Guyana Times - Sunday, February 18, 2024

Mashramani 2024

Maxie Williams brings fusion of culture, heritage P21 inspired by “One Guyana” Nationwide coverage coverage from from the the best best news news team team in in Guyana Guyana Nationwide Issue No. 5646 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON BEACON OF OF TRUTH TRUTH THE

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2024

Bilateral trade between Guyana, China climbs to US$1.2B US$1 .2B

PRICE $140 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Oil production from Liza Phases 1 & 2, Payara to continue into 2040s - Jagdeo

…says data submitted by ExxonMobil P37

…2000 Guyanese employed by See story local Chinese enterprises on page 3

Children’s Mash Parade 2024 creates buzz in Georgetown See story on page 38

A blend of P13 veterans and new talents: Berbice Art & Craft Collective to host 1st exhibition

33 patients P32 receive life-changing prosthetic limbs

“We cannot waste a single moment” “Your needs are our concern” – Pres. Ali highlights glaring - Persaud tells residents of realities of war on food security Riverview, Yarrow Dam Cop, deputy Pres Ali leads ‘Slippery Ochro’, ‘Racing toshao die With The Wind’ successful national among 4 novels in motorcycle on shortlist cleanup campaign accidents Page 7

Page 34

See pages 11&37

P36

Guyana Prize for Literature

…winners to be named on March 1 P39 & 40

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

3 Bilateral trade between Guyana, China climbs to US$1.2B NEWS

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Sunday, February 18 – no retraction and Monday, February 19 – 00:30h-02:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, February 18 – 11:15h-12:45h and Monday, February 19 – 12:40h-14:10h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Light rain showers with instances of thunder are expected followed by sunny conditions in the early to late afternoon hours.

Clear to partly cloudy skies are expected at night.

Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly to Easterly between 3.12 metres and 5.81 metres.

High Tide: 11:16h reaching a maximum height

of 2.13 metres.

Low Tide: 17:38h reaching a minimum height of 1.09 metres.

…2000 Guyanese employed by local Chinese enterprises

T

he bilateral relationship between Guyana and China, particularly in regard to the volume of trade, continues to grow, with Chinese Ambassador Guo Haiyan saying that, as of 2023, bilateral trade has increased to well over US$1 billion.

On Friday, the Association of Chinese Enterprises in Guyana (ACEG) hosted their cultural show and annual dinner; and during proceedings, China’s Ambassador to Guyana, Guo Haiyan, spoke of the growth of bilateral trade between Guyana and China.

“Over the past 11 years, the association has been committed to the economic and so-

and fish processing, all contributing to the diversification of Guyana’s economy.

Further, the ambassador noted that Chinese-owned businesses within the association currently employ 2000 local workers. This, according to her, is part of the Chinese investors’ contribution to local content.

“The association and its members have made contributions to employment. Its member companies comply with, and actively respond to, local content laws. They are currently employing about 2000 local workers, and cultivating local talent through staff training, internship, and scholarships for studying in

Prime Minister Brigadier (retired) Mark Phillips greeting patrons

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COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$83.47/barrel

+0.74

Rough Rice

$329.94/ton

-1.61

London Sugar

$636.00/ton

+0.86

Live Spot Gold Bid/Ask Low/High Change

USD Per Ounce $2013.20 $1994.60 +9.20

$2014.20 $2016.40 +0.46%

cial development of Guyana.

First, it has effectively promoted economic and trade opportunities between the two countries. As we calculate, the bilateral trade volume in the past 11 years has increased from US$118 million to US$1.23 billion in 2023,” Haiyan has said.

Chinese contributions have also been felt in Chinese business investing in Guyana, with such investments going from less than US$100 million to over US$8 billion. She further noted that these investments have gone towards mining, agriculture, forestry

China,” she disclosed.

“The association and its members are actively fulfilling social responsibilities; for example: making donations to nursing homes, orphanages, schools; providing goods for relief during the COVID-19 and after floods and fires. They have won applause from local people in surrounding communities,” she declared.

Projects

Importantly, the ambassador also pointed to the growth in Chinese-led infrastructural projects in Guyana. These include the work being done

China’s Ambassador to Guyana, Guo Haiyan on the new US$260 million Demerara River Bridge and the East Coast Demerara Public Road Widening and Improvement Project.

“Significant progress has been made in a number of infrastructure projects, including the new Demerara River Bridge, the East Coast Demerara Road second phase, the six regional hospitals which will greatly improve the connectivity and healthcare conditions,” the Chinese Ambassador said.

The new bridge will be a fixed 2.65-kilometre, fourlane, high-span, cable-stayed structure across the Demerara River, with the width of the driving surface being about 23.6 metres. It is being built by China Railway Construction

Corporation (CRCC) Limited.

The bridge, which features a bicycle lane, will bring an end to closures to vehicular traffic with a 50-metre fixed high-span to cater for the free flow of vessels uninterrupted. The river will be dredged along a 13.5-kilometre stretch to accommodate large vessels.

Meanwhile, the East Coast Demerara Public Widening and Improvement Project is being executed by China Railway First Group.

Phase two of the East Coast Road Project will see the extension of the railway embankment road into four lanes from Sheriff Street to Enmore, and the construction of a fourlane road to Orange Nassau, Mahaica.

TURN TO PAGE 11

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guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2024

Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Industrial Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

“One Guyana” needs dialogue

O

ne of the intriguing aspects of our political and social conflict in Guyana is the dearth of real communication between the involved parties. Even when they meet, either as individuals or groups, we speak “at” and not “to” each other: we see this in the polemics of the GTU. What is needed is more dialogue. In the words of one expert, Louise Diamond from the Institute for MultiTrack Diplomacy, "Dialogue means we sit and talk with each other, especially those with whom we may think we have the greatest differences. However, talking together all too often means debating, discussing with a view to convincing the other, arguing for our point of view, examining pros and cons. In dialogue, the intention is not to advocate, but to inquire; not to argue, but to explore; not to convince, but to discover."

Now that the distinction has been made, we can see that, up to now, we have been debating, rather than having a dialogue in the public sphere. Very few have ever been convinced to change their positions, much less their beliefs, through debate; most simply change their tact, and introduce new variables in an attempt to “win the argument”. What we witness are contrary interpretations of the data, which may not be even fully understood by the commentators themselves. This has become very clear in the letters that have been flooding the press on the PPP Government’s development plan to utilise the oil funds to strategically diversify the economy.

One gets the feeling that the interlocutors are not really reading to understand what the other has written, but are busy formulating an argument to counter the point raised.

There ensues an easy stereotyping of the other, and a refusal to concede on points for fear of possibly appearing “weak”, and so letting down “the side”. Dialogue challenges all these hurdles to effective communication, and can lead to possible reconciliation; which we want to emphasise means that we may still have all sorts of differences.

While, even in dialogue, opponents in deep-rooted conflict are unlikely to agree with each other's views, they can come to understand each other's perspectives. As they listen to one another and relate in new ways, participants learn new perspectives, reflect on their own views, and develop mutual understanding. In dialogue, when one person says something, another person's response expresses a slightly different meaning. This difference in meaning allows parties to see something new, which is relevant both to their own views and those of the other party. The conversation moves back and forth with the continual emergence of new meaning.

Through inquiry and conversation, parties try to integrate multiple perspectives and unfold shared meaning.

This involves uncovering and examining their assumptions and judgments. When people enter into conversations with others, they bring with them basic assumptions about the meaning of life, their country's interest, how society works, and what is most valuable. Most of these basic assumptions come from society, and are rooted in culture, race, religion and economic background. As a result, people coming from different backgrounds have different basic assumptions and values, and these clashing views and perspectives often lead to conflict. This point is most relevant in our plural society, even as we strive to realise “One Guyana”.

Most persons are not immediately aware of the degree to which their conception of reality is biased and influenced by their personal needs and fears. In dialogue, participants explore the presuppositions, beliefs, and feelings that shape their interactions; they discover how hidden values and intentions control people's behaviour and contribute to communication successes and failures. For example, it begins to become clear why a group avoids certain issues, like elections rigging; or why it insists, against all reason, on defending certain positions, like not reforming GECOM. Participants can collectively observe how unnoticed cultural differences often clash without their realizing what is happening. These observations help participants to determine what is blocking effective communication.

Are we ready for real dialogue in “One Guyana”?

Students participating in the Children's Mashramani Costume Parade 2024 in Georgetown on Saturday (Education Ministry photos)

Alexei Navalny was brave enough to mock Putin’s absurd tyranny.

Is it any wonder he is dead?

By Simon Tisdall

T

yrants and dictators are accustomed to criticism, to being condemned and reviled. The cries of their victims are nothing to them. The curses and tears of families and friends whose loved ones have been taken, jailed, tortured, killed are accepted as a kind of sick, validating tribute to their power, cruelty, and inhumanity.

What your average thuggish tyrant simply cannot stand is ridicule. And Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia and indicted, mass-murdering war criminal, is no exception to this unfunny rule. Putin takes himself very seriously indeed.

He appears totally lacking in any sense of humour. Selfdeprecation is as foreign to him as mercy is to a wolf. Yet he’s essentially absurd – a little man in too big a job.

Was mockery the reason Alexei Navalny, Putin’s most vocal and best-known critic, was finally killed? Goodness knows how many times, over many years, this brave campaigner for freedom, democracy, probity and justice has provoked and taunted the corrupt butcher of the Kremlin. In one well-documented incident in 2020, Putin’s agents are suspected of trying and failing to kill him using the nerve agent novichok. Somehow he survived.

That was Navalny’s great talent: survival. He was continually threatened, arrested, beaten and abused, his family and friends intimidated, his supporters harassed and worse. But he did not give up.

He kept going when many others would have chosen silence, exile, safety. After his poisoning, he was treated in

Germany but then, amazingly, chose to return to Russia to continue the fight.

Naturally, Putin had him arrested again – picked up on arrival at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport. He had been held behind bars since, mostly recently in the Arctic Circle penal gulag known as Polar Wolf. He was moved there in December in order to continue serving a 19-year sentence under “special regime” conditions. Fears were expressed then for his health and safety. Conditions at the colony, which is surrounded by freezing tundra, are exceptionally brutal.

But weather is not what killed him. Navalny was nothing if not tough. He proved that again and again.

An official investigation is under way into the cause of his death, the Russian authorities say. But their lies are notorious, their bottomless contempt for facts and truth epic.

Any inquest into its own conduct by Putin’s regime is as probing and illuminating as a Tucker Carlson interview. In other words, it’s a sham.

Navalny may have been poisoned again. His reported sudden loss of consciousness after exercising in the open air suggests something of that sort may have happened. He may have been abused. He may have been physically attacked. His mother said that when she saw him on Monday, he was “alive, healthy and happy”. A death brought about by natural causes seems wildly improbable.

Yet whatever method was used to murder Navalny, the reason a death sentence was executed at this particular moment may have most to do with ridicule – with Navalny’s latest piercing piece of mock-

ery of the pompous, preening, puritanical, pathetically insecure Putin and his flunkey regime. It came last month in a video conference court appearance from the penal colony in Yamalo-Nenets.

Looking gaunt, with his head shaved, Navalny made jokes about the regime’s embarrassing overreaction to a notorious “nearly naked party” held by wealthy Muscovites. The rich and famous party-goers had been criticised for living it up when, thanks to Putin’s disastrous “special military operation”, so many young Russian lives are abruptly ending in the trenches of eastern Ukraine.

Putin was reportedly shown scandalous images from the event. Even he could see how bad it looked.

The nightclub was shut and a military summons was issued for the rapper Nikolai Vasilyev, who had attended wearing a sock over his penis.

As the guardian of traditional, conservative Russian values and self-appointed heir to the tsars, Putin simply could not tolerate such fun and games.

“Did you have a party?”

Navalny asked the prison officers during the court video conference. “You probably had a naked party,” he suggested. Even the Judge laughed. It wasn’t really anything. But Putin will have seen it differently. Once more, the incorrigible, irrepressible Navalny, despite all Putin had done to him, was poking fun at his expense.

Here was Navalny defiantly getting the last laugh again.

So wretched Putin decided to ensure it was his last laugh ever.

Is this really what happened? Given the very long

list of sudden deaths among Putin’s opponents and critics, only one thing seems certain: the full, unvarnished, ugly truth will not be known until, at the earliest, this tyrant is finally deposed or killed himself.

Last year the Wagner mercenary chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin, who had threatened mutiny, was blown out of the sky – until this week, the latest among Putin’s more prominent victims. In Britain alone, actual or attempted regime assassinations include Alexander Litvinenko in London, and Sergei Skripal in Salisbury. There have been many other killings – politicians, Journalists, businessmen, lawyers – and that’s not counting the thousands of innocents murdered in Ukraine, Georgia, and Chechnya.

It would be comforting to think this latest atrocity will spark a popular uprising against Putin’s dictatorship and bring the toppling of the tyrant. It would be nice to think Putin will be thrown out in next month’s manipulated, one-man presidential “election”. But that is not how things work in repressive, prison-state Putin-land.

It’s easy to condemn Putin, to rant and rave against his crimes, to demand his arrest, to make him “accountable”. But that may only be done sensibly from outside the country.

For Russians, it may perhaps be wiser, and safer, to follow Navalny’s sad-courageous example. Laugh at the tyrant. Mock the fool. Little Putin is a clown. He is ridiculous, absurd. The joke’s on him. (The Guardian) (Simon Tisdall is the Observer’s foreign affairs commentator)

guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2024

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You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

Pres Ali’s address to UN Security Council was a signature event Dear Editor, It is without any doubt that His Excellency President Dr. Irfaan Ali can be considered the most energetic, wisest, most courageous, most visionary, and most genuine President of Guyana; who makes promises and fulfills them.

Since taking office three and a half years ago, President Dr. Ali has exhibited all the characteristics of a true, prudent, and informed leader, in the sense that he has not only fulfilled most of the promises made by the PPPC during the elections, but he has also done the same for those he made during his several outreaches across the country.

In those outreaches, he has not only made promises to the residents, but he has solved many, if not most, of their outstanding problems; and in doing so, he has also made them hopeful and has inspired them to achieve

their goals; especially the youths, who are the country’s most valuable asset.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali has made the conscious decision to invest in the youths, who comprise 65 percent of the country’s population, by providing them with the necessary training to improve and/or upgrade their skills; and has helped them to grow and mature into the most powerful, most confident, and happiest versions of themselves.

In his “One Guyana” initiative, which, among other things, is meant to unite the people and improve their wellbeing in their daily pursuit of happiness, the President has assured that he would do everything in his power to make sure that all co-exist peacefully. To achieve these goals, His Excellency has created a culture of inclusiveness and harmony in the country, to reduce conflict and prejudice; to ensure no one is left out of

the development process and economic benefits; and to ensure that everyone, regardless of race, status or party affiliation, has access to all Government programmes and resources.

President Dr. Ali has said many times that he is committed to govern in the interest of all Guyanese; determine the goals of the Government; craft the strategies and policies to achieve them; and embolden most, if not all, Government officials from entry level to middle and senior management officials - to implement them without fear or favour, and without prejudice. He is aware of critics who would disapprove of his policies, but is not afraid to confront and challenge them to provide better alternatives.

His Excellency is known for his courage, vision, integrity, authenticity, and influence, which are some of the qualities of a true leader. He is also

a very objective, practical and creative leader, who is convinced that with its huge oil reserves, its high GDP and enormous development projects, Guyana would emerge as one of the most attractive and prosperous countries in the 21st century for both its citizens and foreign investors.

At the local, regional, hemispheric and international levels, President Dr. Ali has led by example, fostering strong relationships with his Caricom and Latin American counterparts, and the United States and the European Union, among others, particularly to counter the threats made by the Maduro regime in Venezuela to annex the oil-rich region of Essequibo. One month after gaining a seat as an elected member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Guyana assumed the rotating presidency of the UNSC on February 1, 2024, which

Keep singing as you grow, young calypsonian Dear Editor, Preventing a calypsonian from performing her/ his work is reprehensible; the age of the performer and the message are the proffered excuses that ring hollow.

It is time for Guyana to decide what its ‘culture’ is all about. Calypso is an imported element, much like all the other elements. It is difficult to find any element of Guyanese culture that is unique to our shores, save and except for the dance that is performed by the national school; you know, the one that seems to depict a bird with a broken wing and a deformed foot trying for flight.

