Guyana Times - Sunday, January 7, 2024.pdf

Education is the vehicle to get you out of poverty – Henry Hardin Chase P14 Nationwide coverage coverage from from the the best best news news team team in in Guyana Guyana Nationwide Issue No. 5604 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON BEACON OF OF TRUTH TRUTH THE

SUNDAY, JANUARY 7, 2024

India to partner with Guyana in crude oil refinery, other areas – 5-year MoU to be signed between 2 countries See story on page 7

Institutions must work to address needs of people – Pres. Ali tells Kitty residents – says City Hall must be rebuilt to ensure it does not fail residents

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Finalisation of ICT platform for Single Window System underway – Min Croal P12

Man carrying Venezuelan Security ID convicted for illegal entry P10

Page 3

Drug abuse, school dropouts among issues raised during Police engagement with No 65 P10 Village

A young resident of Kitty, Georgetown engaging President Dr Irfaan Ali while he was on a walkabout in the community on Saturday

Over 4000 Guyanese to Family Violence Bill to benefit from GOAL be tabled in Parliament scholarships in 2024 this year – Min Persaud – Spanish tutoring for Public Servants Traffic Dept mulls increasing speeding tickets to $25,000 – failure to wear seat belts to $35,000 Page 11

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Guyana’s public spending more than doubled on hospitals, schools & other programmes – ECLAC P16 Providence home devastated P5 by midafternoon fire

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 7, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 7, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Sunday, Jan 7 – 01:00h – 02:30h and 14:00h – 14:45h and Monday, Jan 8 – 02:00h – 03:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, Jan 7 – 13:10h – 14:40h and Monday, Jan 8 – 13:55h – 15:25h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

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

Winds: North-Easterly to East North-Easterly

between 2.68 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 13:10h reaching a maximum height of

2.34 metres.

Low Tide: 06:40h and 19:17h reaching minimum heights of 1.0 metre 0.84 metre.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 6, 2024

LOTTERY NUMBERS M

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FREE TICKET

15 Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

08 12 19 20 23 LUCKY 3

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COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$78.76/barrel

+1.51

Rough Rice

$316.44/ton

+1.53

London Sugar

$607.60/ton

+0.08

Live Spot Gold Bid/Ask Low/High Change

USD Per Ounce $2045.30 $2045.30 +1.70

$2046.30 $2046.30 +0.08

Institutions must work to address needs of people – Pres Ali tells Kitty residents – says City Hall must be rebuilt to ensure it does not fail residents

W

hile President Dr Irfaan Ali has on several occasions had to visit communities in person to address their needs at the local level, he has also emphasised that it is actually the institutions, such as City Hall, that are supposed to be working to address the needs of the people.

On Saturday, the President, accompanied by several other officials, visited Kitty, Georgetown, to listen to the concerns of residents. The concerns raised were dominated by drainage issues, as well as the need for recreational spaces and clearing roadways of encumbrances.

While the President committed to addressing these issues, he also pointed out to the residents that the institutions supposed to be alleviating these issues, such as the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC), are not working as they should.

“Institutions must work.

One of the important things about good countries and democracy is that when people fail you, the institutions never fail you. And unless we build our institutions in such a way that the institutions never fail us… people may fail you, but the institutions must never fail you.

That is what we have to do.”

According to President Ali, City Hall must be reorganised to be more responsive and proactive when it comes to addressing the needs of residents in Georgetown. The President noted that City Council must be “rebuilt”.

“How do we ensure the institution of City Council is rebuilt and structured, reorganised, re-strategised, realigned, to the needs of the people, to the extent it does not fail us,” the Head of State said.

Accompanying the President were Local Government Minister Sonia Parag and the Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development Anand Persaud, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr and the Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Public Affairs, Kwame McCoy. Additionally, several PPP/C councillors on the City Council were present, including Don Singh and Steven Jacobs.

The various complaints from residents were recorded with the assurance that Government engineers and other technical staff would be in the area addressing the problems and ensuring the residents benefit from intense drainage and road works, proper sewage, enhanced security and other

President Dr Irfaan Ali during his walkabout in Kitty, Georgetown on Saturday

critical social services.

