Guyana Times - Sunday, February 19, 2023

Berbice man dies, teen injured after car crashes into utility pole

Ataxi driver was in the wee hours of Saturday killed while a teenager was injured after the car in which they were travelling slammed into a utility pole along Auchlyne Public Road, Corentyne, Berbice.

The dead man has been

identified as 24-year-old Ezekiel Kampadoo of Tain, Corentyne. The identity of the 18-year-old male occupant of the car was not released but he is reportedly admitted at the Port Mourant Hospital.

Police stated that the

accident occurred at about 01:55h when the taxi driver lost control of the car which crashed into the electric pole and ended up in a nearby trench with its wheels in the air.

The accident involved hire car HD 2939, owned and

driven by Ezekiel Kampadoo (now deceased), a 24-yearold of Tain, Corentyne. In the vehicle at the time was an 18-year-old from Whim, Corentyne. Investigations revealed that the car was proceeding along the roadway at a fast rate of speed when the driver failed to negotiate a right turn and lost control of the vehicle, which swerved onto

the southern grass parapet and collided with a GPL pole. As a result of the collision, the car flipped several times and ended up in a trench on the southern side of the road. The driver and teenage occupant received injuries on their bodies.

They were both pulled from the wreckage by public-spirited citizens and tak-

en to Port Mourant Public Hospital, where they were examined and admitted. The teenager suffered from abrasions to his body.

Due to the severity of the injuries the driver incurred, he was transferred to New Amsterdam Public Hospital, where he succumbed at about 03:30h while receiving medical attention.

His body is presently lying at the New Amsterdam Public Hospital's Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem.

The car after being pulled from the trench

The pole that was taken down by the speeding car

The car in the trench after crashing into the pole

Ezekiel Kampadoo

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Sunday, Feb 19 – 04:00h to 05:30h and

Monday, Feb 20 – 04:15h – 05:45h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, Feb 19 – 15:50h – 17:20h and

Monday, Feb 20 – 16:40h – 18:10h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

There will be sunshine and light cloud during the day. Expect clear skies at night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 16:17h reaching a maximum height of 2.75 metres.

Low Tide: 09:50 and 22:18h reaching minimum heights of 0.62 metre and 0.43 metre.

LOTTERY NUMBERS

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

blocks per investor for maximum participation

– VP

Jagdeo

– Kuwait among countries interested in bilateral development of blocks

In an effort to ensure maximum participation and diversity among the investors in Guyana’s oil blocks, successful bidders will be restricted to no more than three blocks each during the ongoing bidding round.

This was recently explained by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, during the just concluded Guyana Energy Conference and Expo. He also explained the various decisions they have taken over the past year when it comes to administering the oil and gas sector.

“We decided we’re going to award a maximum of three blocks per investor because we want a multiple number of investors or investment groups coming in here. Because they can start the exploration activities simultaneously. So, we’d have a faster deployment of exploration dollars in the sectors.”

“We took that crucial decision not to go with an oil and gas company, for many reasons. We also said that we’re going to change the financial terms from those enjoyed in the PSA that was signed by Exxon in the Stabroek

Block. You had 10 contracts that were signed, and that had the old fiscal terms. Now, we’ve changed that,” Jagdeo said.

Outside of the blocks currently being auctioned, Jagdeo explained that the Government is also looking to form a bilateral arrangement with other countries that can partner to develop the remaining blocks. Among the names is Kuwait, which he said has just expressed interest in this arrangement.

“We’ve gone out to auction now, for 14 blocks and we still have some areas remaining where we hope to work through a bilateral arrangement with the Governments of Brazil, Qatar, India, and those others who’ve expressed (an interest) … Kuwait has just expressed some interest in that regard.”

President Dr Irfaan Ali launched the much-anticipated first auction of the remaining oil blocks offshore Guyana in December last year as his government moves to have the country’s petroleum resources developed expeditiously.

This competitive bidding process will see 14

oil blocks up for tender including 11 in the shallow area and three in the deepsea area. These blocks will range from 1000 square kilometres (sq km) to 2000 sq km but with most of the blocks being approximately 2000 sq km. April 14, 2023, has been set as the deadline for the submission of bids, while the Government is hoping to award contracts by the end of the first half of this year.

Government is currently in the process of finalising the new PSA that will guide the terms and conditions of future oil contracts. Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had disclosed in December that this document would be completed by mid-February 2023, just in time for the close of the monthslong bidding process.

Under new conditions, Guyana stands to benefit from as high as US$20 million signature bonus for the deep-water blocks and US$10 million for the shallow-water blocks. Additionally, all future PSAs will also include the retention of the 50-50 profit-sharing after cost recovery; the increase of the royalty from a mere two per cent to now a 10

per cent fixed rate; the imposition of a 10 per cent corporate tax, and the lowering of the cost recovery ceiling to 65 per cent from 75 per cent.

Meanwhile, in order to make this auction more competitive, Government has opened the process to both local and foreign companies/individuals, who will have to meet minimum technical and financial qualifications that will be outlined. Only last month, President Ali invited Asian powerhouses – India and China – to participate in the ongoing licensing round.

As the world’s fastest-growing super basin in recent years, Guyana is estimated to have potential resources in excess of 25 billion barrels offshore. In the oil-rich Stabroek Block alone, which is operated by ExxonMobil and its co-venturers, there are nearly 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent.

To date, there have been some 35 discoveries in the Stabroek Block, where production activities have been ongoing since 2015, and a total of 40 oil finds for all blocks being explored offshore Guyana.

No more than 3 oil

Guyana Basin: A map of the Stabroek Block showing the Longtail and other discovery wells

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

Views

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Creating garrisons

The immolation of Trevor Jameer, a Hopetown farmer who had merely assisted the Police in removing the remnants of the car that had been torched by residents after the driver had accidentally hit a pedal-cycle and electric bike riders, represents a terrifying moment in our present political contretemps. It would appear that we might witness the emergence of another “garrison” two decades after Buxton had been transformed into a statewithin-a-state, into which even the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) (in support) could not perform their authoritatively mandated lawand-order functions.

The slippery slope was created when, on the afternoon of Feb 5, the car accidentally hit the two riders and stopped. It should be noted that the driver did not attempt to flee the scene, but bystanders pulled the driver and another occupant from the vehicle and beat him mercilessly. According to the Police, the driver reported to the nearby Fort Wellington Police Station that he had also been robbed of an iPhone and a gold chain. The Police then went to the scene and took the two injured persons to the nearby Fort Wellington Hospital.

The Police report continued, “Public-spirited citizens pulled out the vehicle from the said position to be escorted to the Fort Wellington Police Station. However, several angry residents lifted the vehicle back to the southern side of the road and began to damage the vehicle.” Trevor Jameer must have been one of those “public-spirited citizens”. In the presence of a Superintendent, an ASP and a party of Police ranks, “The crowd became uncontrollable and damaged the front windshield of the tow truck, the side glass, and other parts of the vehicle, and then they set fire to the motor car”. The driver of the car, and his father who had barged into the Police station, were placed under arrest, but no action was taken against the perpetrators of the arson, assault and robbery. The Police said they were “investigating”.

And this is what is troubling. While a certain amount of anger might be generated by any accident in which persons are injured, we have to view the “Hopetown Incident” against the background of other elements similarly taking the law into their own hands. Less than a week before, at Buxton, agents of CANU were in hot pursuit of a suspected drug runner who landed in a canal. The Public Road was blocked by burning debris and a loaded paddy truck was torched in full view of the Police. The perpetrators of the acts of vigilantism obviously believe they have gotten away with another violent act in front of the Police, who must have recognised many in the mob.

In Jamaica, what has been called “garrisons” were created by the two major parties in sections of Kingston. These were controlled by drug lords, “Dons” who pledged loyalty to one party or the other, and would deliver the votes. “Outsiders” – including the Police – were prevented from entering. Many of the murders that place Jamaica at the top of the world’s homicide statistics emanate from these garrisons. In 2002, Buxton, of course, was turned into one of Guyana’s first garrisons outside of the traditional slums of Tiger Bay and Albouystown of the sixties, which were not as centrally controlled.

We are all aware of the mayhem wreaked on the state and community between 2002 and 2008 when, according to one compilation, some 400+ individuals were killed. It is our view that condign action must be taken in such eruptions as Buxton and Hopetown, to prevent a recurrence. We note than it took almost eight months for persons to be charged for the violence perpetrated against vendors at Mon Repos by a mob of protestors, in which there was also arson of vehicles. These attacks might appear “spontaneous”, but occur against widespread calls for them by provocateurs aligned to the Opposition on social media. In terms of the Hopetown modus operandi, there were exhortations to go after individuals who cooperate with the state.

Lincoln Lewis is mischievously misleading Guyanese on Prime Minister’s portfolio

Dear Editor,

Allow me from the onset to state emphatically that the assertions surrounding my portfolio as Prime Minister of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, made by Mr. Lincoln Lewis in his recent ‘Eye on Guyana’ column, are blatantly false, and are meant to mislead Guyanese.

Similarly false are his claims that the Government of Guyana is somehow not demonstrating respect for the Constitution and laws of Guyana. This edict that is masqueraded as an opinion piece on Government’s constitutional performance confirms the widely held view that the author is content to faithfully clutch at straws floated by his political masters in the Opposition, without first seeking the facts.

The irresponsible suggestion that I am not allowed to function within the constitutional powers afforded to the post of Prime Minister is irrational, even by Lewis’s standards.

Nonetheless, the deliberate attempt to distort the facts about the Office of the Prime Minister warrants a reminder, which I am happy to provide, that Lewis’s narrative best fits my immediate predecessor, since the post of Prime Minister was denuded under the previous APNU+AFC administration.

Veteran regional journalist Rickey Singh, in his Guyana Chronicle column of November 2015, succinctly pointed to the traditionally enormous powers of an Executive President as Head of State, as well as the constitutional responsibilities allotted to the Prime Minister – normally the number two person in the Guyana Cabinet. Singh wrote, “The President seems busily engaged in the further constitutional empowerment of his former Army colleague, ex-Guyana Defence Force Colonel Joseph Harmon.

According to Singh, “This leaves no doubt about the reality of a twosome power status quo –he and ‘Comrade’ Joe.”

Following his analysis, Singh was forced to depart the newspaper by the vindictive APNU+AFC regime, for stating the facts on the sidelining of the then Prime Minister, whose duties were reduced to mere ceremonial appearances to deliver pep talks, ribbon-cutting ceremonies, and photo ops which were gleefully accepted because there was no meaningful portfolio offered.

As upholders of the Constitution, the PPP/C has always embraced the traditional posture to the Prime Minister’s portfolio, where, for instance, former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds had been in charge of energy, and served as

the head of Government business in the National Assembly. This approach has not changed.

Upon return to Government in 2020, one of the first things President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali did was to ensure the independence of the Prime Minister’s Office by relocating the office from the same building as the Office of the President.

The President then assigned meaningful duties to my office. Apart from my role as the Leader of Government’s business in the National Assembly, I also have responsibility for the telecommunications sector, which includes the Telecommunications Agency, National Data Management Authority (NDMA), Public Utilities Commission (PUC), and the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC).

Additionally, I have been assigned the Civil Defence Commission and disaster preparedness activities in Guyana. My office also has responsibility for the energy sector, exercising oversight of the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), Guyana Power and Light (GPL), the Hinterland Electrification Company Inc, (HECI), as well as the Guyana National Broadcast Authority (GNBA). Further, my office is also tasked with oversight of the Government

Information Sector, which includes the Department of Public Information (DPI), the Guyana National Newspapers Limited (GNNL), and the National Communications Network (NCN).

The baseless and reckless nature of the claims from Mr. Lincoln Lewis and his handlers in the Opposition follow a now-familiar pattern of maligning state institutions, officials and public servants, and attempting to shake public confidence in the fundamental pillars of our democracy and governance.

We are at an unprecedented moment of our cherished history. Our democratic principles and rights have been solidly restored, the economy is strong to the point that we are once again able to attract foreign investors in significant numbers; which is evidence of the vast potential that Guyana wields as a ‘head cornerstone’, leading the conversations on global issues, as described by Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Dr. Ralph Gonsalves at the recent opening of the International Energy Conference and Expo Guyana 2023.

Sincerely,

Hon Brigadier

(Ret’d) Mark Phillips Prime Minister

Education Minister and a group of young revellers during the Ministry of Education’s Children's Costume and Float Parade on Saturday in Georgetown

All of Guyana must adjust to vigilant elections mode!

Dear Editor, The Hon. Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, has written to Justice Claudette Singh, Chairwoman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), appointing Monday, June 12, 2023 as the date for Local Government Elections.

This significant undertaking follows a notification from the Chairperson of the institution’s readiness to host the Local Government Elections by May 22 this year. It will be a major step and point of measure for GECOM, since the organization’s image had perhaps denigrated to its lowest ebb following the epoch of approximately twenty-eight years of oppressive PNC manipulation, which was significantly reduced when they lost power in 1992.

Associated in this respect is the flagrant in -

volvement of GECOM staff in the abhorrent and scandalous attempts to falsify the true results of the March 2020 General and Regional Elections. These have been drivers for sweeping remedial changes, some of have been undertaken, but which still leave key stakeholders and observers poised to maintain purposeful diligence and almost unrestrictive caution.

After much uncertainty, linked to frequent delays and the shifting of commitments to complete these overdue elections, resulting largely from Opposition tactics, the situation realises a sense of relief. For some Guyanese citizens, there is some level of apprehension, given an expectation that the PNC may come up with some other suppressive strategy or problem. Consequently, the entire country must adjust and get into the elec-

tion mode, and be objective to the realities of what is required while being aware of the deception Opposition forces are attempting to camouflage.

There is no doubt that the PPP/C Government has moved with appropriate speed to significantly bolster the development benefits to all Guyanese through meaningful and accelerated initiatives, and to strengthen our democracy at the national level. The fact is that local governance and the local government systems are essential parts of Guyana’s governance. Our local democracy must be strengthened to ensure that, at the community and village levels, the necessary cycles of the democratic movement are in synchrony and parallel these advancements.

GECOM moved in the right direction, and has since undertaken several necessary and complemen-

tary activities. The ongoing continuous registration, along with the Claims and Objections process, will give rise to a proper Register of the Voters.

The Preliminary List of Electors (PLE) is fully accessible to all stakeholders in the country, and timely public notices and information guidelines were provided to advance public awareness of the adjusted timelines for facilitation of amendments to the Register as required.

Hence, anyone who would be eighteen years or over by May 22, 2023, and is a Guyanese citizen by birth, descent, or naturalization, or is a citizen from a Commonwealth country living in Guyana for one year or more, is eligible for inclusion in the Registers, providing he/she is living in a Local Authority Area.

Every citizen now has an opportunity to make sure their name is on the

PLE where they are living, so that they can be part of the local democracy.

GECOM must be commended for putting Assistant Electoral Register (AER) in each LAA. This proactive mechanism would allow every citizen to make the relevant changes needed to facilitate their full participation in the process. Further, this claims and objections process would allow every citizen to peruse the PLE and make their observations to the AER, so that the necessary adjustments can be made so that GECOM can produce the best possible Register of Voters.

I wish to applaud and congratulate the efforts of Chief Executive Officer Vishnu Persaud, who has certainly demonstrated that he is knowledgeable of the operational work of the Elections Commission. Hence, the Commission must put all systems

in place to hold Local Government Elections following the approved work plan.

Our people are deserving of increased benefits from the PPP/C Government’s tremendous transformation and development that are taking place in Guyana. Local Democracy must be strengthened through the LGEs to facilitate a smoother transition of gains at the local authority levels.

Many persons are looking out for the known ‘naysays’ who will be making their usual objections to frustrate and delay the holding of LGEs. The Guyanese people should no longer condone these naysayers, and join to reject their burdensome attempts to slow the path of progress.

Respectfully,

Neil Kumar

Was the violence the work of PPP infiltrators or PNC thugs?