The imported culture of calypso has never been fully explained or understood in Guyana, despite Guyanese being integral and historic players in the evolution of the art form in Trinidad. For example, it was the Mighty Growler, a Portuguese man from ‘BG’, who sang what became the first advertising jingle in the world.

The story goes that the President of Dan Cow Milk was in Trinidad at carnival time, and attended a ‘tent’ (venue) where a troupe of calypsonians and entertainers (standup comedians) would perform and compete. So impressed was the Dan Cow Man with the quick wit and repertoire on display during the extem-

poraneous segment of the night’s entertainment that he (Dan Cow Man) offered a $1000 to the performer who could sing the best song about Dan Cow Milk.

Growler blew the competition out of the water, won the money, and was also paid to record his ‘Dan Cow jingle’, which was used to market the product worldwide. So, when next you hear an advertising jingle, feel some Guyanese pride.

The flipside of the Guyanese and calypso coin is that, locally, it has never meshed with the local mores (like carnival has).

‘Mashramani’ is a bastardized version of carnival, and it lacks the religious underpinnings of the other festivals worldwide. It was transposed from Mackenzie (where it was an independence celebration) and imposed on the denizens of the capital by Forbes Burnham. The ‘floats’ were comprised of Government ministries and agencies, a situation that largely persists to this day.

Our political class has never appreciated being criticised by calypsonians, but they do enjoy a joke at the expense of opponents, however, as evidenced by Burnham’s appreciation of ‘Run, Rodney, Run’, a song urging Walter Rodney to represent Guyana at the Olympic Games after he ran up Orange Walk when Police approached the

stage as he was making a political speech.

To the young calypsonian who has been denied her chance to shine, I offer the lyrics of Machel Montano: “They say I too young to soca, oye yoe yoe

they making joke”. Keep singing, and as you grow, your country may mature to meet you somewhere in the process.

Sincerely, Robin Singh

once again placed it on the global leadership under the governance of President Dr. Irfaan Ali. The Guyana Head of State, who is currently President of the UNSC, chaired a high-level open debate on Tuesday February 13, 2024 under the theme, “The Impact of Climate Change and Food Insecurity in the Maintenance of International Peace and Security.” In his address to the United Nations Security Council, His Excellency President Dr Irfaan Ali has fervently appealed to the members of UNSC to seriously address the issue of conflict and its harmful effects on food security and climate change. He underscored the critical need for a paradigm shift in addressing the nexus between climate change, food security, and international peace and security.

He warned that climate change is expected to intensify and expand significantly as a driver of armed conflict, and it can induce food insecurity and the threat of famine, as is currently the case in Africa, where more than 150 million people are facing acute food insecurity. The Guyanese Head of State advised that these issues are not isolated, but

are deeply interconnected with the health, safety and existence of the planet, and hence global stability.

Dr Ali called for a targeted approach by members of the UNSC to address these interconnected impediments which have exacerbated conflict and instability.

Leading by example, President Dr. Ali has emphatically stated that Guyana has been at the forefront of discussions related to several global issues, including climate change, food security, energy security, and international peace and security on the international stage.

He was delighted to have opportunity to highlight to UNSC members possibilities to improve international efforts to strengthen the food systems, prevent acute food insecurity, and foster preparedness. His address to the UNSC was aimed at promoting enhanced understanding and coordinated and proactive responses to address the linkages between food insecurity and climate change. The high-level debate represented a signature event for His Excellency Dr. Ali as President of Guyana and the UNSC. Sincerely, Dr Asquith Rose

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2024

06:00 (Sign on) Jewanram Rel. Hour 07:00 Cartoons 08:00 Shekinah Ministry 08:30 Evening News (RB) 09:30 Anthony’s Old Is Gold 10:30 Cartoons 11:00 David Persaud Religious Program 11:30 Blippi Educational 12:00 Movie - To the Beat!: Back 2 School (2020) 13:30 Movie - Adventure Scouts (2010) 15:00 Movie - The Lost Medallion: The Adventures of Billy Stone (2013) 16:30 Payless Power Hour 17:30 The Healing Touch 18:00 Maths is Fun 18:30 Week-in-Review 19:00 Lucifer S6 E4 20:00 Arrow S5 E20 21:00 People’s Choice Awards (E!) 23:00 Unsolved Mysteries 00:00 Sign off

6 FEATURE

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

PUPPY AILMENTS ... continued

B

PUPPY STRANGLES (JUVENILE PYODERMA)

efore I continue with the essence and important focus of this ailment, allow me to make a few observations.

As I might have previously written, each professional discipline has its own (well-guarded?) terminologies. For example, “used cars” seems too banal a description for sellers of used cars to peddle their vehicles. Instead, the jalopies become “previously owned mobile units”. Hospitals are now being called “wellness centres”. Nuclear bombs have been nicened–up, and are now being described as “sunshine units”. Poverty stricken people are now “economically disadvantaged”. And, of course, there are no longer “ugly people”; rather, such persons are suffering from “severe appearance deficits”. Product marketers use such euphemisms all the time.

Political motivations will not be left out of these amelio-

rative descriptions. Freedom Fighters – whether Arafat or Mandela - had been dubbed Islamo-Fascists and Terrorists respectively.

Doctors and their illegible prescriptions, lawyers and their manoeuvering of the English language – often falling back on Latin phrases – make their arguments supposedly more palatable, convincing and acceptable. For example, the seizing

of a poor person’s land is based on “the conjointly codifying and importing into our local jurisprudence the concept of eminent domain”. We veterinarians can top that!

Returning to today’s topic of “Puppy Strangles”, the correct name for this ailment is “Juvenile Sterile Granulomatous Dermatitis and Lymphadenitis”.

Well, dear readers, we are not in

the business of kerfuffling.

The “Pet Care” column serves, as its sole function, to identify arising problems while caring for our pets, and offering simple solutions to ease/cure the ailment-associated discomforts.

So, let us now have a look at the frequently asked questions (FAQ) related to today’s ailment.

Q: What is Puppy Strangles?

A: It is a skin disease (dermatitis) of the face, ear flaps and lower jaw in puppies (usually between three weeks and 4 months of age). One or more puppy in a litter may be affected. I should note that I have observed the condition in young adults as well.

Q: What are the causes of Strangles?

A: The causes identified by researchers are questionable and unconvincing – enough so, for me to answer with: “unknown”. However, since lesions found on the face are sterile when examined in the laboratory, and the ailment

responds well to anti-inflammatory steroids. Practitioners therefore believe that there is an initial and even more deep– seated dysfunction in the pup’s immune system.

If the lab culture reveals evidence of an infection, it is believed that much infection is secondary, and not the primary cause of Strangles.

It is not uncommon for the caregiver and even breeder to confuse Strangles with other ailments, such as Demodectic Mange or a reaction to a range of drugs and other chemicals.

It is relatively easy to dispense with such suggestions – not lastly, via laboratory tests and questioning the caregiver about recent applications of the chemical agent(s) and dosage levels of these chemicals.

Q: What are the symptoms?

A: The caregiver first notices a swollen face, which often includes the eyelids and muzzle.

Papules/pustules (small bumps on the facial

skin, often containing pus, if infected) are clearly visible.

Actually, the condition begins to resemble a blister. When the ailment spreads to the ear flaps and the bottom jaw, these areas also become swollen and contain fluids (edema).

This is a fast-moving ailment. Within 48 hours, the small pumps (vesicles) on the face begin to merge together into one swollen mass of tissue around the eye, muzzle, lips and ears. These lesions then begin to exude a sticky fluid (firstly clear, and later with pus, as an infection with

germs emerges). At this point, the skin of the face and ears become painful to the touch.

Strangely, there is not usually much of the itch/scratch cycle to be seen at the beginning of strangles.

I should mention concomitant symptoms. 50% of the affected puppies are listless; they are emaciated; they are not eating/ nursing well (or not at all); they have a fever; some of them exhibit mobility problems.

Please note that these latter symptoms are all inconvenient findings, and not specifically causes of Strangles, and are not always present.

Q: What is the treatment?

A: Early and aggressive treatment with steroids and antibiotics (for secondary infections) seem to give the best results. This therapeutic intervention must be under supervision of the caregiver’s veterinarian. Supportive treatment will include warm water baths to remove crust

and discharge from the affected areas. Your vet may introduce topical astringent solutions.

Q: Are any particular breeds more vulnerable to Strangles?

A: Over the years – irrespective of the continent – I have encountered Puppy Strangles in pretty much all breeds. However, the North American literature suggests that predisposed breeds include Golden Retrievers, Labradors, Dachshunds, Lhasa Apsos and, yes, mixed breed puppies as well.

HAPPY MASHRAMANI 2024!

NEWS

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“We cannot waste a single moment” – Pres Ali highlights glaring realities of war on food security

T

he cost of war and conflict have dire impacts on global food security, and without conscious efforts to improve its stability, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) created by the United Nations will never be reached.

Highlighting this unfortunate reality was President Dr Irfaan Ali in a new study, titled: The Cost of War and Conflict to the Environment and Food Security, which successfully analysed the core issues surrounding the cost of war and conflict to the environment and food security.

The President drew attention to the fact that war and conflict threaten several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Zero Hunger (SDG2), Good Health and WellBeing (SDG3), and Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions (SDG16).

“If we are to save our world, our people and our future, we cannot waste a single moment; we must recognise the impact these actions are having, and face up to the uncalculated and ignored consequences of war and conflict,” he penned.

Failure to enhance food security will not only undermine the efforts of countries to achieve the SDGs by 2030, but also result in many more families facing difficulty accessing adequate nutritious food to meet their daily dietary requirements.

The perpetuation or worsening of food insecurity will also have severe implications for the physical and mental health of affected individuals, lead-

GDP in 2019.

Environmental Impacts

President Dr Irfaan Ali

ing to long-term negative impacts on the communities and countries they belong to.

The study finds that global food insecurity is exacerbated by conflict, climate change, and economic shocks. It highlights the significant increase in acute food insecurity due to armed conflict, with millions facing difficulties in accessing nutritious food.

An often-overlooked fact is that conflicts not only lead to hunger in the direct sense, where food scarcity and malnutrition are prevalent, but they also have a hidden consequence even in regions and conflict zones where hunger might not be as severe.

This hidden consequence is the inability to access a healthy diet, the President added.

“Even in areas less directly affected by conflict, there are often disruptions to food systems, infrastructure, and markets.

This can lead to challenges in accessing diverse nutritious foods necessary for a balanced and healthy

diet. Factors such as increased food prices, limited availability of fresh produce, and disrupted supply chains contribute to this problem”, the President wrote.

Additionally, conflicts can lead to the displacement of populations, loss of livelihoods, and economic instability, all of which contribute to difficulties in accessing healthy food options, with long-term impacts on the health and well-being of individuals and communities contributing to issues such as malnutrition, stunted growth, and increased susceptibility to numerous non-communicable diseases.

The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) estimates that as of September 2023, a total of 114 million persons were displaced. In less than four months, 85 per cent of the population of Gaza had been displaced because of the conflict with Israel. The economic cost of war is substantial, with ten affected countries alone incurring losses equivalent to 41 percent of their

The effects of armed conflicts are further compounded by climate events like droughts and floods, that devastate food supplies and inflict environmental costs. A total of 117 million persons faced acute food insecurity due to armed conflict.

“Conflict-induced shocks to food security disproportionately affect smallholder farmers, exacerbating existing challenges such as income uncertainty and weather shocks.

Conflict creates a circular relationship with food insecurity, as the latter increases the likelihood of conflict outbreaks, perpetuating a cycle of instability and hunger,” the report underlines.

Over the past decade, the rise in conflict events has undermined progress in improving food security and nutrition, with millions at risk of famine in conflict-affected regions.

Displacement perpetuates environmental degradation and food insecurity in resettled areas, marked by deforestation, water scarcity, and unsustainable pro-

duction practices.

The environmental toll of warfare extends globally, with the US Department of Defense ranking as the world's largest institutional consumer of oil and a top greenhouse gas emitter.

In 2019 alone, the U.S. military emitted 59 million tons of CO2, with the war in Iraq generating over 141 million tons of CO2 emis-

sions in four years – the equivalent of CO2 emission from 25 million cars in one year.

These findings underscore the significant contribution of global military activities to greenhouse gas emissions, highlighting the urgent need for environmental considerations in conflict resolution and military operations. (G12)

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Groupings…

I

…and realignments

f you had any doubts that we’re heading into a whole new world, you just gotta look at all the new groupings that are being formed across the globe!! Right off the bat, there’s BRICS – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – who’re walking the talk on expanding their cozy little club.

As of Jan 1, Saudia Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Iran and Ethiopia joined the club!! While the original members were all buoyant “emerging” economies at the launch (2001), your Eyewitness has a sneaking suspicion that the intriguing acronym of “BRIC” – South Africa was added later in 2010 – coined by a financial analyst from Goldman Sachs, got them together!! Talk about the naming of a thing creating it!! But your Eyewitness is still figuring out Ethiopia’s place in this new block that’s supposed to be challenging the US hegemony!!

Then there’s the Commonwealth - actually the BRITISH Commonwealth, thank you! – that’s been around for a while, having been formed back in 1931. Back then, “Britannica ruled the waves” and, not coincidentally, “the sun never set on the British Empire”. One wag had noted that if the sun did set, imagine the looting that would’ve happened THEN, if could’ve raped so many for so long in broad daylight!! Anyhow, as Britain’s star faded postWWII, the Commonwealth became their last hope of being something other than the US’ junior sidekick!! So, they’ve expanded, and have three new members – Rwanda, Gabon and Togo from Africa!!

Then, of course, there’s G7 – the “top” industrial nations of the US, UK, Germany, France, Canada, Japan and the EU – which isn’t a “nation”, but a continent!! It used to be G8 up to 2014, but Russia was thrown out after it invaded and annexed Crimea. Sounds familiar?? Well, it should, since it’s pretty much this group that’s taken on Russia after it invaded Ukraine!! Never mind who poked who first!!

They’ve also gone on a recruitment drive, and their last summit had Argentina, Indonesia, India, South Africa and Senegal as “partner nations” at the summit. Senegal, you exclaimed, dear reader? Yep!! You heard that right!!

So, does the African Union count in the grand scheme of things? Africa meets all the criteria for being critical in any new global order, doesn’t it? First, there’s all its unpatrolled natural resources that have every other wannabe global power salivating!! Then it has the youngest population, that’s gonna be working when today’s big ones are all doddering geriatrics!! And Africa’s created its own ExImp bank to spur trade!! Also, in terms of expanding, the AU’s made the bold declaration that the entire African Diaspora is their Region!!

Now, if only they can figure out how to work those numbers… …Dead Meat?

Well, what’d ya know…the AFC has made a decision on its own!! We can’t be completely sure, but there it was: AFC boss Ramjattan announcing that Opposition Leader Norton can’t decide whether or not the AFC would coalesce with the APNU!! But didn’t they go on their own back in 2023 - when the Cummingsburg Accord expired. So how come they’re now joined at the hip again?? And Norton decided which AFC MP was to be reshuffled, no?!!

But your Eyewitness wants to know why Ramjattan allowed his party to be used as a doormat for Granger? Why Moses accepted emasculation of the Prime Ministership powers that the Constitution guaranteed him? Or what’s the scoop on Trotman and the Oil Contract?? And what about those Russian spies?? Will we ever know how they were going to rig the elections?

Ramjattan owes us answers, because by his actions he destroyed Third Force politics for another generation!!

Spilling his guts might just help get rid of that Dead Meat stench!! …Quatari hotels Ramjattan’s also miffed that the Government decided to allocate some acreage at Thomas Lands – used by NIS and GNS - to a hotel. If the original transfer allowed usage to be changed from recreation to education, why not to entertainment??

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

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

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11 Cop dies after his motorcycle collides with truck NEWS

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

A Local Indian music:

T

End of an era

he passing of Mohan Nandu (3/9/1936 – 8/2/1924), the iconic Guyanese Indian singer, marks the end of an era in local “Indian” music. When Indians were brought as indentured labourers between 1838 and 1917, they inevitably brought their languages and ways of life with them. In a word, they were carriers of their cultures Ravi Dev – plural, with 16% from South India (“Madrasis”) and 12% Muslims to the majority Hindus. But being rural peasants, their perspectives, practices and “products” – the “3Ps of culture” - had strands of commonality that soon coalesced around the majority North-Indian Bhojpuri variant.