It was explained that both the Ministries of Public Works and Local Government and Regional Development will collaborate and focus on desilting drainages and improving roadways while the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport will be providing skill training programmes to around 60 youths in the community.

“Within one week … they’re going implement a robust plan … to deal with the challenges that we see here today. But, it’s not only about today, it’s about the councillors using this injection to develop with you the citizens, a long-term strategy, a continuing strategy that will change the mindset,” President Ali told residents.

“Over the last year, we have transitioned as promised, when the councillors were here

when the Ministers campaigned during the Local Government Elections, we promised that we’ll have a robust and strong community-oriented strategy.”

The PPP/C Government intends to make similar interventions in the communities of Alberttown and Kingston because the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) is not delivering on its mandate to improve the livelihoods of residents in Georgetown.

At the last Local Government Elections (LGE), the PPP won five of the 15 constituencies, an increase from three in 2018. In 2018, the PPP had secured 6813 votes, but at last year’s polls, ballots in its favour almost doubled to 12,256.

Even though the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) controlled City Hall during the period 2020 to 2022, the PPP/C

Government expended over $6 billion to construct and rehabilitate roads in Georgetown. Between 2020 and 2022, the Government expended $155 million to reconstruct and rehabilitate bridges.

Additionally, $1 billion was spent to enhance the Old Railway Embankment, $1.6 billion on enhancement works along Independence Boulevard, Cemetery Road, and internal roads, Albouystown, Georgetown; and $250 million on enhancement works along Kingston Seawall.

Between 2021 and 2022, the Administration also expended $678 million to operate and maintain the main drainage system in the municipality and $600 million to upgrade the water transmission lines in Georgetown.

It also stood the cost of $510 million for solid waste management.

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guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, JANUARY 7, 2024

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

Modern War M

ost of us breathed a sigh of relief, that we would be spared war, after the Argyle Declaration of Dec 14, especially since the first point declared, “Agreed that Guyana and Venezuela, directly or indirectly, will not threaten or use force against one another in any circumstances, including those consequential to any existing controversies between the two States.” This, however, is because we think of “war” in the traditional sense of two armies facing each other with their troops massed, and launching all the “force” – be it catapults or battering rams - they could amass against each other. The application of superior force by one side in his war of attrition would convince the other side to surrender, which was what power was all about: to make the other party bend to your will.

But after the Napoleonic Wars at the beginning of the 19th century, the Prussian General Carl von Clausewitz summarized his thoughts on the nature of war in a pithy and prophetic statement: “War is a simple continuation of politics by other means.” Power, of course, is the currency of politics and war. So, while WWI saw the end of wars of attrition, with fixed positions that had to be defended, one could discern other means that applied power on the enemy that was not confined to the classical use of “force” amassed through traditional sources of power - population, territory, colonial power etc. Alliances, technology and economic strengths became more important.

Twenty years later, when Germany used its Panzer tanks to wheel around the Maginot Line protecting Belgium in WWII, we saw a new war of mobility, that also involved civilian centres being attacked from the air and even with missiles fired from hundreds of miles away. The application of the force was changing, with technological advances intended to neutralize and overcome the strengths of the other side. But it was the Cold War that followed WWII that we witnessed the widening of the nature of force now including psychological warfare, economic warfare, guerrilla warfare, and informational warfare coming to the fore. As such, we experienced the PPP Government of 1961-1964 being removed without a war being declared by the US, but by that Government using clandestine means to change the Government.

Today, therefore, we have to understand war as being conducted not just as a confrontation between two armies, but encompassing all means — diplomatic, ideological, moral, economic (DIME) — designed to make an adversary submit to the will of the aggressor. And we arrive at the state of affairs between our nation and Venezuela. In 1962, that nation went before the United Nations and insisted that they would no longer accept the Arbitral Award of 1899 that delineated our boundary. They were using diplomacy to bend us to their will. It was an act of war, and remains so to this day.

