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) for immediate medical attention.

Perreira was rushed into surgery at the GPHC and later regained consciousness.

He, however, remains hospitalised at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Meanwhile, at the scene of the shooting, Police ranks retrieved a 9mm pistol and seven 9mm spent shells. While there were no other injuries reported, there was visible damage to nearby business entities.

Information on Chinezie has revealed that the 25-yearold is employed with a cleaning service company. He arrived in Guyana on March 13, 2020, and was previously employed with a security company.

Only a day ago, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum confirmed that Chinezie, remains in a critical state in the hospital.

He related that the 25-year-old suspect, was shot thrice, and is in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on a life support machine, battling for his life while investigators are still trying to put the pieces together in order to figure out the man’s motive for the invasion. (G9)

Ravi Dev

Suspect: Bethel Ikena Chinezie

Best Graduating Education, English major aspires to become Education Minister

By Solomon mcGarrell

Dawayna Aniysa Thom, a 26-yearold teacher of the Kwakwani Secondary School in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), recently graduated from the University of Guyana (UG) as Best Graduating Education, English major with a 3.9 Grade Point Average (GPA). Recalling her journey and school life, Thom said she had been called a “dunce” in school, and she vividly recalls a teacher throwing one of her books in the garbage. This experience, she said, has remained with her, and was compounded when she entered the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) and one of her lecturers told her she should choose another major because that lecturer did not believe she would be “a good fit to teach English”.

Thom has, however, said positive words can live on in the lives of people as they push through with life and decision-making, because those words would affect them and their subsequent accomplishments as much as negative words would. Thom said those words were at the

back of her head throughout her studies, and they now still influence her life in everything she puts her mind to do, because they have imbued in her a fear of failure.

Asked what had motivated her to overcome the challenges she had encountered throughout her study life and in other aspects of her life, Thom said, “The fear of failure. The thought of failure and fear of not becoming successful.” Thom has said she still cannot “catch her breath” to celebrate her success, because of those challenges.

She deems herself a perfect example of the labelling theory - an approach that focuses on the ways in which society attaches stigmatising stereotypes to an individual, and the ways in which the stigma changes their thoughts or behaviours.

She is encouraging teachers, “Try to have every child catered for and feel included in the classroom. While some are skilled in a task, some are not. All students can’t learn at the same pace, nor in the same way. Be careful with the words that you use to students; people tend to remember how you make them feel.”

Thom hails from the Region 10 community of Kwakwani, a small community of approximately 5000 residents, where not many people are recognized in athletics or academics. Here Thom completed her nursery, primary and secondary education before studying at UG. Thom’s early years of school life were simple. She participated in almost everything at school: spelling bee competitions, dancing and poetry competitions, extracurricular activities in the afternoons, when she went to lessons or at the community playground to play games with friends. Like every other child’s childhood dream, Thom wanted to become a lawyer, but after writing the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate examinations, she was called to teach.

“The Kwakwani Secondary School was short of staff at the time, and I was asked to teach,” she noted. One year later, Thom enrolled at the CPCE to be trained as a teacher. As she explained how her days were spent at CPCE, Thom said, “I attained a Grade 3 in Literature when I (wrote) CSEC, and when I enrolled

at CPCE, an English lecturer told me that I should choose another major because she doesn’t believe I’ll be a ‘good fit to teach English’. I don’t know why I still went through with English, but I did. Eventually, I passed all of my courses and I graduated”.

Today, Thom describes herself as “an exceptional English teacher”, but the accomplishment was not without challenges. She now aspires to become a Regional Education Officer. “I choose Education because one day I have hopes of becoming an official in education, maybe even to be the Minister of Education,” she expressed.

“My journey at UG was not an easy one, but it was a successful one. When I first started UG, I did not want anyone to know, because of the fear of failure,” she disclosed.

Thom braved the storms and emotions that came along as she pursued her dreams, although, when she first started, she felt as though she was not going to make it and wanted to give up many times. She graduated from CPCE, and started her journey at UG with her first challenge of having to

move from her home town to live with relatives, because the internet is not easily accessible at Kwakwani. She de scribed living with her relatives as horrible. Two weeks af ter starting UG, she underwent emer gency surgery without telling any of her relatives with whom she lived. She encountered blackouts(spells of fainting), sleepless nights, panic attacks, the death of a friend with whom she wasn’t on speaking terms, and financial constraints. For these reasons, Thom is not yet able to celebrate her accomplishments.

She said, “Although I had those challenges, I did not give up. I continued persevering, and I continued working so that I could have maintained the GPA I started with”.

Thom ended her studies by going to live in rented ac-

commodation on her own, where she was able to get adequate rest and pay more attention to her health. She said her motivation eventually came from wanting to be successful for her community, to show her students and siblings that she could do it and they can too, regardless of the challenges. Also, she wanted to complete what she started.

In celebrating her own success, Thom has also congratulated all her colleagues, friends and associates, as she knows how tough the journey has been for all.

Indigenous villages to appeal ruling on Upper Mazaruni lands

Despite claims that they were victorious in the recent court ruling which acknowledged their ancestral rights to lands in the Upper Mazaruni, the Akawaio and Arecuna Indigenous groups would be appealing aspects of this court decision.

In the case of Van Mendason et al vs Attorney General, Chief Justice Roxane George on Friday ruled that the Akawaio and Arecuna peoples of the Upper Mazaruni hold ancestral rights to lands in the Upper Mazaruni area, but those rights are not exclusive.

The Upper Mazaruni

District Council (UMDC) called a press conference on Saturday, in light of the landmark court ruling, and declared that it welcomed the long-overdue decision of the High Court of Guyana. Chairman of the Council, Kato Toshao Mario Hastings, declared that the decision represents the culmination of a decades-long effort by the Indigenous peoples of the Upper Mazaruni region to seek legal recognition of their collective rights over the lands. However, he added that they plan to challenge sections of the ruling at the Court of Appeal.

“Our communities are the clear victors in this

MoHSSS to subsidise 100 spectacles for vulnerable persons

case. However, we remain concerned that the Chief Justice did not elaborate on precisely what it means to have communal title and what she meant by the exclusions to our title. We plan to appeal to the Court of Appeal on the portions of the ruling that leave room for the Government to continue infringing on our communal land title,” Hastings has posited.

The UMDC Chairman has underscored that the communal title affirms their rights to carbon credits generated on the land. In this regard, he is calling for permission to be granted before any projects are undertaken that involve such credits.

“Because it is our land, the Government must seek and obtain our consent prior to any projects that it

intends to undertake involving these credits. We expect the Government to live up to its repeated commitments in this regard, as well as international law obligations. Free, prior, and

informed consent is an incident of property rights of Indigenous peoples, and the 1959 District has been judicially declared to be our property,” he elaborated.

Additionally, there will be engagements with Government counterparts on the granting of concessions, which must also be granted after consent is granted.

“It is our understanding that, in light of the Court’s ruling, Government agencies such as GGMC and GFC do not have authority to issue any concessions in our communal lands without the express permission of our communities,” he declared.

He added, “We intend to write to various Government agencies to formally notify them of this position. In addition, we in-

tend to seek advice and information regarding the status of concessions granted between 1998, when the case was filed, and the date of this judgment.”

The Chief Justice has confirmed that several parts of the Amerindian Act of 1976 were unconstitutional. Although that Act has since been replaced with the Amerindian Act of 2006, the Council said it intends to carefully review the document to determine whether the Chief Justice’s ruling has any implications for the current Amerindian Act.

“This ruling is especially timely in light of the Government’s commitment to revise the Amerindian Act by engaging Guyana’s Indigenous communities in a participatory process,” Hastings has claimed. (G12)

The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security has partnered with Miracle Vision Care to offer free or subsidised spectacles to 100 vulnerable persons for the Christmas season.

The Ministry has announced that the criteria include proof that these persons are earning less than $100,000; are single parents; or are children within the age of 18 years and below.

This offer is available to persons living in all regions. To benefit, they can visit the Lamaha Street Office of the Ministry to start the process.

Efforts to offer such services have been ongoing in the Ministry. Just a few days ago, through a partnership with Da Silva’s Optical, the Ministry’s EyeCare Programme was

rolled out at Moraikobai, where 85 pairs of tested spectacles were provided to children and the elderly.

Thus far, hundreds of persons have benefitted from this programme since it came into being in August 2021.

Government has also rolled out the Snap-On Spectacles Initiative, in which more than 600 persons have benefitted. The Snap-On Initiative is a new programme introduced by the Health Ministry after the ease in distributing eyewear to persons in remote areas had been recognised.

In total, Government has procured 4500 pairs of spectacles to be distributed. Teams have been visiting communities across the country, and the spectacles are delivered immediately after persons have been diagnosed. (G12)

UMDC Chairman Mario Hastings

Dr. Tariq Jagnarine Family meDicine/ enDocrinology/DiabeTes

The shoulder has a wide and versatile range of motion. When something goes wrong with the shoulder, it hampers the ability to move freely, and this can cause a great deal of pain and discomfort.