On the plantations, the first era of “Indian music” was represented by the folk songs they brought from India, which offered a respite from the unremitting toil demanded from them, just as “back home”. These songs were of several genres, of which the “work songs” such as “jatsar” (while grinding grain) or “ropani” (while planting rice); life cycle songs like weddings songs of the “matikor” or “dig dutty”; childbirth (sohars), funeral songs; songs of the seasons like saavan, kajri etc. songs of parting (bidesia) and the call-andresponse biraha. Religiously, there were the Hindu Bhajans and Dhoons; joyous Phagwah songs, Muslim Qaseedas and Qawalis, while South Indians sang to their village deity Mariamman.

There is the distinction between the above as the “little tradition” and the “great tradition” of the upper classes, which in Indian music includes the raag-based genres predating the Moghul courts. While the latter was not replicated in Guyana after the end of indentureship, an acknowledgement was made in the introduction of an indigenous “classical music” called “taan singing”. The style alludes to classical styles like dhrupad, tillana, ghazal, and thumri, but are quite distinct. It has been suggested that the name derives from “Tan Sen”, one of the great classical musicians from the Mughal Court.

This era of folk and taan singing extended into the 1940s, and Mohan Nandu’s father was a popular Taan singer. The biraha tradition lent itself to witty topical compositions in a mixture of Bhojpuri and English, becoming a vibrant art form.

In 1962, the ethnologist Ved Vartik collected and recorded thousands of songs from across the country.

The introduction of Indian “talkies” with playback singing in Guyana from the end of the 1930s presaged the end of this first era of local Indian music, and we enter the second era from the 1950s, represented by Mohan Nandu and his great contemporary, Gobin Ram. This new era coincided with the great exodus from the logies into new villages occasioned from 1947 by the Sugar Industry Labour Welfare Fund.

Mohan Nandu’s parents would have moved from the logies of Cornelia Ida to the housing scheme of Anna Catherina.

Indian movies now became the exemplar of “authentic” Indian culture – including music. Ironically, those movies were suffused by western influences, while the folk music performed in Guyana were much more “authentically” Indian. Radio stations were established during this period, and every Indian “high house” had to have a radio, from which sponsored Indian programmes blared Indian film tunes. That these programes were assigned to the unholy hour of 5am signalled the dominant creole “white-bias” culture’s view of Indian culture’s peripheral standing. By the 1960s, there was a “Local Indian Performance” programme on Sundays, to which Indian singers - backed up by their bands - were invited to compete in singing Indian film songs.

From the 1950s, musical bands with western and Indian instruments had sprung up across the country, and they and their singers – like Gemini and Gobin Ram, or Mohan Nandu and the Uitvlugt Community Center Band- became household names in the Indian community. There were also fairs – especially the Maha Sabha Diwali fairs - that sponsored singing competitions. Gobin Ram and Mohan Nandu were inevitable finalists, and some saw them as rivals, but the reality was far from that. The late 1950s to 1969 was the heyday of Indian musical renaissance but the capture of the Maha Sabha by the PNC led to the politicization of the fairs and their demise. On radio, one popular announcer, Eshri Singh, revealed that he emigrated to NYC after Minister Harewood-Benn instructed him to include “English’ songs in his Indian-sponsored programme.

From the 1980s, the Maticore-influenced Chutney music arose out of the folk-song era, and its popularity eclipsed film music by the 1990s. While there are some practitioners of the latter in NYC, the passing of Mohan Nandu also marks its passing.

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

Policeman lost his life after the motorcycle he was driving collided with a truck along the Blankenburg public road, West Coast Demerara, on Saturday at about 09:25h.

Dead is Lance Corporal Devaraj Dhanndreaw, who had been stationed at the La Grange Police Station, and had resided at Lot 1 Anna Catherina New Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara.

Reports are that motor lorry GAE 8523, owned by Pooran Brothers Inc, was proceeding west along the southern side of the road when the driver put on his indicator to turn right to Newland Lumber Yard.

And as the lorry turned,

the 41-year-old Policeman, who was on motorcycle CL 6178 proceeding west, collided with the left side rear portion of the lorry.

Having sustained multiple injuries from that collision, the cop was picked up in an unconscious condition and rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

His body has been taken to the Ezekiel Funeral Home to await a post-mortem examination.

A notice of intended prosecution has been served on the 35-year-old lorry driver, who is a resident of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo. He remains in custody.

Speaking with this

Dead: Lance Corporal Devaraj Dhanndreaw

publication on Saturday, one of Dhanndreaw’s sisters said her brother had been a father of two, and was on his way home when the accident occurred. She related that his wife and two children are taking his

sudden death “very hard”.

“Well, she [his wife] getting blackout every now and then. They recently moved into their home, which is not fully completed yet. It's really hard.

We only lost our father in 2016, and he's the only son in our family,” the sister said.

The woman said her brother had left his home without telling his family where he was going. However, she said, it seemed as though he had gone to buy groceries for his wife to cook.

“He had fish and so, which I collected from the Police station when I went there, so maybe he went and buy stuff,” she said.

(G9)

Bilateral trade between Guyana, China...

FROM PAGE 3

Deep ties

Also present at the event was Prime Minister Brigadier (retd) Mark Phillips, who emphasised the deep ties between the countries, and He recalled the commitment given by President Dr Irfaan Ali last year for the establishment of a Guyana-China Investment and Economic Cooperation Working

Group.

“Some specific purposes of this impending Investment and Economic Cooperation Working Group will include facilitating discussions and negotiations on bilateral investment agreements, trade agreements, and economic cooperation frameworks.

Identifying and addressing barriers to investment

and trade between our two countries. Sharing information on investment opportunities, market trends, and economic policies.

Promoting and facilitating investment in key sectors, such as infrastructure, that is already happening; energy, agriculture and technology. So, we’re on the right track. And fifthly, addressing issues related to intel-

lectual property rights, investment protection and dispute resolution mechanisms,” the Prime Minister said.

Guyana and China celebrated 50 years of bilateral relations last year. Also in 2023, President Ali met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Chengdu, capital city of southwest China’s Sichuan Province. (G3)

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FEATURE

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By Michael Jordan

Greatest creatives

A

rt enthusiasts will get the opportunity to view a wide spectrum of high-quality art and craft during a two-day exhibition this month in New Amsterdam, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

This is credited to the recently-formed Berbice Art &Craft Collective, which will be hosting their first exhibition on February 28 and 29 at the Little Rock Suites.

Artist and writer Cosmatie Lindie, who is one of the group’s founding members, has said the exhibition is a blend of veterans and new talents. At least 14 creatives will be displaying their work.

The exhibits range from oil paintings to sculpture to photography and digital art.

“I’m a painter, and my pieces will all be oil on canvas paintings,” Lindie told <<Guyana Times.>> “In addition to oil paintings, there will be several acrylic paintings, and we will have some very interesting mixed media pieces. These will incorporate leather, oil and acrylic paint, clay, seeds, jute, and other such diverse materials.

“The sculptured pieces are primarily mahogany carvings. There will also be some pieces of digital art, and well-known photographer and radio personality Andy (‘East Wise’) Henry will have photography on display.

“We have a diverse mix of participants. Some are still

Lindie noted that Berbice has produced some of the nation’s greatest creatives, such as Edgar Mittelholzer, Wilson Harris, David Dabydeen, the late internationally recognized sculptor Phillip Moore (creator of the famous 1763 Monument) and multi-talented artist Winston Strick, who passed away a few years ago.

She’s hoping that this venture of artistic minds leads to the nurturing and discovery of other similar talents.

and appreciating art right here in Berbice. Who knows how many potentially great future artists are lying dormant within our children,

notion that if you want to experience art, you have to travel all the way to Georgetown, because everything is pretty much centred

Acrylic on canvas: Flowers by the Window, by Azeena Tahsir

in their teens, while others are much older. Most of the participants will be showing their work in a public exhibition for the first time, but some are seasoned artists who have participated in many national and international events. It’s a very interesting mix.

“I am very impressed with what I have seen so far. There is a lot of hidden and not-so-hidden talent in Berbice. There is going to be an eclectic mix of styles and

ideas on view at this exhibition. I know for a fact that this will not be the first time an exhibition has been held here… but I think what we are planning is going to be different.

“We are encouraging the public to view it as something different from what they are used to, and to see it as both an enjoyable and educational event.”

Oil on canvas: Kaieteur Falls by Cosmata Lindie Acrylic on canvas: Saqr et-tair by Tasha D. Jailall

“We are hoping that students will visit our exhibition, so they can get a firsthand experience of viewing

waiting for something to inspire them into waking up? This may prove to be that catalyst for them.

“There is also this false

there; and we are hoping to show, with this exhibition, that we can bring that experience here to Berbice for the public to enjoy.”

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14 FEATURE

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Lindie has said that members of the Berbice Art & Craft Collective have realized that they “needed to do something to solidify us, something that would serve to both introduce us and provide an opportunity to engage with the wider community.”

An exhibition seemed the perfect way to accomplish this.

“We also decided that the end of February was the best time to hold an exhibition, since this would coincide with Mash. Once it was voiced, everyone was immediately receptive to the idea. Most of our artists have never exhibited before, and they were delighted to finally be given that

opportunity. The realization that, ‘Hey, we can do this!’ was a really big motivation for all of us.

“We are also putting a lot of effort into publicising it, so people are aware that an exhibition is coming up.

The response has been great. People are interested and supportive of the initiative.”

Challenges

“We faced two main challenges at the beginning. One was getting enough artists, since we were still in the process of forming the Collective and literally had to go looking for artists in some instances.

“The second big challenge was finding a suitable venue.

Note that we went into this without any external financing or sponsorship, so securing a venue that was in a good location, secure and spacious enough to hold such an event, was a big challenge. But thank the Universe for people like Mrs. Pearl Christie, owner of the Little Rock Suites in New Amsterdam.

Mrs. Christie has always been a community-minded individual, and she agreed to let us use the hotel’s conference room for two days on very generous terms. It is the perfect venue for such an event.”

Oil on canvas: Retrospect One by Michael Hooper

Expectative from exhibition?

“For my part, greater recognition and appreciation for artists in Berbice. For the artists who are new to this, to gain confidence and experience; and to possibly open new doors for all of us. If, coming off from this exhibition, we can continue to provide a platform to lift our artists up, provide new avenues for them to

good news.

“Often, when people think about art, they think of something pretty to hang on the wall or decorate a space. And while much of art is decorative, there is so much more to it than just a pretty painting or sculpture. It is a powerful medium for expression. It is used to tell stories; convey messages, sometimes controversially; document events,

Mahogany wood sculpture: Family by Vincent (Tannaman) Griffith

take their art to higher places, motivate them to continue to grow and become better, then I will be very happy that we are achieving our aim.

“We are hoping that, for the next one, we will be in a position to seek support from the Berbice business community and other interested parties.”

Lindie and other participants have said that local artists are in dire need of financial support.

“We are constantly made to feel that art is more like a hobby, and there is need to pursue a ‘serious’ career to live. However, there has recently been talk of giving the visual arts more visibility via new galleries, etc., and that is

and has been an integral part of human civilizations and societies worldwide from time immemorial.”

The participants include Andy (‘Eastwise’) Henry (photographer); Azeena Tahsir (painter); Carol Fraser (multimedia artist); Cosmata Lindie (painter); Josiah Hooper (digital artist); Leon James (sculptor); Leslyn Telford (multimedia artist); Michael Hooper (painter/ pencil artist); Oneika Ramsuchit (multimedia artist); Patrick Stephens, (painter); Ron Verwey (painter); Shundy ‘Einstein’ Thomas (painter); Tasha D. Jailall (painter) and Vincent ‘Tannaman’ Griffith (sculptor). Admission to the exhibition is free.

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FEATURE

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Maxie Williams brings fusion of culture, heritage inspired by “One Guyana”

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uyana's annual Mashramani celebration is not only a vibrant display of colours and feathers, but also a representation of the nation's rich cultural tapestry.

Designer Maxie Williams has been at the forefront of this celebration for 25 years, infusing his designs with the essence of Guyanese culture and heritage. This year, he hopes to keep that culture alive as he brings more of his fusion and culture inspired by a “One Guyana” through its six peoples.

Over the years, there has been a decline in Mash bands on the road for Guyana’s Republic Day celebrations, or ‘Mashramani’, as most know it. However, despite a perceived decline, it is expected that concerted efforts will be made by both the Government and the Private Sector to enhance the Mashramani celebrations in 2024.

This year already presents more opportunities for a better collaborative approach, with the Government and Private Sector joining forces to revitalize and expand the scope of Mashramani. This partnership is anticipated to foster greater support for designers and bands, paving the way for more elaborate and diverse presentations during the celebrations.

This collaboration is aimed at providing support and resources to designers, enabling them to create com-

pelling and culturally relevant designs that reflect the essence of Guyana's diverse heritage. This new effort signifies a commitment to preserving and promoting the rich tapestry of Guyanese culture through Mashramani.

Simultaneously, the Private Sector is poised to play a pivotal role in amplifying the scale and impact of Mashramani. By collaborating with designers and bands, the Private Sector can contribute to the development of grander and more immersive experiences, thereby attracting wider participation and engagement.

The joint efforts of the Government and Private Sector are anticipated to inject new energy and vibrancy into the Mashramani. This collaborative approach underscores a shared commitment to nurturing and evolving Guyana's Republic Day festivities, ensuring that Mashramani continues to thrive as a cherished and exuberant representation of a “One Guyana” through culture.

One such designer is Maxie Williams, who gave this publication a perspective of the creative force behind his designs, his dedication to his career as a creative designer, and the stunning visuals that encapsulate the diversity of Guyana's six peoples in his designs behind this year’s Mashramani bands.

His vision for the 2024

Mashramani celebration is to showcase the myriad of colours, races and cultures that form the foundation of the nation, while also emphasizing the importance of preserving and honouring traditional customs which we cannot and should not forget.

While embracing the growing enthusiasm for carnival in Guyana, Williams emphasised that “staying true to the essence of

Mashramani and its significance is what keeps our culture relevant.” Always collaborating closely with various Government ministries and private organisations, he said that the aim is to “keep our culture alive.”

Thus, he also takes inspiration from their ideas and reflects them in his breathtaking designs.

TURN TO PAGE 23

Designer Maxie Williams

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FEATURE

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Maxie Williams brings fusion...

FROM PAGE 21

He pointed out that with Government ministries’ continuous effort to unite to celebrate this joyous occasion, there is no doubt that Mashramani would continue to evolve and captivate audiences year after year.

The increasing participation of bands, including those representing Private Sector entities as well, reflects the growing enthusiasm for Mashramani and its significance in Guyana, as well as celebrate our Republic Day. “This is why I stand (that) Mashramani should and does reflect the Government of the day, showing their commitment,” Williams added.

For designers like Maxie Williams, Mashramani is not just about crafting elaborate costumes, but showcasing their hard work and commitment to Mashramani, its

creativity, and the ongoing celebration of Guyana's rich

heritage.

As this year's festivities

unfold, the fusion of tradition, innovation and cultural pride will undoubtedly take centre stage, embodying the spirit of a nation united in its diversity.

Guyanese can look forward to seeing hundreds

on bands on the road come February 23. Some bands slated to be on the road this Mashramani are several Government ministries’ bands, including Education; Culture, Youth and Sport; Local Government; Prime

Minister’s Office; and among some private bands are Heritage Band, and Decoded ‘Atlantis Carnival band.

This year, Mashramani is being celebrated under the theme “Celebrating our peoples and our prosperity”.

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Children’s Mashra

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

25

amani Parade 2024

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33 persons receive life-changing prosthetic limbs A t the conclusion of a four-day Prosthetic Capacity Building Workshop at the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre, the Health Ministry’s Disability and Rehabilitation Services distributed prosthetic limbs to 33 patients.

The workshop, a collaborative effort between the JE Simmons Orthotic and Prosthetic Workshop, Health Ministry, and

ProsthetiKa Corporation, was aimed at equipping technical staff with the necessary knowledge and skills in lower-limb prosthesis manufacturing and rehabilitation.

Permanent Secretary of the Health Ministry, Malcolm Watkins, affirmed the MoH’s commitment to providing equitable healthcare services nationwide as it strives to embrace technology.

"We want people across the country to access the same type of services that the Government offers in every single community.

In the future, we will be working towards financing the rehab services, so that we can give you more prosthetic functionality, advanced technology, working with organisations like ProsthetiKa and others to transfer knowledge," the PS explained.