In 1966, they used physical force to annex our half of Ankoko Island, which they retain to date; and subsequently, in 2012, they seized an Anadarco survey ship in a block off our Atlantic waters licensed to them. These are forceful acts of war, yet they were allowed to get away with it, and they became emboldened. They have used the ideological argument that we are tools of the “imperialist” USA, which appears to have convinced some of our “progressive” friends, even as Venezuela woos USA oil companies that would repatriate their profits to strengthen “imperialism”. After we participated in training with a British patrol boat, Venezuela raised the moral argument that the old “imperial” power was threatening it, and amassed one-quarter of its armed forces in response, with the clear intention of intimidating us.

On the economic front, Venezuela committed an act of war when they protested the then PNC Government’s 1970s attempt to construct the Upper Mazaruni HydroElectric Project that would have given us energy independence. Their present declaration of annexing our Essequibo and giving the companies we have licensed notice to leave are also acts of economic warfare.

If we are to remain a “zone of peace” as the Argyle Declaration proclaims, Venezuela must cease these acts of war.

The GDF’s new patrol boat, Metal Shark 115 Defiant, has arrived in Guyana’s waters, and is currently being tested. The US$11.5 million vessel, purchased in June 2021, was expected to arrive in October 2023. The vessel was built by Metal Shark Boats, a US-based manufacturer, at its production facility in Franklin, Louisiana

From Gaza to Ukraine, brute force threatens to triumph in 2024 BY: Simon Tisdall

A

ssassination is a twoedged sword. Last week’s targeted killing in Beirut of Hamas’s deputy leader is but the latest of many covert attacks on individuals in Iran and the Arab sphere attributed to agents of Israel.

Do Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials in Jerusalem ever consider the possibility they may be paid back in kind?

Hamas may not have the expertise and reach, although a booby-trap bomb requires no particular skill. But Iran does and maybe Hezbollah, too. Israel’s assassination in December of a top Iranian general in Syria, plus last week’s atrocity in southern Iran – claimed by Islamic State terrorists but officially blamed on Israel – could goad Tehran’s more rabid hardliners into seeking an eye for an eye.

Like Netanyahu, Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, is not averse to disposing of foes with chilling finality. The trail of bodies since he became President in 2000 is a long one, stretching from the gates of the Kremlin to Salisbury and back again to Siberia.

Putin tried to kill Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, when he invaded in 2022. He may yet try again.

Does Putin, a self-styled “strongman” who cowers out of public view, also fear the assassin’s knife?

Russia claimed last May’s Ukrainian drone strike on the Kremlin was an attempted assassination. Rebel mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin might have plotted to kill Putin. But after his Wagner group mutinied in June, it was he who died suddenly, his plane mysteriously blown out of the sky.

Differences between the Gaza and Ukraine conflicts are less instructive than their many similarities – of which the homicidal tendencies of Netanyahu and Putin are a prime example. Both wars are to a large degree defined by their hubris, prejudices and mistakes. If these two warmongers were somehow taken out of the equation, peace deals may be easier to achieve.

Yet the fact such men still call the shots speaks volumes about the violent state of world as 2024 dawns.

Both have led their countries into disastrous military cul-de-sacs. Netanyahu vows to wholly eradicate Hamas: an unattainable aim. Putin thinks sovereign Ukraine can be annexed by force. Chasing these illusions, they kill tens of thousands of civilians with assumed impunity. Both are war criminals. Both predict, and hope to hide behind, war without end.

Gaza and Ukraine point to terminal debility in the post1945 rules-based international order, too. In both cases, the UN security council, whose job is to uphold the UN charter and international law, has failed dismally. The strictures of the international criminal court, which seeks Putin’s arrest, are contemptuously brushed aside by Russia and many other countries.

Since the 7 October Hamas terrorist attacks, the world has witnessed state-directed carnage and mayhem in Gaza that informed observers believe fits the legal definition of genocide. Alleging exactly that, South Africa is taking Israel before the UN’s top tribunal, the international court of justice, this week. Yet the Israel Defence Forces will certainly ignore any interim ruling that curbs operations.

These two wars also cruelly expose the limitations of modern diplomacy. Although western leaders insist only negotiations will ultimately stop the bloodshed, neither the US, the EU, the G7, the G20, the Arab League, the BRICS nor the UN have achieved lasting ceasefires, let alone viable peace plans. Revived talk of a two-state solution in IsraelPalestine smacks of mere cynicism. Ukraine is diplomatically deadlocked. Mediation everywhere is at a standstill.