The shoulder joint is the most mobile joint in the body. It moves the shoulder forward and backward, and allows the arm to move in a circular motion and to move up and away from the body.

Shoulders get their range of motion from the rotator cuff, which is made up of four tendons. Tendons are the tissues that connect muscles to bones. It may be painful or difficult to lift the arm over the head if the tendons or bones around the rotator cuff are damaged or swollen.

Persons can injure the shoulder by performing manual labour, playing sports, or even by repetitive movement. Certain diseases can bring about pain, which trav-

els to the shoulder. These diseases include those of the cervical spine (neck), as well as liver, heart, or gallbladder.

Persons are more likely to have problems with the shoulder as they grow older, especially after age 60. This is because the soft tissues surrounding the shoulder tend to degenerate with age. In many cases, shoulder pain can be treated at home. However, physical therapy, medication, or surgery may also be necessary.

CAUSES

Several factors and conditions can contribute to shoulder pain. The most prevalent cause is rotator cuff tendinitis. This is a condition characterised by swollen tendons. Another common cause of shoulder pain is impingement syndrome, where the rotator cuff gets caught between the acromion (part of the scapula that covers the ball) and humeral head (the ball portion of the humerus).

Sometimes, shoulder pain is the result of injury to another location in the body, usually the neck or biceps. This is known as referred pain. Referred pain generally doesn’t get worse when moving the shoulder.

Other causes of shoulder pain include:

* Arthritis

* Torn cartilage

* Torn rotator cuff

* Swollen bursa sacs or tendons

* Bone spurs (projections that develop along the edges

HEALTH TIPS SHOULDER PAIN

of bones)

* Pinched nerve in the neck or shoulder

* Broken shoulder or arm bone

* Frozen shoulder

* Dislocated shoulder

* Injury due to overuse or repetitive use

* Spinal cord injury

* Heart attack

DIAGNOSIS

Doctors will find out the cause of the shoulder pain by requesting a medical history and by doing a physical examination. They’ll feel for tenderness and swelling, and would also assess the range of motion and joint stability. Imaging tests such as an X-ray or MRI can produce detailed pictures of the shoulder, to help with the diagnosis. The doctor may also ask questions to determine the cause.

Contact a doctor if experiencing fever, inability to move the shoulder, lasting bruising, heat and tenderness around the joint, or pain that persists beyond a few weeks of home treatment. If the shoulder pain is sudden, and not related to an injury, see a doctor immediately; it may be a sign of a heart attack.

Other signs of a heart attack include:

* Trouble breathing

* Chest tightness

* Dizziness

* Excessive sweating

* Pain in the neck or jaw TREATMENT

Treatment would de-

pend on the cause and severity of the shoulder pain. Some treatment options include physical or occupational therapy, a sling or shoulder immobilizer, or surgery.

The doctor may also prescribe medication such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) or corticosteroids.

Corticosteroids are powerful anti-inflammatory drugs that can be taken by mouth, or the doctor can inject same into the shoulder.

Some minor shoulder pain can be treated at home. Icing the shoulder for 15 to 20 minutes three or four times a day for several days can help reduce pain. Use an ice bag, or wrap ice in a towel, because putting

ice directly on the skin can cause frostbite and burn the skin.

Resting the shoulder for several days before returning it to normal activity, and avoiding any movements that might cause pain, can be helpful. Limit overhead work or activities.

Other home treatments include using over-thecounter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications to help reduce pain and inflammation, and compressing the area with an elastic bandage to reduce swelling.

PREVENTION

Simple shoulder exercises can help stretch and strengthen muscles and rotator cuff tendons. A physi-

cal therapist or occupational therapist can show people how to do those exercises properly.

If you are having previous shoulder issues, use ice for 15 minutes after exercising, to prevent future injuries.

After having bursitis or tendinitis, performing simple range-of-motion exercises every day can keep people from getting frozen shoulder.

While shoulder injuries may be common, it’s important to get the right treatment as quickly as possible.

Complete all physical therapy and other treatments even if the symptoms are better. This would prevent future shoulder issues from happening again.

Multi-million-dollar supermarket opens at Corriverton

Amulti-million-dollar supermarket has been opened in Guyana’s easternmost township of Corriverton, Region Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne). Its doors were opened to the public on Thursday, December 15, facilitating customers’ accessing products that were not otherwise available in Berbice.

Although considered a new supermarket, this business has been in existence for over two decades, during which time it has been continuously expanding.

The ‘Price is Right’ Supermarket now has a new location at Corriverton, from where it offers consumers on the Upper Corentyne a wider variety of products, more comfort in shopping, and a better shopping experience.

Located a short distance from the old location, the supermarket has a gift section; a wide array of confectionery, frozen foods, refrigerat-

ed dairy products, vegetables and fruits; and a variety of other items. The owner of this business, Danesh Roopnarine, has said

that just over 30 persons are employed at this new facility, whereas the old facility had 19 persons employed. This new location is a short distance away from the old establishment, and the initial location is expected to be transformed into a wholesale depot and an electronics store.

According to Roopnarine, his vision is to create an atmosphere in which customers could shop in comfort for quality products at affordable prices, and at the same time he wants to create jobs.

“I was inspired to import a lot of the items that I know people would want. When I travel overseas and look at the setup and the varieties of stuff available, I told myself this is what I would like to see in my hometown. As a result, I started to plan, and now we have achieved it…customers no longer have to worry about travelling out of the region to look for stuff; we have it all here. We are here to help the people and help the country grow, and I am thankful for the support,” Roopnarine has said.

He explained that the investment comes at a time when the standard of living for Guyanese has been improving because of key investments being made by

the Government. According to Roopnarine, his intention is to be able to provide persons the opportunity to shop in comfort and convenience, and experience international standards and quality.

This business has its genesis in a stand in the Corriverton Market, where 22 years ago it was selling bananas and other fruits. It grew to where he and his wife started importing items to sell, and shortly after, a supermarket was opened at its old location. That was a little over two decades ago.

Construction of this modern two-storey facility commenced in 2020, and was completed in November 2022.

The entrepreneur has said he was fortunate to have purchased all of his building materials just before prices started skyrocketing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in ports being closed, making commodities scarce and sending up prices. (G4)

Tax cuts, better access to financing on GCCI’s 2023 lobbying calendar

Lobbying points for the Private Sector in the new year would revolve around pushing for greater access to finances for the business community, and obtaining greater tax cuts.

President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Timothy Tucker, made this remark during a recent event, as he highlighted the GCCI’s goals for enhancing the business sector.

“Our goal for the new year is to foster collaborative and consultive partnerships in decision-making initiatives that will be in the best interest of the business community, and by extension Guyana. In this regard, we endeavour to enhance our efforts to push for amendments to policies and legislation, where possible, to promote better access to finance, capital markets, and tax reform,” Tucker re-

layed.

This Private Sector official is hopeful that, in 2023, commercial banks would be able to fulfill the needs and demands of enterprises, so as to enable them to realise their full potential.

“We hope that the banking sector will respond to the needs of the micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (that are) looking to grow in the simplest ways. It is paramount that we have the access to finance

(if we are) to play a significant role in the oil and gas sector and to realise the potential of being the engine of growth,” he has said.

Tucker revealed that, based on work done by the GCCI, more than 50 percent of businesses need formal financing to meet basic working capital needs, and less than 50 percent need financing for fixed investments and to pay off debts. As a result of this discovery, Tucker said, “These figures indicate the utmost need for collaborative efforts to ensure there are more allowances for businesses to augment their growth potential through invoice factoring, contract borrowing and financing through receivables. That is to say, innovative forms of financing.”

It has been outlined that the Private Sector needs capital markets that can be accessed by small- and medium-sized enterprises. Non-traditional ways of financing, he added, can be spurred to support participation of these entities and boost competition. Investor inclusion by floating micro bonds in the public domain would ensure that every Guyanese can participate meaningfully in the country’s growth.

“More needs to be done to foster capital markets developing for supporting business growth, which will boost their competitiveness. Supporting the participation of average Guyanese in the development of smalland medium-sized enterprises via a junior stock

exchange is of great importance if we are to spur non-traditional ways of financing,” he declared.

In addressing tax reform and lower tax rates, he said the GCCI is looking for removal of excise tax on new vehicles -- creating the advantages of greater safety on the roadways, emission control, and reducing consumption of spares. Tucker also called for better rates for income and corporate taxes.

“Both cross country and micro level studies suggest that lowering tax rates can increase investment, reduce tax evasion, promote formal firm creation, and ultimately lead to an increase in firms’ sales and GDP growth,” the GCCI President has posited.