Recipients of the prosthetic limbs along with Health Ministry officials

Meanwhile, Founder of the ProsthetiKa Corporation, Jon Batzdorff, expressed grat-

Rehabilitation Services, Dr Ariane Mangar; and other officials.

When a limb is am-

One of the prosthetic limbs being fitted

itude for the training sessions, acknowledging the patience and trust shown by patients in receiving this much needed service.

Among those present were Senior Technician of the J E Simmons Orthotic and Prosthetic Workshop, Collin Charles; Director of

putated or lost, a prosthetic device, or prosthesis, can play an important role in rehabilitation. For many people, an artificial limb can improve mobility and the ability to manage daily activities, as well as provide the means to stay independent. (G12)

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34 NEWS

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Pres Ali leads successful national cleanup campaign …EPA officers to monitor areas for litterbugs

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resident Dr Irfaan Ali on Saturday led another successful cleanup and beautification exercise across Guyana, and it generated participation from hundreds of volunteers who were willing to work with the President to improve the outlook of their environs.

At Houston and surrounding communities on the East Bank of Demerara, the Head of State, through his Men on Mission (MoM) programme, joined volunteers in the wee hours of the morning to clean the roads, parapets and drains, as well as paint and beautify the median on the highway.

Among those who turned up to support this initiative were Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips; Public Works Minister Juan Edghill; Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Oneidge Walrond; Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha; Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai; Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall; Human Services Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud; Local Government and Regional

Volunteers and civil society representatives turned up to support the national exercise President Ali leading the cleanup exercise on the East Bank of Demerara

Development Minister Sonia Parag; Minister within the Public Works Ministry, Deodat Indar; Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken, and representatives of the Guyana Defence Force and other officials.

The team ensured that key areas, such as Brickdam, Mandela Avenue and the seawalls, were cleaned in Georgetown.

Over in Region One (Barima-Waini), Housing

and Water Minister Collin Croal joined residents of Port Kaituma for the national cleanup exercise. NDC Chairman Keith Parker and ranks of the Port Kaituma Police Station also joined residents in the exercise at the Kumaka Waterfront and market area.

These efforts are geared at promoting cleanliness among the Guyanese populace, and fostering a sense of tidiness while ensuring the

environs are safer for residents or passersby. In the past, highly-trafficked or unoccupied areas have been littered with garbage. This is also the case for waterways, thereby obstructing irrigation and drainage. Derelicts along the roadways have also been another issue.

Meanwhile, heavy focus has been placed on enforcement, to ensure that the country remains clean.

A notice was later released after the cleanup, indicating that the Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA) would be conducting continuous patrol and surveillance monitoring within the areas cleaned.

It added, “The public is hereby reminded that EPA officers are authorized to issue clean up orders and institute fines for littering, derelict vehicles etc, in public spaces in keeping with the EPA Act Cap 20:05.”

President Ali’s MOM initiative, also called the “1000 Men on Mission”, has been deeply involved in these ac-

tivities over the years. The initiative brings together 1000 men across the country to work in communities in eradicating hunger and to uplift those emotionally and socially affected.

The initiative also aims at changing every society and bringing a positive life to every single community. MoM also seeks to work against violence, and to make men better at being good and responsible men, while at the same time developing responsible boys in society. (G12)

NEWS

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Scenes from the national cleanup campaign

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“Your needs are our concern” – Persaud tells residents of Riverview, Yarrow Dam

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Human Services and Social Security Minister Dr. Vindhya Persaud engaging elderly woman from Riverview (Human Services Ministry photos)

eople residing in the Ruimveldt communities of Riverview and Yarrow Dam in Georgetown were afforded opportunity to air their concerns and receive personal recommendations for issues affecting them during an outreach spearheaded

by Human Services and Social Security Minister

cluded the Gender Affairs Bureau, Guyana Women’s Leadership Institute, Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Policy Unit, and the Childcare and Protection Agency.

The dedicated team delved into various topics, including access to free skills training, pension, public assistance, as-

Representative of MoHSS interacting with residents

Dr.

Vindhya Persaud.

The outreach, which commenced in the community of Riverview, received support from key divisions within the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security. Those in-

sistive aids, domestic violence, gender affairs, difficult circumstances, and trafficking in persons.

The exercise saw a remarkable turnout of residents in Riverview, who were eager to interact

with the various representatives and seek guidance on personal issues affecting their livelihoods.

During her address, Dr. Vindhya Persaud reiterated that the needs of citizens are Government’s concern, and the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) administration would continue to work tirelessly to address those needs and concerns. On this point, she highlighted several initiatives catered for in this year’s $1.146 trillion fiscal package. Those initiatives would empower individuals through access to education, skills training, and support services, thereby fostering inclusive growth and development.

Following the engagement in Riverview, the team proceeded to Yarrow Dam, where they embarked on a house-to-house visitation campaign. This approach allowed the team to assess the unique needs and aspirations of Yarrow Dam residents firsthand, and facilitated meaningful interactions with residents, thereby allowing the team to gain valuable insights into the specific is-

sues facing the community.

While interacting with residents in this community, Persaud encouraged residents to continue engaging

continue in Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Five

the ministry, and to take advantage of the various support programmes and services available to them.

These engagements are intended to provide citizens in every corner of Guyana with information on the recently passed national budget, which contains programmes and measures that would improve their daily livelihoods.

Engagements will

(Mahaica-Berbice), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and Ten (Upper DemeraraBerbice) over the next few weeks, and would be led by all Government ministers.

MoHSS 2024 Budget

The $48.3 billion set aside in this year’s budget for the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security (MoHSSS) would play a pivotal role

in ensuring senior citizens, persons living with disabilities, women and girls have access to empowerment opportunities.

Among benefits for the elderly is the construction of a $172 million elderly care facility at Enmore, East Coast Demerara, and the development of a wellness and wellbeing programme for pensioners, so they can remain active and access nutritional advice among other forms of assistance.

Meanwhile, $37 million has been set aside for rehabilitation of the Mahaica Girls’ Home, while $53 million will pave the way for the construction of a juvenile justice centre.

The Government also plans to establish in 2024 a special unit to cater for persons living with disabilities.

The unit to be established would allow for the smooth transition of policies, develop of targeted programmes, and continuation of the work currently being managed by the various departments in the ministry. (G1)

M&CC mobilised to clean up city after Mash Parade

T

he Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has completed the preparatory work needed to ensure that the city is cleaned immediately after Guyana’s Republic Day (Mashramani) Costume and Float Parade concludes.

According to the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry, Mashramani 2024 will be the country’s biggest extravaganza, and Guyanese can expect more vibrant and creative costume bands, a lively parade, and high-quality performances by local artistes.

Mashramani events have also been expanded to Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), and Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice) to ensure every citizen feels more

Georgetown M&CC Director of Solid Waste Management, Walter Narine

connected to the annual festivities, and is engrossed in the jubilation.

In fact, the Calypso and Soca Monarch compe-

titions were held on Friday and Saturday in Lethem, Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo) and Linden, Region Ten (Upper

Demerara-Berbice), respectfully.

It is usually anticipated that, around this time, large amounts of waste products would flood the streets after these celebrations; hence, the Georgetown Mayor and City Council has planned a clean- up exercise to remove garbage from the Costume and Float Parade route. This will see a total of 100 skip bins being strategically placed along Middle, Main and Church Streets, Thomas Lands and the National Park one day before the parade. Further, some 60 sanitation workers from the municipality’s Solid Waste Management and Engineers departments would commence cleaning the city at 2am on Saturday, February 24.

Get the work done

In an interview with this publication, City Council’s Solid Waste Management Director, Walter Narine, disclosed that Council is hoping to complete the exercise by 10:00h, before the city is highly populated by patrons.

“They will use the bins, but they are going to leave stuff on the road. If you look at Trinidad, (which) had their Carnival for the last two-days, it is a mess after.

It is nothing new, but just like Trinidad, in Guyana, the morning after, we get the work done,” Narine said.

Narine added that the skip bins provided by City Council would be emptied on a 24-hour basis and would be situated in highly populated communities across Georgetown.

“Church Street and all of that, those are basically a thoroughfare, so we don’t re-

ally want to put bins around that area…the Council will take those bins after cleanup, and they will place them strategically within the highly populated areas, like for example Regent Street, Robb Street, King Street, Wellington Street, and around the bus park, with the hope that the commuters use the bins that will stop littering,” the Solid Waste Director explained.

According to the Solid Waste Director, the municipality is satisfied with the approach being taking to restore the city after these major events. He noted that the exercise represents a vast improvement by the municipality, as compared to previous years, when garbage from the activity could still be seen along the sides of the roadways days after the activity had ended. (G1)

NEWS

37

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Oil production from Liza Phases 1 & 2, Payara to T continue into 2040s Jagdeo …says data submitted by ExxonMobil

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

T

he Liza Field and Payara projects, which today produce over 600,000 barrels of oil per day, are expected to continue producing oil well into the 2040s, helping to ensure that Guyana remains a globally competitive oil producer for the foreseeable future.

This was confirmed by Vice President (VP) Bharrat Jagdeo during his most recent press conference. When asked about the depletion of these wells by 2029, Jagdeo immediately debunked this assertion, and provided production figures supplied by ExxonMobil itself.

“This is what we have, that they submitted to us.

Because I saw it in the newspaper. It peaks. Production peaks here, but these wells are functioning up to 2047. I knew you’d come with this… because I saw it in the newspaper, so I asked for the production profile of each of the wells,” Jagdeo said.

“You have to understand the difference between peak, peaking, plateauing and production. Peaking and plateauing are two different things. The wells will be functioning up to 2047.

That is why, because these are the wells from which the gas will come,” the Vice

President explained.

The Liza Phases One and Two and Payara projects, all of which combined are producing over 600,000 barrels of oil per day, account for the three floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels operating in Guyana’s Stabroek Block in waters offshore.

The current production figures will be further buttressed by the Yellowtail and Uaru developments, which are already underway and are anticipated to contribute 250,000 barrels of oil each following their respective start-ups.

An application for the sixth development, the Whiptail Project, was submitted by the Stabroek Block operator, ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) and its co-venturers. This project is currently under review by the Government, and once approved, will see Guyana producing just over 1.2 million barrels of oil per day by 2027.

In addition to at least these six projects offshore Guyana that Exxon anticipates will be online by 2027, it is also eyeing the possibility of having 10 FPSOs operational by 2030. Production

Gas

Jagdeo, meanwhile, also pointed out that the Gas-toEnergy project, which has a 25-year lifespan, depends on gas from these wells; and, as such, Government would not have embarked on the US$1 billion capital investment needed for the project without assurances of the continued supply of gas.

“We have to be extraordinarily stupid - and we’re not - to be able to build a gas-to-energy project that relies on these wells to supply gas come on stream in 2025, and 2029 we don’t have any gas. We would have to be extraordinarily stupid to have that happen,” Jagdeo pointed out.

The scope of Guyana’s gas-to-energy project consists of the construction of 225 kilometres of pipeline from the Liza field in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana, where Exxon and its partners are currently producing oil.

It features approximately 200 kilometres of a subsea pipeline offshore that will run from Liza Destiny and Liza Unity floating, production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessels in the Stabroek Block to the shore.

Upon landing on the West

Dead: Carl Lewis

C

arl Lewis, the 52-year-old Deputy Toshao of Shulinab Village in South Central Rupununi, Region Nine, (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) has been killed in an accident that occurred on the Quarrie Access Trail in Central Rupununi on Friday at about 19:22h.

According to Police reports, Lewis was driving his motorcycle in a southerly direction along the eastern side of the trail when motor pickup PVV 1398, owned by the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) and being driven by a 39-year-old resident of Lethem, drove into his path.

Police have said the pickup was proceeding north at a fast rate when it ended up

he Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plays a pivotal role in safeguarding the nation's natural resources and promoting sustainable development through its rigorous regulation process. Understanding this process is crucial for businesses, industries, and individuals alike, as they strive to coexist harmoniously with the environment.

The EPA was established in 1996 under the Environmental Protection Act Cap 20:05. Its primary mandate is to promote and coordinate environmental management and conservation efforts. The agency operates as a semi-autonomous body, overseeing various sectors to ensure compliance with environmental laws and standards.

The Regulatory Process The EPA regulation process is a comprehensive and systematic approach designed to safeguard the environment and promote sustainable development. The key stages include: Project Assessment and Approval Before any major development project commences, proponents are required to submit Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) to the EPA. These assessments thoroughly evaluate potential environmental impacts, providing a basis for informed decision-making. The EPA reviews these submissions to determine the project's feasibility and environmental sustainability.

Permitting and Licensing Once a project is deemed environmentally viable, the EPA issues permits, outlining the conditions that must be met to ensure adherence to environmental standards. This step is crucial in maintaining a balance between economic development and environmental preservation.

Deputy toshao dies as drunken GWI driver swerves into his path in the path of the motorcyclist, and the driver of the pickup has alleged that he attempted to swerve away from the motorcycle, but failed to avoid a collision.

That collision resulted in the severely injured motorcyclist being dashed onto the trail while the motorcycle exploded in flames. Picked up by the Police and public-spirited citizens, the unconscious Lewis was rushed to the Lethem Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. His body is at the Lethem Regional Hospital Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination.

Police have said that the pick-up driver was reportedly imbibing with a friend at Katoonarib Village before leaving for Lethem. He has been taken into custody to assist with the investigations.

One of Lewis’s relatives, in a social media post on Saturday, said Lewis “was returning from Lethem, after purchasing supplies for his family. The family is demanding justice and are eagerly waiting to see the outcome of the matter,” the post read. (G9)

Understanding the EPA Regulation Process

Monitoring and Compliance The EPA plays a crucial role post-approval. Regular monitoring is conducted to ensure that ongoing projects comply with established regulations. This includes inspections, data collection, and engagement with project stakeholders to address any emerging environmental concerns promptly.

The Liza Destiny FPSO, one of three FPSOs currently producing oil in the Stabroek block

has already started on three projects, with the Liza Destiny and Unity and the Prosperity FPSO vessels in operation. The third project – the Payara development – targets an estimated resource base of about 600 million oil-equivalent barrels, and was at one point considered to be the largest single planned investment in the history of Guyana.

Meanwhile, the Yellowtail development, which will be Exxon’s fourth development in Guyana’s waters, has an anticipated start-up of 2025. The Uaru oil development, which will be the fifth one for the company offshore Guyana, is targeting between 38 and 63 development wells, including production, water injection, and gas re-injection wells.

Exxon had also previously made known that first oil from the Uaru development is anticipated by late 2026 or early 2027

Coast Demerara shore, the pipeline would continue for approximately 25 kilometres to the Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) Plant at Wales, West Bank Demerara.

In last year’s national budget, the project received a $43.3 billion allocation in addition to the $24.6 billion injected into the start-up of the transformational project, for construction of the NGL Plant and the 300-megawatt (MW) Combined Cycle Power Plant at Wales, WBD. This year, a whopping $80 billion was budgeted to advance this project and its associated infrastructure, including transmission and distribution upgrades to offtake the power.

As of January this year, the marine offloading facility has been completed, and 26 kilometres (km) of onshore pipelines have been installed. Once completed, the project would allow Guyanese to benefit from 50 per cent reduced electricity costs. (G3)

Enforcement and Penalties In cases where non-compliance is identified, the EPA has the authority to take enforcement actions. This may involve issuing fines, revoking permits, or taking legal action against violators. These measures are essential to uphold the integrity of the regulatory framework and deter potential environmental transgressions.

Public Engagement The EPA recognizes the importance of public participation in the regulatory process. It actively seeks input from communities, stakeholders, and non-governmental organizations to ensure a more comprehensive understanding of local concerns and values. Public consultations are conducted during the assessment phase, providing a platform for community members to voice their opinions and contribute to decision-making.

As Guyana continues to experience economic growth and development, the EPA is poised to evolve and adapt its regulatory processes. Embracing technological advancements, fostering international collaborations, and staying abreast of emerging environmental challenges will be key focus areas.

The agency remains committed to its mission of safeguarding Guyana's environment for current and future generations.

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

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

38 NEWS

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Children’s Mash Parade 2024 creates buzz in Georgetown T

he streets of Georgetown were pulsating with youthful energy as the annual Children’s Mashramani Parade was held on Saturday. It saw children

from across the 10 administrative regions, bedecked in

colourful costumes, igniting the city by dancing to the infectious beat of Soca music.