“Peacemaking [is] in crisis,” International Crisis Group (ICG) chiefs warned last week. “Worldwide, diplomatic efforts to end fighting are failing. More leaders are pursuing their ends militarily. More believe they can get away with it.” In Sudan, Myanmar, NagornoKarabakh, Tigray, Syria and potentially Taiwan, the story was the same, the ICG said.

“Around the globe, more people are dying in fighting, being forced from their homes, or in need of aid than in decades.”

In the absence of hope, fear of uncontrolled escalation – and ensuing negative global political and economic fallout – is another factor common to the Middle East and Ukraine.

Like the sabotage of Baltic gas pipelines, Houthi rebel attacks from Yemen on Red Sea shipping illustrate how long-unresolved, intensifying regional conflicts can trigger wider international instability. Unrelieved horror in Gaza means simmering hostility pitting Israel against Iran is more likely to boil over.

The converse may also hold true. NATO should have escalated to help Ukraine in 2022. Its refusal to intervene, born of exaggerated fears, allowed Russian aggression to continue unchecked, lead-

ing to many avoidable civilian deaths. Allied fighter jets scrambled recently to intercept a Russian missile that flew 25 miles (40km) into Poland. Was the Kremlin crudely warning Warsaw it could be next? After huge air attacks over the holiday period, Ukraine escalated, killing civilians in Russian Belgorod.

Both the Ukraine and Gaza crises have sparked familiar western divisions and internal splits over the extent of outside intervention.

Hungary’s pro-Russia leader, for example, is still blocking EU funds for Kyiv. Turkey, theoretically a NATO member, is refusing to allow two British mine-hunting ships donated to Ukraine to enter the Black Sea. US President Joe Biden was too slow to arm Ukraine, too cautious in confronting Putin. Now, thanks to Trumpist Republicans in Congress, further US military assistance is on ice. Biden’s ill-judged refusal to rein in Netanyahu and back a ceasefire has dismayed European allies and isolated the US on the world stage, damaging its political and moral authority.

Uncertain American leadership, prospectively compounded by an inward-focused presidential election dogfight that kicks off in Iowa this week, bodes ill for the Middle East, Europe and western democracy. Another assassination, another unpunished atrocity, another invasion, and 2024 could become the year when brute force triumphs over reason, law and common decency.

(The Guardian) (Simon Tisdall is a foreign affairs commentator. He has been a foreign leader writer, foreign editor and US editor for the Guardian.)

SUNDAY, JANUARY 7, 2024

guyanatimesgy.com

5

News

Providence home devastated by mid-afternoon fire A t least five persons are homeless after a fire destroyed a New Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD) home on Saturday. Based on reports received, the fire reportedly started at about 14:00h.

Guyana Times understands that the house was owned and occupied by Florence Ramsaroop along with other family members.

The Guyana Fire Service up to late Saturday evening did not release any information as to the origin and cause of the fire.

Since the year started, several houses were gutted by fire and in some cases, lives were lost. Only on

The property at Providence EBD on fire

Friday morning, Venezuelan national Richard José perished after a fire of unknown origin ravaged the top flat of a building at Plantain Walk, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

The Guyana Fire Service has said it received a distress call just after 03:31h on Friday, and firefighters from the La Grange Fire Station, along with a water tender and a water carrier, were dispatched to the scene.

Upon arrival, they observed the two-storey building on fire, with the upper flat fully engulfed in flames.

The firefighters managed to contain the blaze to the first floor, and to minimise

threats to nearby buildings.

As a result of the fire, the first floor of the building was destroyed; and 47-yearold José, a carpenter, perished therein. He was reportedly contracted by the owner to execute repairs to the building and had stayed overnight to have some work done.

A few days prior, 43-yearold Tookant Deokharan, a teacher attached to the Berbice Islamic School, perished after a fire destroyed two houses at Managers’ Quarters, Port Mourant, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

Deokarran’s charred remains were discovered at

about midnight, close to a door amid debris at the Lot 24 Managers’ Compound, Port Mourant house. He had reportedly lived alone in the one-storey building which was owned by an overseas-based Guyanese.