GCCI President Timothy Tucker

The construction of a Deep-Water Harbour linking Guyana with Brazil is still high on the agenda, and according to President Dr. Irfaan Ali, overtures have been made to Brazil’s incoming new President, Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, for a bilateral meeting.

President Ali made these disclosures during the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) Awards Ceremony and Dinner on Friday. According to the President, work is actively ongoing behind the scenes to make this project a reality.

“We’re now working very actively on ensuring that

Guyana will have, and must have, our own Deep-Water Harbour. That Deep-Water Harbour must be connected to Brazil, and must be built as the premier logistics and trans-shipment hub for the Caribbean, going up North connecting Brazil. That is the business model.

“I’ve already requested, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a bilateral with the new President of Brazil, because we have to start very early to ensure that timelines are not missed. Because the next eight years is basically the timeline,” President Ali said.

Earlier this year, the Deep-Water Harbour was

among the topics discussed when President Ali welcomed his Brazilian counterpart President Jair Bolsonaro in Georgetown for a one-day visit. High on the agenda were talks on the integration of infrastructure, energy security, and expanding trade arrangements and opportunities.

On the issue of infrastructure development, President Ali had explained in brief remarks at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), where a high-level caucus was held between the two delegations, that the focus was on integrated critical projects such as the Deep-Water Port, the road-rail link, fi-

beroptic connectivity, development of an energy in corridor, the creation of a free zone, and the linkage of natural resource development.

Moreover, a joint statement on the high-level visit revealed that, during the engagement, President Ali had stressed that the establishment of a Deep-Water Port in Guyana, linked with a future road corridor, could have a beneficial impact on the development of trade between the two South American nations and beyond. It was in this context that the possibility of a complementary rail link between the two countries was raised.

According to the missive, both Presidents, Ali and Bolsonaro, acknowledged the pivotal importance of infrastructure integration to further unlocking the potential of the two neighbour-

ing countries and the wider region. To this end, the bilateral working group was established and tasked with assessing the potential gains of a Boa VistaGeorgetown road corridor in terms of trade and investment flows, as well as identifying possible needs of technical assistance and potential private partners and international financial institutions that could contribute to the initiative.

The teams from both sides were instructed to settle the measures necessary to enable the full implementation of the GuyanaBrazil International Road Transportation Agreement. They also agreed to advance the process of implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in November 2020 for the technical feasibility studies for the installation of a fibre optic link between Guyana and Brazil.

Back in 2018, there was a technical cooperation agreement, with the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) acting as the executing agency for the consultants, who were tasked with various feasibility studies for a GuyanaBrazil land transport link and Deep-Water Harbour project.

Deepwater Port location optimization studies were being conducted by Maritime & Transport Business Solutions (MTBS),

Ali

“We’re now working very actively” on Guyana’s Deep-Water Harbour

while strategic environmental and social studies were being done by the RINA Group. Meanwhile, Guyana-Brazil Border Studies were being undertaken by Estudios, Proyectos y Planificación (EPYPSA).

President Ali had previously also indicated that Guyana has gotten serious interest from Abu Dhabi Ports, a United Arab Emirates-based company that deals in industrial zones and logistics, in establishing a DeepWater Facility in Berbice, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne). In fact, a technical team from the company visited in September 2021 and compiled technical information on the project.

Meanwhile, Canadian company CGX Energy Inc is currently constructing a Deep-Water Port facility of its own in Berbice. CGX’s US$130 million Berbice Deep-Water Port has been in the works since 2010.

CGX’s subsidiary, Grand Canal Industrial Estates Inc (GCIE), has been engaged in civil works related to the construction of the port, which is intended to serve as an offshore supply base for the oil and gas industry, and as a multi-purpose terminal cargo handling base to service agricultural import/export, containerized and specialized cargo. (G3)

out to Brazil’s incoming President for a bilateral meeting

Brazil’s President-elect, Lula Da Silva

President Dr Irfaan Ali

GTT’s Business Solutions is GCCI’s Large Business of the Year

to showcase their products and services,” he added.

This year, GTT’s Business Solutions launched two breakthrough products, by introducing conneX which specifically provides small and medium-sized businesses with the convenience of up to 600mbps high-speed fibre service and voice options of up to 6000 minutes monthly which include calls to the US and Canada at no additional charge, and the convenience of having it all on one bill.

The company also recently released several new bundles of unlimited mobile postpaid plans (Prime, Premium and Elite) that includes free roaming in the USA, Latin America, and the Caribbean on its 4G LTE network.

ECD duo slapped with assault, disorderly behaviour charges

GTT’s Business Solutions has been awarded the Large Business of The Year for 2022 by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI).

President Dr Irfaan Ali presented the award to Chief Operations Officer (COO) of Business Solutions, Orson Ferguson during the Chamber’s 133rd Annual Awards Presentation and Gala Dinner at the Marriott Hotel.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, Ferguson said that GTT was humbled by the award and would continue to engage Private Sector organisations and the Government to advance numerous national causes as well as deliver on its promises to reliably connect customers, strengthen community, and innovate for all in the country.

“2022 was a good year for the Business Solutions division and I’m extreme-

ly proud to have led this group of dedicated professionals who show up daily to serve our business customers… our customer satisfaction scores for large businesses are constantly in the 90s… we have also engaged with BSOs [Business Support Organisations] like the GCCI, GMSA [Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association] and the PSC [Private Sector Commission] all year to give local businesses a platform

“In 2023, we have even bigger things in store for our business customers. Starting January 1st, we will implement a two-day installation guarantee on our conneX solution. This means we will have your service up and running in no more than two days or your installation and first month service will be on us,” Ferguson added.

Two East Coast Demerara (ECD) men were slapped with assault and disorderly behaviour charges after they reportedly attacked a peace officer.

Reports are that Carleen Rankin, 27, of Ninth Street, Dazzel Housing Scheme, ECD, and Justin Williams, 22, of the same address, appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court, where they denied the offences.

It is alleged that they

assaulted a peace officer contrary to Section 28 (b) of the Summary Jurisdiction Offences Act, Chapter 8:02, and exhibited disorderly behaviour that is contrary to Section 136 (a) of the Summary Jurisdiction Offences Act, Chapter 8:02.

When the charges were read to Williams and Rankin, they denied the offences and were placed on $25,000 bail each. The case will continue on March 18, 2022.

Charged: Carleen Rankin and Justin Williams

Business Solutions Chief Operations Officer Orson Ferguson receiving the award from President Dr Irfaan Ali

Park Square – the fun city for relaxation and entertainment

Situated just off the Mahaica River, but right on the East Coast Demerara Highway in Region Five (MahaicaBerbice) is one of the few tourist sites that cater to every age and yet it is still being discovered.

With two giant pools and a zipline, Park Square is the ideal location for day trips or even overnight stays.

On August 27, 2015, the establishment was opened and it has been expanding since.

With pool bars and a huge bar away from the pool, visitors can be ac -

commodated in groups as the establishment caters for private gatherings.

The floating bar works as a stage whenever there is a concert.

The zipline runs over a

100-metre pool, and kids can have fun with the many slides and swings available for their enjoyment in one of the pools.

Visitors can also bird watch, which is another

of the attractions at Park Square. Scores of rare birds nest in close proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, and are not bothered by persons standing nearby or even taking photographs of them. Owner Roy Hercules said it was one of the few places for birdwatching without going into the hinterland.

“We also have a section where you can play games. We have a section where you can do cooking or barbecue,” he further noted.

Hercules says it has always been his dream to

create such an establishment and since he had the land, after opening a gas station, he focused on the entertainment park.

The investment, which is worth in excess of $200 million, has been receiving an overwhelming response since the COVID-19 restrictions were removed with weekends being by far the busiest time.

Hercules said as many as 500 persons would visit on weekends.

He said there were plans for future development, but declined to dis -

close them.

The entrepreneur was in high praise for the tourism drive being pushed by the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA).

The fun park also offers slot games and several machines are available for usage.

Meanwhile, GTA Director Kamrul Baksh referred to the facility as being a lively one.

The visit to Park Square was part of a media familiarisation trip, which was organised by GTA. (G4)

Region 2 Regional Administration illuminates 15ft Christmas tree

The township of Anna Regina came alive on Saturday evening as Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) Regional Administration, in collaboration with the region's Tourism Association, illuminated a 15-foot Christmas tree.

This is the fourth year of the event, and for the first time, the historical Anna Regina High Bridge was illuminated.

The event, which was held at Anna Regina’s Independence Park, attracted hundreds of residents who were entertained by melodious Christmas carols, skilful dances, poems, and other special items.

Speaking at the event, Regional Chairperson Vilma De Silva reminded the audience that the birth of Lord Jesus Christ is celebrated during this season.