Accompanied by large trucks blaring the Soca music, children of the various administrative regions dis-

played their dancing talents by means of choreographed

routines as they made known to onlookers how proud they were to be marching down the road in colorful costumes attributed to the cultures of Guyana.

The Parade commenced at Parade Ground, Georgetown, and the children took the traditional route as they made their way south along Middle Street, turned north on to Camp Street, then south on to Lamaha Street, before again turning north on to Albert Street, which led them to the final venue – the National Park.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand, who was at the forefront of all the bands leading the group of revellers, joined in on the action, and was seen enjoying the vibrancy and electric atmosphere with the children.

Here she was, savouring the moment with the students, bringing smiles to their faces.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand enjoying the parade with the kids

“This is the culmination of weeks of competition, not only in Georgetown, but across the country, that encapsulates all the arts. This is the biggest we’ve ever seen!” she declared.

The happiness she felt at seeing the vast number of students participating was palpable as she underscored that this is the highest number of students she has ever seen participating in this activity, and she described the series of cultures exposed in the event.

Also present at the event was Education Officer Sherwin Blackman, who provided details of the entire planning of the Mashramani Parade 2024. He said Region Nine was pursuing the role of pacesetter of this year’s competition as they were mimicking the theme of “prosperity under the sun”.

Their team had many eyes transfixed on their glorious bright yellow costumes as they moved alongside a grand floater depiction of the sun.

And Blackman said, “Of course Region 9 definitely sets the pace! Every year, our costume reflects a very bright and energetic feeling.

A lot of energy is what we seem to get out of the display in this costuming here today [Saturday].”

The Children’s Mashramani event on Saturday has been a precursor of the greatness to take place at the Adult Mashramani Parade slated for Friday, February 23. (G2)

Dancehall Monarch finals…

From singing-alone national competition, Shemar Gray takes national stage

E

quipped with only a bedroom turned makeshift sound room, Shemar Gray reminisces on the grand hurdle he has had to cross from using the sole resources he had of his house to reaching the grand national stage of the Guyana Dancehall Monarch finals.

Traversed to and fro by constant reggae tunes and Celine Dion songs within the four walls of his Linden, Region 10 household, sitting in the countryside, Shemar recalls his primary steps in his music journey.

In an interview with Guyana Times, the Radio Guyana announcer expressed what can only be summed up as a “calling” that commenced 17 years ago, when he was seven years old. The talented star recounts his primary time singing music, which started with a question from his sister, who wanted to know if he could freestyle to a beat playing through the music system in the house.

Shemar Gray

As words toggled back and forth through his brain, an amazing talent flowed profusely through his mouth.

Casually flowing with the beat, he rode the rhythm and discovered his amazing talent, as he started singing catchy rhymes.

“We were just in the room listening to music, and my sister asked me to sing along to the beat, and when I started freely rapping to the rhythm of the beat, what came out of my mouth was really amazing,” Gray told <<Guyana Times.>> The Linden community from which Gray emerged initially infused support into

his young mind at a young age. Through this, a firm foundation has been fostered in him from the unwavering support bestowed upon him.

Despite moving to the city, the fostered sense of support is still expressed to him, as he states, “My community in Linden is one that ‘bigs up’ their people always. If Linden people know that you are from Linden and you do something great, they will always big you up.”

It is with this that the then introverted 24-year-old explored the dynamics of his creativity, and transformed his bedroom into a music studio where he himself could have free rein to create music and have it recorded at any time.

As he built his makeshift home studio, the 24-year-old stated, he became his own producer, as the mantle was on him to do so. Not confining himself to only one genre, the artiste began switching into many other genres, as his love for music translates into all forms and genres,

from soca to dancehall and chutney.

Clinging to the genre of Dancehall, but not excluding other forms of music, because he had his mind set on expanding his territory, the young man saw it fit to compete in the 2024 National Dancehall competition for Mashramani. According to Gray, “I love all types of music, I won’t ever cluster myself in one genre and keep myself in one position.”

Facing 14 other artistes today in competition at the Kitty Seawall in Georgetown, the 24-yearold has said his competitors are highly respected, and he knows that each of them is very talented. His song is glossed around a story in which he also humbly advises youths like himself to embrace the idea of being oneself, no matter what pathway they have chosen.

Manoeuvring the barbed wire fence between the makeshift bedroom and the National Dancehall Monarch stage, Gray said, his journey

Dancehall competition competitors for 2024

is a testament to the power of passion, perseverance, and

the undeniable allure of music. (G2)

FEATURE

39

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

A

scheming, parasitic couple sow fear, distrust and division among residents of Canal Number Two for their own financial gain. A Guyanese-born Canadian is detained and tortured by political thugs during a visit to his former homeland. A son seeking answers to his parents’ deaths at the hands of an arsonist learns the shocking truth about his father. A rookie crime journalist endangers him-

The Plot: The quiet lives of the villagers of Canal Number Two, West Bank Demerara, are disrupted by the machinations of two scam artists, ‘Slippery Ochro’ and his wife, Phulmattie. After convincing the peace-loving Mohabir and Dularie to allow them to build a small hut on their

Kennard Ramphal, author of “Slippery Ochro”

land, these Anancy-like characters make life uncomfortable for their hosts.

Kennard Ramphal, author: “The character Slippery Ochro is based on a couple who lived in Canal during my time. The couple did not own any land, but built a small hut on the land of people who allowed them to do so. They did not work, lived on the generosity of others, and were sure to be involved in any court case in the village. They contrived to manipulate others in order to survive, and this would have been accepted by the villagers because they were so forgiving, but the couple’s tragic flaw was that they liked to set strife among members of the community.

“In a sense, Phulmattie, Slippery Ochro’s wife, was a forerunner of the women’s liberation movement. At the time I was living in Canal, women did not sit at the table and drink with the men.

Phulmattie defied the local custom, and drank and smoked “even and straight” with the men.

“The characters of Mohabir and his wife Dularie are based on a couple who owned a large tract of land, and were taken advantage of by many villagers because of their generosity.

I admit that I took some poetic license, but the core of the story is based on real people and incidents. My novel, which can be described as historical fiction, reflects what Canal No. 2 was like when I lived there. It is set in a period before the Demerara Harbour Bridge was built, so travelling to Georgetown required taking the ferry, and I have described the journey from Canal to Georgetown as I re-

self and family when he unearths a series of murders and a possible link to the decade-old unsolved murder of his sister’s friend.

These are the ideas that are explored in four novels that have been shortlisted for the Guyana Prize for Literature 2023. The finalists in the fiction category are “Slippery Ochro” by Kennard Ramphal; “Racing With The Rain” by

member it.

“I endeavoured to describe village life as accurately as possible. For example, the panchayat, comprising of village elders, mediated and decided on civil cases, and their decisions were accepted. The very few who did not accept the decisions of the panchayat were frowned upon by the community.

And, of course, the rum shop scenes are very realistic.

“I have the fondest memories of Canal as an idyllic village. Even characters like Slippery Ochro and his wife, who were recognized for their slyness, were regarded with amusement by many. Life was simple for the residents, who recognized and accepted most of the eccentricities of the people who lived in the village.

“As a boy, I had to listen to the elders in the village whenever they admonished me, or else my parents would punish me if they heard that I disobeyed an elder. The entire village raised me, and that is why I dedicated the book to my parents and all the residents of Canal.

Inspiration “I was intrigued by the real-life Slippery Ochro’s Anancy-like deceitful strategies.

“At first, I had wanted to write a short story about his exploits, but I felt that he deserved to have a full book written about him. The villagers in Canal feared him and his wife, and many decided to be friends with him to ensure that he and his wife would not be their enemies.

“I started ‘Slippery Ochro’ a few years ago, and then put it aside. Then I resumed in 2022, and published it in 2023.

“I always re-write my novels and short stories a number of times before I share them with my friends. And I re-write them after I get their feedback.

“I want my readers to have a good reading experience when they read my books.

I revised and re-wrote Slippery Ochro at least ten times.

“My main challenge was to keep the characters fictional, even though people who lived in Canal during my time will be able to recognize some of them.

“The other challenge was involved in the writing process. There was the temptation to move the action along without describing the characters and settings in detail. However, I also wanted to give the book some depth, but I didn’t want it to be too lengthy. Very few people will want to read a five-hundred-page book. I think that I have achieved a healthy balance between moving the story along, and describing the characters and settings.

Kennard Ramphal has written and co-authored other novels, including: Teacher Ram’s Fascination with Fire (2009); Imprints in Life’s Journeys (2013), Dilchand Joins the Army (2016), Escape to the Canadian Jungle (2018),

2022 Guyana Prize winner Kenneth Puddicombe; Rage From The Backwater by Somnauth Narine, and “The Girl In The Pink Pleated Skirt” by Guyana Prize First Fiction Finalist (2022) Michael A. Jordan. Ramphal and Puddicombe reside in Canada; Narine in the US, and Jordan in Guyana.

Here, the authors share with Guyana Times what inspired their fiction novels, and the writing process.

The Plot: A fast-moving rain cloud triggers a sudden downpour, and people run for cover. Can one ever really escape the past? Carl Dias returns home and is caught in the machinations of a historical conflict and an entrenched dictatorship.

Will he be able to leave?

“The title is a metaphor for the protagonist Carl Dias’s attempt to escape a conflicted relationship with his father, and the turmoil the country experienced during the pre-independence era. The idea for the title was triggered by a childhood experience of a swift moving rain cloud suddenly erupting during brilliant sunshine!”

Kenneth Puddicombe, author: “I describe Racing With The Rain (set in Guyana, Cuba, and Canada) as onethird historical, one-third personal, and one-third fictional. It’s set in the turbulent era of the 60s and 70s, and yes, I did attempt to capture the events of those two decades and portray them in a historical-fictional setting while trying to remain objective through the eyes of the main protagonist, Carl Dias, who is from a Portuguese background.

Living in Georgetown during the disturbances, one would inevitably feel the impact of the burning and looting in the commercial district in 1962, and the controversial strikes and the racial conflict the country experienced leading up to independence in 1966.

“I can’t really fix a time period over which Racing With The Rain was written, because ideas for the plot and the actual writing revealed themselves over many years. Chapters were reviewed by several writers’ groups and fellow authors until the final version was arrived at. A great deal of research was done on declassified documents relating to the British and American involvement in influencing the outcome of which party would lead British Guiana to independence. The main challenge was in taking all those ideas and chapters and creating a cohesive story that would appeal to readers.

“During most of the writing of Racing With The Rain, I was still employed, so it was very demanding to be engaged in writing and working full time as a professional accountant, in addition to sharing familial duties and responsibilities with my wife, who was pursuing her own career.

My schedule is taken up writing short stories, poetry, and editing and publishing for other writers.

“My novel was published through MiddleRoad Publishers which has now published over twenty-five books and has a growing stable of authors.

Writing as a teen “I suppose I inherited my love of literature from my father, who owned and ran two book stalls in Stabroek Market back in the 50s and 60s. I used the opportunity

to “review” the books he imported, including novels and non-fiction books. Many a weekend was spent engrossed in those books. So, the love of reading and writing started from an early age. I even remember an attempt to write my first novel in my teens!

“I believe I have always been writing, whether engaging in correspondence, reviewing the work of other writers, keeping journals on life experience and travel, writing short stories — it has been a lifelong obsession. Racing With The Rain was my first novel, but it was followed shortly after by my short story collection Down Independence Boulevard And Other Stories (Winner of the Guyana Prize, 2022), then another novel, Junta.

Kenneth Puddicombe, author of “Racing With The Rain”

I have only recently taken to writing poetry, and have published two collections: Unfathomable and Tropical Scenes.

Accountant to author “I’m a retired certified public accountant who managed the finance for several companies. My articles and short stories have been published in newspapers and literary magazines. A second novel, Junta, is set in the fictional island of Saint Anglia, where the military stages a coup.

“A first book of poems, Unfathomable and Other Poems, was published in 2020, and followed up with Tropical Scenes in 2023.

“I consider winning the Guyana Prize for Literature (2022 Fiction) for my short story collection Down Independence Boulevard And Other Stories as the highlight of my writing career. What greater honour could there be than your work being recognized and acknowledged by your native land?

“I believe Guyana continues to produce remarkable international literary authors, and just having my work considered would be an honour, if it were to happen.”

40 NEWS

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana Prize for Literature winners to be named on March 1 …as Ministry reveals shortlisted candidates

T

he Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry on Saturday announced the shortlisted candidates for the coveted Guyana Prize for Literature 2023 awards.

The competition is divided into four categories – Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Non-Fiction. According to the Ministry, the winners in each group will be announced at the Awards Ceremony set for Friday, March 1, 2024 at the National Cultural Centre in Georgetown.

In Fiction, the shortlisted candidates are: Michael Jordan for The Girl in the Pink Pleated Skirt; Somnauth Narine for Rage from the Backwaters; Kenneth Puddicombe for Racing with the Rain; and Kennard Ramphal for Slippery Ochro.

Shortlisted in the NonFiction category are: Esterine GH Adams for The Few Among the Many: Women’s Labour in British Guiana’s Jails, 18381917; Daniella Chase for

Becoming Bolder with Every Step; Daizal R Samad and Ashwannie Harrispersaud for A History of Guyanese Words and Expressions; and Joanne Collins-Gonsalves for Iris De Freitas Brazoo: Legal Luminary and Trailblazer.

In the Poetry category, there are two sub-categories. For Best First Book of Poetry, the shortlisted candidates are Ruth Osman for All Made of Longing and Makeda Braithwaite for Go Fish: Go in the Pack. The Best Overall Book of Poetry nominees are Sasenarine Persaud’s Mattress Makers and Ian McDonald’s Not Quite Without a Moon.

In Drama, Jamal La Rose is shortlisted for his piece “Requiem for the Living”; Shaphan A Hestick for “With a Kiss”; and Harold A Bascom for “Unfounded”.

There are also categories for young shortlisted candidates.

In Poetry (Male and

Female), they are: Samir Mohammed for Shadows in the Sand; Reneka Anand for Lotus Flower Story; The Woman’; Angel Moore for Yellow Cheese Pencil for a Vegan Artist (Untold Stories of An Artist); Mya Sanders for Pitch Black; and Italy Ton Chung for The Paradox of Youth.

The candidates for Short Story (Male and Female) are: Malachi Fyffe for “Reinvention”; Samir Mohammed for “The Lighthouse at the Bottom of the Sea”; Cianna Barkoye for “February The Fifth”; and Kemilah Hodge for “Plucking the Chrysanthemum”.

These shortlisted candidates were selected by a jury in each of the four categories.

The members of the jury for 2023 are: Professor Funso Aiyejina (Chair), Celeste Mohamed, and Dr Denise de Caires Narain Gurnah (Fiction); Professor Edward Greene (Chair), Professor

David Dabydeen, and Dr Lisa Outar (Non-Fiction); Professor Evelyn O’Callaghan (Chair), Professor Alison Donnell, and Dr Richard Georges for the Poetry category and Rawle Gibbons (Chair), Eugene Williams, and Gem MadhooNascimento for Drama.

Vanda Radzik (Chair), Camanie Khedaroo, and Imam Baksh are the jury members for both the Youth Poetry and the Youth Short Story categories.

After a six-year hiatus, the Guyana Prize for Literature was restored by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government in 2022 with new categories, features, and prizes.

Originally introduced in 1987 by late President Desmond Hoyte, the Prize was halted under the People’s National Congress (PNC)-led A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition’s term in office from 2015 to 2020.

At the first award ceremony in February 2023 following the return of the Prize, Prime Minister, Brigadier (Retired) Mark Phillips underscored the importance of the written word.

“It is unfortunate that for six years, our writers were left without an outlet, a platform, on which they could exercise their talent and be recognised for their self-expression,” he said.

He further explained, “Our Government felt that this was unacceptable, and upon return to office, sought to revive this prestigious programme and return to our local writers the opportunity to hone their craft and expand their horizons through the written word.”

Pointing to the untapped potential in Guyana’s creative industry, the Prime Minister noted that the Guyana Government was making sizeable investments in the sector including through

the creation of the cultural/creative industries grants and a soon-to-be-accredited Institute of Creative Arts to develop the skills of Guyanese creatives.

The Prize winners last year were Professor Clem Seecharan for his book Joe Solomon and the Spirit of Port Mourant for non-fiction; Kenneth Puddicombe for Down Independence Boulevard for fiction; Berkeley Wendell Semple for the Best Book of Poetry; and Rae Wiltshire for the Best Drama.