Dear Editor,

The morning of June 28, 2022 marked another dark day of racial violence in Guyana. Responding to a mischievously inaccurate Facebook posting that stated that a Police officer who allegedly shot and killed Quinton Bacchus was released from Police custody, the residents of Golden Grove took to the streets in protest.

Bacchus was killed in an alleged shootout, after reportedly trying to sell a firearm to an undercover Policeman in the Haslington New Scheme on June 10, 2022. The protest ended up at the Mon Repos Market, where it quickly turned violent. Vendors of Indian descent were beaten and robbed, and their stalls and transportation were destroyed and set on fire. Motorists and commuters were stranded for the entire day, as the protestors blocked the road -

way with burning debris. No one was arrested.

Later, Dr David Hinds went on Facebook and gave his account of the mayhem, blaming the PPP/C for planting infiltrators in the midst of the “innocent” protestors to create havoc and to let it appear as though Afro-Guyanese were behind the beating, burning and looting at the Mon Repos Market. He proclaimed the innocence of those who participated in the “peaceful” protest and said the PPP chickens were coming home to roost. He soon had his racist partner parroting the same rhetoric on Kams TV.

Well, if there were really “PPP infiltrators” who created the terror at the Mon Repos Market on June 28 of last year, one would expect the likes of David Hinds to be happy if they were caught and severely punished for trying to blame it all on the

innocent protestors from Golden Grove.

Then earlier this month, on February 1, unrest again erupted in another PNC stronghold, this time in Buxton, after members of the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) arrested a drug trafficker who tried to get away with over 52lbs of cannabis in his car.

Demanding his release, the Buxton protestors blocked the road with burning debris, terroris -

ing commuters and setting afire the truck of a businessman who has nothing to do with their demands.

Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken issued a warning that this behaviour would not be tolerated, and shortly thereafter, issued arrest warrants for 12 persons accused of terrorism in the Mon Repos Market on June 28 of last year. I expect more to follow.

Now, if David Hinds was right, those twelve wanted

for terrorism should all be PPP supporters who were paid handsomely to infiltrate the “peaceful” protestors in Golden Grove, to give Afro-Guyanese a bad name. He should be happy that, finally, justice has been served on these PPP “house slaves”.

But not so, his rhetoric has been changed. He’s now claiming that the wanted twelve were all innocent “peaceful” protestors, and are being hunted by the Police because

they’re Black men.

Come on, David; you can’t have it both ways. Before they were wanted, they were PPP infiltrators. Now that they’re being rounded up for terrorism, they’re innocent altar boys. To me, they’re plain ole PNC thugs that need to be put away with all those who are inciting violence and spewing racism every day on social media.

Sincerely,

Harry Gill

Page Foundation

Parents fighting – is it harmful to children?

BY: Genevieve SimperinGham

Whenparents are happy and content, children naturally feel happier and more content.

It signals that overall, life is good. When parents meet each other’s needs of feeling heard and supported and when they can work together to solve problems, children are freed from worrying about those adult problems. The opposite is also true in that when children see their parents being unhappy and anxious and not gaining the support they need from other adults, the child tends to carry at least some of that burden. Because children are naturally egocentric and don’t understand the complexities of the issues, they tend to feel responsible or guilty, or fear that they will be blamed.

All couples have disagreements. When those differences can be worked through respectfully and reach satisfying solutions and agreements, children tend to be less affected and can learn healthy conflict resolution skills. Yet when children are exposed to relationship conflict that is intense, frequent, without resolution or abusive it impacts them negatively in many ways.

Living with intense conflict can;

o result in parents being unhappy and less available emotionally hence compromising their connection with their child, o lead to parents being less tolerant of kids being kids and some of the overflow of anger being taken out on the child,

o result in many unhealthy behaviours in children stemming from increased stress and insecurity,

o lead to sibling conflicts because children reenact that which is modeled to them, plus the factor of the child channeling their upset feelings into conflicts with their

sibling, o impact the child’s self-esteem and resilience, as both are determined by the security they feel in their relationship with their parent.

Parental conflict is harmful to children when it’s intense and frequent. When children witness or overhear arguments that become heated and hostile including verbal insults and shouting, this can cause children to be insecure. Children become anxious when exposed to parents being verbally or physically aggressive including throwing and breaking things; when parents withdraw and become non-responsive instead of negotiating a boundary or give each other the silent treatment; when children live with the fear of their parents separating or one of them leaving. Conflicts relating to the child or parenting style can be particularly stressful for children as they naturally tend to blame themselves and feel responsible for their parent’s happiness.

Communication that’s toxic for children to be exposed to can include shaming, sarcasm, mocking, withholding, yelling, contempt, name-calling, labelling, lying, being unwilling to admit wrongdoings, or show remorse and stonewalling. Verbal aggression, whether directed at the child or from one parent to the other can be highly distressing and cause a lot of insecurity in children. When it’s frequent and unresolved and not repaired the child is left in a nearly constant state of insecurity not knowing if or when it will happen again.

If one or more of these forms of toxic communication happens frequently, the child may be suffering from the traumatic impacts of emotional/ psychological abuse. The child not only suffers the anxiety, insecurity, confusion and often associated shame, but they are also hugely at risk

of believing that these are ok, normal and justified ways of relating. If it’s a rare occurrence and can be repaired effectively and the child is left feeling secure that their parent sees and cares deeply about the impact on the child, clarity of mind and emotional security can be restored.

Physical violence towards a child or that the child witnesses from one parent towards the other, tends to cause intolerable levels of anxiety, insecurity, distrust, and resentment that can be impossible for a child to recover from without a lot of very skilful repair. Adults are taller, stronger, and hold huge amounts of power over children and each factor of power over another increases the intensity and extent of the potentially traumatic impact for individuals in general. Children are the most vulnerable for so many reasons. Professional help is often needed to help family members regain trust and emotional security. These, of course, are the same reasons why hitting (whether it’s called smacking, slapping or spanking) a child is never okay.

The traumatic impact of violence can lead to a child being desensitised or oversensitised to any form of aggression. Children who don’t gain the help they need to express and gain relief from the upsetting feelings they carry may develop defence mechanisms that help them compartmentalise all that upset and confusion. This can lead to many psychological problems down the track. When parents fail to be sensitive to the negative impacts on a child, they cause the child to repress those feelings, which can lead to them being either oversensitised or desensitised to violence. The child who is oversensitised has a dramatically lower tolerance or ability to cope with any kind of aggression or mistreatment that they hear about, even in a book or a film. This child

may become distressed when they witness other children or animals play fighting for instance. The child who is desensitised has an unhealthy high tolerance for any form of aggression. The person who is oversensitised may become triggered and distressed when they are exposed to anything that triggers their unresolved inner distress. For instance, the teacher is reading a story and there’s a mention of mistreatment and the child has an intense reaction. Or the child becomes so desensitised that they can have an unhealthy tolerance for violence, either tolerating being mistreated or mistreating others with no show of remorse. Breaking the cycles takes work but is so worth it! Sadly, many parents grew up in emotionally dysfunctional families where the most painful emotions tended to be either repressed or expressed destructively and aggressively. Parents, often unknowingly, re-experience this wounding from childhood when there’s disharmony in the family. As adults parenting our children, we have a huge responsibility to learn to communicate more compassionately and sensitively. The gift of parenting comes with the responsibility to our children and our children’s children to break the cycles of non-compassionate communication. Marshall Rosenberg, author of NonViolent Communication refers to such unhealthy communication as tragic expressions of unmet needs. Luckily there’s a wealth of resources available to couples who want to bring more empathic communication into their primary relationships.

(Genevieve Simperingham is a Psychosynthesis Counsellor, a Parenting Instructor and coach, public speaker, human rights advocate, writer and the founder of The Peaceful Parent Institute.)

Understanding Radiation

What is radiation?

Radiation is energy in the form of moving waves or streams of particles. This energy can be high-frequency, like X-rays or cosmic rays from outer space, or low-frequency, like microwaves and radio waves. This range of energy makes up the electromagnetic spectrum and is divided into two main types of radiation: ionizing and non-ionizing.

Non-ionizing radiation does not possess enough energy to create charged atoms or molecules, called ions. Ionizing radiation, on the other hand, does possess sufficient energy to create ions. Ions can be harmful to your body, but they can also be used for many beneficial purposes.

Sources of radiation

We live on a planet where we are exposed to natural background radiation. Radioactive materials are present in the soil, rocks, the air we breathe, the water we drink, and even in our own bodies. These sources of natural radiation make up the bulk of the total radiation we are exposed to every day. We are also exposed to artificial radiation from various sources, such as nuclear medicine – which uses radioactive material to diagnose and treat cancer, the nuclear fuel cycle, as well as commercial products like smoke detectors.

Putting radiation doses into perspective

The health effects of radiation are well understood. Since the early 20th century, radiation’s effects have been studied in depth, in both the laboratory and among human populations. Because of the known health risks of radiation, it must be carefully used and strictly controlled. A balance must be struck between radiation’s societal benefits and the risks that radiation poses to people and the environment.

Generally speaking, a dose is a quantity we use when we talk about the potential health effects of radiation. An effective dose takes into account the type of radiation you’ve been exposed to and the organs in your body which have been exposed. It is expressed using the unit “sievert” or more commonly “millisievert” (mSv), which is 1,000 times smaller.

EPA partners with IAEA to ensure Guyana has regulation on radiation safety and protection.

As Guyana continues to rapidly develop, the demands on the Environmental Protection Agency are becoming greater. From the oil and gas sector to a massive boom in construction and infrastructure development; the Agency has recognized the critical need to strengthen its human capital to better achieve its mandate of effective management of the environment.

Guyana is a member of IAEA

Guyana became a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 2015, and has been benefitting from several regional initiatives. As part of the project’s 2019 implementation, the EPA coordinated a four-day workshop on Search and Recovery of Radioactive Orphan Sources. Participants were drawn from; the Environmental Protection Agency, Civil Defense Commission, Guyana Police Force, Guyana Revenue Authority, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, University of Guyana, the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Puran Brothers Waste Disposal Service, CEVONS Waste Management and Sand Dip Waste Disposal Services. The workshop was facilitated by four (4) international experts from IAEA.

This proved a pathway for several other training and capacity building for officers both at the EPA and other state agencies such the Ministry of Health and the Civil Defense Commission.

The role of the EPA in radiation management

The EPA under the Environmental Protection Act and Regulations currently regulates the import, transport, storage and use of sealed radiation sources. To date, the Agency has authorised the use of sealed sources in the gold mining, health, oil and gas exploration as well as beverage production. In 2017, the IAEA assisted Guyana in commencing work in developing a National Source Inventory. The Agency is moving towards adherence to Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources to improve access and effective management of Radioactive Sources. https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/what-isradiation

SBM reaffirms commitment to Local Content Act

– engages suppliers on procurement processes

Following its latest engagement with its suppliers, Netherlandsbased shipbuilder SBM Offshore, which is responsible for building the floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels operational in local waters, reaffirmed its commitment to local content.

In a statement, SBM revealed that it engaged with businesses during a Vendor Forum, held at the just concluded International Energy Conference at the Guyana Marriott Hotel. During the engagement, participating businesses and local vendors learned about the company’s vendor qualification process and timeline, as well as ethical requirements to ensure good business practices.

“Participants were apprised of the company’s invoicing process and requirements for payments. The forum was in keeping with SBM Offshore’s objective of building the capacity of businesses to provide ser-

vices to the oil and gas sector, and follows a number of similar routine activities including the Centre for Local Business Development’s Community Business Talks, Supplier Forum 2022, the company’s Vendor and Compliance Days,” SBM said.

Additionally, attendees were acquainted with the company’s requirements when responding to calls for Requests for Information (RFIs), and were provided with an overview of efforts made thus far to integrate local vendors and suppliers into the company’s operations. During the meeting, Procurement Lead Recardo Bovell reemphasised the company’s commitment to and compliance with the Local Content Act of 2021.

“SBM Offshore remains committed to increasing the utilisation of local companies and developing their capacities to effectively service the oil and gas industry. He noted that even if a compa-

ny is unsuccessful in a bid, SBM Offshore engages them on areas in which they did not meet the necessary requirements and steps that can be taken to rectify this,” SBM said.

Meanwhile, SBM Offshore Guyana’s General Manager, Martin Cheong in his opening remarks, revealed that over 60 per cent of the company’s onshore staff are Guyanese. With offshore staff factored in, he noted that the local content penetration is about 40 to 45 per cent.

“We believe that this engagement provides a unique platform for productive conversations and opportunities for the businesses present. We are keen on building the capacity of Guyanese businesses to meet the growing needs of the oil and gas industry, and more so, our operations as we expand our footprint in Guyana,” he said.

In 2022, SBM Offshore received approval for its Local Content Master Plan,

the first of the prime contractors to achieve this milestone in Guyana. According to the company, it holds this responsibility in high regard and remains steadfast in pursuing local content development in Guyana through the utilisation of Guyanese in its operations.

The Netherlands-based company was contracted by

oil giant ExxonMobil to construct the Prosperity FPSO vessel that will be used in the Payara development and has already secured financing to complete the project.

In fact, the Prosperity FPSO was officially dedicated by First Lady Arya Ali and company officials on February 1, 2023, during a simple naming ceremony

at the Keppel Shipyard in Singapore.

The naming and dedication ceremony marked the final stage for the Prosperity as it readies to set sail for Guyana, where it will arrive some two months after departure. This FPSO will be the third vessel that will operate in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana.

Local businesses and suppliers in attendance at the Vendors Forum

Opportunities available for small contractors in all sectors – Minister Edghill

Public Works Minister Bishop Juan Edghill has reassured that numerous opportunities exist in all sectors for small contractors.

Speaking during a procurement training session for members of the Black Entrepreneurs Association on Saturday at the Umana Yana in Kingston, Georgetown, Minister Edghill said, “Small contractors are not only weeding and cleaning; (undertaking) civil works: building of a fence, building of guard huts, building of sanitary blocks in our Ministry; building of roads, because there are some roads that fall under the $15 million margin that could be given to small contracts. On the maintenance side of the budget, you also have maintenance of buildings, plumbing, guttering, electrical, air conditioning - a whole host of

other fields that could be involved: sea defence maintenance….”

He said the training is the fulfillment of a commitment made at a previous engagement with the association.

“At that meeting, I did

make an offer that we will provide an opportunity where we will be able to bring our technical people who are involved in the procurement and management of contracts to interface with you, to be able to share with you all of the necessary knowhow, wherewithal, that you would be able to submit winning bids. And when you win a bid, ensuring that you fulfill your obligations in keeping with the terms and conditions of your contract,” he reminded.

The Minister highlighted the importance of meeting the criteria to secure contracts.

“It is still in some people’s

heads that a Minister or some Government official could pick up the phone and call a friend and say, ‘I have a job for you to do…’. Maybe that happened a long time ago, (but) our country is governed by laws, The Procurement Act of 2003,” he declared.

He added that the Act requires that notice must be given before Government projects can be executed.

“It’s not who knows you and who you know; it’s following the system. Because when you throw that bid in the tender box and the evaluators are evaluating, your photograph is not on it. Nobody knows who you are, they are looking at the documentation that is presented, and getting your documentation right is what is important,” Minister Edghill emphasised.

Edghill said Government also changed certain criteria, like the requirement of threeto-five-years’ experience, to enable new contractors to benefit from these opportunities.

“And that was to facilitate and help people to enter into the market and be able to show forth their talent and their skill and get the necessary experience to climb the ladder,” he stated.

Trouble…

…in the land

Your Eyewitness’s heart goes out to the poor fella over in Hopetown who was doused with gasoline and set on fire by a fellow villager. And why was the attempted “death by fire” executed?? Simply because the 51-year-old had helped the Police move that car torched two weeks ago to the side of the public road, so that traffic could flow!! That’s right…for his “public-spiritedness” - as the Police called it – he’s now covered with God-knowswhat “degree” of burns; but from the pic, it certainly looks VERY serious. And as we all know, it’s most painful, and will take months – if not years - to heal.