Meanwhile, Regional Executive Officer (REO) Susan Saywack said that the season was all about giving and spreading cheer. Noting that Guyana is a multicultural society, she said she admired the way persons socialised

Security threat disrupts flights at Piarco Airport

Operations at the Piarco Airport were disrupted on Saturday after security agencies were alerted to a possible threat on an aircraft leaving hundreds of people angry and upset.

Some quarrelled about having to wait for five to six hours only to be left waiting while new tickets were printed and flights organised for departure.

Officers remained at the Tobago check-in point to manage the heated crowds and de-escalate any potential conflict .

flight BW 1832, destined for Tobago, and as a precaution the passenger holding area and check-in area was cleared.

Checks later revealed no threat, but passengers on the domestic route encountered delays as scheduled flights backed up at both Piarco and ANR Robinson Airport in Tobago.

National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds said, “It was a very unfortunate development, but the system works that way and these things cannot be ignored. They are taken seriously by law enforcement and the appropriate experts went to work and I gather that the situation is now in their grasp.”

during the festive season.

The Christmas tree was switched on by REO Saywack, in the presence of Regional Chairperson

Pedestrian dies in 3-vehicle WCD smash-up

Street, Zeeburg. The driver of the minibus pulled right to avoid colliding with the motor car and while doing so, he collided with the right-side front section of motor lorry GWW 6801, which was heading West in the opposite direction.

As a result of the collision, the minibus also hit minibus BTT 1676, which was parked on the northern side facing east, and then struck the two pedestrians.

Airport Authorities of TT (AATT) in a release said an anonymous threat was made at 15:00h (3 pm) to

The AATT said there were no full-scale evacuation at the Piarco International Airport or any of its terminals after videos began sharing on social media with people gathered in the carpark and outside the terminal building in Piarco.

It said some international flights were delayed.

The TTPS confirmed in a release that there was no injury or damage reported to any section of the Piarco International Airport.

Searches of bags and the area were done and no unusual activities were seen nor were explosives found.

(Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

Apedestrian was killed on Saturday afternoon along the Zeeburg Public Road, West Coast Demerara (WCD).

Dead is 37-year-old Gaitree Sewsankar, of Sister's Village, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

Reports are that about 14:30h along the Zeeburg Public Road, there was a three-vehicle smash-up resulting in Sewsankar and another pedestrian being pinned under minibus BAB 1864.

Police said that the accident involved motor lorry GWW 6801, driven by a 31-year-old; minibus BTT

1676 owned and driven by a 62-year-old of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo (EBE); and minibus BAB 1864 driven by a 35-yearold of Vergenoegen, EBE.

According to Police, there were 14 passengers in minibus BAB 1864, which crashed into Sewsankar and another pedestrian, Alliyah Sage, both of Lot 255 Sister's Village.

Enquiries revealed that minibus BAB 1864 was heading East along the northern side of the road at a fast pace when an unknown motor car which was in front of the minibus turned left into School

Sewsankar ended up under minibus BAB 1864. All passengers, including the driver, and the pedestrians were seriously injured, and they were taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital by vehicles that passed by. However, Sewsankar was pronounced dead on arrival.

The driver of minibus BAB 1864, along with three of the passengers were transferred to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH).

The drivers were tested for alcohol and no trace of alcohol was found. Investigations are continuing.

De Silva and Prime Minister Representative Arnold Adams, who played Santa Claus for the benefit of those gathered.

Regional

Peruvian President Dina Boluarte refuses to resign amid political crisis

Peru’s President Dina Boluarte has ruled out resigning, saying it would not solve the political crisis sparked by the ousting of her predecessor, Pedro Castillo.

President Boluarte renewed her call for Congress to approve early elections, as a way to curb the street protests that have claimed more than 20 lives.

Congress has dismissed this proposal.

Demonstrators backing Castillo want Boluarte to go – as well as early elections and the closure of Congress.

Peru has been through years of political turmoil, with the latest crisis coming to a head when Castillo announced he was dissolving Congress and introducing a state of emergency.

But Congress proceeded to vote overwhelmingly to impeach him.

Castillo, who is currently in detention, is being in-

vestigated on charges of rebellion and conspiracy. He denies all the accusation, insisting that is still the country’s legitimate President.

On Friday, Congress voted against a proposal to bring elections forward to next year.

The latest call for elections by President Boluarte follows high-level talks by Peruvian politicians and Church leaders.

The Council of State, the body made up of representatives of all branches of power, and Church leaders had

a three-hour meeting in the capital, Lima.

After the meeting on Friday evening, the head of the National Board of Justice, José Ávila, called on Peruvians to avoid violence and engage in peaceful dialogue with the authorities.

He said Government Ministers would be travelling to the areas where people were protesting, in order to promote such a dialogue.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Rihanna shares 1st look of her baby boy

Seven months after welcoming their first child into the world, Rihanna and ASAP Rocky have finally shared photos of their baby boy.

Rihanna made her TikTok debut on Saturday morning with a clip of her son, who’s filmed while enjoying a ride in the car with his mom.

Back in November, Rihanna spoke with Extra about motherhood, calling it “fascinating” and “the most love” she’s ever known.

“I’m patient now,” she said. “I thought I was getting better at patience but this will sit you down. You are forced to be patient as a mom, as a parent in general. Your tolerance goes down but your patience goes up, if that makes any sense somehow.”

Rihanna also explained why she hadn’t yet revealed her son’s name or shared a

photo. “We just didn’t get around to it yet really,” she said, “We’ve just been living.” She added that perhaps “there’s a certain freedom that comes with kind of just, like, getting it out there.”

Meanwhile, in another recent interview, with Access Hollywood, the pop star opened up about how she’s changed since becoming a

mother.

“Life starts over when you become a parent. It’s life that you’ve never known before,” she said. “You look at him and he’s yours but he’s a stranger and you’re learning him as he’s learning you and learning the world. When he looks at me in my eyes, my whole soul…I can’t tell if it’s cold or hot.” (Complex)

Bankman-Fried to reverse decision on contesting extradition from Bahamas

Former FTX Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sam BankmanFried is expected to appear in court in The Bahamas on Monday to reverse his decision to contest extradition to the United States, where he faces fraud charges, a person familiar with the matter said on Saturday.

The 30-year-old cryptocurrency mogul was indicted in federal court in Manhattan on Tuesday and accused of engaging in a scheme to defraud FTX customers by using billions of dollars in stolen deposits to pay for expenses and debts and to make investments for his crypto hedge fund, Alameda Research LLC.

His decision to consent to extradition would pave the way for him to appear in US court to face wire fraud, money laundering, and campaign finance charges.

Upon arrival in the United States, BankmanFried would likely be held at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn, though some federal defendants are being held at jails just outside New York City due to overcrowding at the facility, said defence lawyer Zachary Margulis-Ohnuma.

At his initial court hearing in Manhattan, Bankman-Fried would be asked to enter a plea and a judge would make a determination on bail, Margulis-

Ohnuma said.

Prosecutors will likely argue that Bankman-Fried is a flight risk and should remain in custody because of the large sums of money involved in the case and the unclear location of those funds.

Bankman-Fried amassed a fortune valued at over $20 billion as he rode a cryptocurrency boom to build FTX into one of the world’s largest exchanges. His arrest last Monday in the Bahamas, where he lives and where FTX is based, came just a month after the exchange collapsed amid a flurry of customer withdrawals. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Amazon reef threatened by oil drilling plans

Scientists say a unique reef habitat near the mouth of the Amazon River is under threat from plans to drill for oil. The reef was discovered in 2016, and researchers say it could contain many unknown species of medicinal or scientific value.

The Amazon reef is unusual because it lies in deep water, and is sometimes hidden by the muddy waters flowing into the sea from the world’s largest river.

Its depth – up to 220 metres (725ft) and the strong currents in the area mean that it has been little studied since it was discovered.

“It’s a very wide area, there are things that we don’t know yet,” says César Cordeiro, a professor at the Center for Biosciences and Biotechnology at the University of Northern Rio de Janeiro.

“There are species that may be appearing only in that area and nowhere else in the world.”

One is a sponge currently being studied at the University of São Paulo, which has shown signs of possessing anti-cancer properties.

“There is great potential for economic gain with the study and protection of these

“Of course, we have this immediate need for cheap energy, but how much does this sacrifice a future based on biotechnology?” (Excerpt from BBC News)

Canada’s PM does not rule out military intervention in Haiti

Writer and scholar Nelida Pinon, the first woman to preside over the Brazilian Academy of Letters (ABL), died at age 85 in Lisbon, according to the literary club and Brazilian media reports.

The acclaimed author published a vast body of work translated in more than 30 countries.

Pinon won national and international awards and became an elected member of the ABL in 1989. She later chaired the literary club in 1996 and 1997, its website shows.

Pinon was born in Rio de Janeiro in 1937 to a Galician family and as a child chose

to be a writer, ABL’s website said.