In the youth category, Samir Mohamed won first place in both the Poetry (Male) and Short Story (Male) categories. Meanwhile, Kimora Payne received the award for Best Short Story (Female) and Zelena Khan received the award for Best Poem (Female). Elly Niland won for the Best First Book of Fiction for her book Bone Soup and Other Stories. (G8)

‘Slippery Ochro’, ‘Racing With The Wind’...

The Plot: In 1978, the broken body of 13-year-old Sandra Stephens is found propped up against a fence in an alley in Tucville.

The killing is particularly troubling to fourteen-year-old Daniel McAlister, whose sister was a friend of the murdered girl, and it haunts him into adulthood.

Thirteen years later, Daniel, now a crime reporter, learns of other young girls, murdered and dumped into city canals. He suspects that they, and his sister’s slain friend, are victims of one man, and ventures into unsavory and dangerous areas in Guyana’s capital to unmask him.

The Plot: Kunal Satrohan, 35, is living in Richmond Hill, Queens, when both his parents are killed in a fire that’s set by a mysterious arsonist.

The only clue is a grainy photo from a security camera.

Kunal returns to Guyana to scatter his father’s ashes at Mahaica, where Kunal believed was his parent’s birthplace.

It’s in Guyana that he learns the truth about his father, and begins to track the elusive arsonist who killed his parents and had caused his father to be wrongly convicted.

Somnauth Narine, author: “Rage From the Backwater is my first novel. The genre is realistic fiction/suspense /literary fiction. The germ of the idea originated after a house fire in Richmond Hill, Queens incinerated three members of a Guyanese family. Bits and pieces of events from peoples’ lives in Guyana were woven to create the tapestry of the book.

The book is not based on any specific character.

“My novel is set in New York and Guyana.

In Guyana, a lot of the action takes place in Mahaica and the Northwest region, in contemporary Guyana, with many current issues taking center stage- development, foreign input, and the influx of the Venezuelan refugees. People who read it and haven’t been in Guyana for many years or have no idea of Guyana would also consider it a travel book.

“I was about ten when I became interested in writing, after reading the book Miguel Street by V.S Naipaul. Reading the novel made me realize that the lives of brown and black West Indian people were worthy to be represented on the printed page, so you can say that Naipaul was my first serious inspiration.

“I started writing seriously around 1976, and concentrated in the short story genre.

Many of my stories were read on the local radio by the noted Guyanese folklorist Wordsworth MacAndrew. Mac was the first person who encouraged me to write and to exploit the creolese dialect to paint colourful characters.

“I continued writing short stories through university, and completed a degree in Mechanical Engineering. I joined IAST as a mechanical engineer (1984-1989).

“I contributed to the early Stretch Out Magazine and the Link Show by writing pieces for the actor Richard Naraine.

FROM PAGE 39

Somnauth Narine, author of “Rage of the Backwater”

“I did some dramatic work in Guyana, and in my last year there (1989) wrote and directed the play Caribbean Driftwood.

“I moved to NY in 1989 and changed my career to teaching and retired from the NYC Dept. of Education in 2023.

“Earlier in NY, I published an anthology of Guyanese short stories, The Call of the Ocean and Other Stories and a children’s story book Anansi and the Alligator’s Diamond. While still based in NY, I wrote many episodes for the local satirical TV show Expressions of Richard Naraine.

In New York, I teamed up with my friend from teenage years, the director Mahadeo Shivraj and wrote several movie scripts that were converted to movies: Brown Sugar Too Bitter For Me, Forgotten Promise, Protection Game, and Brown Sugar too Bitter For Me-The oil Dream that was recently shown in Guyana and Canada.

“It was not difficult moving from the short story to the novel at all. The short story is the more difficult genre with many restrictions of plot, but I find that the novel gives you great liberty to explore.

“I write best at nights from 10 p.m. to 4.00 a.m. could be considered my schedule.

“Rage From The Backwater will definitely be turned into a screenplay.

“I don’t write to receive awards or recognition. I get my satisfaction by being engaged in the process of creating; and thankfully, over the years, a few people have enjoyed the fruits of my labour. I have always believed that a writer is someone who writes, period.”

Based on a real murder Michael A. Jordan, author: “My novel is based on the murder in 1976 of 13-year-old Sandra Ann Stewart, who was murdered in Tucville, where I once lived. “I saw the photograph on the front page of the Citizen, an evening paper.

That image troubled me then, and still

Michael A. Jordan, author of The girl in the pink pleated skirt

does. I know the prime suspect in her murder and I follow that unsolved case to this day.

“I knew a long time ago that I would write about this case someday.

“The story is set between 1978 and early 1992, prior to general elections.

My novel is infused with my experiences as a rookie reporter, when we used typewriters rather than computers, when there was no internet, when your research came from bound files.

“I’m a lot like Daniel McAlister; intrigued by cold cases, and I’m sometimes reckless and foolhardy in tracking them.

“I wrote at least five drafts of my novel before I finally got it right, and I surpassed my expectations.

“This is my second novel. Kamarang, my first, (a supernatural novel based on a little-known Guyanese Indigenous myth) was a finalist in the Guyana Prize For Literature 2022 (First Book of Fiction) “I am beyond pleased that my novel, one of Guyana’s few crime novels, is a finalist in the Guyana Prize. It’s a fantastic feeling to be among the other excellent writers who are also finalists.

“It would be an even greater honour to be bestowed with Guyana’s most prestigious award.”

NEWS

41

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Doctor wins SUV in Massy Stores’ Christmas Jackpot promotion I n a thrilling finale to the Massy Stores’ Christmas Jackpot promotion, Yara Martinez Diaz has emerged as the fortunate customer to claim the grand prize - the sleek MG ZS compact SUV. The promotion, which ran throughout the holiday season, had offered customers the chance to win various prizes, culminating with the drawing of the winner.

On Saturday, Massy said Diaz, a medical doctor, expressed delight at winning the coveted vehicle. “I feel so happy! I am deeply grateful for this prize!

Thank you, Massy Stores!” she exclaimed.

“When they called me, I thought it was a joke. I was so surprised; I was screaming when they called me.

Everybody was asking me if I was alright. It’s a dream come true,” the doctor added.

General Manager of Massy Stores, Robert Singh, who handed the keys to Diaz, said, “Yara, your support and patronage are sincerely appreciated, and we are thrilled that the MG ZS SUV will be joining your life’s journey…may your new ride bring you endless

In picture (L-R) General Manager of Massy Stores, Robert Singh; Dr Yara Martinez Diaz (winner in red); CEO and Snr Vice President of Massy Distribution, Navin Thakur; Marketing Supervisor of Massy Stores, Chrystel Taylor; and Assistant Vice President of Massy Stores Guyana, Christpen Bobb-Semple, during the handing over of the keys for the new MG ZS compact SUV that Diaz won from Massy Stores’ 2023/4 Christmas Jackpot Promotion.

joy and adventures.”

Diaz is a medical doctor who has been practising gynecology in Guyana for over a decade.

Meanwhile, Marketing Supervisor of Massy Stores, Chrystel Taylor, shared in the winner’s euphoria. “We

are thrilled to have been able to offer such an electrifying prize as part of our Christmas Jackpot promotion. There’s nothing quite like witnessing the sheer delight on the winner’s face when they see their prize,” she said.

The Christmas Jackpot promotion had seen a surge in customer participation as shoppers eagerly took advantage of the opportunity to win weekly prizes at each Massy Stores branch across Guyana while doing their holiday shopping. The

festive atmosphere and spirit of giving were palpable throughout the promotion, adding an extra layer of joy

try for every $5,000 spent at any of the five Massy Stores across Guyana. With more entries came greater odds of

to the holiday season for 65 customers who won weekly prizes, including local tours, appliances, and shopping vouchers that were up for grabs at each Massy Stores branch.

The delivery of the new MG ZS SUV marked a memorable and rewarding conclusion to Massy Stores Guyana’s second edition of the Christmas Jackpot promotion.

Participation in the prize draws was effortless.

Customers earned one en-

winning.

Meanwhile, Massy Stores recently launched its website, https://www.shopmassystoresgy.com/ which is seamlessly connected to its flagship store – Massy Stores Mega. This online platform allows individuals to conveniently shop for groceries, appliances, and more from anywhere using their credit/debit card.

The company will continue to utilise technology to enhance customers’ shopping experience.

HEALTH TIPS HICCUPS IN BABIES

rooted in tradition, and have no scientific basis. These include: * Making a person jump * Pulling their tongue * Making them sip water while upside down.

It is a bad idea to try these and many other home remedies on a baby. These supposed remedies can distress a baby, and may even be dangerous. Moreover, they are unlikely to stop the hiccups.

to speak with a doctor.

CAUSES

Dr. Tariq Jagnarine

F

am Med, Endocrinology/ Diabetes Hiccups happen when a baby’s diaphragm contracts, forcing air out through closed vocal cords and thus creating the hiccupping sound.

There are several methods that may stop hiccups in newborns, including regular burping and using pacifiers.

It is, however, important to remember that most babies get hiccups, and hiccups do not harm a baby.

A parent or caregiver may wish to try home remedies to stop or prevent hiccups.

While adults may find hiccups uncomfortable, they tend to cause less distress in babies. It is usually fine to leave a baby to stop hiccupping on their own. If they do not stop, a person may want

Hiccups in babies tend to occur for no apparent reason, but feeding can cause the diaphragm to spasm. Hiccups may happen when a baby: * Overfeeds * Eats too quickly. * Swallows too much air These factors can cause the baby’s stomach to expand, thus pushing against the diaphragm and triggering the spasms that lead to hiccups. Hiccups happen when something causes the diaphragm to spasm, and the vocal cords quickly shut.

Air is forced out through the closed vocal cords, and the hiccupping sound is created.

If hiccups happen frequently and cause distress, they may result from an underlying health condition, such as gastroesophageal reflux (GER). This occurs when partially digested food and stomach acid come back up through the esophagus, or food pipe. As these fluids pass the diaphragm, they may irritate it and trigger spasms.

Feeding or stomach issues may not always cause hiccups. The diaphragm may also spasm for unknown reasons.

When a parent or caregiver is concerned about newborn hiccups and does not want to let them run their course, the individual may find various strategies

PREVENTION

helpful. * Taking a break to burp the baby.

When the stomach is filled with air, it may push on the diaphragm, causing spasms. Taking a break from feeding to burp the baby may reduce the amount of air in the baby’s stomach. This may prevent hiccups.

According to Boys Town Paediatrics, it is a good idea to burp babies who are bottle-fed every time they consume 2–3 ounces. If a baby is breastfed, it is a good idea to burp them while switching between breasts. * Rubbing the baby’s

back Rubbing the baby’s back and rocking the baby back and forth can help them relax. This may stop the spasms that cause hiccups.

Rubbing the back can also help with burping, which may help stop hiccups. * Using a pacifier Sucking on a pacifier may help to relax the diaphragm and stop hiccupping.

However, there is no specific scientific evidence to support this, only anecdotal reports. * Feeding the baby gripe water Gripe water is a mixture of herbs and water.

Some people have traditionally used it to treat colic and other stomach concerns. The herbs usually contained in gripe water include ginger, fennel, chamomile, and cinnamon. If stomach issues are responsible for hiccups, some people believe that gripe water may help. However, no scientific evidence currently supports this treatment.

WHAT NOT TO DO

Some well-known remedies for hiccups are entirely

It may not always be possible to prevent hiccups.

While there is no evidence to support any technique for preventing hiccups, a parent or caregiver may wish to try the following strategies listed below: *Feeding the baby before they become very hungry, to keep them calm. *Feeding the baby frequently in small amounts *Sitting the baby upright after each feeding *Repositioning the bottle so that no air is near the teat *Ensuring that the baby’s mouth is latched over the whole nipple.

Contact a doctor if hiccups seem to distress the baby. This can indicate an underlying health condition.

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

42

guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2024

Regional

St Vincent court rejects challenge Surging cocaine to colonial-era anti-gay laws violence has Uruguay clamouring for DEA help T he top court in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines dismissed a challenge to anti-gay laws dating to British colonial rule on Friday, leaving the Caribbean country among a handful that still prescribes harsh criminal penalties against gays and lesbians.

The challenge was brought by Javin Johnson and Sean Macleish, two gay men who had pushed to decriminalise same-sex relations, arguing they were forced to leave the socially conservative country due to their sexual orientation.

Local laws call for up to 10 years’ incarceration

An aerial view shows containers stacked at the port in Montevideo, Uruguay, January 3, 2024 (Reuters/Mariana Greif photo)

U

ruguay’s main port received two cargo scanners 16 years ago to detect drugs and other suspicious loads.

Unfortunately, during delivery one of them fell into the sea.

Since then, cocaine shipments to Europe have surged through the port of Montevideo, which handled a record 1.1 million containers last year, fuelling a rise in gang violence and undermining Uruguay’s reputation as a beacon of stability in turbulent South America.

Uruguay, a small, affluent nation sandwiched between Brazil and Argentina, is desperate for help.

The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) shuttered its Montevideo office in 2019 after years of strained ties with local law enforce-

ment, four former DEA officials said. The details of the DEA’s exit are previously unreported.

Uruguay’s current centre-right Government, which took office the following year, has repeatedly asked the DEA to return, but US officials say there are no imminent plans to do so.

Three former DEA officials told Reuters that – with Washington focused on fentanyl flooding its borders from Mexico and little of the cocaine that transits through Uruguay heading to the United States – there’s scant appetite for seeking congressional approval to re-open a Montevideo office.

The DEA declined to comment.

European nations, which receive the bulk of the cocaine passing through

Uruguay, also have a limited counter-narcotics presence there. Spain is the only European country with a permanent Police attaché in Montevideo.

Reuters spoke with over two dozen current and former US, European and Uruguayan cops, as well as local officials, lawmakers and foreign diplomats.

They said Uruguay is in a precarious position, fighting a lonely battle against cocaine smuggling gangs that have expanded into every corner of Latin America over the last decade, turning once-tranquil nations like Ecuador into cartel badlands. (Excerpt from Reuters)

P

rime Minister and Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Leader Andrew Holness has doubled down on his Administration’s promise of urban development for rural areas.

“For decades now there has been no real plan for the urban development of Jamaica and for the development of our rural townships. The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has been the only Government that I can recall, except let’s say for the building of downtown Kingston and new Kingston, to have strategically taken on the development of small townships,” he said on Friday during a site visit at the Christiana tax office.

Holness was responding to a question posed by the Jamaica Observer regarding Opposition Leader

and People’s National Party (PNP) President Mark Golding’s “don’t hold your breath” comment over JLP’s promises of urban development.

Holness reiterated that his Administration has not been merely about “talk”.

“We have a plan which is well underway now for the development of the Morant Bay Urban Centre, that is not talk, that is not a wish, that is not a vision anymore, that is being converted to reality, you can drive pass there and you can see the Morant Bay Urban Centre being constructed,” he said.

He also pointed to plans for the Boundbrook Urban Centre in Port Antonio and the Bernard Lodge development underway in St Catherine. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

case.

Reuters was not able to reach Johnson or Macleish for comment, and it was not immediately clear if they planned to appeal the ruling to the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal.

Activists argue that the laws that criminalise consensual same-sex relations between adults encourage physical abuse and discrimination, even though they are rarely if ever enforced.

Cristian Gonzalez, a Human Rights Watch researcher, criticised the ruling in a post on X, calling it a “sad day for human rights.”

(Excerpt from Reuters)

David Cameron to visit Falkland Islands in 1st South Atlantic tour as Foreign Minister

B

ritish Foreign Minister David Cameron will visit the Falkland Islands as part of his first South Atlantic and South American tour since assuming his current role, the foreign office said on Sunday.

Argentina and Britain have a longstanding foreign policy conflict over the sovereignty of the British-run islands, where they fought a brief war in 1982.

“The Falkland Islands are a valued part of the British family, and we are clear that as long as they want to remain part of the family, the issue of sover-

British Foreign Minister David Cameron

eignty will not be up for discussion,” Cameron said in a

statement.

The South American nation has sought to revive negotiations over Falklands sovereignty, but Britain has said that was not on the table as long as the islands’ inhabitants wanted to remain British.

The Foreign Ministry said Cameron would pay his respects to British personnel who lost their lives during the 1982 conflict and thank British military personnel serving on the Islands. Cameron is expected to then visit Paraguay and attend the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting in Brazil.