Deokarran, who had difficulty walking because of an injury to his right knee, had spent the day at a cousin’s home, where he had lunch and had taken a nap before leaving to go and provide home tutoring to two 13-year-olds at Fyrish Village.

He was last seen alive at about 17:00h on Tuesday.

That fire reportedly started at about 22:00h.

Peeping Tom and Elson have committed a fundamental error Dear Editor, The anonymous (weakling) author of the Peeping Tom column in the January 6, 2024 contended that…”

The Natural Resource Fund, as at the end of 2022, had received more than US$1.7 B in inflows of royalties and profit oil. In that year, the fund accrued US$17.5 M in interest alone. From the inception of the fund to the end of 2022, the total interest payments for 2022 would have amounted to G$3.6 B…. Interest earned would have increased

during the first 11 months of 2023. The government earned more than G$16B in interest for 2023, a sum that is more than enough to grant a 13% increase in wages and salaries to public sector workers for 2023.”

The foregoing contention by both Peeping Tom and Elson Low, however, is a classic illustration of their unfamiliarity and/or ignorance; lack of appreciation for the legal operations of the Natural Resources Fund Act (2021) (hereinafter “NRF Act), and

Do we believe in our National Motto: One People, One Nation, One Destiny?

Dear Editor, As I ponder on the meaning of our National Motto: One People, One Nation, One Destiny, I also wonder about the inspired soul who came up with our National Motto. This inspired soul saw the need to unite our people, the people of Guyana, to forge a Guyanese Nation.

ONE PEOPLE, ONE NATION, ONE DESTINY: what does it mean?

One People: we are a people of six races, and we identify as such. I myself identify as an Indo-Guyanese, but, as time goes by, my National Identity (Guyanese) is taking precedence over being IndoGuyanese. Such a shift happened earlier for many people, and I applaud them. This is not to say that I am not Indo-Guyanese, but rather to say that I am starting to truly believe in the Guyanese Nation.

One Nation: a Nation is a group of people/s. Can we truly be One Nation, having been brought together from vari-

ous parts of the world? The Americans (although not perfect) did it; they forged a nation after fighting a bitter civil war. The potential is there for us to be One Nation. It seems as if in times of crisis we can come together and be united as One Nation. Can this unity continue in times of no national crisis?

One Destiny: As a group of people/s brought together into One Nation, we share a common destiny. Yes, at times we all get despondent and question if we do indeed have a shared destiny. An analogy would be to think of our country as a small boat.

IF everyone rows in the same direction, we can make rapid progress, as we would not be working against each other’s efforts. We can indeed work together for our shared destiny.

ONE PEOPLE, ONE NATION, ONE DESTINY. What does it mean to you?

Sincerely, Sean Ori

Source: NRF Quarterly Report, September 2023

more so their profound ineptness altogether in the area of public financial management in general.

Section 19 of the NRF Act states that…” The amount that the Minister shall request the National Assembly to approve as withdrawal from the Fund for the next ensuing fiscal year shall be included in the annual budget proposal and shall not exceed, for that year, the ceiling calculated in accordance with Section 17 and the First Schedule plus any amount required for emergency financing”. This means that the withdrawal from the NRF is based on the previous fiscal year’s balance. For example, the NRF withdrawal for the fiscal year 2023 would be based on the closing balance for the fiscal year ending 2022. Similarly, the NRF withdrawal for the fiscal year 2024, would be based on the closing balance for the fiscal year ended 2023.

For the avoidance of any doubt, though anyone could independently verify the NRF balance and interest earned as per the relevant NRF reports on the Bank of Guyana website, the table below is extracted (snipped) from the September 2023 quarterly report.

The interest earned for the fiscal year 2022 was $2.4 billion, which would have been available for withdrawal from the Fund for the fiscal year 2023. The year to date (YTD) interest earned for 2023, based on the NRF balance amounted to $12.5 billion,

and the cumulative interest earned from the inception of the NRF, which is since 2021, amounted to $16.1 billion.

The Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, is therefore absolutely correct when he said that the interest earned in 2022, which would have been available for withdrawal in 2023, is inadequate to finance the 6.5% salary increase, which amounted to approximately $8 billion.