She had a degree in journalism and published nov-

els, short stories and essays, and wrote speeches and memoirs.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says while he does not rule out the possibility of Canada being part of a military intervention, or even leading one in Haiti, he also wants European countries to join the North American country in sanctioning the elites in the French-speaking Caribbean Community (Caricom) over alleged ties to the violent gangs.

Speaking during a yearend interview with The Canadian Press, Prime Minister Trudeau noted, however, that Canada would seek to avoid some of its past mistakes as it responds to a request from Haiti’s Prime Minister Dr Ariel Henry for a foreign military intervention.

“We’ve had a long history in Haiti and we still find

ourselves, 30 years later, in a crisis as grave if not worse than the others,” Trudeau told the Canadian Press, adding “we are leading the United States, and maybe even Europe, to bring about their own sanctions, too”.

Haiti has been plunged into chaos with crimi-

nal gangs involved in kidnappings for ransom and Opposition political parties staging street demonstrations calling for the Government of Prime Minister Henry to step down. The Opposition parties have also been calling for fresh presidential and legislative elections.

Henry, who took over the leadership of the country following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 7 last year, has urged the international community to send in troops to assist in maintaining law and order.

Henry has been condemning persons whom he said wanted to acquire political power in the country without first seeking a mandate from the population.

(Excerpt from CMC)

Supporters of impeached President Pedro Castillo have been blocking major roads across Peru

The reef is mostly made of hard red algae, providing an attractive habitat for marine life such as this moray eel

Canada prime minister, Justin Trudeau (GP) (Reuters)

Writer Nelida Pinon is applauded by Spanish Crown Prince Felipe during an award ceremony in Oviedo in 2005

systems,” says Rodrigo Leão de Moura, professor at the Institute of Biology at the University of Rio de Janeiro and the leading scientist involved in the reef’s discovery.

Around the World

OIL NEWS

Energy price fall by March is unrealistic, Italian Economy Minister says

Italian Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said on Saturday it was unrealistic to expect energy prices to fall by March and that the war in Ukraine would come to an end.

He told an event in Rome that Italy was studying a mechanism to shield households and business from soaring energy bills, which could enter into force next spring.

Meanwhile, the US Energy Department said it would begin buying back oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, or SPR, the first purchase since this year's record 180-million-barrel release from the stockpile.

The Department will buy up to three million barrels for delivery in February, a senior official told reporters.

President Joe Biden announced the 180 million sale in late March to combat surging gasoline prices that boosted inflation after the February invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the world's largest exporter of fossil fuels.

The sale shrunk levels in the SPR to about 380 million barrels, their lowest since 1984, raising concerns about energy security.

"We'll be releasing a solicitation to purchase three million barrels of oil for delivery in February of next year, 2023," the official said.

Contracts will be awarded to energy companies by January 13.

"This approach will lock in a price upfront when companies submit their bids," the official added.

To help relieve supply shortages at refineries after an oil spill last week shut down the Keystone crude pipeline, the Energy Department will also execute an exchange of about two million barrels from the SPR, that companies will have to send back at a later date.

"We are able to do that at the same time we're doing the three-million-barrel buy-back," the official said.

The White House said in October it would buy back oil for the SPR when prices at or below about US$67-$72 per barrel, a bit below where US benchmark futures were trading on Friday at about US$75.

"We're gonna try to be nimble and flexible here," the official said, adding that the department likes where prices are now for exploring buy-backs.

"It'd be very useful to put this notice out now and to see what the market would provide in terms of interest and at what price level for that," the official said.

The Energy Department said buying oil back at about current prices is "an opportunity to secure a good deal for American taxpayers by repurchasing oil at a lower price than the US$96 per barrel average price it was sold for, as well as to strengthen energy security" . (Excerpts from Reuters)

Ukraine war: Putin meets generals as Russian missiles pound cities

Russian President Vladimir Putin has met his military chiefs on the same day his forces launched another wave of missiles at Ukraine's infrastructure.

Putin spent most of Friday at the headquarters of the "special military operation" discussing ideas for what Russia's next move should be.

It comes as some Ukrainian military officials claimed Russia was planning an offensive, perhaps early next year.

Russian attacks on Ukraine's power grid have

plunged millions into darkness.

Footage from Friday's meeting showed Putin flanked

by Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Armed Forces Chief Valeriy Gerasimov.

"We will listen to the commanders in each operational direction, and I would like to hear your proposals on our immediate and medium-term actions," the Kremlin leader was seen telling military officials on State TV.

General Gerasimov's presence ends rumours circulating online that he had been dismissed from his position. The 67-year-old has been the target of intensive criticism from hawkish commentators, who have accused him of being too cautious.

Air Force General Sergei Surovikin – who was appointed as Russia's commander in Ukraine in October – was also present at the meeting, photos released by State media showed.

Ukrainian forces have made a series of major advances in recent months, including retaking Kherson –the only major city captured by Russian forces so far.

And the collapse of Moscow's forces in eastern Ukraine earlier this year saw military bosses come in for sustained criticism from pro-Kremlin media figures.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Shanghai schools to go online as COVID spreads in China

China's largest city, Shanghai, has ordered most of its schools to take classes online as COVID-19 cases soar.

Nurseries and childcare centres will also be shut from Monday, according to Shanghai's education bureau.

Restrictions were eased by Chinese authorities earlier this month following a wave of protests targeting China's zero-COVID strategy.

But the easing of strict

lockdown measures has led to growing concerns over the spread of COVID in China.

Significant changes in the country's COVID testing and reporting systems have made it difficult to know just how widespread the virus has become, with data for the week ending December 11 showing a fall in the total number of new infections across the country after peaking the previous week.

But prior to the change in

data collection, the number of cases was higher than that of the last COVID wave in April.

Hospitals and medical facilities have come under increasing strain, with temporary health centres and intensive care facilities being set up across the country.

In Shanghai, it has been reported that an extra 230,000 hospital beds have been made available.

Some schools in the city have also already stopped

in-person classes because teachers and staff are ill.

In a statement posted on Chinese social media site WeChat on Saturday, Shanghai's education bureau announced that most year groups in primary and secondary schools would move to online learning from Monday.

Students and children who do not have alternative childcare arrangements can apply to attend school. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Record low turnout, Opposition boycott mar Tunisia elections

Tunisia’s parliamentary election on Saturday witnessed a record-low turnout as most political parties boycotted the polls, denouncing it as the culmination of President Kais Saied’s march to one-man rule.

Last year, Saied, a former law professor, unseated the

Top Iran actress who supported protests arrested

Iranian authorities have arrested one of the country's best-known actresses, after she expressed solidarity with anti-Government demonstrators.

Taraneh Alidoosti was detained on charges of "spreading falsehoods" about the protest movement that has gripped the country, State media said.

In an Instagram post last week, she condemned the execution of a man over his involvement with the protests.

Alidoosti is best known for her role in the Oscar-winning film “The Salesman”.

In her post, the 38-yearold took aim at some international organisations for not speaking out against

the execution of Mohsen Shekari.

He was hanged by authorities after they accused him of being a "rioter" who blocked a main road in Tehran in September and wounded a member of a paramilitary force with a machete.

"His name was Mohsen

Shekari. Every international organisation who is watching this bloodshed and not taking action, is a disgrace to humanity," she wrote.

According to a post on the State news agency IRNA's Telegram account, she was arrested by Police for failing to provide "any documents in line with her claims".

Her Instagram account, which has more than eight million followers, was recently taken down.

The 38-year-old is one of Iran's most successful actresses. She starred in “The Salesman”, which won an Academy Award in 2016 for the Best International Feature Film.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Government and suspended parts of a 2014 Constitution, which was a product of the Arab democratic uprising in 2011. The charter curtailed the President’s powers in favour of Parliament and the Prime Minister.

Tunisia’s previous parliament, which Saied shut down in 2021 as he moved to rule by decree in measures his foes called a coup, was elected with a turnout of about 40 per cent.

Saied called Saturday’s legislative vote a “historic

day” as he urged Tunisians to cast their ballots.

“It is a historic day by all standards. [The election date] was determined and respected despite all obstacles,” he said after voting at a polling station in the capital Tunis.

However, less than nine per cent of registered voters turned up to cast their ballot on Saturday.

Since the morning, people barely trickled into polling stations. For most of the day, it seemed that there

were more voting centre staff and security than voters. Observers said that numbers at best crept into the tens.

At 08:05h (07:05 GMT) at a polling station in downtown Tunis, only one woman – local small business owner Manoubia Shagawi – had turned up to vote.

“I want to support my country and to support my president. I want the country to go forward and get better and that’s why I voted today,” she said.

(Excerpt

from Al Jazeera)

Suspended Twitter accounts of Journalists restored, but concerns persist

Elon Musk reinstated the Twitter accounts of several journalists that were suspended for a day over a controversy on publishing public data about the billionaire's plane.