So, what are the good folks of Hopetown telling us?? Note, it was founded by freed Africans after emancipation - commemorated annually on the night of July 31 in a well-attended soiree!! So, these very close-knit folks are well-grounded in traditional African culture. And that’s why your Eyewitness was kinda taken aback at the violent incident. During the heyday of the ethnic riots of the sixties, and of the “troubles” centred in Buxton from 2002, incidents didn’t spread to West Berbice, in which Hopetown is located.

This is a rural, agriculturally-grounded village, where one would expect persons would hold on to the sober values that are inculcated by farming practices, which demonstrate that one must be patient and work towards desired outcomes. But all of that changed after the PNC politicised the terrible killings of the Henry boys at # 5 Village - some distance away from Hopetown - didn’t it?? Suddenly, folks were convinced by extremist rhetoric about their livelihood and their very existence being threatened by “the other”. And we had the tit-for-tat killings and riots along the West Berbice Road as far as Hopetown.

What we’re witnessing once again is that, when the genie of ethnic violence is released from the bottle, it ain’t gonna get back in on its own. Especially when we have these social media provocateurs stirring the pot of hate every day. With youngsters who haven’t experienced the futility of hate-generated violence against neighbours. So here we have a situation where a “youthman” – according to the daughter of the poor burn victim – took it upon himself to exact “vengeance” on the well-meaning older villager because he cleared the road!! He’d become a “traitor” in the eyes of many villagers who supported the vigilante actions.

So, as we saw in Buxton two decades ago, the hate merchants will pit villagers against villagers so that only their assessment of what needs to be done prevails. And what needs to be done is to declare war against even their “own” if they dare to think differently!!

No wonder the Buxton gangsters called themselves “Taliban”!!

…in Suriname

When Guyanese ever think about Suriname, we don’t think “violence”, do we?? In fact, our violent sixties convinced a quarter of their population to flee to Holland when independence was in sight - in the mid-seventies!! Most had thought that Holland’s billion-dollar handshake and their power-sharing political culture would’ve smoothed their transition - but it was not to be. One Sergeant Bouterse had a different idea, and seized power in a coup in the 80s. He summarily executed more than a dozen political opponents.

He remained the power behind the throne for a while, then took power on his own through democratic elections!! Even though by then he’d been convicted in absentia by Holland for drug smuggling!! He was finally ousted electorally in 2020 when, following Granger’s lead for a while, he stepped down in Opposition. But with his background and modus operandi, why doesn’t it surprise anyone that his supporters came out into the streets on Friday to attack Parliament??

And, not so coincidentally, loot some stores while they’re at it!!

…with school visits

After some school kids had visited that fella who owns a Lamborghini and Ferrari, the Chief Education Officer mandated that all visits must be vetted! Wouldn’t such visits inspire success in our capitalist oil economy??

Public Works Minister Bishop Juan Edghill

Guyana-Venezuela Border Controversy

Guyana urges Venezuela to abandon its “imperial goal”, respect Geneva Agreement

With the 57th anniversary of the signing of the Geneva Agreement observed on Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs took the opportunity to urge Venezuela to abandon its “imperial goal” and to return to the judicial processes under the agreement.

In a statement, the Ministry noted the importance of the 1966 Geneva Agreement as an internationally binding document that resolved the controversy following Venezuela’s “baseless and ill-chosen” reneging on the 1899 Arbitral Award.

“It removed the roadblock to Guyana’s independence that Venezuela had, with imperial ambition, sought to erect. Under the Geneva Agreement, that controversy is now, with the approval of the international community, before the International Court of Justice in whose impartial and independent upholding

of the rule of international law Guyana has absolute confidence,” the Ministry said.

“Venezuela has sought over the years to undermine the Agreement and specifically to frustrate the resolution of the controversy by the judicial process even when, as now, it is obliged to participate. As Guyana’s lawful development of its resources proceeds, it is pertinent today to emphasize that the Geneva Agreement imposes no obligation on Guyana to refrain from economic development activities in any portion of its territory or any appurtenant maritime areas.”

This is particularly pertinent as more than 30 oil finds have been made offshore Guyana in its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). As the world’s fastest-growing super basin in recent years, Guyana is estimated to have potential resources in excess of 25 billion barrels offshore. In

the oil-rich Stabroek Block alone, which is operated by ExxonMobil and its co-venturers, there are nearly 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent.

To date, there have been some 35 discoveries in the Stabroek Block, where production activities have been ongoing since 2015, and a total of 40 oil finds for all blocks being explored offshore Guyana.

The Ministry noted that any unilateral attempt by Venezuela to restrict Guyana from exercising its sovereignty and sovereign rights will be a breach of the Geneva Agreement and the rule of international law.

“On this Anniversary Day of that historic Agreement, Guyana considers that no greater homage can be paid to it by our sister Republic than full compliance with its terms, including Article IV paragraph 2, pursuant to which the Secretary General of the United Nations has chosen

GDF vessel collides with civilian boat off Eteringbang Landing

Detectives in Regional Division 7 are investigating a report of a river collision involving two boats, one captained and owned by Vergil Brown, a 35-year-old miner of San Martin, Venezuela, and the other, a Guyana Defence Force (GDF) boat captained by a Corporal of the GDF.

The incident occurred on Friday at about 9:30h in the Cuyuni River, near Eteringbang Landing.

Investigations thus far

revealed that GDF ranks boarded their wooden boat that was powered by a 200-Horsepower Yamaha outboard engine. At the time, it was carrying two passengers (GDF ranks) and went to Eteringbang Landing to purchase groceries.

However, as they were returning to the base, the vessel collided with the other boat that was powered by a 40-HP Yamaha outboard engine.

The boat was captained

by Virgil Brown and was also carrying two passengers at the time.

Virgil Brown’s boat reportedly sank as a result of the collision. Brown and his two passengers were rescued and taken to shore.

He sustained injuries and was taken to Eteringbang Medical Centre to seek medical attention and later to a medical facility in Venezuela. Investigations are in progress.

the International Court of Justice as the means for the final and binding settlement of the controversy.”

“Guyana looks forward to Venezuela’s return to the judicial processes of the Geneva Agreement in the abandonment of its earlier imperial goal. There could be no greater mark of respect for the Agreement by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela,” the Ministry also said.

Guyana’s case against Venezuela is currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). However, the Spanish-speaking country has been seeking to block

Guyana from having its substantive application before the ICJ heard, on spurious grounds that include its claims that the United Kingdom should have been made a party to the case, instead of Guyana. Venezuela has also claimed that the 1899 Arbitral Award is void due to what it claims was fraud committed by the UK at the time.

Guyana’s legal team is headed by Co-Agent and Counsel, Sir Shridath Ramphal, and includes a member of the Bars of the United States Supreme Court and the District of Columbia, Paul S Reichler;

and Professor Emeritus of the University Paris Nanterre, former Chairman of the International Law Commission and member of the Institute de Droit International, Alain Pellet.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, in January 2018, decided that the case should be settled by the ICJ, after exercising the powers vested in him to decide how the controversy should be settled by the 1966 Geneva Agreement between Guyana, Venezuela, and the United Kingdom.

He resorted to judicial settlement after the good offices process between Guyana and Venezuela failed. Within the framework of the 1966 Geneva Agreement between the two countries, the SecretaryGeneral conducted good offices from 1990 to 2017 to find a solution to the border controversy.

Among other things, Guyana is asking the ICJ to adjudge and declare that the 1899 Award is valid and binding upon Guyana and Venezuela, that Venezuela is internationally responsible for violations of Guyana’s sovereignty and sovereign rights, and for all injuries suffered by Guyana as a consequence.

The International Court of Justice, where Guyana has taken the Venezuela border controversy to be resolved

17-year-old girl on electric bike dies after being run over by truck

– sister in serious condition

Road, ECD.

Based on reports received, the two sisters were on an electric bike when they were struck by a truck bearing registration number GRR 3130, owned by R and B Investment. At the time it was being driven by a 67-year-old resident of Annandale, ECD.

On the other hand, the electric bike was ridden by 16-year-old Maria Mohammed while the nowdead teen was the pillion rider.

Police stated that the truck was proceeding along the Coldingen Public Road when the driver alleged that as he approached the main road, he stopped and observed the traffic before going onto the main access road.

He, however, claimed that when he drove off, he felt his lorry ‘bump up’ and upon checking, he saw the two sisters lying on the road next to an electric bike.

Persons rushed to the scene, and the girls were picked up and escorted to Georgetown Public Hospital, where they were examined

but Bibi Mohammed was pronounced dead on arrival.

The young sister was admitted as a patient while the driver was taken into custody and he is assisting with investigations.

Just about two weeks ago, the Guyana Police Force reported that owners of electric bikes will have to register them with the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

Traffic Chief Dennis Stephens has stated “…persons below the age of 16 are advised to desist (from) riding these bikes, while those who are above 16 and ride them must have a valid motorcycle licence”.

In a subsequent interview with Guyana Times, Stephens confirmed that the Police had wanted to get this issue under control and had continued to pursue the GRA.

“We would have pushed to have those cycles registered immediately. The reason for that is because, over last year, over 7 persons would have lost their lives using this cycle, and 13 persons were injured,”

Stephens explained.

“The law is clear as it relates to the age range of persons riding motorcycles, and we believe that if persons started to register those cycles, we would be able to ease most of the persons with lack of knowledge on their part…,” he continued.

However, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) on Friday clarified that they are not registering or licensing electric bikes (E-bikes).

In a statement, the GRA said that should these requirements be implemented in the future, they will inform the public.

“…The Guyana Revenue Authority has not commenced the registration of electric bikes, electric cycles and electric golf carts presently seen traversing the roads in Guyana,” the statement noted.

However, GRA noted that it is pursuing discussions with its sister agencies including the Guyana Police Force (GPF) regarding the requirements for importation, registration, licensing and related liability insurance for electric bikes.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, Stephen told a section of the media that there is no rule in place to govern the use of electric bikes since the laws do not include them in the definition of motorcycles.

He nevertheless added that the Traffic Department has embarked on a campaign to educate persons on the dangers of these bikes on the roadways. Persons are also being informed that they will soon have to get a valid driver’s licence to operate the E-bikes.

Seventeen-year-old Bibi Sophia Mohammed of Non-Pareil Railway

Embankment, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was on Friday evening killed while

her sister is battling for her life following an accident along the Coldingen Public

Traffic Chief Dennis Stephens

Caricom throws support behind Santokhi as violent protests shake Suriname

edy the situation is the cutting of subsidies. This measure has led to an increase in the cost of living and to fuel prices being elevated.

Cultural obliteration

Last night, one of the biggest festivals in the Hindu calendar was commemorated – Maha Shivratri – the great night of Shiva. My family stayed up to offer the prescribed oblations to the “Shiva Lingam” (literally the “sign of Shiva”), which signifies his formless existence pervades the countless universes. And which, after billions of years, will eventually subside into his being until all is projected into another round of creation, sustenance and dissolution.

But what occupied my mind between the four sets of oblations (“praharas”) was how little Hindus know about the significance of their practices. But this is not mere happenstance: it is a consequence of Britain’s colonisation of India, from where we were brought. Our “Sanataan Dharma” – or “Eternal Way of Life” – was not only categorised by them as a “religion”, but an “ism”, signifying a mere ideology: “Hinduism”.

Its “Dharmic” practices, teaching that actions upholding and maintaining a harmonious society and balance with nature are prescribed, were appraised from the standpoint of Christianity. This was the emblematic “Religion” that defined “normal” religious beliefs and practices. That Hindus had hundreds of sacred texts, countless male and female gods, with eight incarnations of the Divine’s sustaining aspect etc, made “Hinduism” selfevidently nonsensical. As conquerors of India, the British had the wherewithal to create a “regime of truth” – with its specific language, symbols, modes of reasoning, and conclusions to determine not only whether examined statements were true or false but also whether they had any meaning at all! Performatively, these instruments or techniques as a mechanism of control can be seen as “disciplines” giving effect to the analyses of the lives of people – both the ruled and the rulers.

We are now in a position to appreciate why, for instance, between 1838 and 1957, the authorities in British Guiana prohibited the Hindu practice of cremating their dead. Their belief that the human body had no permanent nexus with an eternal soul and could thus be hygienically and inexpensively burnt was obviously “madness” since it was self-evident that there was going to be a day when all bodies would be resurrected to be reunited with their souls. Cremation, unlike burial (never mind the ensuing decay) would evidently hinder the latter process. The law prohibiting cremation was enacted and enforced and burial was compelled: the indentured imitated the “normal” funerary patterns of the Christianised Creoles down to the institution of the “wake”.

The Dutch and British, who had brought Africans as slaves since the 17th century, had taken the hegemonization process to its inhuman conclusion, where the latter were brutally punished if they engaged in what was dismissed as “obeah”. The Christian Church – which had justified slavery with their story of Hamwas placed in charge of the “education” of the eventually freed Africans, and taught to valorise the practices of the rulers and deride theirs. Hindus entered this “educational” milieu and had to convert to be employed by the state.

While for the strategic reason of “divide and rule” their “religious practices” were derided but permitted, the plantation regime produced other changes in their “way of life”. The immigrant was given one day a week off, Sunday, to facilitate Christian Church attendance. In India, the immigrant knew temples could be visited on any occasion to make offerings to the deities. Special observances might necessitate a visit to the local mandir but more likely were conducted in front of a makeshift shrine in the home.

In Guyana, the six-day workweek and the dawn to dusk workday– not to mention the lack of privacy in the logeesimpacted all of that. Hindus eventually started to construct Mandirs – initially shrines, such as the Shivalas they had in village Indiawhere individual worship could be performed but very soon these were converted to larger structures for Sunday “congregational” worship - a la Christianity. The Purohit, who would have gone to the home of the devotee to conduct the periodic rituals (pujas), because each Hindu had his/her unique conception of the Divine, now became a “priest” or “Pandit” who led congregations on Sunday “services”. The philosophy behind the Dharmic practices such as Shivratri was gradually degutted. For instance, one of the Shiv Ratri stories of a hunter who inadvertently offers oblations to a Shiva Linga and achieves salvation teaches that it is not one’s belief that saves, but one’s actions.

In Guyana, we must all interrogate our imposed Eurocentric biases and valorise suitable alternative traditional practices that empower us.

The Caribbean Community (Caricom) has reaffirmed its support for the democratically elected Government of Suriname under the leadership of President Chandrikapersad Santokhi.

This comes as Suriname is experiencing chaotic protest actions in retaliation to decisions to cut subsidies and the employment of other stringent financial measures as the country suffers inflation.

After Caricom Heads of Government had received a report compiled by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation of Suriname on the ongoing disturbances in that country, a statement was later issued in which the following was said.

“The Heads of Government took note of the unfolding situation in Suriname, and strongly condemned the violent attacks on people as well as private and public facilities, including the Parliament. They recognized the right to freedom of expression and the right to peaceful protest, but expressed the view that there can be no excuse for the use of violence in any type of demonstration. They affirmed that these actions only serve to undermine the rule of law and the stability of democracies. Furthermore, they threaten the lives and livelihoods of our citizens, and are inimical to the interest of our population.

“Caricom stands in solidarity with all law-abiding citizens of Suriname, and urges all concerned to make every effort to maintain public safety. All efforts must be made to restore calm as a matter of urgency.”

Recent reports emanating from that country suggest that several businesses have suffered severe losses after having their enterprises looted, and the National Assembly Building has also suffered damages after it was invaded. Videos circulating have shown the protestors carting off dozens of motorcycles from stores. Over 50 persons have been arrested, and that number is expected to rise.

The city of Paramaribo was on lockdown on Friday, with notices being posted to inform of areas to avoid. Police were deployed to quell the situation and maintain public order. President Santokhi later stated that special measures would restore peace in the country.