Conversely, it is unequivocally incorrect and impractical to base the argument for salary increases on the cumulative interest earnings over multiple years (2021-2023), to finance salary increases, which is an annual recurrent expenditure.

Even if, for argument’s sake, one was to use the cumulative interest earnings of $16 billion as of September 2023; equivalently, one would have to examine the cumulative increase in the total employment cost for the same period. In so doing, the result remains the same, such that it would be inadequate to finance the increase. To this end, the total level of increase in employment cost for the period 2021-2023 (B) amounts to $28 billion, reflecting an increase from $78 billion to $106 billion. Evidently, this level of increase is nearly twice (1.75 times) the size of the cumulative interest earned on the NRF for that period.

Finally, as illustrated herein, in their haste to disprove the Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, by pointing out some “rudimentary error”,

while failing miserably to do so, the authors of Peeping Tom and Elson Low have not just committed a rudimentary error; but a fundamental error. Worse, it is unarguably a

classic demonstration of their deep lack of knowledge in public financial management.

Yours respectfully, Joel Bhagwandin

SUNDAY, JANUARY 7, 2024

06:00 (Sign on) Jewanram Rel. Hour 07:00 Cartoons 08:00 Shekinah Ministry 08:30 Evening News (RB) 09:30 Fast & Loud 10:30 Cartoons 11:00 David Persaud Religious Program 11:30 Blippi Educational 12:00 Movie - The NeverEnding Story III (1994) 13:30 Movie - 3 Ninjas Kick Back (1994) 15:00 Movie - Rent-a-Kid (1995) 16:30 Payless Power Hour 17:30 The Healing Touch 18:00 18:30 Week-in-Review 19:00 Lucifer S5 E14 20:00 Arrow S5 E14 21:00 Riverdale S5 E12 22:00 Movie - After We Collided (2020) 00:00 Sign off

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 7, 2024| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

ACQUIRING A PET IN 2024 – FURTHER CONSIDERATIONS

H

appy New Year!

I have been devoting the last few columns to addressing animal care during the festive season and the issue of acquiring pets at this time; which is quite common in households, as families seek to add joy to their homes by presenting their children with the little furry kitten or bouncing puppy that was first on the list of requests to Santa.

Last week, we commenced discussion on the acquisition, and expounded on the value of the human/ animal bond. In particular, I implored readers to adopt pets from the animal shelters in Guyana, those being so deserving of a good life in a caring home.

It is a fact that some “breeders” (“in-breeders”) ensure their dogs are mated at a time that would produce puppies during the Christmas Season, when the business is very lucrative. Female dogs come into “heat” about twice yearly, and their pregnancies would last for approximately 2 months; therefore, it is not difficult to calculate when the pups would be ready for sale.

Like all babies, puppies and kittens are the cutest things. No wonder parents and children fall in love with these wonderful, interactive animals. Before we even think of adopting/ acquiring a pet, there are other general and specific discussions on the matter.

General It has been said that mankind is divided into two categories: those who love dogs, and those who love cats. Well, whether you

prefer the gratitude-showing, devoted tail-wagger or the independent, aloof feline with its quiet grace and mysterious charm,

there are certain common activities that you, as owner/caregiver, must carry out if the pet is to perpetually experience happiness in the home.

All children love ani-

mals! Whether it is a child at Kabakaburi with his pet monkey, or the little city girl who has just acquired a live ball of fur and fun. And

all animals require love unconditionally and infinitely.

However, love alone will not keep the pet healthy and the owner happy. Care for your pet is a huge responsibility.

Affection is not enough; you need some degree of ‘knowhow’.

So, when we are talking about your choice of pet, right away, let me advise you that although most animals can become pets to a lesser or greater degree, one should shy away from keeping as pets ‘exotic’ animals about which one knows very little.

For example, one ated as to whether monkeys or birds (macaws, parrots, etc.) or deer should be kept as pets.

How often have we not seen “Polly” at the clinic with all sorts of problems due to poor feeding regimes and parasites in her ungroomed feathers.

Poor “Jacko”, the monkey that is instinctively mischievous, harvests the wrath of his owner, who, only a couple of months ago, had found his antics cute.