The reinstatements came after the unprecedented suspensions evoked stinging criticism from Government officials, advocacy groups and journalism organisations from several parts of the globe on Friday, with some saying the microblogging platform was jeopardising press freedom.

A Twitter poll that Musk conducted later also showed that a majority of the respondents wanted the ac-

counts restored immediately.

"The people have spoken. Accounts who doxxed my location will have their suspension lifted now," Musk said in a tweet on Saturday.

Twitter did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. A Reuters check showed the suspended accounts, which included Journalists from the New York Times, CNN and the Washington Post, have been reinstated.

The United Nations human rights chief welcomed the reinstatements, but said he continued to have concerns.

"Twitter has a responsibility to respect human

rights: @elonmusk should commit to making decision based on publicly-available policies that respect rights, including free speech. Nothing less," Volker Turk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, wrote.

Donie O'Sullivan, a CNN reporter who had been among the Journalists who were suspended and then reinstated, said he still could not tweet, because the platform was demanding the removal of one of his posts. He said he would appeal.

Officials from France, Germany, Britain and the European Union had earlier condemned the suspensions.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Russian President Vladimir Putin

Taraneh Alidoosti

ARIES

(March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

Your enthusiasm will be infectious. Talk to people who can provide inside information regarding something that interests you. An emotionally satisfying direction will lift your spirits.

A change looks promising and, if initiated quickly, will positively impact your life. Don’t hesitate to make a move if the timing is right. Connect the dots and make sure everything is as planned.

GEMINI (MAY 28June 20)

CANCER

Give a last-minute push and you’ll get caught up. Today is perfect for tying up loose ends and making plans for next year. Revisit what you have accomplished this year, and seek out fun people.

Think before you take on too much or give in to overindulgence. It may be the festive season, but it’s best to be moderate. Gravitate toward people who share your concerns and interests.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

You’ll get plenty done if you stick close to home and take care of all the little things you want to achieve before year-end. Don’t be swayed by what others do or say. Set up a flexible schedule.

Pick up last-minute items for the festive season. Visit a friend or relative who makes you think and who is a positive influence in your life. Face challenges with discipline and grace.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Emotions will surface quickly. Address sensitive issues carefully. Keep things in perspective, and don’t let what others do cost you or make you upset. Focus on you and what you need to do.

Take care of unfinished business. Money management is required if you don’t want to fall short. Discipline will help pay the bills and ward off extravagance. Talk to people you know and trust.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

CAPRICORN

(Dec. 22Jan. 19)

Evaluate your position and consider how you want to move forward. Look for alternative ways to use your skills that are more satisfying and lucrative. Discuss your intentions.

Set your sights on what’s important to you and follow through. Speak from the heart, but don’t offer information that someone might use against you or that puts you in a vulnerable position.

AQUARIUS

(June 21July 22) (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES

(Feb. 20Mar. 20)

Go over your budget and financial affairs. Put your mind at ease and update documents that are time sensitive. Brighten your space for the festive season, and enjoy entertaining.

Emotions will surface if you get together with people you haven’t seen for some time. Speak from the heart, and your sincerity will be appreciated and will lead to exciting suggestions.

Peanuts

Calvin and Hobbes

Dilbert

India inch closer to success in Chattogram

Axar Patel helped India inch closer towards clinching the first Test in Chattogram, striking twice with the second new ball on the fourth evening to get rid of Mushfiqur Rahim and Nurul Hasan in the space of six deliveries.

Debutant Zakir Hasan, who led Bangladesh’s defiance on the day, had fallen for a fighting 100 prior to that, when he inside-edged on to his pad. The ball popped up to Virat Kohli at slip, and R Ashwin finally added to his wickets’ column.

Shakib Al Hasan provided entertainment late in the day to end unbeaten on 40, having swung his bat to loft, swipe and slash the spinners; but, by stumps, Bangladesh still needed 241, while India needed four wickets.

The evening session had begun with Bangladesh three down, and Zakir and Mushfiqur at the crease.

The left-right combination didn’t mind attacking the spinners, piling up 31 runs - including four fours and a six - off the first seven overs after resumption, with Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar in operation. That phase featured a confident straight

loft by Zakir to dispatch Kuldeep for six, and a sweep behind the wicket off Axar to get to his century off 219 balls. His patience, concentration and application on a pitch with turn and bounce - and against a highly skilful attack in his very first Teststood out.

India kept attacking with a bunch of close-in fielders surrounding the batters each time the spinners bowled. In the 80th over, they were a tad unlucky, as

Shakib was hit in front by Axar and India lost their review, with replays showing a faint inside edge. To add to that, Shakib deposited Axar for four and six off the next two balls.

The new ball wasn’t taken until the 85th over, and the fresh, hard ball started playing tricks right away. Mushfiqur was rapped on the glove when Axar got some extra bounce from a full delivery, which brought the physio onto the park. The next over, India changed up

the pace, bringing on Umesh Yadav, and again Bangladesh had a touch of luck go their way. Pant dropped Mushfiqur second ball, when an outside edge flew to his right. Five balls later, Axar turned one past his outside edge to leave the stumps splattered, and India finally had their wicket.

New batter Nurul edged the first ball he faced for three, but, two deliveries later, was stumped by Pant as he pushed at a ball turning past his outside edge. Now India smelled victory, but Shakib and Mehidy Hasan Miraz batted out the next 14 overs to see out the day, add 34 runs, and frustrate India.

They’d had their fair share of frustration earlier in the day, as well. Najmul Hossain Shanto and Zakir had added 124 - Bangladesh’s first century opening stand in Tests against India - to start the improbable chase of 513, as the visiting bowlers looked clueless on a pitch that seemed to have eased up a bit on the fourth morning. Shanto, who already had two firstball ducks in three innings against India on this tour, made a solid

67 before Umesh had him caught behind by Pant, who grabbed the chance on the relay after Kohli at first slip had failed to latch on.

Yasir Ali came in at #3, and Axar got his first wicket soon after when he darted in a good-length ball from around the wicket, pitched it on middle and off, and turned it away to crash into off stump. The quick strikes meant there was some repair work to do, but Litton Das gave it away in looking to keep the scoreboard ticking along, although he was tied down by Kuldeep’s tight

lines. He lofted, and was caught by a deep-ish mid-on.

Despite all that, nothing seemed to disturb Zakir, who kept grinding and grafting until Ashwin struck for the first time in the match. After a wicketless first session, India hit back three times in the afternoon, and then got closer to a 1-0 lead in the evening. Bangladesh take with them the positives of Zakir’s calmness under pressure, and Shanto’s return to form from the fourth day’s play.

(Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

Bangladesh 2nd Innings (T: 513 runs)

Najmul Hossain Shanto

c †Pant b Yadav 67

Zakir Hasan c Kohli b Ashwin 100

Yasir Ali b Patel 5

Litton Das c Yadav

b Kuldeep Yadav 19

Mushfiqur Rahim b Patel 23

Shakib Al Hasan (c)not out 40

Nurul Hasan †st †Pant b Patel 3

Mehidy Hasan Miraz not out 9

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

TOTAL 102 Ov (RR: 2.66) 272/6

Yet to bat: Taijul Islam, Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain

Fall of wickets: 1-124 (Najmul Hossain Shanto, 46.1 ov), 2-131 (Yasir Ali, 49.6 ov), 3-173 (Litton Das, 68.4 ov), 4-208 (Zakir Hasan, 78.2 ov), 5-234 (Mushfiqur Rahim, 87.1 ov), 6-238 (Nurul Hasan, 87.6 ov)

BOWLING O-M-R-W Mohammed Siraj 15-3-46-0

Umesh Yadav 15-3-27-1

Ravichandran Ashwin 27-3-75-1

Axar Patel 27-10-50-3

Kuldeep Yadav 18-2-69-1

Would Argentina win the World Cup, or would France repeat their win?

Can Lionel Messi win a World Cup with Argentina, or would Kylian Mbappe help France to win back-to-back tournaments when Argentina play France in Sunday's final (15:00 GMT) at the Lusail Stadium?

Messi, 35, has won a record seven Ballon d'Or awardspresented to the best player in the world – but has never won the biggest team prize in football.

"People say France are favourites, but we have the advantage of having the greatest player of all time," said Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. "We always like to hear the opponent is the favourite, because we don't feel superior or inferior to anyone. But, as I always say, we have the greatest player of all time. And with a good defence, we have many chances to reach our goal."

France manager Didier Deschamps had captained his country to World Cup victory in 1998, and then, as boss, had guided them to another success in Russia four years ago. He said: "I know Argentina, many people around the world, and maybe some French people hope Lionel Messi could win the World Cup, but we're going to do everything to achieve our objective."