Last year, as a result of dwindling official reserves and limited availability of foreign currency, the Suriname dollar was significantly devalued. Now, among the steps Government is taking to rem-

The recent series of events that have taken place in Suriname have forced President Santokhi to miss the Caricom Heads of Government Summit in the Bahamas over the last week.

Ravi Dev

Protestors flooding the streets of Paramaribo on Friday

GFS urges caution against electrical fires as another house goes up in flames

Afire of electrical origin on Friday destroyed a house at Lot 359 Block

12 Non-Pareil, East Coast

Demerara (ECD), thus leaving four persons homeless.

The blaze started sometime before 17:51h at the

one-flat wooden and concrete building owned by 56-yearold Sarju Ramgobin and occupied by 26-year-old Alex

Adams and his family of three.

Water tenders and a water bowser from the Melanie, Mahaica, and Campbellville Fire Stations were immediately dispatched to the location after receiving the report. One jet, working from water carrier #16 tank supply, was used to extinguish the fire.

However, the building and its contents were destroyed by the time of the fire’s extinction.

“The purported cause of the fire is an electrical wire overloading, which caused

the insulation to melt and subsequently ignite a foam mattress,” the Guyana Fire Service said.

This latest incident of electrical fire has prompted the Fire Service to remind the public of the importance of taking precautions.

Over the years, fires have resulted, in some cases, in the loss of lives, millions of dollars in property damage, and the displacement and discomfort of many households.

As such, the Guyana Fire Service is concerned and wishes to highlight a few areas that are the likely cause

of electrical fires and ways to reduce the risk.

These include slack connections, aged installation, overloading of circuits, malfunction of electrical appliances, inferior extension cords or circuit strips and illegal connections.

The GFS reminded that fire poses a significant danger to both the individuals working on the installations and to all the residents of the area.

“The chances of fire and electrical overloads are increased, which can cause serious damage to households,” it stated in a release.

The interior of the building on the East Coast Demerara

It is very hard to find a cou-

ple have recently celebrated their

for 60 years, they say they do not know what love is.

task is impossible. At Gay Park in Providence, Greater New Amsterdam, a cou-

who is called ‘Aunty Chan’, are now both 80 years old, and even though they have been married

“I know what is re what is commit ment in a relationship,” Aunty

Chan related to Guyana Times in an interview. “We love each other dearly, and this didn’t happen

The couple after getting married

result of an arranged marriage.

Ramish Maraj’s father had, in 1961, seen young Chandrawati sing ing at a religious function and had immediately asked for her hand in marriage to his son. Without hesitation, her parents had agreed. Sadly, Maraj’s father passed before his son got married. Nevertheless, the young lady’s parents had honoured the commitment.

According to ‘Uncle Ramish’, he had seen his wife only once before the wedding day, and that was two years after the agreement had been made.

TURN TO PAGE 14

At that time, he was living on the East Bank of Berbice and she was living in Campbellville, Georgetown. Seeing her for the first time had not even been planned. In fact, he had ridden past her house and gotten a glimpse of her as she was exiting a motor car. “She was coming out of the car to go

into the Mandir, but she did not see me,” he explained. He had thought she did not see him then, but during the interview, she confirmed that she was too shy to look at him.

Now both elderly, the man related that his wife had made a lot of sacrifices in the early stages of their

marriage. Speaking about those sacrifices, ‘Aunty Chan’ recalled that one of the biggest sacrifices was leaving her home in the city to move to Rotterdam in Berbice, where Maraj lived at the time.

Reminiscing on their wedding day, she recalled that the moment he held

her hands, all the shyness had disappeared. “We never spoke before the wedding, but when he held my hand, I knew this was it…” she recalled. “It wasn’t that easy as I am telling you, it took a lot of willpower and commitment,” she recalled.

Their union has produced two children.

Asked if there was anything she would change about her husband, ‘Aunty Chan’ chuckled and replied, “At first, I wish I could get him to come to Mandir more and pray, but I couldn’t. Now it doesn’t matter anymore; it just happened. He goes to Mandir with me, and even when I can’t go, he would still go.”

When the same question was posed to ‘Uncle Ramish’, he also chuckled, and said his wife had given him too many privileges. “She gave

ates a chemical retail business, responded that couples must respect and understand each other. “You have to keep good company… must have good thought and sense of imagination; and, more importantly, live a simple life.”

For her part, Aunty Chan encourages young couples to stay committed to the relationship, have respect for each other, be faithful to each other, and trust each other. However, she remains convinced that one of

me all the privileges,” he said, as tears of joy settled in his eyes.

On the question of advice to young couples, the 82-year-old man, who oper-

the most important factors to living a happy married life is for couples to have the blessings of their parents. (Andrew Carmichael)

Ramish Maraj

Chandrawati Maraj, also called ‘Aunty Chan’

Local, int’l companies laud networking opportunities at Energy Expo

Hundreds of local and international firms participated in the second edition of the International Energy Conference and Expo with the hope of connecting with other businesses and forming strategic partnerships that can advance their companies and further contribute meaningfully to the Guyanese economy.

Some of these companies included 3tEnerMech, Noble, Global Technology, Expro, GTT, V-Net Communications, and many more.

During the exposition and conference, Guyana Times spoke with some of these businesses.

One of them was 3tEnerMech, which is a joint company that offers subsea and pipeline, mechanical services, and a wide range of offshore training courses right here in Guyana. This company has been operating in the country since 2019, however, it played an integral role in the initial stages of oil discovery in Guyana.

According to its Mechanical Supervisor, Treon Anthony, the compa-

ny hopes to reach more customers and encourage young people to come on board and take part in their training or join the team.

“It’s simply to let people know that we’re here…and also to encourage young people to know…EnerMech is on board to encourage and support others. We offer all training here…locally for the offshore activity…we’re the premier training facility here in Guyana and we offer… about 400 different courses. So, the more we can get people to come on board [and] be a part of the training [or] join our team, then it’s good for us and good for the country,” Anthony explained.

Another company, Noble Corporation, which is an offshore drilling contractor for the oil and gas industry, was founded in 1921. Based in London, it provides contract drilling services worldwide, with a fleet of mobile offshore drilling units and a floating production storage and offloading unit.

It has operations in 15 countries, including Argentina, Mexico, and Brazil. Since then, Noble has been a world-class offshore drilling company with industry-leading safety and operational performance. Noble Corporation focuses on deep and long-term partnerships as the foundation for driving efficiency and increasing certainty for customers

According to the Noble’s Local Content Manager for Guyana, Renatha Khan, the company is looking to have more local suppliers on board and work harder to better incorporate local content.

“We’re basically here… because we wanted to meet with suppliers, so mainly we see this as an opportunity to meet with suppliers to see what is available locally, what are the different areas that we can…partner with local businesses to make sure that…we’re getting what we need and we’re able to buy more local. Our vision for 2023 as it relates to supply chain, is to wherever we can incorporate lo-

cal context, to do so,” Khan explained.

Guyanese company, Global Technology continues to offer a wide range of services including satellite connectivity, cloud solutions, and much more. The organisation also has plans to expand its services to the oil and gas sector and work with the international community as a local provider.

According to the company’s Marketing Manager Akesi Cave, “We’re at the conference basically just to show that we are present as a local supplier. There has been a lot of emphasis on the local community, the local businesses, local human resources so we just want to show to the international community that we are present [and that] there is a local provider that has a solution…we just want to have that visibility.”

Guyana Times also visited the GTT booth. This is one of the largest telecommunications and technology providers in Guyana and currently provides a range of services to Guyanese across the diaspora.

Today, the company’s network has about 153,000 working main lines. Switching and transmission have been improved by deploying digitisation and fibre optic cables. International connectivity has been expanded via access to a number of deep-sea cables. Modern wireless and radio technologies have been deployed to serve subscribers in remote areas and the internet bandwidth brought to Guyana is now in excess of 3 gigabits and our 2nd generation mobile network is GPRS and EDGE ready.

Additionally, GTT’s mobile subscriber base is now around 280,000 and continues to grow. The company’s COO, Orson Ferguson, shared that the company’s aim for the energy sector is to provide outstanding connectivity services to their customers and to be their main choice as it relates to their future needs for value and convenience.

GTT COO Orson Ferguson welcoming President Dr Irfaan Ali and Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to the GTT Booth

Global Technology’s Marketing Manager Akesi Cave greeting President Ali

Local, int’l companies laud networking...

“It’s one where most of our customers in the oil and gas segment are. So, it’s a great opportunity for us to get in front of them to engage them to talk about what their needs are, not just their current needs but their needs in the next five, six, twelve months, and is also for us to get in front of them to talk to them about our solutions. Just to make sure that we’re top of mind with them as far as their connectivity needs are concerned,” he shared.

GTT has been operating in the oil and gas sector from its inception and has been the premier solutions provider for companies. Since then, they have provided a magnitude of new services to fit the needs of the sector.

Another local company, V-Net Communications (V-Net) was established in 2012 and is committed to championing the “Freedom of Connectivity” for present and future development. The business’s aim is to provide viable ICT platform solutions to strengthen and develop communication capabilities through connectivity and smart technologies in a sustainable environment. Recognising that being able to send and receive infor-

vices, wireless services and much more.

Expro has been operating in Guyana since 2015, during the initial stages of oil discovery in the country.

Country Manager for Expro Guyana, Braylon Hurd shared that they are hoping to find really good local vendors to provide services for them.

“We’re hoping to find some really good…local vendors to be able to provide our services for us as well as have some conversations with our human resources team and seeing if we could find some really good employees to bring on to our team to help us with our lo-

engage with them and provide this service to people who are in need.”

Mobile Money Guyana (mmg+) is a mobile money

application that uses a secure platform through apps as well as USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) technology and PIN protection so you can enjoy the latest security with more money flexibility. The company also has over 900 agents across the country where persons can access their services.

General Manager of MMG, Bobita Ram added that in the era of digital transformation in Guyana, doing business easier is the way to go with mmg+. She added that since being at the conference, quite a few businesses have indicated their interest in coming on board with mmg+.

FROM PAGE 16

Finally, Vals Construction is a local construction company based in Guyana that offers a wide range of services including, truck services, timber pile driving, land clearing, construction of pump stations, drainage and irrigation works, and many more.

Operations Manager Gregory Brandon shared that the company is new but is rapidly expanding its services all across Guyana.

“We have been meeting a lot of people here that give to us a lot of offers…as it relates to the work that we do. It is beneficial to the company and just like everything else we’re hoping that after this exercise Vals would be even

far more on the map…and would be recognised by…far more people in Guyana as a whole,” Brandon added.

mation regularly, efficiently, and effectively is absolutely critical in this fast-moving world.

The company offers limitless coverage whilst bridging the gap with the outside world to meet your communication needs. Their objectives are built on connectivity anytime and anywhere, as they continue to offer innovative technologies and solutions, whilst developing and sustaining stakeholders’ value. The company has also launched their Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIOT) platform which is used to facilitate smart agriculture, the building of smart cities and more.

CEO of V-Net, Safraz Sheriffudeen shared that his company is hoping to showcase its services and connect with more companies for business.

“We’re hoping to showcase our services, mostly our platform which is interactive and being able to bring new technology…to Guyana and to the people. We’re hoping to interact with more companies and let them see what we are capable of and hoping to put our local content to good use,” he added.

Expro, on the other hand, is a full-service company that provides a number of services on drilling rigs. The company offers four main product lines with cementation ser-

cal growth,” Hurd explained.

Japarts is another company that provides services in the oil and gas sector. It was established more than 35 years ago. Its Chief Executive Officer, Terry Singh, shared that the energy expo brings a great opportunity for his business to be established in the international community and to connect with clients to provide them with necessary services.

“If any company who is working with the oil and gas industry has not improved, I think they’re doing something wrong. You have to make that initial investment, not just in spending but in your people, you have to invest in training your people to adapt to the sector,” Singh added.

WeSolveCX is a global outsourcing company that provides end-to-end solutions for businesses that want to communicate with customers via inbound or outbound services, telemarketing, develop website marketing, or any sort of digital presence.

General Manager, Shem Erskine shared, “I think the engagement so far at this conference has been really good, the feedback has been positive from customers, both local and overseas. So, we’re just happy to know that we’re so positioned to

V-Net CEO Safraz Sheriffudeen

Japarts' CEO Terry Singh at the expo

Climb Guyana has officially launched its Republic Race.

Slated to begin on February 25 and end on February 26, 2023, the two-day competition will see a total of eight challenges being completed by teams along the way.

This year’s competition challenges include kayaking, sandboarding, traditional scooter racing, lumberjacking, sand castle building, a 17-mile road race from Linden to Rockstone, and much more; all of which are intended to

test team spirit, mental and physical strength, determination, and artistic flow of team members.

Climb Guyana has added sandboarding as one of its new challenges this year in order to bring something new to the Guyanese market.

According to its CEO, Amanda Wilson, although Guyana isn’t new to sand-related recreational activities, she wants to introduce the sandboard itself to the Guyanese people.

“Rolling…and skating down the

sand is nothing new to Guyana; all we’re doing is…introducing the sandboard itself. So that’s one thing we’re excited about, that’s the challenge that I’m looking forward to,” Wilson told this publication.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

She explained that this year she decided to do a shorter expedition, given the large number of persons who wanted to participate in previous competitions, but were unable to do so because of their various working conditions.

“This year, with all the COVID-19 restrictions removed, we decided that we’re going to not wait until November…and instead decide that we’re going to do a Republic Race.

Because a lot of people complained that they could not have gotten four or five days off to do the last expedition, I decided to (let it) be a little shorter,” she remarked.

Climb Guyana was founded by Wilson as a result of her passion for adventure and love for hiking. She shared that after relocating to Guyana, she launched Climb Guyana in 2021 to allow people to be adventurous.

“As I’m in the Rupununi and I’m chilling on Kanuku mountains, I’m thinking, ‘You know what? I don’t just want people to come and see the beauty and enjoy themselves, I want them to have a thrill, an adventure’; so, I created Climb Guyana,” she reflected.

Wilson shared that one of her major challenges was launching a business amid the COVID-19 pandemic and getting support from sponsors. She added that given the uniqueness of her brand, it is challenging to move contingents from one place to another in a short period of time.

Wilson boasted that none of her previous events has ever seen major injuries, as medical personnel are always present.

“We’ve never had any major injuries, literally…we’ve always had medical staff on board and we’ve always worked along with local authorities, so we’ve never had any; and we

FROM PAGE 18

hope that in the future that continues,” Wilson shared.

She also shared that her first expedition was done in partnership with the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), and she intends to expand her partnership with this entity as her business grows.

Added to that, Climb Guyana launched a bakery in December of last year. It is located in the Massara Village of the North Rupununi, and is run in partnership with the Massara Women’s Group. This is the first farine bakery in Guyana.

In Climb Guyana’s Republic Race, first-place participants will take home a prize of $300,000, second-place winners will receive $200,000, and third-place winners will be given a total of $150,000.

This year’s race caters specifically to teams of two. The registration fee per team is $50,000, and this fee covers food, accommodation, and transportation. Interested persons can register online via https://forms.gle/ JJY6JR8mEw4ZsXo6A

The deadline for all payments is February 20, 2023.

Return of Children’s Costume & Float Parade sparks excitement

Hundreds of revellers from all walks of life decked out in their multi-coloured, shimmering costumes gyrated to the sound of Soca rhythms through the streets of Georgetown on Saturday as the Children’s Costume and Float Parade returned for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic

The parade, which recognises children and celebrates Guyanese culture in February every year, was not held in two years due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The event has grown, and this year, it drew several hundred children to the huge pa-

rade, with scores of spectators. This event culminates a series of activities that were organised by the Education Ministry to usher in Guyana’s

53rd Republic Day celebrations.

Guyana Times spoke with a few schools, and Stephan Johnson, a teacher

at Kingston Secondary School, said their school was representing the Bandstand on the seawalls.