The belt around Jacko’s

when it grows into an adult and requires a kennel and needs to exercise?

In fact, one of your most important decisions is whether you would choose to keep a cat or a dog, because even though they are both four-footed and furry, that’s the end of the similarity.

A dog craves your attention and affection. He will fawn over you, and his tail is the barometer expressing his happiness. A cat, on the other hand, doesn’t even re-

waist is tied tighter and the chain is made shorter.

And “Bambi” the deer invariably succumbs to a nutritional imbalance, as no effort is made to research its feed requirements.

Such treatment does not demonstrate caring for your pet; it is torture.

In the case of the more common pets (cats/dogs), you have to be practically-minded. If, for example, a member of the family is allergic to fur, you shouldn’t keep cats; because they are largely house animals, and will constantly shed hair in places where the best pointer broom or vacuum cleaner would not reach.

And if your desire is for a dog, do you have enough yard space for the puppy,

motely consider the need to please you. She is individualistic and full of surprises.

A dog is a mixer, a cat is often a loner, and mixes only when it wants to.

So, as a potential caretaker of a canine or feline ward, you have to decide whether you want a dog because of its responsiveness to you, or whether your personality prefers the more subtle signs of affection, such as those of a cat.

Be sure you don’t take into your family a cat that you wish to act like a dog, or vice-versa. No such animal exists.

Next week, we will deal with specific issues before your ultimate choice is made to acquire/adopt a companion animal.

would have to know a lot about the physiology, behavioural and dietary habits of snakes before they can be kept as pets. In fact, much debate can be gener-

NEWS

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 7, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

India to partner with Guyana in crude oil refinery, other areas

– 5-year MoU to be signed between 2 countries

I

ndia is expected to partner with Guyana in critical areas in the oil and gas sector, including refining crude oil, as the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Indian Government approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two nations.

According to a statement from the Indian Bureau of Information, the Indian Cabinet approved the signing of an MoU between the Indian Ministries of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Guyana’s Ministry of Natural Resources, which would have a five-year duration from the date of signing.

This MoU would see India sourcing crude from Guyana, an arrangement that it has previously done such as in 2021 when HPCLMittal Energy Ltd (HMEL), a joint venture between Staterun Hindustan Petroleum Corp and Indian steel tycoon LN Mittal, bought Guyana’s crude.

It was also announced in January last year that India, where President Dr Irfaan Ali had led a delegation of Guyanese earlier that very month, had made an initial proposal on the direct long-term purchase of crude.

At the time, it had been announced that Guyana was examining the proposal at a technical level.

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Government of India and the Ministry of Natural Resources, Republic of Guyana on cooperation in

the hydrocarbon sector.

Another area the MoU will cover is cooperation with Guyana for crude oil refining. Additionally, it will create opportunities for Indian companies to explore and produce oil in Guyana and for collaboration in natural gas.

At the Government bilateral level, the MoU allows for capacity building, strengthening bilateral trade, collaborating to develop oil and gas-related regulations and cooperation in renewable and clean energy, including biofuels and solar energy.

“The MoU on cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector with Guyana will strengthen bilateral trade, foster investment in each other countries and help to diversify the source of crude oil, thus augmenting the energy & supply security of the country,” the Indian Government said.

“It will also provide an opportunity for Indian companies to participate in the E&P sector of Guyana, gaining experience by working with global oil & gas companies in upstream projects, thus fostering the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.”

Meanwhile, after the five-year period has elapsed, it will be automatically renewed every successive five years unless either side gives the other three months written notice three months in advance of its intention to terminate the MoU. The Indian Government noted that with Guyana gaining significant traction as the world’s newest major oil producer, the discoveries of 11.2 billion barrels of oil equivalent amounts to 18 per cent of total global oil and gas discoveries and 32 per cent of discovered oil.

“As per OPEC World Oil Outlook 2022, Guyana is projected to see a significant ramp-up in production, with liquids supply growing from 0.1 mb/d in 2021 to 0.9 mb/d in 2027. Further, as per BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2022, India is the world’s 3rd largest energy consumer, 3rd largest consumer of oil and 4th largest refiner and the fastest-growing major economy with rising energy needs.”