Can Messi help Argentina win the World Cup for the

first time since 1986? The final sees the tournament's top two goalscorers go head-to-head in the race to win the Golden Boot. Both Messi and Mbappe have scored five times in Qatar, while France's Olivier Giroud and Argentina's Julian Alvarez are one goal behind, on four.

Messi helped Argentina reach the 2014 final in Brazil, although Germany's Mario Gotze scored the only goal, as the Europeans won 1-0 after extra time. The Paris StGermain player has been the driving force in Argentina's campaign in Qatar. He converted an early penalty in their first match, before his country fell to a shock 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia, and then scored in the vital 2-0 win over Mexico.

Argentina's 2-0 defeat of Poland saw them top Group C, with Messi also on target in the 2-1 last-16 win over Australia.

Argentina looked in control against the Netherlands in their quarter-final, as they led 2-0 after 82 minutes, but the Dutch scored twice through Wout Weghorst, including an equaliser in the 11th minute of injury time to take the tie to extra time. The match eventually went to penalties, but Martinez saved two spotkicks as Argentina advanced, before a goal from Messi and two from Manchester City's Alvarez gave them a routine

3-0 win over Croatia in the semi-finals.

Argentina have won the tournament twice, on home soil in 1978 and in Mexico in 1986, and are looking for their third success on Sunday. "I'm already getting emotional, because they've given everything sincerely," said manager Lionel Scaloni. "Let's hope we win the title; and if it can't be, they should be proud, because it's a moment to enjoy."

Sickness bug hampers

France's preparations

Mbappe, 23, is chasing his second World Cup success, and has been instrumental in guiding France to the final. He

scored once in their 4-1 win over Australia, and twice in the 2-1 victory over Denmark, as France reached the last 16 with a game to spare. That enabled Deschamps to rest players, and despite losing 1-0 to Tunisia, they won Group D, with Mbappe on target twice more in the 3-1 last-16 triumph over Poland.

In the quarter-finals, they faced Gareth Southgate's England, and took the lead through Aurelien Tchouameni, but Harry Kane equalised with a penalty. Olivier Giroud put France ahead, and they won it 2-1 after Kane missed a second spot-kick.

France beat the tournament's surprise package

Morocco 2-0 in the semifinal to reach their fourth World Cup final in seven tournaments, having won the competition in 1998 and 2018, and losing in the final in 2006.

Their preparations have, however, been hampered by a sickness bug. Midfielder Adrien Rabiot, defender Dayot Upamecano and winger Kingsley Coman have been among those struggling with illness.

"We've had a few cases of flu-like symptoms," said Deschamps. "We're trying to be careful so it doesn't spread, and players have made great efforts out on the pitch, and obviously

their immune systems suffer. We're taking all necessary precautions, trying to make sure it doesn't spread, but we have had to take precautions against it."

Match facts

* They have met three times before at the World Cup. Argentina won both group matches in 1930 and 1978, but France were victorious in their only knockout encounter, winning 4-3 in the last 16 in 2018.

* Argentina are competing in their sixth World Cup final, with only Germany (eight) participating in more. They won in 1978 and 1986, and lost in 1930, 1990 and 2014.

* They could become the second side in World Cup history to lose their opening game and go on to lift the trophy, emulating Spain in 2010.

* Messi can become the third Argentine player to win the Golden Boot at the World Cup, after Guillermo Stabile in 1930 and Mario Kempes in 1978.

* France have reached the World Cup final for a fourth time, all since 1998. This is twice as many as any other nation in this period.

* Les Bleus are looking to become only the third nation to win back-to-back World Cups, after Italy (1934-38) and Brazil (1958-62).

Will Argentina's Lionel Messi (left) and Emiliano Martinez (second left) be celebrating, or will France's Hugo Lloris and Kylian Mbappe (right) get their hands on the trophy again?

Zakir Hasan celebrating with Mushfiqur Rahim after getting to his century

India vs Bangladesh: Test 1 of 2…

FIFA World Cup: Qatar 2022 final game…

– despite resistance from Zakir Hasan

Ramsammy confident of retaining ‘ Mr Guyana’ title tonight

By TimoThy Jaikarran

The GBBFF’s very highly anticipated National Seniors Bodybuilding Championships would this evening be staged at the National Cultural Centre from 18:00hrs, and all the participating athletes are “pumped and primed” to present their best package.

The magnificent Darious Ramsammy had, in 2021, taken to the stage with what had appeared to be an exclusive transport, and had come away with local bodybuilding’s principal title of “Mr Guyana”. Tonight, however, he would very likely be hard pressed to repeat this feat, even as he seeks to retain his title and be considered the first among equals in this sport of body beauty.

In an interview with this publication, this local Hulk was asked what he thought of the competition, and he responded: "I'm excited! Because I've been waiting all year to step on stage, and I can't wait

to eat my holiday foods. I'm very much confident. After last year, we went back to the drawing board and pinpointed the points that needed improving, and (we) worked on them. And in doing so, we have created something that the Mr. Guyana stage has NEVER seen before!"

Ramsammy noted that, in terms of competition, it would be remiss of him to say that there are no threats to his title, because that would make him an untruthful champion. However, he is confident that at the end of the night, he would remain the Mr Guyana title.

He also revealed that he has added about five pounds of contractile tissue to his package since last year, and is confident that his conditioning would be superior to the competition’s; thus, this time, he is here to make a statement, because he is fighting for something that is his, and he does not need to pursue what has been etched in stone.

"Retaining my title simply means that

Football games on today

I'm the best that Guyana has to offer on the amateur level. To those who want to start bodybuilding, (I advise that they) don't quit. Bodybuilding, fitness and health is an everyday process. Sometimes you (would) feel the urge to give up, just remember you are doing this to become a better you. Just keep pushing, you will eventually get there," he has posited.

Ramsammy is expressing profound gratitude to his supporters, especially Twins Manufacturing, Fitness Express, BM Soat, Bad Monkey merch, GTT, CTLS, and Guywill Shipping.

Approximately 30 athletes would be competing in the four different segments of this competition: Bodybuilding, Bikini, Women’s Wellness, and Men’s Physique. Among the athletes whose participation has been confirmed are Darious Ramsammy, Christina Ramsammy, Rosanna Fung, Nicolas Albert, Emmerson Campbell, Odel Crum-Ewing, Ashanti Conway, Jonathan Jeffery, and Julio Sinclair.

Irving

End-of-year inclement weather has been the enemy of outdoor sport, and it is no different this time around. After being forced to cancel the fixtures of Saturday, December 17th, in the KFC Goodwill International Schools Football tournament because of the consequences of heavy rainfall, the games have been rescheduled.

According to the Petra organization, the fixtures that had been intended for Saturday would now be played

today, Sunday December 18th 2022. However, there has been a shift in venues. While the two matches were previously set for the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF’s) National Training Center (NTC) at Providence, the games will now be played at the Ministry of Education Ground (MoE) on Carifesta Avenue in Georgetown.

The first game involves the clash between St. Benedict’s College of Trinidad and Tobago and Golden Grove Secondary; that starts from

17:00hrs. then, at 19:00hrs, Christianburg Wismar Secondary School would oppose the SVB Academy of Suriname.

Organizers have confirmed that these games would be played regardless of the rain.

After the first playing day on Thursday last, D.C. Caesar Fox (Waramadong) Secondary currently lead Group A, following a 6-0 drubbing of Golden Grove; and Christianburg Wismar and Annai Secondary share the top spot in Group B after a 2-2 draw.

Meanwhile, neither of the overseas teams has taken to the pitch in the KFC Goodwill tournament, and will get their first taste of the Guyanese competition when they venture out there today.

Following the Group Stage, the top two teams from each group would head to the semifinals, set for Friday, December 23rd, 2022.

The tournament is sponsored by KFC, MVP Sports, Guyana Beverages Inc, Tiger Rentals, Trophy Stall; the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (MCYS); and the Ministry of Education (MoE).

first gamewinning buzzer-beater

claims

Kyrie Irving hit a gamewinning three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Brooklyn Nets a 119-116 win over the Toronto Raptors in Friday’s NBA action.

“Who would have thought I would come into Toronto and hit my first game-winning buzzer-beater of my career?” said Irving, who scored 32 points. “Pray that there’s more in the future, but I’m glad that we got this win.”

Nets coach Jacque Vaughn had originally drawn up the game-winning play for forward Kevin Durant, but they switched it to Irving as the team was coming out of its final timeout.

“It just comes with the trust that we’re building here,” said Irving. “Jacque had a play call that we were about to go execute, and me and K had some dialogue, and we decided to run the play for me. It was a good match-up versus Fred [VanVleet]. We just got the better of him that one

time.

“I just want to be great in those situations,” Irving added. “You can say anything you want about me not hitting shots in the past, but the one time when you step up and make it, those are the ones you want to remember.”