“This year’s theme is revelling our infrastructure development, and we decided to do the float to represent the Kitty seawall, which is the First Lady’s project… this is what we need after two years, we are ready, we are back, and we are greater than ever. One Guyana.”

Sherwyn Blackman, Regional Education Officer of Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo) said, “It is indeed amazing to be out here again, and giving the children

the opportunity to participate and enjoy this after two years”.

Akeila Dey, a teacher at Ascension Secondary School, said that her school has not been on the road since 2019, and she is happy that after two years of battling the novel coronavirus, they were able to return to the streets.

“I feel very excited… the last that we were here in 2019, we were looking at our budding oil industry. I feel very excited, and enthusiastic, and it is a great opportunity to allow these children to have the experience, to represent something very patriotic,” she said.

This publication also spoke with some of the spectators who shared their excitement about the festivity.

“I am coming from Sophia, A Field, and I am excited about the parade. I feel excellent being out here after two years,” Malinda Arthur said. Before Saturday’s event, there were also local, regional, and national level competitions in dance, song, dramatic poetry, and masquerade that featured children.

This year’s celebrations are being celebrated under the theme “Mixing and Mashing as One Guyana”.

SEE PHOTOS ON PAGE 21

Akeila Dey, a teacher of Ascension Secondary School

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Guyana in 2020, Moruca school teacher Carvil Adams was adjusting to university life in the city.

At that time, life in Guyana in terms of social, economic, and general everyday activities was in a tailspin as the pandemic wreaked havoc locally and globally. Adams had moved to the city with his family, and had, in September 2019, enrolled with his partner at the University of Guyana to read for a bachelor’s degree in education. Everything was going fairly well, according to him, but then things took a steep nosedive as the pandemic tightened its vice-grip on the country.

“Very dark time”

As the Health Ministry worked to curb the number of COVID-related fatalities during 2020, tragedy struck within Adams’s extended household.

At his home village of Waramuri, Moruca, two of his uncles passed away within the space of two days, after contracting COVID.

His partner Tonya Wilson, a schoolteacher, also lost her brother on the same day his second uncle died. Her brother was brutally chopped by an assailant, and he later succumbed to his injuries at the Kumaka District Hospital at Moruca.

“That period I would describe as a very dark time,” Adams has said. He describes that period as a “dreadful” and “scary” time, and has said it may have had a toll on him. Days later, on November 3, 2020, after the events of the preceding week, he suffered a stroke.

“On the morning when I was scheduled to restart my second year at university, that was when I got the stroke,” Adams said.

At the time, he was in the city, and the ailment forced him to take a year of study leave. He said he sought treatment, and remained in the city while undergoing therapy.

The stroke

He recalled waking up at around 07:00h on November 3, 2020 and realizing he had no feeling in the right side of

his body. “So, at the time, I lost control - all control - of my right arm and both legs. So, I collapsed in the house,” he said.

Adams said he was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC), and arrived there when a change of shift was ongoing. He said he was placed in the hospital’s waiting area, and while there, he regained some movement in his right hand. As such, he said, he was told by medical officials that the stroke he had suffered that morning may have been transient.

He said the doctor ordered that a CT scan be performed, but it did not detect any blockage in his system. He said he spent most of the morning at the hospital, and at around midday, he was discharged. “The doctors said they could not give me any medication at that point in time,” he said.

A second stroke

Adams said he was taken home by his family, but at around 13:00hrs that day, he suffered a second stroke. “Again I lost mobility, but in both hands; and I also had some facial issues as a result, and my speech became slurred,” he said.

He said an appointment was made with a doctor at the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, and he underwent an MRI scan and a series of tests. He said the MRI scan detected a blockage in the left side of his brain, but the staff of the hospital couldn’t identify what had triggered the stroke. “I think the only thing that was abnormal was that I had a bit of fat on my liver,” he said.

Adams was treated with prescribed medication, and has since been using the medication daily.

The recovery

Prior to the stroke, Adams was an active athlete, and he noted that he was quick in the 100-metre and 200-metre races. “I also did javelin and discus, and I even represented my region at the National Championships,” he said. He said that, given his record on the track and his overall physical strength, facing the reality of being immobile because of the stroke was “hard to accept.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 31

Adams receiving his certificate from the University of Guyana during a ceremony held earlier this month

“I suffered a stroke...

He said he was referred to the Palms Rehab Center on Brickdam, and there was where his recovery started. He said the staff at the center were instrumental in “reshaping my frame of mind to get back at university to study.”

Adams said: “While I was at the Palms, I met many other patients who, like myself, all suffered strokes and different neurological injuries. Some had recovered close to one hundred percent, while others were not so lucky. Some lost their speech altogether, some lost mobility and speech; it was depressing at times,” he explained.

He said his physical therapy, which lasted four months, included visiting the National Aquatic Center at Liliendaal, where he worked with the therapists from the Palms as well as final-year medical students of UG.

He said he was taught exercises that would assist in controlling the arms and legs, and utilised the treadmill to assist in recovery. He singled out Ms. Lawrence and Ms. Gracella at the Palms as persons who each played a key role in motivating him to return to university.

“What I have learnt with the stroke is that recovery is lifelong. Whether it was recent or years back, your recovery is always ongoing, and you always have to work at it to retrain the brain to adapt,” Adams noted.

Restarting at UG Adams said Ms. Lawrence introduced him to Mr. Ganesh Singh, a visually-impaired academic, who told him about a scholarship offered by the Government for persons with disabilities. He said in September 2021 he restarted his studies at the university, after being offered the scholarship.

He said he continued teaching, and at the time of suffering the stroke, he was seconded to the St Barnabas Special School.

The determined Adams said he has a family, and as such, he saw the entire scenario as a challenge that he simply had to overcome. “So, I had to return to work in order to continue earning and meet my day-to-day expenses, such as food, rent, and so forth,” he said.

His partner, who continued her studies at university, also inspired him to continue studying. He reiterated that he and his partner commenced studies at UG at the same time in September 2019, and he urged her to continue studying despite the difficulties the family faced.

“So, she was there with me

at the clinic for the first couple of appointments, but as I gradually started recovering, some stuff I started to do on my own. She was very supportive, and that is one of the things that helped me to get through - the support of family and friends,” he said.

Becoming a left-hander

Adams said returning to study was a challenge, since he had to adapt to utilizing the online platforms. He said he was a natural right-hander, but because of the stoke, he lost the ability to type, and had to learn how to sign and write with his left hand.

He said that when he is out in the public, such as at the Post Office, people would question him regarding his sloth in signing his name. “I would then have to explain to them that I was a right-hander and that I lost the ability to write with my right hand,” he said.

He said the stroke affected his speech to a small degree, but it impacted his ability to think quickly. “So now I speak at a slower rate, and I would have to pause, and some of these presentations at university are timed activities. But I have been coping well,” he said.

The Dean’s Honour Roll Recently, the University of Guyana paid special recognition to students who made the Dean’s Honour Roll, an achievement in which students with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.4 to 4.0 are recognized for their performance.

Adams said he never paid much attention to his GPA, but works to the best of his ability.

“I had set a goal prior to starting at UG. And despite the stroke, I will complete UG,” he said in a determined tone. He said that earlier this month, when the university called to inform him that he had qualified to be on the Dean’s Honour Roll, he was elated. “Yea! I was happy that I survived the stroke and I am able to pursue the goal of obtaining my degree and to be honoured for my performance,” he said.

Adams, who can be best described as being reserved, noted that sometimes he is surprised at his grades, since the courses can be challenging, especially for him, given his personal condition. He says he looks forward to completing his degree this year, as well as graduating this year end. He said he is also looking forward to returning to Moruca, to the Santa Rosa Secondary, where he had been teaching for several years prior to moving to study in the city.

School teacher Carvil Adams holding his certificate which he received from the University of Guyana after being listed on the Dean’s Honour Roll by the university recently for outstanding academic performance

Women’s safety targeted planning of new infrastructure

In a move to properly plan infrastructural development to cater to women’s safety, the Housing and Water Ministry through the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) hosted Women’s Safety Audit (WSA) workshops at Providence Phase 2 and Herstelling New Scheme on the East Bank Demerara (EBD).

The WSA workshop makes up a component of the Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme (AHUAP) which speaks to improving infrastructure in targeted communities to include the safety of women and girls.

Minister within the Housing and Water Ministry, Susan Rodrigues in her address to residents spoke on the importance of such engagements to the country’s developmental process. The intention, she said, is to ensure infrastructure being

13 roads slated to be upgraded at Providence and 24 at Herstelling. Another 20 roads have been identified for an upgrade at Peters Hall and other existing EBD housing schemes.

The Minister told the residents, “We have taken stock already of all of the roads that are in deplorable condition and we are incorporating them into our work programme.”

The Women’s Safety Audit assesses the safety of women in public spaces from the woman’s perspective, through engagements with women and other stakeholders in areas where infrastructural works are being done under the AHUAP. The results of the workshop can influence the design of infrastructural interventions for those areas.

After the two workshops, residents were able to identify several areas of con-

done in communities is functional and practical to the citizens who reside in those areas.

“That is something that influences our decisions when we choose roads to be upgraded because if we are spending Government’s money, we want to ensure that it can impact as many people as possible,” Rodrigues underscored.

While infrastructural works are earmarked for these areas under AHUAP, Minister Rodrigues said the Government has awarded contracts for the upgrading of 1100 community roads with

cern in their respective communities as they sought the Minister’s intervention. The issue of poorly lit streets and the lack of Police presence in the Providence area among others were raised.

Through the AHUAP initiative, $5.4 billion has been allotted through the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) to execute projects in several areas across the country including the construction of core homes, and infrastructural works such as upgrading of roads and drainage systems and installation of street lights.

Minister Rodrigues at the workshop

Minister Rodrigues engaging women and girls during the exercise

Bartender busted with illegal firearm, ammo

Marville Barker also called “Kellon”, a bartender of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), was on Friday evening arrested after he was found to be in possession of an illegal firearm and matching ammunition.

Based on reports received, at about 22:10h, Police ranks acted on information received and proceeded to Pouderoyen Tarmac, West Bank Demerara (WBD), where they arrested the 21-year-old man who had in his possession an unlicensed 9mm pistol with matching rounds of ammunition.

On arrival at the location,

was found in the front of the waist of his pants. In addition, Police removed the magazine containing nine matching rounds of ammunition.

the ranks made contact with Barker and told him that they had received information that he was carrying a firearm and ammunition and as such, requested to conduct a search on him.

Barker did not object to the Police search. In the process, one black 9mm pistol

Barker was asked if he was the holder of a firearm licence, and he replied in the negative. He was arrested and escorted to Parfaite Harmonie Police Station along with the suspected firearm and ammunition. He remains in custody pending charges.

Cellphones, improvised weapons among prohibited items found at Timehri Prison

As inspections continue on various correctional facilities, a quantity of prohibited items were unearthed during a raid at the Timehri Prison on Friday.

The three-hour-long exercise was headed by members of the Timehri Prison and a team of Police ranks attached to the Timehri Police Station.

According to information received, searches were conducted in the London Dorm,

Sampson Dorm, Dining Hall and Security Block.

As a result, a total of 124 prisoners and their belongings were searched during which five lighters, several razor blades, five cellular phones, two spoons, three improvised weapons, and a quantity of cannabis were found. The items were confiscated and an investigation is underway.

The items found during the raid

Marville Barker

Yarrowkabra farmers call for assistance to expand cultivation

In a time when Guyana is aiming to create a robust and diversified agriculture sector, farmers have supported this cause and are seeking the Government’s support to expand their areas of cultivation and operations.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha met with farmers from Block 42, Moblissa, Yarrowkabra, and Kuru Kururu on Friday, where they were reassured that the Government will continue to support the development of agriculture.

While meeting with

such as bait, seeds, seedlings, and other inputs to develop their production.

He also committed to ensuring farmers benefit from improved extension services as the Ministry is currently working to revamp its extension department to better serve farmers across the country.

Mustapha also engaged residents and farmers from Christianburg, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) to discuss some of the issues faced. Several farmers who attended the meeting also requested assistance with

farmers from those communities, he said agriculture is high on the Government’s developmental agenda and called for cooperation to develop the sector within those communities.

While praising the Aliled Administration for the interventions made thus far, farmers sought the Minister’s assistance with land titles to expand their cultivation. Other farmers requested assistance with acquiring farming inputs in the form of tools, agricultural machinery, and planting materials. They also requested assistance with Black Giant chicks and piglets to develop their communities’ poultry and swine industries.

Highlighting that every Guyanese must benefit from the country’s resources, Minister Mustapha told farmers that the Guyana Livestock Development Authority will assist vulnerable groups with several tools and other implements,

developing and expanding their farms.

Minister Mustapha said that officers from the various agencies will meet with farmers to develop a programme to address all of the issues faced in the community. The Minister also encouraged the youths who are interested to develop farmers’ groups so that the Ministry can assist them to promote and expand their operations. He also committed to assisting vulnerable groups and single-parent households with Black Giant chickens to develop the poultry sector.

The agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector expanded by an estimated 11.9 per cent in 2022. This was attributed to the rice, livestock, and forestry industries. The rice sector grew by 8.1 per cent with total production of 610,595 tonnes. The other crops sector grew by 15.3 per cent, with expansions across all crop categories.

Residents at the Yarrowkabra-Kuru Kururu outreach

Minister Mustapha addressing concerns of a Region 10 resident

Pres Ali tells diaspora in Bahamas of major transformation taking place in Guyana

The Guyanese diaspora

in The Bahamas was updated on the massive transformation taking place in their homeland by President Dr Irfaan Ali.

The Head of State travelled to the island last week to attend the 44th Regular Meeting of the Heads of Government of the Caricom (Caribbean Community) held in Nassau.

During his meeting with the Guyanese diaspora, President Ali spoke extensively about his Government’s development plan, especially as it relates to healthcare, human resource development, education, the oil and gas sector, agriculture and tourism, among others.

In the healthcare sector, he specifically outlined the various initiatives being undertaken by his Administration including the recent increase in salaries and training of nurses.

Back in December, the Guyanese leader announced some $1.5 billion in salary adjustments, which took effect in January 2023, for over 5000 healthcare workers in various categories. This was in addition to an across-theboard eight per cent salary increase for all public servants in Guyana.

Further, the Ministry of Health has indicated plans to train some 1000 persons in the nursing field every year to staff the several healthcare facilities being established across the country. According to Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony, approximately 250 nurses are currently being trained annually in Guyana. He had noted that a new registered nursing programme would be launched this year to recruit the first 1000 per-

sons.

Meanwhile, President Ali also told the Guyanese diaspora in the Bahamas of his Government’s plan to ensure a world-class education for Guyanese, including special needs education.

Only last year, Government granted a oneoff cash grant of $100,000 per child to parents of children living with disabilities. Additionally, construction has begun on a new care centre for children living with disabilities at the Mahaica Hospital.

Moreover, the Guyanese Head of State also discussed wellness tourism and his efforts to forge stronger partnerships to build a ‘One Guyana’ – his brain-child initiative aimed at promoting greater benefits for all and inclusion at the legislative, political and social levels.

President Ali further spoke about the single window permit system that his Government is developing to fast-track investment and development as he tries to woo the Guyanese diaspora to return home to invest and play a role in the country’s unprecedented economic transformation.

A $202 million contract was signed in December with Global Services – a Guyaneseled consortium – to make the issuance of planning and building permits hassle-free. In addition, Government has already presented the Planning and Development Single Window System Bill in the National Assembly. The Bill caters for the establishment of a single window electronic processing system to increase business efficiency, as the housing and construction industries are expanding

rapidly.

Key to Guyana’s transformation is its infrastructural development which features massive projects to improve the country’s road network and connectivity, especially with its neighbours, a new bridge across the Demerara River and its model gas-to-energy project that includes a 300-megawatt (MW) power plant which will cut electricity costs by half thus encouraging commercial activities.