(Reuters)

T&T Police kill 3 in Monte Grande, Tunapuna

T JLP serious about rural development, says Holness

for anyone who has samesex relations, under a 1988 criminal code that upheld laws from the colonial era.

In her ruling, Judge Esco Henry held that Johnson and Macleish did not have the standing to challenge the laws since they do not live in the country. She also described as reasonable the concern that “an un-stemmed deluge of new HIV cases” could overwhelm the health system if the laws were overturned.

The Judge further ordered the two men to pay nearly US$3000 to the Attorney General’s office, one of the defendants in the

hree persons were shot dead by Police at Lovell Street, Monte Grande, Tunapuna, early on February 16, in what Police said an exchange of gunfire.

Two of the deceased were identified by Police. They were 29-year-old Shaquille McGregor, also called “Duss Boss”, of Lovell Street, Monte Grande, Tunapuna; and 18-year-old Jadel Shaniqua Ottley. The third victim, a man, remains unidentified.

North Central Division divisional commander Richard Smith said around 05:00h, Police Officers went

to the home of the suspects to execute a search warrant for firearms and ammunition.

“Upon their arrival at that premises, there was a violent confrontation with the suspects which resulted in an exchange of gunfire, leaving three people dead. Two firearms were recovered at that scene, one a 9mm pistol, and the other a Colt revolver.

“Thankfully none of the officers were injured during this confrontation. At this stage, I want to offer my condolences to the bereaved family, as any life lost in any

circumstances is a serious blow for our nation.”

Smith said the report would be thoroughly investigated, as he had appointed

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Rawle Ramharack as the lead investigator into the incident.

(Trinidad Newsday)

Grenada continues to monitor oil spill

T

he National Disaster Management Agency (NaDMA) says it continues to carefully monitor the ongoing oil spill which occurred off the coast of Tobago.

Since the last update, NaDMA has held meetings with several entities including the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA); the Caribbean

Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH); the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency; the Information and Training Centre (RAC/REMPEEITC CARIBE) and the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) in Trinidad and Tobago.

“The objective of these engagements was to ascertain the exact location and likely continued trajectory

of the oil slick to determine the extent to which it may affect Grenada’s marine areas,” said NaDMA in a release on Saturday.

The agency also said that an oil spill committee has been activated and will continue to work with regional and hemispheric partners to monitor the situation.

The agency said that it would continue to provide timely updates to the public

as and when more accurate information is available.

“NaDMA reassures that the situation is being monitored, and the public should continue to pay attention to the updates and any announcements related to the oil spill.”

The oil spill committee has also been placed on standby to activate the emergency plan if necessary.(CMC)

guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2024

43

Around the World

Netanyahu halts Gaza truce talks OILNEWS OIL NEWS over “delusional” Hamas demands Yemen's Houthis claim missile attack on oil tanker in Red Sea

Y

emen's Iran-aligned Houthis claimed responsibility on Saturday for an attack on the oil tanker M/T Pollux, which US officials said the previous day had been hit by a missile.

"The naval forces of the Yemeni Armed Forces carried out a targeting operation against a British oil ship (Pollux) in the Red Sea with a large number of appropriate naval missiles," Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said in a statement, adding the strikes "were accurate and direct".

US Central Command (Centcom) said on Saturday that four anti-ship ballistic missiles were launched from Iranianbacked Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen into the Red Sea over several hours on Friday.

Centcom assessed that at least three of the missiles were launched towards the M/T Pollux, which it said was a Panamanian-flagged, Denmark-owned, Panamanianregistered vessel. There were no reported injuries, the statement said.

The US State Department said on Friday that the vessel, which was carrying crude oil bound for India, was hit by a missile on its port side.

M/T Pollux embarked from Russia's Black Sea port city of Novorossiysk on January 24 and was due to discharge in Paradip, India, on February 28, according to LSEG data.

The Houthis have launched repeated drone and missile attacks against international commercial shipping in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait since mid-November, saying they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians as Israel wages war on Hamas. (Reuters)

I

srael has sent negotiators for truce talks in Cairo as requested by US President Joe Biden, but they did not go back for further talks because Hamas' demands were "delusional", Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday.

Netanyahu also said Israel would not give in to "international dictates" regarding a statehood agreement with the Palestinians, which he said could only be reached through direct negotiations without preconditions.

The Egyptian and Qatari-mediated talks to try to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and secure the release of over 100 Israeli hostages being held in the Hamasruled territory have yet to produce results. A round of inconclusive talks in Cairo ended on Tuesday.

Asked during a press conference on Saturday why Israeli negotiators did not return for further talks,

Netanyahu said: "We got nothing except for delusional demands from Hamas."

Those demands, he said, included ending the war and leaving Hamas as it is, freeing "thousands of murderers" from Israeli jails, and even demands regarding a flashpoint holy site in Jerusalem known as the Temple Mount in Judaism and the Noble Sanctuary in Islam.

He said Israeli representatives in Cairo "sat and listened and there was no change. I wanted to say not a millimetre – but there was not a nanometre of change."

Netanyahu said there was no reason for them to go back "until we see a change".

Adding pressure on Netanyahu to reach a deal with Hamas, thousands of Israelis gathered outside the military headquarters in Tel Aviv in support of the hostages still in Gaza.

They held up photographs

Thailand's billionaire ex-PM Thaksin freed on parole

Ukraine withdraws from Avdiivka, Putin hails “important victory”

R

ussian President Vladimir Putin called the capture of Avdiivka "an important victory" after Ukraine's military chief said on Saturday that his troops withdrew from the devastated town in the east of the country after months of intense combat.

Although the Russian Defence Ministry said that Ukrainian units were still entrenched at the town's coke plant, the advance on Avdiivka was Moscow's biggest advance since it took the city of Bakhmut last May. It came days before the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and amidst Ukraine's acute shortages of ammunition with fresh US military aid delayed for months in Congress.

It is also the clearest sign yet of how the tide of the war has turned in Moscow's favour after a Ukrainian counteroffensive failed to break through Russian lines last year.

"The Head of State congratulated Russian soldiers on this success, an important victory," the Kremlin

said in a statement on its website.

US President Joe Biden warned this week that Avdiivka could fall to Russian forces because of ammunition shortages following months of Republican congressional opposition to a new US military aid package for Kyiv.

A White House statement on Saturday said Biden called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Saturday to underscore the US commitment to continue supporting Ukraine and reiterated the need for Congress to urgently pass the package to resupply Ukrainian forces.

The White House said the withdrawal had been forced upon Ukraine "by dwindling supplies as a result of congressional inaction", that had forced Ukrainian soldiers to ration ammunition and resulted in "Russia’s first notable gains in months".

Capturing the city is likely to provide a morale boost for Russia ahead of Putin's bid for re-election next month, which he is almost certain to win.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra sits next to his daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra, as they leave a Police hospital after he was granted parole, in Bangkok, Thailand, February 18, 2024 (Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha photo)

T

hailand's convicted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was released on parole on Sunday, his lawyer said, starting a first day of freedom in his homeland, 15 years after fleeing in the wake of his overthrow by the royalist military.

The influential billionaire, whose family's party is now in power in Thailand, was freed from hospital detention six months into a sentence for abuse of power and conflicts of interest, that was commuted from eight years to one by the country's king.

Reuters journalists saw Thaksin, 74, leaving the hospital in a black Mercedes van early on Sunday, wearing a green shirt and with his arm in a sling, sitting beside his youngest daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, leader of the ruling Pheu Thai party.

Thaksin was eligible for

parole due to his age, health condition and time served and had been detained in hospital on health grounds.

The vehicle was seen arriving at the family's Bangkok residence about 25 minutes later.

Paetongtarn shared a post by one of her followers on Instagram alongside an image of her in the vehicle with her father, which carried the message: "Thaksin has arrived home, hope he will have good health."

His lawyer Winyat Chartmontri told Reuters Thaksin had completed parole proceedings and had formally been released.

Thailand's best-known and most polarising premier, Thaksin has loomed large over politics for two decades, despite 15 years in self-imposed exile to avoid jail, charges he long insisted were cooked up by his enemies to keep him at bay.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Abir Sultan/Pool via Reuters file photo)

and signs calling for their release, including one that

read: "Time is running out!"

(Excerpt from Reuters)

DR Congo accuses Rwanda of airport ‘drone attack’ in restive east

T

he Democratic Republic of the Congo has accused Rwanda of carrying out a drone attack that damaged a civilian aircraft at the airport in the strategic eastern city of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province.

Fighting has flared in recent days around the town of Sake, 20 kilometres (12 miles) from Goma, between M23 rebels – which Kinshasa says are backed by Kigali – and Congolese Government forces.

“On the night of Friday to Saturday, at 2-o-clock in the morning local time, there was a drone attack by the Rwandan army,” said LieutenantColonel Guillaume Ndjike Kaito, army spokesperson for North Kivu province.

“It had obviously come from the Rwandan territory, violating the territorial integri-

ty of the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” he added in a video broadcast by the governorate.

The drones “targeted aircraft of DRC armed forces”.

However, army aircraft “were not hit”, he said, but “a civilian aircraft was hit and damaged”.

The Rwandan government did not immediately respond to the allegations.

An AFP correspondent and Goma residents reported hearing two loud explosions around the time of the blast. A security source told AFP about “two bombs” on Saturday and said experts were on site to check where they had been fired from.

Despite the bomb reports, national and international traffic was normal, sources at the airport said.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Alexei Navalny death: Team accuses Russia of hiding his body

A

lexei Navalny’s mother has been unable to recover his body after his death in an Arctic jail, a close aide to the dead Russian Opposition Leader says.

Kira Yarmysh said his mother, Lyudmila, was told his body would only be handed over once a post-mortem examination had been completed.

Navalny’s team believes the anti-corruption campaigner was murdered on the orders of President Vladimir Putin.

A rights group said 300 Russians had been arrested for laying tributes.

Western Governments say the blame lies with Russian authorities for the 47-yearold’s sudden death, while Foreign Ministers from the G7 group of rich countries called on Russia to “urgently clarify” the circumstances surrounding it.

Putin has not publicly commented since the Russian prison service announced on Friday that Navalny had been taken ill and died at the remote IK-3 prison in the Arctic Circle.

In the immediate aftermath, the Kremlin said it was aware and the President had been informed.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry said it rejected “biased and unrealistic” assessments over his cause of death made during a meeting with British officials on Saturday.

Navalny was one of the most prominent faces of Russian opposition to Mr Putin’s regime and was serving a three-decade sentence for politically-motivated charges at the “Polar Wolf” penal colony in Kharp, about 1900km (1200 miles) north of Moscow. (Excerpt from Reuters)

44

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2024

ARIES (March 21April 19)

You can juggle a lot, but don’t lose sight of what’s essential. Spend time with someone you love and enjoy life’s little pleasures. Do your best to maintain good health and fitness.

Take time to assess situaTAURUS tions. Stay within your com(April 20fort zone when dealing with May 20) others. Too much of anything will end up holding you back.

Stick to what’s practical.

Get your information from GEMINI the source. Don’t trust hear(MAY 28say or let someone be your June 20) guide. Gathering firsthand information and being the one to lead the way will bring about better results.

It’s OK to do things differCANCER ently or to focus on something (June 21out of the ordinary. The chalJuly 22) lenge is to give yourself the opportunities you want and ignore what others think or say.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Don’t expect everyone to tag along or help you fulfill your dream. Do what suits you, enjoy the people who share your concerns and let those who wish to head in a different direction do so.

You may be overdue for a change, but before tak(Aug. 23ing a leap of faith, question Sept. 22) where you will land. Before you proceed, get to know who you are dealing with and what their intentions are.

Live and learn. Take the LIBRA plunge, indulge in something (Sept. 23that excites you and incorpoOct. 23) rate it into your daily routine.

Pay attention to money and health issues.

VIRGO

Pickles

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Peanuts

Don’t settle for less when you can have so much more.

Build an environment that protects you from outside influences and unreliable people.

Don’t deny yourself the chance to do something different.

Trust yourself to deSAGITTARIUS vise a plan that works for (Nov. 23you. Unreliable sources will Dec. 21) waste your time and cost you money. Bypass the riffraff and turn your ideas into something concrete.

Don’t cross a line; mixing CAPRICORN business with pleasure will (Dec. 22lead to unexpected problems.

Jan. 19) Pay attention to home and family by creating a welcoming environment. Don’t overdo it.

Calvin and Hobbes

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

Get out and mingle by attending a conference, networking function or reunion.

The information you gather will spark your imagination and help you recognize how you want to spend your time.

PISCES (Feb. 20Mar. 20)

Don’t waste time on things you can’t change; focus on what you can do to improve your life. How you approach responsibilities and deal with others will determine how far you get.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2024

45

England tour of India 2024: Test 3 of 5…

Jaiswal’s blistering century caps India’s day of dominance “E

ven when it was 200 for 2, guys were pretty relaxed. You know, in a session, there is four or five that could come your way.” Those were the words of R Ashwin, who might have pulled out of the Test overnight for personal reasons, but the Indian attack was good enough to vindicate him, with eight wickets in a session-and-a- half as India roared back from the shock of a sensational Ben Duckett hundred on day two.

Kuldeep Yadav softened England up with an excellent spell that virtually ran through the first session, and Mohammed Siraj capitalised on it in the second session as India took the last eight wick-

of the stumps and deliberately in front of square. And when India sent another man back, he picked an easy single.

Kuldeep’s response was to go wider and look for more overspin. That kept Duckett quiet, and then he drew an edge on the reverse sweep, his first boundary off an edge.

Eventually, after reaching 150, he ended up hitting a short, wide ball straight to cov-

The now familiar Yashasvi Jaiswal leap after scoring a century

kling century from Yashasvi Jaiswal, India ended the day with a lead of 322, which is 84 more than what they still had in the bank at the start of the

Yashasvi Jaiswal got treatment for a back issue and subsequently retired hurt

ets for just 95 runs. With a first-innings lead of 126 secured, India’s batters finally got down to scoring the runs that should be scored off an inexperienced and inaccurate attack. Riding on a spar-

It might be just two wickets, but it set the foundation for India conceding just 83 in 26 overs in the session. Finally, India had some control over the free-scoring England batters.

Post lunch, Ben Stokes tried to take a few risks, and for once, they didn’t all come off. Ravindra Jadeja, bowling around the wicket to the left-handed batter, an angle

day.

the first two days had fallen in the first hour. It was pertinent that India cash in on that movement from the moisture early in the morning. In Ashwin’s absence, they began with Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep. Immediately, it was apparent there was a little more available than had been in the second half of day two, which is when Duckett had led England to 207 for 2 in 35 overs.

Shubman Gill got on top of the bounce to play a pull shot

Bazball gives, but Bazball takes as well Joe Root, more overs under his belt than runs in this series, tried the reverse scoop in Bumrah’s third over of the day, but ended up hitting it to second slip for a sharp catch for Jaiswal. To be fair to Root,

er. It just stopped a touch and turned more than expected.

Everything was coming together for India: the pitch was misbehaving just that little bit more, a traditionally highrisk shot had gone straight to hand, and Kuldeep was bowling beautifully. Kuldeep was

that has raised a few eyebrows in the series, got him on the slog sweep, thanks to that angle. The ball didn’t turn, and Stokes holed out. Something similar happened with Tom

For the fifth time in the series, the young batting group was presented with an opportunity to bat England out of a match. India’s innings began right at the midpoint of the middle day of the middle Test of the series; by the end of the day, it seemed the series had turned a corner. Finally, it looked like a four-man attack whose one spinner debuted this series. Their best spinner has been Root, who got them their first wicket: Rohit Sharma lbw to a ball too full.

Jaiswal and Shubman Gill then began slowly, absorbed the best England had to offer, and got to 75 for 1 in 26 overs.

Jaiswal looked at ease, Gill seemed to have started back and across to try to cover the off stump better. In the 27th over, floodgates opened. On 35 off 73 at this moment, Jaiswal flicked a switch, hooked Anderson, then pulled him dismissively in front of square, and then lofted Hartley for two sixes down the ground.

Suddenly he was 61 off 81.

Then Jaiswal biffed Ahmed down the ground before sweeping Root for his 18th six in just seven Tests. The cherry on the top was his two reverse-swept boundaries in three balls off Ahmed, played

That is probably why Ashwin was confident of a comeback on a pitch that was likely to only get worse for batting.