Durant, who added 28 points for the Nets, said of Irving: “He was already cooking, so I didn’t want to get in his way. We kept finding him late in the game. He made some big shots, and I was just like, ‘Jacque, I think Ky should take this one’.”

That was the Nets’ fifth straight win - a ninth out of 10.

LA Lakers end Denver Nuggets’ 3-game winning streak

LeBron James scored 30 points as the Los Angeles Lakers overcame a first-half injury to Anthony Davis to earn a 126-108 win over the Denver Nuggets.

Thomas Bryant scored 21 points for the Lakers, and

11 rebounds and 12 assists as the hosts ended Denver’s threegame winning streak.

15

Philadelphia 76ers beat depleted

Elsewhere, the Golden State Warriors lost again without Stephen Curry. Joel Embiid and James Harden both impressed as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the depleted Golden State Warriors 118106. Embiid had 34 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and four steals, while Harden added 27 points and nine assists as the Sixers claimed their fourth straight win.

Curry had his first game out with a shoulder injury, while Andrew Wiggins (thigh), Draymond Green (quad) and Andre Iguodala (hip) were also sidelined for defending champions Golden State, who are now 2-14 on the road and 14-16 overall. (Modified from BBC Sport)

Russell Westbrook had a triple-double of

points,

Golden State Warriors

Kyrie Irving silenced the home crowd as he condemned the Raptors to a fourth straight loss

The KFC Goodwill action has been rescheduled for this evening at the MoE Ground on Carifesta Avenue

KFC Goodwill International Schools

FIFA World Cup: Qatar 2022 third-place playoff…

Croatia pip Morocco to bronze medal

Croatia have secured themselves a set of bronze medals by defeating Morocco 2-1 in the third-place play-off at Khalifa International Stadium on Saturday.

Zlatko Dalic’s men picked themselves up after their 3-0 semi-final loss to Argentina to secure third place for the second time at a FIFA World Cup™, having also claimed the final place on the podium at France ‘98.

When these teams met in their opening group game 24 days ago, few would have predicted them meeting again on the tournament’s concluding weekend. Where that group encounter had finished goalless, no thirdplace play-off has ended that way, and their reunion exploded into life with two early goals, both from set plays.

The first was a terrifically worked free-kick, with Ivan Perisic nodding the ball across the penalty box, where Josko Gvardiol flung himself forward to power a header past Yassine Bounou, the Morocco goalkeeper. For Perisic it was his fifth World Cup assist.

Morocco equalised almost immediately following a wide

free-kick by Hakim Ziyech, captaining the team on his 50th appearance. The ball looped off the head of Luka Modric on the edge of the area and fell inside the six-yard box, where Achraf Dari stooped to nod in his first international goal.

Morocco have delighted both the African and Arab worlds with their unprecedented run to the last four, and though Modric tested Bounou with a low drive, Walid Regragui’s men were arguably on top as the first period approached an end. However, it was Croatia who reclaimed the lead just before the break.

Teenager Bilal El Khannouss, making his Morocco debut, won the ball on the edge of his box, only to then lose it to Mateo Kovacic. Croatia worked the ball swiftly to Mislav Orsic on the left side of the box, and he curled a lovely first-time effort over Bounou and in off the far post.

Croatia looked to be the more likely scorers for much of the second half, with Kovacic coming closest for the Balkan team in the 87th minute, as he dragged a shot wide of the far post.

Morocco seriously threatened an equaliser only

deep into stoppage time, with a header from Youssef EnNesyri which landed on the roof of the net. For Croatia, it was a job done.

Key moment

Gvardiol went into the semi-final having been widely billed as one of the best centrebacks on view at Qatar 2022. His contribution had included a vital goal-saving tackle on Romelu Lukaku to ensure Croatia got out of their group at Belgium’s expense.

Yet the 20-year-old Leipzig defender went back

Seven races on the cards for Kennard Memorial Boxing Day horse meeting

to Croatia’s base on Tuesday night having become the umpteenth victim of Lionel Messi’s brilliance, bamboozled by the little magician, who turned him inside out in setting up Argentina’s third goal.

Gvardiol bounced back here by scoring his first World Cup following a free-kick routine straight off the training round. Majer clipped a free-

kick towards Perisic, running away from goal, and the winger flexed his neck muscles superbly to direct the ball back towards the penalty spot, where Gvardiol struck with a diving header.

With his goal, moreover, he became his country’s youngest World Cup scorer, aged 20 years and 328 days. He may have been wearing a protective

mask in Qatar, but he will now head for home with a face and a name that are much more widely known.

Key stats

A European nation has now finished third at each of the last 11 World Cups. The last non-European team to rank third was Brazil in 1978.

Morocco are the first nonEuropean or South American nation to finish in the top four since Korea Republic in 2002.

Seven months after his senior debut for Genk, 18-yearold Bilal El Khannouss made his international debut at Khalifa International Stadium to become the youngest Morocco player to grace the world stage.

With his assist for Gvardiol, Perisic has now been directly involved in 11 goals (six goals, five assists) across the last three World Cups. Only Messi (16) has had a hand in more goals across those tournaments.

This was the 10th World Cup match running where Croatia have failed to keep a clean sheet. (FIFA)

One Guyana President’s Cup…

The GTT Region 9 all-star team are distinguishing themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the One Guyana President’s Cup Regional Championships, following a commanding victory on Friday night.

Back-to-back victories thus far for the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo outfit means they would be the first team to collect two group stage win incentives of US$1000 per victory.

for Friday night, had to be called off 11 minutes into the encounter. It was determined that the ball was unable to roll because the inclement weather had flooded the pitch. As such, the game was pushed to Tuesday, December 20th, and would reconvene from the 11-minute mark.

On the other hand, the One Guyana President’s Cup is set to continue tomorrow in Georgetown.

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The premier horse-racing event on the Corentyne Coast in East Berbice is set for Monday, December 26, at the Kennard Memorial Turf Club in Bush Lot.

Seven races are on the cards, and the feature event would see the top horse bagging the grand prize of Gy$1,500,000. This A & Lower race will be run over a distance of eight furlongs, and second-placed horse would be rewarded with $750,000.

The E Non-Earners and F & Lower race would be run over a distance of seven furlongs, and the top cash prize is $500,000.

Horses running the J & Lower and two-year-old West Indianbred Open race would be in contention over six furlongs, and the top horse would be rewarded

with $300,000.

The K & Lower race for twoyear-old Guyana-bred horses would also be run over six furlongs for a winner’s purse of $300,000. The race for two-yearold Guyana-bred maiden horses would likewise be run over a distance of six furlongs, and the winning horse would be earning $300,000.

The L Open race will then see horses contesting over six furlongs for a top prize of $200,000. Meanwhile, the L&K Non-Earners’ race, which would be run over six furlongs, would see the top horse claiming $200,000.

These races are being run under the rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority. In event there are less than five horses entered for a race, the club

reserves the right to cancel or reframe that race, or reduce the prize money after consulting with the horses’ owners.

Owners of horses must pay at least $5000 for each horse at the point of entry. If not paid, the horse’s name would not appear on the official programme and the horse would now be permitted to run.

Five horses must start a race for the third prize to become payable, and seven horses must start a race for the fourth prize to become payable. If only four horses start a race, the prize money for that race would be reduced by 25%. Similarly, if three horses start a race, the prize money would be reduced to 40%. Entries for this Boxing Day event were closed on December 12.

Playing at the National Track and Field Center (NTFC) at Leonora, West Coast Demerara, Region 9 eased past Region 8 3-0. Brandon Parks was the first to find the back of the net in the 33rd minute, handing Region 9 a one-goal lead. However, the scores were troubled shortly after when Von Harding netted in the 36th minute.

While Region 8’s defenses did well enough to restrict Region 9’s prolific scoring, there was not much they could do upfront, having witnessed several near misses.

Quason Gilette struck soon after the second half began, thus pushing the score to 3-0 in the 48th.

Meanwhile, the second contest, between Region 3 and Region 2, which was scheduled

At the NTFC at Leonora, WCD, Region 2 will take on E-Net-sponsored Region 10 from 18:00hrs, while New GPC’s Region 4 will look to pick up another set of points against Region 8, commencing at 20:30hrs.

The One Guyana President’s Cup would concluded on January 1, 2023 with teams from each administrative region vying for $2M in grand prizes and other incentives.

The tournament’s sponsors include the Government of Guyana (GoG), KFC Guyana, GTT, New GPC Inc, Caribbean Airlines, Bank DIH, Digicel, E-Net, BACIF, JAPARTS, MVP Sports, Ansa McAl, Slingerz Family, J S Engineering Services and Supplies, Guyana Beverages Inc, Hardware Depot, Rudisa Motor

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A glimpse of Region 9 (black and green) in action (File photo)

Top horses are expected to return to contention at the Kennard Memorial Turf Club