President Ali was joined by Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd, and Guyana’s Honorary Consul to the Bahamas Jairam Mangra, during the engagement with the diaspora.

There are said to be approximately 4000 Guyanese living in the Bahamas. The two nations have enjoyed strong bilateral ties for over 50 years.

Back in May 2022, President Ali had told the NonResident High Commissioner of the Bahamas to Guyana, Leslia Miller-Brice, during her swearing-in ceremony, that the opportunity is there for the two Caricom states to forge a stronger partnership, especially in the areas of agriculture, tourism, education, sport, youth development, financial services and trade and investment.

“I know that there is a significant Guyanese population in the Bahamas. We must therefore work on establishing a functional cooperation programme that will rebound to the benefit of both our peoples …the opportunity is therefore before us to craft a stronger partnership and a programme for bilateral collaboration and cooperation,” the Head of State had noted.

Housing and Water Ministry launches 2023 Mash Band

The Housing and Water Ministry’s Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) on Friday launched its 2023 Mash band at the agency's Brickdam, Georgetown Headquarters under our theme "Bridging Communities, Transforming Lives, as a One Guyana". Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water Susan Rodrigues, at

the launch, urged the team to "bring the energy" and to ensure they enjoy themselves while doing so.

She also thanked the staff for their hard work over the past few years and urged them to enjoy each moment in the celebration of our nation's Republic anniversary. Similar sentiments were also expressed by the Permanent Secretary, Andre Ally, who reminded the team that

Mashramani is a time for togetherness and encouraged them to work as one body.

CH&PA will be defending its title as the Best Decorated Non-Commercial Building. The agency is also the reigning champion for best full costume (small) and will be coming bigger and better in 2023 under the medium category.

This year's costumes, which are intended to por-

tray Guyana's development through the housing sector, are designed by Randy Madray.

The audience was treated to a special performance from some of the Mash Day revellers and musical performances by some of our local artistes including Melissa Roberts popularly known as “Vanilla”.

Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, and the models Minister Rodrigues and Permanent Secretary Andre Ally moving to the vibes by Vanilla

Allottees at Charity New Housing Scheme to access lands soon

residents of Wakapao, Akawini to get 1st-time access to potable water

also be executed to facilitate the lot identification exercise.

Minister Croal, who is currently on a two-day outreach in the region, also inspected infrastructure works ongoing at the now regularised Charity Squatting Area and interacted with residents.

Last year, President Dr Irfaan Ali announced infrastructure development for the community to the tune of $200 million for the con-

Persons who were allocated lands at Buxton/ St Joseph, Charity, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), will be able to identify their house lots and commence construction of their homes within the next three months,

This was according to Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal during a site visit at the scheme on Saturday. He was accompanied by Regional Vice Chairman Humace Oudit and a team from the Central Housing & Planning Authority (CH&PA) and Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI).

The scheme yields approximately 500 house lots.

Infrastructure works undertaken in the area include land clearing and construction of access roads, culverts and drainage networks.

Additional clearing will

struction of 2.5 kilometres of concrete roads, a new bridge, and the installation of water and electricity services.

Meanwhile, the Minister also told residents of

Wakapao and Akawini (Baracaro), that they will soon receive first-time access to potable water with the drilling of new wells in the villages.

Currently, the villagers mainly source water from nearby creeks and through rainwater harvesting.

Minister Croal stated that the Government is investing

to ensure that hinterland and riverine communities receive 100 per cent access to potable water by 2025.

The wells will be drilled through GWI with a new PAT Rig acquired by the water company. The rig is expected to arrive in March and drilling of two wells will begin at Wakapao in April, before moving to Baracaro for the drilling of another well.

GWI also aims to connect three nearby islands at Akawini to the system.

“That well will provide a better quality of life for our people. It will help you to reduce some of the hardships that you may be faced with in the dry season,” Croal told the residents.

Minister Croal and members of the team in a discussion

Works ongoing at the new housing scheme

One of the roads leading to the housing scheme

Minister Croal addressing residents of Wakapao and Akawini (Baracaro)

“We’re in it to win it” – PM tells Mash Band

will be a big one. He called for the ‘One Guyana’ motto to resonate among the activities as they hit the road.

“On that day, we must come out as ‘One Guyana’. Let us let down our hair and be one Guyana. Let it be a day for family and a day for all of us to go out there and have fun. You’ve been working hard whole year and up to now, and Mashramani means cele-

bration after hard work.”

This year’s theme for Mashramani is “Mixing and Mashing as One Guyana”.

Each year, since 1970, Guyana has observed its Republic anniversary by hosting a series of activities. These activities usually culminate on Republic Day, February 23, with a grand display of costume bands. This year will be no different and is expected to see a grand celebration

post-COVID.

The word Mashramani was borrowed from the Indigenous peoples to describe their celebratory period of feasting and dancing after a successful preparation and planting season; meaning, “celebration after hard work”, though other coinages include “celebration of a work well done”, “a venture”, or “cooperative effort”, and “a celebration after a harvest”.

Allottees at Charity New Housing...

Additionally, two Community Service Officers (CSOs) will be trained to assist GWI with the operation and maintenance of the systems upon completion.

Less than one week until the grand Mashramani parade takes to the streets, the Office of the Prime Minister’s band is ready to deliver an electrifying performance.

On Friday, the Office of the Prime Minister launched its Mash band for 2023. Prime Minister,

Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips urged revellers and other participants to perform their best. Some 100 persons will be participating in the band, which sports a theme of blue and gold.

“There is only one way we can win! That is if we are ready to go out and perform with vigour. When

we go out there, we go out with our costumes…and we’re going to be electrified. We’re going out there with a lot of energy, a lot of innovation and we’re going out there to win the category,” Prime Minister Phillips told the band.

Coming out of a pandemic, the PM anticipated that this year’s celebration

With both villages also set to benefit from monies earned from the sale of Guyana’s carbon credits, the Minister also urged them to be innovative and embark on projects that will foster sustainable economic growth and job creation.

During the meeting, residents also took the opportunity to highlight issues affecting them in their communities. These issues will be addressed by the relevant subject Ministers and agencies.

Prime Minister Phillips with Minister Kwame McCoy and the revellers during the Mash Band launch on Friday

The Minister engaging a resident in discussion

Good Hope construction worker chopped to death during brawl

Surajpaul Etwaroo, a 38-year-old construction worker of Good Hope Phase One, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was hacked to death on Friday evening during a confrontation.

The incident occurred at about 17:30h at Sideline Road, Good Hope, Police said.

The murder suspect, who is from Stanleytown, West Bank Demerara (WBD), was later arrested and is pres-

PAHO calls

ently in custody assisting with the investigation.

According to information provided by an eyewitness, the suspect crossed a bridge with his pedal cycle after which he met an identifiable male. The suspect reportedly went to the waist and upon seeing that, the other man ran.

The suspect then rode off the scene. Subsequently, the eyewitness reported that she saw the now dead man and the male who had run away

on separate bicycles heading in the suspect’s direction. At the time, Etwaroo was carrying a cutlass while the other man was armed with a baton.

Shortly after, the suspect came out from a cross street followed by a confrontation. Etwaroo and the suspect both got off their respective cycles while the identifiable male ran into the yard of the eyewitness.

Etwaroo began chopping at the suspect with the cut-

lass but in retaliation, the suspect pulled a knife from his waist and also armed himself with the baton that the other man had dropped. He then dealt Etwaroo several lashes, thus causing him to drop his cutlass.

The suspect then picked up the cutlass and chopped Etwaroo several times in his abdomen. The suspect also used his knife and stabbed the victim several times about his body. Etwaroo collapsed on the ground with

his intestine protruding from his abdomen.

After attacking Etwaroo, the suspect got on his cycle and escaped.

The eyewitness raised an alarm, and several persons gathered. Etwaroo was then picked up from off the road and transported by his brother to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries while receiving medical attention.

Investigations continue.

on countries to strengthen chikungunya management

…over 30,000 cases reported in January 2023

The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) has called on countries of the Americas to strengthen measures to diagnose and manage chikungunya due to an increase in cases in some areas.

A statement from the organisation shared that there are higher numbers of susceptible persons at the start of peak transmission season in the Southern Cone.

Chikungunya fever is transmitted by the Aedes mosquito, which is also responsible for spreading dengue and Zika. It can cause high fever, joint and muscle pain, and headache. There is no approved vaccine or specific treatment for the disease. On rare occasions, it can cause severe symptoms and lead to death, mainly in

pregnant women, children under the age of one, older adults and people with comorbidities.

According to the PAHO epidemiological alert published on February 13, 2021, there were over 137,000 reported cases and 12 deaths due to the disease, but in 2022 cases almost doubled, and 95 deaths were reported in 13 countries and territories of the Region. The vast majority was in Brazil.

In the first four weeks of 2023, 30,707 cases of chikungunya were reported – 70 per cent of which was in Paraguay – as well as 14 deaths.

“PAHO has urged Member States to continue strengthening surveillance, triage, diagnosis and the timely and appropriate

treatment chikungunya and other mosquito-borne disease cases. In the alert, the Organisation also called on countries to step up health service capacity and preparedness, including drawing up plans for screening and reorganising services in case of outbreaks, and strengthening care networks,” the entity shared.

The surveillance guidelines include recommendations on appropriate sampling and laboratory algorithms for diagnostic confirmation by molecular testing (RT-PCR), considering differential diagnosis with other pathologies.

PAHO also recommend that specific care be provided to patients at different levels of care and stages of infection, which may require

training of health personnel in diagnosis and case management.

The best protection against chikungunya is to

avoid mosquito bites. The main method of reducing transmission is to mobilise communities to reduce and eliminate mosquito breed-

ing sites. If chikungunya infection is suspected, it is recommended that persons seek immediate assistance at a health clinic.

The Centres for Disease Control (CDC) has outlined that no specific antiviral treatment is available for chikungunya. However, a number of therapeutic options are being investigated.

“Treatment for symptoms can include rest, fluids, and use of analgesics and antipyretics. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be used to help with acute fever and pain,” the CDC added.

The Aedes mosquito which transmits the Chikungunya virus

Dead: Surajpaul Etwaroo

Wildfires in Chile raise 'great concern', says Minister

New and reactivated wildfires in south-central Chile are causing great concern in populated areas, the country's Interior Ministry Carolina Toha said on Saturday, as some have destroyed buildings and left at least three people severely injured.

Speaking at a briefing, Toha said that fires in the region of Biobio

and Araucania have left a school and a church completely burned.

As winds spread across the region, fires restarted again on Friday, she added.

So far, the country has 256 active fires and 151 controlled fires, the Minister said, adding that the main concern is that some of the active fires could move to "highly populated areas."

"The appearance of

Migrant shelters in Guatemala under threat from legal reforms

new outbreaks is cause for great concern," she said.

The Andean country is battling some of the worst wildfires in years that have claimed 24 lives and burned through over 430,000 hectares, affecting thousands of people and destroying over a thousand homes.

Toha said actions are being taken to prevent new fires. (Reuters)

Argentina reports new cases of bird flu in its territory

Argentina confirmed on Saturday two new cases of bird flu detected in wild birds, three days after reporting the first findings of the disease in the South American region.

"We have detected a second case in two wild ducks found dead in the province of Cordoba," the Argentine National Service of Health and Agrifood Quality (SENASA) of the southern country said on Twitter. Argentina, along with

Uruguay - two important international agricultural producers - this week declared a state of sanitary emergency due to the first cases reported last Wednesday.

Officials in both countries said they reinforced controls at borders and internally as a result of the ongoing problem.

Avian flu, which has reached new corners of the globe, has become endemic for the first time in some wild birds that transmit the virus

to poultry, experts said.

The virus has spurred import bans in some countries and pushed egg prices to record highs in some parts of the world.

Several countries in South America, including Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador and Venezuela, have already found cases of bird flu in their territory.

Brazil, the world's biggest chicken exporter, has never reported a case but is on alert.

(Reuters)

Brazil Supreme Court rules Bayer must return $252 million in GMO soy royalties

It had taken hours to cross the border from Honduras to Guatemala by bus, and Edwin Gomez, a 39-yearold migrant from Honduras’s capital, needed a place to rest for the night.

That’s how he found himself with Friar German Tax, walking slowly through Colonia Mezquital, a community 15 km (9.3 miles) south of Guatemala City. Their destination was a two-storey house, nestled along a narrow street.

“I was told that there was a church where I could come and stay,” Gomez told Al Jazeera.

But shelters like the one where Gomez was headed are facing new threats in Guatemala. As migrants and asylum seekers journey north through Central America, with many headed to the United States, Guatemala has instituted reforms that could criminalise the work done by faithbased groups and volunteers to shelter and care for them.

In January, the Government began implementing new regulations that will require non-governmental migrant shelters to submit biometric information and other data for migrants who use their facilities daily. That data in-

cludes identification details, fingerprints, biographical material and other personal information.

Leaders from the Episcopal Conference of Guatemala, a branch of the Catholic Church, have raised concerns about the new regulations. Tax, the friar working in Colonia Mezquital, expressed outrage at the prospect of enforcing the new policy.

But if shelters like Tax’s fail to comply, authorities could use elements of the reforms made to Guatemala’s immigration law in February 2022 to pursue

criminal charges against shelter personnel.

The reforms target human smugglers known locally as “coyotes”, extending the maximum prison sentence for illegal trafficking to 30 years. But due to ambiguity in the law’s language, the reforms could also be used to punish people who aid and support migrants and asylum seekers.

Under the new reforms, the label “trafficker” could be applied to anyone who facilitates a migrant’s stay and transit in Guatemala.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Germany's

Bayer has been ordered by Brazil's Supreme Court to return to Brazilian soybean farmers the royalties they were charged for a GMO soybean seed, the Mato Grosso farmer lobby Aprosoja-MT said in a statement on Friday.

The Feb 13 ruling by Supreme Court Justice Nunes Marques relates to a GMO technology commercially known as Intacta RR2 Pro, created by Monsanto, which was later acquired by Germany's Bayer.

Bayer said in a statement it will determine its next steps while noting it would comply with the ruling.

The ruling is the latest chapter of a protracted battle opposing the crop science firm and Brazilian farmers, who have launched multiple legal challenges against the firm.

In 2017, Mato Grosso farmers sued Monsanto over that same genetically modified seed, seeking to cancel its patent protections by

claiming it did not bring any technological innovation.

Two years later soy producer associations in 10 Brazilian states joined that lawsuit.

Aprosoja-MT said that according to the ruling, Bayer will now have to deposit 1.3 billion reais (US$252 million) in an escrow account to return royalties paid by farmers going back to 2018.

Bayer said it is analys-

ing the Marques ruling, which refers specifically to a lawsuit brought by farmers claiming the company was charging royalties on a patent that had expired.

A lawyer for AprosojaMT said Bayer can appeal Marques' ruling at the plenary of the Supreme Court.

Brazilian cotton producers have also sued Bayer over Bollgard II RR Flex genetically modified cotton seed. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Colombia's Government on Friday presented a law to the country's Congress to raise public spending in its budget this year by 25.4 trillion pesos (US$5.11 billion) in a move to finance the social plans put forward by President Gustavo Petro.

Most of the resources to hike public spending will come from a tax reform approved by Congress last year, which came into effect in January, as well as those obtained from public companies.

The Bill would add 8.6 trillion pesos (US$1.73 billion) to this year's budget, bringing the budget total to 414.2 tril-

Bill to

lion pesos (US$83.4 billion).

Lawmakers originally approved a budget worth 405.6 trillion pesos.

To increase public spending Colombia's Government will reduce fuel subsidy payments, which will now flow directly from dividends paid by majority state-owned oil company Ecopetrol.

The extra money will go towards purchasing land for agrarian reform, constructing tertiary roads, payments to Colombia's poor, as well as to strengthen the health sector budget, among others, the Government said.