Five of the 12 wickets on

SCOREBOARD England 1st Innings Zak Crawley c Patidar b Ashwin 15 Ben Duckett c Shubman Gill b Kuldeep Yadav 153 Ollie Pope lbw b Mohammed Siraj 39 Joe Root c Jaiswal b Bumrah 18 Jonny Bairstow lbw b Kuldeep Yadav 0 Ben Stokes (c) c Bumrah b Jadeja 41 Ben Foakes † c Sharma b Mohammed Siraj 13 Rehan Ahmed b Mohammed Siraj 6 Tom Hartley st †Jurel b Jadeja 9 Mark Wood not out 4 James Anderson b Mohammed Siraj 1 Extras (b 6, lb 5, nb 4, pen 5) 20 TOTAL 71.1 Ov (RR: 4.48) 319 Fall of wickets: 1-89 (Zak Crawley, 13.1 ov), 2-182 (Ollie Pope, 29.6 ov), 3-224 (Joe Root, 39.5 ov), 4-225 (Jonny Bairstow, 40.4 ov), 5-260 (Ben Duckett, 50.1 ov), 6-299 (Ben Stokes, 64.6 ov), 7-299 (Ben Foakes, 65.1 ov), 8-314 (Rehan Ahmed, 69.5 ov), 9-314 (Tom Hartley, 70.2 ov),

10-319 (James Anderson, 71.1 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Jasprit Bumrah 15-1-54-1 Mohammed Siraj 21.1-2-84-4 Kuldeep Yadav 18-2-77-2 Ravichandran Ashwin 7-0-37-1 Ravindra Jadeja 10-0-51-2 India 2nd Innings Yashasvi Jaiswal retired hurt 104 Rohit Sharma (c) lbw b Root 19 Shubman Gill not out 65 Rajat Patidar c Rehan Ahmed b Hartley 0 Kuldeep Yadav not out 3 Extras (lb 5) 5 TOTAL 51 Ov (RR: 3.84) 196/2 Yet to bat: Sarfaraz Khan, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel †, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj Fall of wickets: 1-30 (Rohit Sharma, 11.3 ov), 1-185* (Yashasvi Jaiswal, retired hurt), 2-191 (Rajat Patidar, 47.4 ov) • BOWLING O-M-R-W James Anderson 6-1-32-0 Joe Root 14-2-48-1 Tom Hartley 15-2-42-1 Mark Wood 8-0-38-0 Rehan Ahmed 8-0-31-0

Ben Duckett went past 150 on the third morning

Mohammed Siraj recorded his best figures in a home Test

until then, he had scored 64 with that shot in just 23 balls for one dismissal. What followed is a true test of the dressing room’s disregard for results, the biggest building block of Bazball.

In the early exchanges, Duckett had reminded India of the problem they had.

Kuldeep had a deep square leg for the sweep, and a deep cover for the reverse sweep, but Duckett swept from in front

in great rhythm, giving the ball proper rip, creating deception both in the air and off the surface. Before he got Duckett in what might look on the surface like a soft manner, he had beaten Jonny Bairstow in the air, and then ripped the ball in to trap him for his eighth duck against India, the most by any batter.

Kuldeep bowled through the session, bar one over, for day-three figures of 12-1-35-2.

Hartley, who charged him but was beaten by the lack of turn, and was stumped to give Dhruv Jurel his first Test victim.

At the other end, Siraj charged in, reversed the ball, and ran through the lower order. Ben Foakes got one that stopped in the surface, and then pinged all the way to midon for a catch. Rehan Ahmed got a superb yorker that he even cue-ended, but couldn’t save his off stump. Full, reversing, off-stump-seeking Siraj was too good for James Anderson. For once, India had ended an innings in just 85 false responses, a bit of luck they were due after the hard work in the first four innings of the series.

the way England have been playing: switch the stance but not the grip. This is just after head coach Rahul Dravid might have sent him a quiet instruction to be ruthless.

He brought up his third Test hundred with a cut in front of square off Mark Wood, bowling with a square field for the short ball.

Almost a silent partner, Gill reminded everyone he was around when he pulled Mark Wood for a six to bring up his fifty off 98 balls.

He scored just 57 in the 155run stand, which came to a pause with back pain forcing Jaiswal to retire hurt, probably a precaution, keeping next week’s Test in Ranchi in mind.

(ESPNCricinfo)

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2024

Racing Madrid President Nijjar, ex-player Gutiérrez in Guyana on official visit T

he President of Spain’s Racing Madrid Football Club (RMFC), Steve Nijjar, and former Real Madrid player Rubén de la Red Gutiérrez are presently in Guyana on an official tour to evaluate ways to collaborate with the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) to support and nurture young aspiring footballers.

The duo arrived in Guyana on February 14.

This is the first-ever visit here for de la Red Gutiérrez, a former midfield maestro for Real Madrid and the Spanish national team, and UEFA pro licensed coach.

The men have already met with the GFF Council, and will be meeting with the national youth team coaches and GFF Academy Training Center coaches.

Additionally, they will be conducting training sessions for the national under-17, and observing sessions with the Under-20 national team during the five-day visit.

GFF President Wayne Forde has said the trip was organised to provide RMFC

Steve Nijjar and Rubén de la Red Gutiérrez received Golden Jaguars T-shirts from GFF VicePresident Bruce Lovell in the presence of General Secretary Ian Alves, Technical Director Bryan Joseph, and VP Rawlston Adams

with a comprehensive understanding of the "layers of Guyana's youth football programme, which incorporates the ATC, Access, Tiger Rentals Under-13 League Cup and NAMILCO ‘Flour Power’ U17 IntraAssociation League. These components form the bedrock of our junior national team programme."

In October 2023, GFF President Wayne Forde and RMFC President Nijjar inked a groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This agreement is a first between the GFF and a European club.

It centres on coaching education and providing opportunities for exception-

Fitness Express, E-Master Corporation rack up with GAPLF for Novices competition

ally talented young male and female players to garner exposure and secure placements in prestigious European clubs and academies.

The partnership also includes the development of women and elite players here.

RMFC, a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain, boasts an affiliation with Genova International School, recognized as the world's largest and most successful academy for player pathways and development.

GFF Technical Director Bryan Joseph has added, “We are pleased that we are now experiencing the first tangible of this ground-breaking partnership with Racing Madrid.

Ruben’s visit here is directly linked to our vision for the development of our ‘High performance’ programme for youth players. We are mapping out this with input from Ruben through his extensive work with elite programmes across the world.

FIFA has already approved Guyana’s application for the development of our national youth academy, and now we’re adding the expertise.

“We are going to have the support of FIFA through its Regional Technical Consultant Mr.

GBI, GGA enter major marketing agreement Westside Golf Course during the March 30-April 1 activities that are anticipated to attract over 10,000 persons over the 3-day period.

T

he longest partnership with powerlifting as a corporate partner has been maintained when the Owner/Manager of Fitness Express, Jamie McDonald, yesterday presented a cheque to Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF) President Franklin Wilson.

The entity’s John and Sheriff Street, Campbellville store was the venue for the simple handover, as McDonald noted that his company was more than pleased to be continuing a rich tradition of support for the sport.

“Fitness Express is happy to be continuing our support for powerlifting, which continues to do well here in Guyana and internationally. I’ve seen the continued growth of this strength sport, and the development of our athletes, both male and female, and dare say we are proud to be a part of this exciting development.”

E-Master Corporation’s Managing Director, Mr. Oudit Seenarain, also shared his company’s delight at being on board, and being able to back “the sport and the young athletes who are making their entry into competition.”

“Powerlifting, no doubt, is on the up. We can see and feel its development, and we at E-Master Corporation are more than privileged to be part of the sport at this juncture in our history. The GAPLF can be assured of our unflinching partnership, going forward,”

Westside Golf Course - Home of the Hole-in-One Island Green Challenge

G Jamie McDonald, Manager of Fitness Express, (left) handing over sponsorship to GAPLF President Franklin Wilson

he said.

The annual competition, which will take place at the Saint Stanislaus College Auditorium beginning at 09:00hrs, will showcase several male and female athletes aiming to make a mark in the sport.

The rivalry is anticipated to be keen as the strong men and women aim to outdo each other, with medals and trophies being at stake for outstanding performers. Fitness Express has also agreed to reward both the respective female and male overall winners with a supplement hamper.

The sport reached its highest international achievement just last Saturday, when Guyana’s marquee strongman Carlos PettersonGriffith briefly broke and held the 93kg squat record

at Sheffield24, which brought together the 12 best male and female lifters from around the world.

And while 2023 was a very successful year for powerlifting, with Guyana competing and medaling at all three World Championships apart from the South American Championships, 2024 is expected to be another successful year, according to GAPLF President Franklin Wilson.

“I’d like to extend the Federation’s gratitude to both Fitness Express and E-Master Corporation for their continued investment in our sport. It’s support like what we get from these two entities that fuels the growth and sustenance of the sport, and ensures that we keep our local competitions, which is mandatory,” he said.

Lenny Lake, to ensure that our programme aligns with, and enjoys the blessings of, FIFA through the talent Development Scheme programme which is the brainchild of the great Arsene Wenger.

Nijjar has said, “These are exciting times in the Guyanese Football Federation, and we are very honoured to be part of the success that we are about to achieve. RMFC and Racing City Group are looking forward to being an integral part of this success. My partner Morris Pagniello and I are committed to the GFF and its development.”

De la Red Gutierrez has said, “I am happy to be here, and I already like what I see. I wanna share some good ideas, and it is good to learn of other cultures and other mentalities. Guyana have so much potential, and I am happy to experience this through football.”

Nijjar and de la Red Gutiérrez are scheduled to depart Guyana on February 20.

uyana Beverages Inc., the distributors of non-alcoholic beverages Fruta Premium Juices, Busta Soft Drinks and many other well-known beverage products, has signed a major marketing agreement with the Guyana Golf Association that will see the two organizations promoting each other around the country.

GBI Marketing Manager Fharis Hamid has said, "We have been a long-term supporter of Mr. Hussain and his team that brings golf to thousands of young players.

This is a programme that Guyana Beverages Inc. is proud to be associated with, and we plan on increasing our involvement as golf develops in the coming years."

GBI Promotions Manager Mr. Collins Higgins explained, "Guyana Beverages will provide support for the school programme with prizes and product hampers for tournaments throughout the year. Additionally, a mega-hamper filled with $100,000 worth of our various products will be up for grabs at Hole-in-One Challenges at the Nexgen

Golf Academy, the Westside Golf Course, and other locations around the country!"

President of the Guyana Golf Association, Aleem Hussain, has said, "We wish to thank Guyana Beverages Inc. and their brands, Fruta Premium Juices and Busta Soft Drinks for joining our growing list of sponsors. It is because of support from major companies like these that Guyana now has the largest golf programme for students in the entire region.

"In partnership with the Ministry of Education's Secondary School Priority Programme, which requires that all learners be exposed to a sport during their formative years, the GGA and Nexgen Golf Academy have introduced golf to thousands of Grades 7-9 students during PE classes in schools around the country. The next stage is to create competitions and tournaments, which the support of sponsors will be of tremendous importance."

Players will have a chance to win the $100,000 prize at the Hole-in-One Challenge at the Easter ‘Eggstravaganza’ at

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47

DR needle Lady Jags for Gold Cup group spot I

t was heartbreak in Carson, California for Guyana’s senior women’s national team, the Lady Jaguars as they came up short on their CONCACAF Gold Cup match against the Dominican Republic.

Playing for a chance to make it into the group stage, the Dominican Republic managed to needle the local team 1-0; sealing their spot in Group A with the USA, Mexico, and Argentina.

Head Coach Omar Khan opted for a starting XI that read Captain and goalkeeper Chante Sandiford, Anya Tribune, Brianne Desa, Kristen Bettencourt, Otesha Charles, Shanice Alfred, Annalisa Vincent, Jalade Trim, Jenea Knight, Stephanie Kouzas, and Rylee Traicoff.

The match at the Dignity Health Sports Complex began with high intensity as the

Glimpses from the Lady Jags’ battle with the Dominican Republic

mettle of the Guyanese, as they maintained possession and locked down Guyana’s front three.

Guyana’s first shot on target came around the 30th minute, as Alfred sent a shot

across from the corner of the box, but there was little for the Dominican Republic keeper to do as the ball connected with the outside of the net.

Minutes later, Trim has a sure opportunity receiving

Dominicans fought relentlessly to maintain possession consistently.

The first real test the Guyanese team faced came in the sixth minute, when a breakdown of their defence meant Sandiford would have to go to work early.

Then, three minutes later, a set piece from the corner and a subsequent header sent Sandiford to work again; her second save in a matter of minutes.

The Dominican Republic outfit continued to test the

a pass right in the box, with just one defender on her back.

However, Trim could not get the shot off on time, missing out on the scoring chance.

The first half ended with the Lady Jags being able to hold off their opponents for a 0-0 scoreline.

In the second, the Lady Jags found more rhythm, but again were unable to pierce the Dominican Republic defence.

Then, in the 55th minute, it all fell apart for the Lady Jags, when a Dominican Republic set piece resulted in

the eventual winning goal.

Though the Guyanese defended well and Charles got a touch to get the ball out of the danger zone, DR’s Jalen Vallecillo won possession from Charles and sent it out of the box, where Kathrynn González was waiting to return the shot into the corner of the goal.

Later on, Alfred had an opportunity to level the score, but, like Trim in the first segment, she could not complete the turn and shot.

Eventually, the time would expire with the Lady Jags coming up short against their opponents and missing out on the group spot.

Hence, the Dominican Republic advance to Group A with the USA, Mexico and Argentina.

Cornwall’s 6-fer helps Hurricanes to 273-run demolition of GHE

L

eeward Islands Hurricanes Captain Rahkeem Cornwall spun a web around Guyana Harpy Eagles (GHE) batsmen, as he snared 6-61 to lead his team to a handsome 273-run win over the defending champions in their West Indies Championship fixture at Warner Park on Saturday.

Along with Cornwall’s bowling masterclass, the Hurricanes victory was large in part to Mikyle Louis, who achieved the rare feat of scoring a century in both innings to put the game beyond the reach of the Harpy Eagles batsmen, who struggled throughout.

Louis, a St Kitts and Nevis native, scored 113

Rahkeem Cornwall’s 6-fer routed the Harpy Eagles

and 130, which propelled the Hurricanes to 352 and 295 respectively, after which Cornwall com-

bined with Daniel Doram and Jeremiah Louis, to restrict Harpy Eagles to 188 and 186.

The burly Cornwall ended with match figures of 7-89, after taking 1-28 in the first innings, while Doram, who had 4-40 in the first innings, took 2-48 in the second to end with match figures of 6-88. Jeremiah Louis had match figures of 4-80, after taking 3-42 and 1-38 across both innings.

Set a daunting 460 to win, Harpy Eagles resumed the final day from an overnight score of 67-1, with Raymond Perez and Tagenarine Chanderpaul seeking to push on in their 55-run second-wicket stand.

However, Chanderpaul only added seven to his overnight score of 40, while Perez added only three runs to his 20.

Though Kevlon Anderson

(26); Kevin Sinclair (23) and Kemol Savory (24), offered little resistance, they found Cornwall and Doram too hot to handle.

Veerasammy Permaul tried to counterattack with a 29-ball 30, including two

sixes, but he eventually went caught behind off Jeremiah Louis, before Cornwall and Doram wrapped things up with the wickets of Anthony Adams and Neiland Cadogan, both without scoring. (Sportsmax)

Guyana Harpy Eagles 186 Tagenarine Chanderpaul c DT Doram b CK Archibald 47 Matthew Nandu c TR Warde b RRS Cornwall 2 Raymond Perez b RRS Cornwall 23 Kevlon Anderson c JN Hamilton b DT Doram 26 Kevin Sinclair lbw RRS Cornwall 23 Kemol Savory b RRS Cornwall 24 Ronaldo Ali Mohamed lbw RRS Cornwall 2 Veerasammy Permaul c JN Hamilton

b JS Louis 30 Anthony Adams c JS Louis b RRS Cornwall 0 Neiland Cadogan b DT Doram 0 Isai Thorne not out 3 Extras – 6 b: 4 lb: 0 wd: 0 nb: 2 Total 186 all out (84.3 overs) BOWLING O-M-R-W Jeremiah Louis 11.3-2-38-1 Rahkeem Cornwall 34-13-61-6 Colin Archibald 11-5-14-1 Daniel Doram 17-4-48-2 Hayden Walsh 7-2-11-0 Terance Warde 2-1-1-0 Kofi James 2-1-9-0

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