"It's an economic reactivation strategy that takes advantage of biodiversity,

respects and guarantees human rights, empowers the popular economy, improves social protection networks for the poor and vulnerable, and that contributes to building resilience in the face of shocks without jeopardizing energy sovereignty," the Bill said.

Petro, Colombia's first leftist President, enjoys a solid coalition in Congress with parties from across the entire political spectrum which approved last year's tax reform and which will be key to passing the political, economic and social reforms with which he wants to fight poverty and exclusion. (Excerpt from Reuters)

J/ca: Police report uptick in fraud at financial institutions

Senior Superintendent of Police Anthony McLaughlin, who heads the CounterTerrorism and Organised Crime (C-Toc) division of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, bemoaned on Friday what he said was an increase in fraud at financial institutions since 2022.

He, however, did not say how much has been de-

frauded from these financial institutions since last year. Neither did he give a figure for 2021.

SSP McLaughlin was speaking at a press conference Friday morning to announce the arrest and charge of Jean-Ann Panton, a former employee of Stocks and Securities Limited (SSL), for fleecing billions of dollars from

more than 30 clients.

Sprint Legend Usain Bolt is among the SSL clients who were robbed of money invested. He was fleeced of more than US$12 million.

The senior officer accused financial institutions of leaving doors open that could make fraud easy.

“We have seen since the latter part of last year that there has been an uptick in

fraud. We are appealing to businesses to look at their systems to ensure that they tighten the loopholes that some of these people are using to commit fraud,” McLaughlin said.

The SSP alluded to recent successes the Police have had in placing accused fraudsters before the courts. He referenced a $65-million fraud at

Sagicor Bank as well as a $44-million case at the National Commercial Bank (NCB).

“As it relates to the Sagicor matter, an additional person was charged and brought before the court. In total four people were charged in that matter.

For NCB, just one person was charged. The sum

in this matter is approximately $44 million.”

“We also arrested and charged a justice of the peace in St Ann. She was also a paralegal clerk. She was arrested and charged with defrauding a client of over $27 million. She was taken to court on Thursday and was remanded in custody,” McLaughlin said. (Jamaica Observer)

German Tax, a friar who works at a shelter in Colonia Mezquital, worries that new Government policies will violate migrants' privacy

Colombia's Government presents

Congress to increase public spending

A bridge is decorated with the logo of a Bayer AG, a German pharmaceutical and chemical maker, in Wuppertal, Germany August 9, 2019

Around the World OIL NEWS

Ukraine war: Russia has committed crimes against humanity, US says

Oil settles down $2 per barrel, ends week lower on Fed worries, ample supply

Oil settled down US$2 a barrel on Friday and ended the week markedly lower, as traders worried that future US interest rate hikes could weigh on demand and got nervous about mounting signs of ample crude and fuel supply.

On Thursday, two Fed officials warned additional hikes in borrowing costs are essential to curb inflation. The sentiments lifted the US dollar, making oil more expensive for holders of other currencies.

Brent crude futures settled down US$2.14 or 2.5 per cent, to US$83.00 a barrel, falling 3.9 per cent week on week. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) US crude settled down US$2.15, or 2.7 per cent, to US$76.34, falling 4.2 per cent from last Friday’s settlement.

“Rate hike jitters have returned with a vengeance,” said Stephen Brennock of oil broker PVM.

Various signs of ample supply also weighed on the market.

Russian oil producers expect to maintain current volumes of crude oil exports, despite the Government’s plan to cut oil output in March, the Vedomosti newspaper said on Friday, citing sources familiar with companies’ plans.

The latest snapshot of US supplies, released on Wednesday, showed crude inventories in the week to Feb 10 rose by 16.3 million barrels to 471.4 million barrels, their highest level since June 2021.

“Because oil storage is at a 19-month high, refiners are going to stretch out turnaround season for as long as they can,” said Bob Yawger, director of energy futures at Mizuho.

Heating oil cracks fell 5 per cent on Friday as warm weather sapped demand for the fuel in mid-February.

The oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, fell by one to 760 in the week to Feb 17, energy services firm Baker Hughes Co said on Friday.

Despite this week’s rig decline, Baker Hughes said the total count was still up 115, or 18 per cent, over this time last year.

Some support came from moves this week by the International Energy Agency and the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to raise their forecasts for global oil demand growth this year, citing expectations for more Chinese demand.

And Saudi Arabia’s Energy Minister said the current deal by OPEC+, which groups OPEC producers with Russia and others, to cut oil output targets by 2 million barrels per day, would be locked in until the end of the year, adding he remained cautious on Chinese demand. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Top Israeli diplomat ejected from African Union summit as row escalates

Asenior Israeli diplomat was on Saturday removed from the African Union’s annual summit in Ethiopia, as a dispute over Israel’s accreditation to the bloc escalated.

Images posted online showed AU security personnel confronting the diplomat during the opening ceremony of the summit, before she left the auditorium.

“Israel looks harshly upon the incident in which the deputy director for Africa, Ambassador Sharon Bar-Li, was removed from the African Union hall despite her status as an accredited observer with entrance badges,” the Foreign Ministry said.

Ebba Kalondo, the spokesperson for the African Union’s commission chairman, said the diplomat had been removed because she was not the duly accredited Israeli ambassador to Ethiopia, the official who was expected.

But Israel blamed the incident on South Africa and

The US has “formally determined” that Russia had committed crimes against humanity in Ukraine, US VicePresident Kamala Harris has said.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Harris accused Russia of “gruesome acts of murder, torture, rape and deportation” since its invasion.

World leaders at the conference called for long-term support of Ukraine.

UK PM Rishi Sunak said now was the time to “double down” on military support.

The Prime Minister argued that Western allies must start planning for the future security of Ukraine, as well as sending the weapons it needs to defend itself now.

The conference in Germany comes as the

one-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine approaches on 24 February.

Harris told the conference that the perpetrators of alleged Russian crimes in

Ukraine must be held to account.

“Their actions are an assault on our common values and our common humanity,” she said.

The UN defines crimes

against humanity as a “widespread or systemic attack” on a particular civilian population.

Moscow has repeatedly denied targeting civilians during its invasion.

“In the case of Russia’s actions in Ukraine we have examined the evidence, we know the legal standards, and there is no doubt: these are crimes against humanity,” Harris, a former prosecutor, told the conference.

She cited “barbaric and inhumane” atrocities during the war in Ukraine, including the scores of bodies found in Bucha shortly after the invasion and the bombing of a theatre in Mariupol.

“Let us all agree: on behalf of all the victims, both known and unknown, justice must be served,” Harris said.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

A dozen South African cheetahs arrive in India

Twelve cheetahs from South Africa have been flown to India as part of an agreement to introduce dozens of the mammals there over the next decade.

Asiatic cheetahs became extinct in India in the late 1940s because of excessive hunting and loss of habitat.

In 2020 India’s Supreme Court ruled that African cheetahs, a different subspecies, could be brought into the country at a “carefully chosen location” on an experimental basis.

The Indian Air Force has tweeted pictures of the boxed animals arriving “after a 10-hour flight from Johannesburg”.

They were then flown by helicopter to Kuno National Park.

These big cats will join eight received from Namibia last year.

Earlier this week, Uttam Sharma, director of Kuno National Park, said the big cats will be placed in quarantine enclosures upon their arrival.

The 12 cheetahs have been living in quarantine in South Africa since July.

Wildlife experts have raised concerns about the long quarantine periods the cheetahs are being subjected to, and say that it could harm their health and fitness.

However, Sharma said that all preparations to receive the big cats “had been completed”.

A sedated cheetah before being flown from South Africa to India tion of cheetahs will build up local economies and help restore ecosystems that support the big cats.

But some worry that re-

location of animals is always fraught with risks and releasing the cheetahs into a park might put them in harm’s way. (BBC News)

Algeria, two key nations in the 55-nation bloc, saying they were holding the AU hostage, and were driven by “hate”.

“We call on the countries of Africa to stand up against these actions that harm the organization of the African Union itself and the entire continent,” the Israeli Foreign Ministry said.

South Africa rejected the claim, saying Israel’s application for observer status at the AU has not been decided upon by the bloc.

“Until the AU takes a decision on whether to grant Israel observer status, you cannot have the country sitting and observing,” Clayson Monyela, head of public diplomacy in South Africa’s department of international relations, told Reuters.

“So, it’s not about South Africa or Algeria, it’s an issue of principle.”

South Africa’s ruling party has historically been a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause. (Excerpt from Reuters)

N Korea fires missile after threatening retaliation Taiwan offers hope in battle to save vulnerable pangolin

Set against the forested hills and tea plantations around Taiwan’s capital city, the Taipei Zoo is dealing with an unusual situation with its Formosan pangolins.

The zoo has about 13 of the scaly anteaters, a subspecies of the Chinese pangolin, who take turns to amble about in the public-facing exhibit space.

But as the wild pangolin population in the surrounding forests slowly recovers from years of hunting, they too are venturing into the zoo’s grounds in search of their favourite food – ants.

“Sometimes you can see wild pangolins wandering around the zoo at night,” Cai Yun-ling, who heads the zoo’s African animal section, told Al Jazeera.

“It’s quite strange because they’re still out in the wild but considered an incredibly vulnerable species. You can only find a few wild Chinese pangolins in other countries,

Proponents of the project say that the reintroduc-

so Taiwan is sort of the last resort for the wild ones.”

It is a remarkable turn of events for Taiwan, which just a few decades ago was exporting the pangolin’s distinct leathery scales for use in the global fashion industry and traditional Chinese medicine even though there was – and is – no evidence of any medicinal benefit.

The Pokémon-like mammal was also hunted as bush meat to supplement the diets of rural Taiwanese in a society with limited social services.

Since their near disappearance decades ago, the local pangolin population is slowly growing, according to experts like Kurtis Pei, one of Taiwan’s foremost conservationists. This is in contrast to the situation elsewhere in Asia and Africa where all eight species of pangolins are under pressure and some, including the Chinese pangolin, are critically endangered.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

North Korea has fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), Japan’s Government has said.

The Defence Ministry confirmed it was launched on Saturday, flew for 66 minutes and landed in the Sea of Japan.

It comes after Pyongyang showed off its massive military might in a parade that included more than a dozen ICBMs.

On Friday, North Korea threatened to unleash an “unprecedentedly strong” retaliation to any military drills between South Korea and the US.

The annual springtime exercises, which are due to start next month, are designed to help fend off North Korea’s increasing nuclear threats. But Pyongyang has long insisted the drills are in preparation to invade North Korea.

Saturday’s missile, which is the first to be launched since New Year’s Day, splashed down west of

Hokkaido, in Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) at 18:27 (09:27 GMT), Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said. An EEZ is an area of the sea that a country has jurisdiction over. Japan’s is a 200-nautical mile area off its coast.

It landed some 900km (560 miles) away, and reached an altitude of 5700km, Government spokesperson Hirokazu Matsuno said in Tokyo. While that is incredibly high - the edge of space is about 100km - it is not the highest a North Korean missile has flown.

In November, an ICBM reached an altitude of 6100km. Previously, in January 2022, North Korea released extraordinary photos of the Earth that it claimed were taken from a missile launch that reached 2000km.

ICBMs are particularly worrying because of their long range, including mainland United States. (Excerpt from BBC News)

US Vice-President Kamala Harris says those involved in atrocities “will be held to account”

ARIES

(March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

GEMINI (MAY 28June 20)

CANCER

Show passion, intelligence and initiative to attract outside interest. The best way to get others to recognize your talents is to help people. Walk away from someone who is a hindrance.

Plan to have some fun, but take care of unfinished business first so you can enjoy your downtime. Use your intelligence, coordination and skill to outmaneuver anyone who challenges you.

Check your options. Don’t wait for opportunities to come to you. Share your enthusiasm along with a sound plan, and doors will open. Don’t let a romantic gesture confuse you.

The more aware you are of your options, the more likely you are to find success. Travel will spark your imagination, give you hope and bring you in touch with someone influential.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Do whatever it takes to close a deal, refresh ideas or protect your assets. A partnership will positively influence how you live and what you decide to do next. Take the initiative to get what you want.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Spend time with a loved one. A trip or educational pursuit will give you hope for a brighter future. An assertive response will help you stay in control. Put anger aside.

Reassess your situation. Take an innovative approach to foreseeable problems and ward off someone who likes to meddle. A creative project will raise awareness of your talents.

Be smart, ask questions and be resourceful. If you let your heart lead the way and trust your emotions, you will suffer personal and financial mishaps. Get along with loved ones.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

CAPRICORN

(Dec. 22Jan. 19)

AQUARIUS

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

PISCES

(Feb. 20Mar. 20)

Don’t follow someone’s lead. Consider what brings you joy and take that path. Focus on doing your best and surrounding yourself with people who encourage you to follow your heart.

Take the lead and don’t stop until you reach your chosen destination. A confident attitude will help you attract attention and support. Personal and financial gains are within reach.

Take a leadership position. Accept a challenge and prepare to win. Respond quickly to challenges and show off your versatility and abilities. A personal change will attract compliments.

Your reluctance to share information will place you in a precarious position. Interact with others to gain insight into what’s next. Romance is apparent, but tread slowly.

Peanuts

Calvin and Hobbes

Dilbert

Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023: Aus vs India: Test 2 of 4…

Lyon, Head give Australia edge in one-innings’ shootout

India’s

formidable lower order, led by Axar Patel, again played a crucial role after Nathan Lyon had taken five wickets to turn what looked like a significant deficit on a tricky Delhi pitch into a one-innings’ shootout of a Test, with Australia holding the advantage of bowling last.

Home side India had slipped to 139 for 7, with Lyon doing most of the damage in the first two sessions as Australia’s opening-day 263 took on imposing proportions. But Axar and R Ashwin then added 114 for the eighth wicket, to reduce the difference to just one run.

Australia had extended that briskly to 62 by the close. Travis Head, opening in place of the subbed-out David Warner, made a very punchy start, although Australia lost Usman Khawaja to a brilliant catch at leg slip from a paddle-sweep. However, Marnus Labuschagne signalled his and Australia’s intent by taking three fours in an over off Ravindra Jadeja.

The game would likely have already gone from India, though, if it wasn’t for Axar. He produced a magnificent innings, during which some of his off-side strokeplay was the highlight, particularly a flat cover-drive six against Todd Murphy. And it needed a reflex catch at midon from Pat Cummins to end things when he was looking to cut loose following the departure of R Ashwin.

Ashwin had enjoyed milking his promotion to #3 as nightwatchman in Nagpur, but neither he nor Axar would look out-of-place higher up the order. Ashwin took the role of senior player seriously, constantly encouraging Axar, although he did not appear to be having many concerns as he backed up the 84 he had made in the first Test.

Things had looked much different for the first half of the day. Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul had formed a solid opening stand, but once Australia got their first inroad, the game took on another complexion. Lyon made the opening incision when he trapped the under-pressure Rahul with one which straightened from around the wicket. He then produced a brilliant piece of bowling to defeat Rohit with a delivery that skidded on into the stumps.

Cheteshwar Pujara had been cheered to the crease in his 100th Test, but was unsettled throughout a brief stay, before he was trapped lbw for a duck by Lyon, with a brave DRS call instigated by Alex Carey after Australia had burned their first two reviews very early with poor speculative requests. They had used them all by the 25th over.

This time, the replays showed that the ball had brushed Pujara’s front pad first. It was smashing halfway up middle, and India

were 54 for 3. It got better for Australia soon after when Peter Handscomb did remarkably well to keep his composure at short leg and hold a catch as it rebounded off his body from a strong flick by Shreyas Iyer. After a somewhat difficult first Test, albeit where fortune did not favour him, Lyon had taken four wickets.

India then steadied across the next 20 overs, as Virat Kohli, looking very secure and judging length brilliantly, formed a solid alliance with Jadeja, who played cautiously until he fell lbw to

Murphy, which led to another flurry of wickets.

A key moment came when Matt Kuhnemann claimed his maiden Test wicket by gaining a borderline lbw against Kohli. The decision, as Kohli played forward with bat and pad together, was given out on field. Kohli reviewed, and it could have been viewed that impact with bat and pad was simultaneous. However, third umpire Richard Illingworth ruled it was pad first - not having conclusive evidence to go against the on-field call - and it was just clipping leg stump.

As Kohli watched replays in the dressing room, he was still coming to terms with it.

It was a memorable scalp for Kuhnemann, who arrived in India only a week ago, and overall, it was a commendable debut outing from the left-arm spinner.

When Lyon had KS Bharat caught at slip off a gloved sweep to complete his five-wicket haul, a three-figure -- and likely match-deciding lead -- was within reach for Australia. India’s batting was, however, far from finished. Shortly before tea, Axar took on Kuhnemann, sending consecutive balls for four and six to lay down a marker, but it was the assuredness of the defence as much as the attacking strokes that stood out.

However, Axar could have been caught at slip on 28 off Lyon had Steven Smith been able to stay low on his stance, and another tough chance scooted past Matt Renshaw at leg slip from Ashwin.

Axar brought up his fifty by mowing Kuhnemann over deep midwicket for six, and crunching back-toback boundaries against Cummins registered the century stand.

It was becoming a little desperate for Australia, but the new ball finally wrapped up the innings, although probably not entirely by design. Ashwin clipped a leg-stump half-volley to square leg, where Renshaw plucked it out of the air, and Axar could barely believe Cummins was able to cling onto his well-struck drive at

SCOREBOARD

India 1st Innings

BATTING R B

Rohit Sharma (c) b Lyon 32 69

KL Rahul lbw b Lyon 17 41

Cheteshwar Pujara

lbw b Lyon 0 7

Virat Kohli lbw

b Kuhnemann 44 84

Shreyas Iyer c

Handscomb b Lyon 4 15

Ravindra Jadeja lbw

b Murphy 26 74

Srikar Bharat † c

Smith b Lyon 6 12

Axar Patel c Cummins

b Murphy 74 115

Ravichandran Ashwin c

Renshaw b Cummins 37 71

Mohammed Shami b

Kuhnemann 2 9

Mohammed Siraj not out 1 4

Extras (b 8, lb 11) 19

TOTAL 83.3 Ov (RR: 3.13) 262

Fall of wickets: 1-46

(KL Rahul, 17.1 ov), 2-53

(Rohit Sharma, 19.2 ov), 3-54

(Cheteshwar Pujara, 19.4 ov), 4-66

(Shreyas Iyer, 25.2 ov), 5-125

(Ravindra Jadeja, 46.5 ov), 6-135

(Virat Kohli, 49.3 ov), 7-139

(Srikar Bharat, 50.5 ov), 8-253

(Ravichandran Ashwin, 80.2 ov), 9-259

ACCOMMODATIONS

Aracari Hotel, West Bank Demerara (Versailles- between Harbour Bridge and Vreed-n-Hoop) – Airconditioned comfort. Amenities include TV, Restaurant, Bar, Swimming Pool, Gym. Free Parking, Free Wifi. Spend 7 nights and get 1 Free. Rates from $63 US Breakfast included. Long term rates available. All inclusive Honeymoon, Weekend and Overnight Packages available. Phone: 264-2946-9 www.aracariresort.com

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Swimming Pool Family Fun & Picnic- Crystal Clear Pool. Kids and Adult Sections. Very Safe. Aracari Resort; West Bank Demerara (Versailles, Vreed-en-hoop)- Every Weekend. DJ Music. Weekly Buffet Lunch on Sundays from 11 AM- 3

PM Adults $3000 and kids $1000.

Groups and Excursions WelcomePhone 264-2946-9

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(Axar Patel, 81.6 ov), 10-262

(Mohammed Shami, 83.3 ov)

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Pat Cummins 13-2-41-1

Matthew Kuhnemann 21.3-4-72-2

Nathan Lyon 29-5-67-5

Todd Murphy 18-2-53-2

Travis Head 2-0-10-0

Australia 2nd Innings

BATTING R B

Usman Khawaja c Iyer

b Jadeja 6 13

Travis Head not out 39 40 Marnus Labuschagne not out 16 19

Extras 0

TOTAL 12 Ov (RR: 5.08) 61/1

Yet to bat: Steven Smith, Peter Handscomb, Alex Carey †, Pat Cummins (c), Nathan Lyon, Todd Murphy, Matthew Kuhnemann, Matt Renshaw

Fall of wickets: 1-23 (Usman Khawaja, 5.5 ov)

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Ravichandran Ashwin 6-1-26-0

Mohammed Shami 2-0-10-0

Ravindra Jadeja 3-0-23-1

Axar Patel 1-0-2-0

SERVICE TAXI

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Caption: Evin Lewis and Rashid Khan were teammates at St Kitts & Nevis Patriots last season

mid-on.

After two innings, the teams could not be split, but

Australia made the early moves in the decisive second half. (ESPNCricinfo)

Nathan Lyon celebrating a wicket

Women's T20 World Cup 2023…

Campbelle confident ahead of today’s WI clash with Pakistan

It is do-or-die for the West Indies in today's mustwin clash with Pakistan, but Guyanese Shemaine Campbelle insists her side would not let the pressure get to them in Paarl. Victory over Ireland on Friday, thanks to an unbeaten 66 from Hayley Matthews, has given the West Indies a slim chance of progression from Group 2, after defeats against England and India. But in order to give themselves any chance of a place in the knockout stages, they must defeat Pakistan, who are buoyed by their own victory over

Pressure will be on both sides to go out and back that win up to apply pressure to the top two, but Campbelle is adamant that the West Indies will stick to their guns and enjoy themselves. She said: “Obviously, we're not going to think about that much, to add any pressure on ourselves. It's just to go out and play the brand of cricket that we can play, and just doing the basic things right. Then we can just play the cricket that we know we can play, and at the end of the day the results will come. They (Pakistan) come in with a win, we also

but it's just for us to go out and apply ourselves and just play the brand of cricket that we know we can play.”

Campbelle herself scored just eight runs in that win over Ireland, but after scores of 34 and 30 against England and India, she is finding her form. However, she is all too aware there is more work to be done.

She added: “Over the year, I've been fighting myself to get runs for the team, but I just got this form that I find in myself works well. But it's just for me to take it longer and try to bat deep down for the team. That is especially in that middle part, because that's where most of my game comes into play. I think it's for me now to capitalise and just take it deep; so that's something I will look to do.”

The game is set to make for compelling viewing at Boland Park, with both sides needing victory and coming into the game off the back of wins, something Pakistan bowler Aiman Anwer believes would give her side the edge.

nament, and we have had very good preparation for it.

We are confident, after the Ireland victory, that if we play with our full potential in this match, we can win the match. I think the West Indies team are very good, and every player in their team is a striker; so, we can never take them easy.”

played at Boland Park, losing to South Africa in a World Cup warm-up match, but Aiman feels it is a fair pitch for both batting and bowling.

have a win, so I think both teams have that confidence;

She said: “It is a very important match. It is crucial to stay alive in this tour-

Pakistan were narrowly defeated the last time they

“Yes, I think the wicket was supportive for both the batters and the bowlers. It's about the execution and who absorbs the pressure best,” she added. “We had a match against South Africa there. We did

well in the batting, but we were unable to stop them in the powerplay. But then we made a strong comeback, so we have high beliefs that if we play up to our potential, we can always perform well on any wicket (pitch).”

First ball of the West Indies vs Pakistan match in South Africa bowls off today at 9:00h Eastern Caribbean Time.

Ballerz Empire reign supreme at ‘West Side’ Guinness tournament

Empire became the first team from the East Bank zone to win the coveted title. They walked away with $250,000 and the championship trophy, and have also sealed an automatic berth to the national championship to be held later in the year.

The Showstoppers have received $150,000 and the runner-up trophy.

In the third-place playoff, Jetty Gunners riddled Bagotstown Warriors 4-0 to earn themselves $100,000 and a trophy. The Warriors had to settle for $70,000 and a trophy.

In the Plate final, Pouderoyen Brothers defeated the Ramsay Clan 2-0, and earned for their efforts $60,000 and a trophy.

In the earlier semifinal

round, Ballerz Empire edged Bagotstown Warriors 1-0 on penalty kicks after the game had ended scoreless. And Showstoppers had downed Jetty Gunners 3-0.

In earlier Plate semifinal action, Pouderoyen Brothers had defeated Team Antisocial 1-0, while the Ramsay Clan had edged Red Triangle by an identical score.

Ballerz Empire have been crowned Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ East Bank/ West Demerara Champions, after defeating the powerhouse team Showstoppers 2-1 on Saturday evening at the Pouderoyen Tarmac.

A mammoth crowd saw Solomon Austin open the scoring for the Empire in the seventh minute by intercepting a pass down the centre of the field then dribbling the final defender and slotting the ball into the back of the net.

However, Dexroy Adams equalised in the 13th minute, after Ballerz Empire had accumulated their third foul, which resulted in a penalty kick. Adams made no mistake from the distance, as he slotted down the centre of

the net. The score remained unchanged heading into the extra time interval. Nevertheless, Samuel Garnett record-

ed the Empire’s winner in the 34th minute when he slammed his first-time effort into the right corner from the right side of the field.

With the win, Ballerz

Ireland after Muneeba Ali’s incredible 102.

Team Windies ladies

Shemaine Campbelle

Guinness Brand Manager Jeoff Clement handing over the championship trophy to Ballerz Empire after they had emerged winners of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ East Bank/West Demerara zone

Dexroy Adams of Showstoppers receiving the second-place accolade, after the Showstoppers had lost out in the final of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ East Bank/West Demerara Championship

Sarwan returns as GCB Chairman of Selectors

Ramnaresh Sarwan has replaced the Chairman of the Senior Selection Committee of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), Ravindranauth Seeram, the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) has announced.

Sarwan had earlier signalled to the GCB his intention to again serve in cricket administration. Seeram has consequently been reassigned to the Cricket

Development Unit of the GCB. This decision was made at the GCB’s Executive Meeting held on Saturday, February 18, 2023.

During his previous tenure as Chairman of the Senior Selection Committee of the GCB, Ramnaresh Sarwan had relinquished his role as he had been promoted to the Senior Selection Panel of Cricket West Indies.

Sarwan was appointed to the

Regional Selection Committee in January 2022, but later stepped away from the post in May of the same year.

Sarwan brings to the position a wealth of experience gained from having amassed 5,842 runs in 87 Test matches at an average of 40.01, and a highest score of 291. In ODIs Sarwan had surpassed the 5000-run mark by scoring 5804 runs at an average of 42.67 and a highest score

of 120 not out. These statistics, along with his firstclass record of 13,405 runs at an average of 38.52 and his stint as national captain and West Indies captain, are clearly exceptional.

The GCB has said it expects Sarwan would continue to build on the positive steps taken during his last tenure as Chairman of the Senior Selection Committee of the GCB.

Patrick Forde Memorial boxing tourney punches off tonight

The National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue will come alive this evening when the Patrick Forde Memorial boxing tournament makes its grand return.

Intense action is anticipated from the 16 bouts slated for the tourney, 11 of which will feature international pugilists.

According to the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), boxers hailing from St. Lucia, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname touched down in the Land of Many Waters on Friday and Saturday.

At a press conference on Friday night, GBA Technical Director Terrence Poole MS, shared that changes have been made to the lineup of bouts. Among those changes is a switch in opponent for Guyana’s Keevin Allicock, who will now do battle with Trinidad and Tobago’s Shawn Joseph.

Guyana’s Colin Lewis, who has been injured, will not take to the ring.

GBA President Steve Ninvalle also shared that the GBA had planned the tournament last year, but were unable to host it. Ninvalle voiced positive emotions about being able to host the tournament once again.

The GBA President explained, “We’ve been planning this for some time. As a matter of fact, we were trying to see how possible it

is that we could’ve had one in 2022, but because of the fact that we always wanted to host this tournament around Mashramani, that was not possible; because, at that time, we really did not have full clearance as it relates to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s a good feeling that we have, because the feedback that we’re getting from people is that they’re very, very interested in this card. But I guess on Sunday night we’ll know exactly how interested they are.”

Guyanese boxers are now tasked with defending their territory. In this regard, Boxers Alesha Jackman, Desmond Amsterdam and Keevin Allicock, who will all be engaged in interna-

tional bouts, shared some thoughts on the event and their preparation.

“I wasn’t in the ring for the past two years I guess, since 2020; and it’s a great feeling to be back in the ring. I promise to put on my best performance and make my country, my coaches and my president (GBA) proud,” female pugilist Alesha Jackman has said.

Sportsman of the Year 2021-2022, Desmond Amsterdam, has said, “First of all, I have to thank God for health and strength, and having my here tonight. I will assure that all the supporters from Guyana come out, and I will surely put on a good show.”

Keevin Allicock had a word for the supporters of

the sport and fans. “I want to thank God for being here. I had a good session, preparing for this tournament. I’m ready with health and strength,” the Tokyo 2020 Olympian has declared.

Allicock went on to add, “My focus is more on the support. I will perform! You

guys know me, I am a fighter, and like I said, people come out and support, because that’s where your boxers get to perform.

“This is not just a local tournament, we’re talking about international here, whereby we have 11 international bouts. It’s going to

be exciting! It’s going to be something you don’t want to miss!” Allicock concluded. The Patrick

Ramnaresh Sarwan is returning as Lead Selector for Senior Cricket in Guyana

Forde Memorial tournament is being hosted in honour of the late pugilist Patrick Forde, who became the first Guyanese boxer to contest a world title back in 1980.

A few of the boxers slated to represent Guyana tonight, including Desmond Amsterdam, Keevin Allicock and the Jackman sisters, Alesha and Abiola

This team from Barbados is set to compete tonight

GBA President Steve Ninvalle

As‘Women in Motorsport’ take centre stage

There is a familiar thrill that drag races usually bring about; however, today there will be something more to excite the senses when cars ‘take to the line’ at the South Dakota Circuit at Timehri, EBD.

Following a call by the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) for female competitors to bring their machines to the line, female competitors will, for the first time, have the chance to showcase their skills in the sport.

While today’s Drag Racing Series Round 1 is said to be only

the beginning of this turning tide in local motor sport, the people at the GMR&SC are eager for women to take up space in motor sport.

“That list will grow, because we had numerous phone calls and interest,” GMRSC President Mahendra Boodhoo said earlier in the week about female competitors being prepared for today’s races.

Boodhoo was at the time sharing that 6 female drivers have already signed up to ‘test their chops’ at South Dakota. The GMR&SC President added about

the call to include women in the sport, “It is women in Motorsport that we’re trying to grow, and for sure we will succeed at it.”

Meanwhile, female competitors Emily Ali and Natalia Singh, who both hail from a family of racers, are not only eager to hit the strip, but were equally as encouraging to women who may want to take up the sport.

“I want more females to compete. Six is a little bit, but that’s good enough for now. But in the future, I just want more females to compete,” Emily Ali has said.

The 18-year-old added, “Most of them – women - do see it as a scary sport; but to me, it’s really not.”

Quizzed about what she would say to other women contemplating an entry into the sport, Natalia Singh said, “I would say, ‘Go for it!’ The GMR&SC is finally acknowledging female racers, so come out! Show what you got!

Hope to see you in Endurance, not only drag race and track race also. Looking forward to encouraging other people into coming in.”

Also sharing words of encour-

agement was Team Mohamed’s Principal, Azruddin Mohamed, who wished the ladies the best of luck on the track today.

“I feel so happy seeing these two young ladies here, you know. Wish them all the best on Sunday, and I hope more females can come on board,” Mohamed has said.

The GMR&SC’s drag-racing action will commence at 9am today with testing at the South Dakota Circuit. Then at noon, elimination is set to commence. Tickets for today’s races are set at $1000 for adults and $500 for children.

Campbelle confident ahead of

WI clash with Pakistan

today’s

Emily Ali

Natalia Singh