“BP Energy Outlook and International Energy Agency estimate that India's energy demand would grow at about 3 per cent per annum till 2040, compared to the global rate of 1%.

Further, India is likely to account for approximately 25-28 per cent of the global energy demand growth between 2020-2040,” they further said.

According to India, it is focusing its attention on fostering new partnerships in oil and gas, to ensure access to affordable energy is expanded. The country committed to doing this both through diversifying where it sources its crude oil from and ensuring the crude is of high quality.

“This dilutes dependencies on a single geographical/ economic unit and increases India’s strategic manoeuvrability. Noting the significance of Guyana and given the renewed momentum to the bilateral relationship in the hydrocarbon sector, and the number of possible areas of cooperation, it is proposed to enter into an MoU with Guyana on cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector,” India further explained.

Guyana, with US oil giant ExxonMobil as the operator, began producing oil on

President Dr Irfaan Ali (left) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a meeting last year December 20, 2019, in the Stabroek Block. The oil-rich Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometres).

Exxon, through its local subsidiary Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), is the operator and holds 45 per cent interest in the block.

Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd holds 30 per cent interest, and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a whol-

ly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, holds the

remaining 25 per cent interest. (G-3)

8 NEWS

SUNDAY, JANUARY 7, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Family Violence Bill to be tabled in Parliament this year – Min Persaud

T

he modern and holistic Family Violence Bill is complete and will be tabled on the floors of Parliament this year to further address violence comprehensively, thereby leading to its mitigation in society.

When approved, the Family Violence Bill will replace the current Domestic Violence Act. Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud said the Bill benefited from widespread input from civil society and stakeholders in the hopes of providing more coverage for victims through the law.

“It is a Bill that offers much in coverage whereas before the Domestic Violence Act dealt with more inter-personal violence. This gives wider coverage so if there is any kind of violence in the

Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud

idence of bodily harm they must take the report,” Dr Persaud explained.

Additionally, the Minister revealed that the draft of the Harassment Bill will be finalised this year. The Bill is tailored to address general harassment, especially in the workplace.

Similarly, the Ministry is looking to table Bills relating to the protection of children and child care this year as well. These

family, people will be able to have more recourse to the law,” she related.

The Bill will also facilitate more punitive measures, and the removal of discretionary powers from Police to ensure action is taken.

“There is not a discretion that will be used in terms of when they act, but once there is visible evinclude abduction of the child and child maintenance in alignment with the Hague Convention.

“We need real protection to be provided to these women, we need them to understand what the law does for them, we need them to understand what a protection order is and we need the perpetrators also to understand what it means to flunk the protection order,” the Minister noted.

Back in March 2023, Attorney General Anil Nandlall related that the Government is currently working to replace the 1997 Domestic Violence Act with the Family Violence Bill.

Drawing from Government’s 30 years of practical experience dealing with the Domestic Violence Act, the new Bill would seek to correct the deficiencies, omissions and weaknesses contained therein, and ensure an easy process for persons to lodge complaints, while expanding beyond the civil nature of the Act. In continued commitment to prioritise the rights and concerns of women and children in the country, Nandlall also detailed updates on other legislation over which the Commission had raised issues.

The multi-ministerial effort by the Legal Affairs, Human Services and Social Security and Education Ministries to review the Sexual Offences Act will rely heavily on engagement with the legal profession, Director of Public Prosecutions, the Guyana Police Force, and other stakeholders.

What’s ahead…

Y

…for Guyana in 24?

our Eyewitness has been trying to look into his crystal ball, to see what’s ahead for our dear old Mudland.

He’s even fortified himself with some stiff shots of high wine like Granny showed him how – to clear up the ball. He never quite figured out how her downing all that high wine could affect the ball - but who was he to question Granny? She had predicted Burnham was gonna ruin our country when he promised to feed, house and clothe the country in a matter of four years!! Now, with hindsight, you may think that was no great prediction. But back in ‘72, when he was handing out all those pigs and land to the party faithful, most were convinced the days of milk and honey were here!!

But anyhow, back to 2024. After polishing off the bottle, your Eyewitness can clearly see Mad Maduro jumping up and down and cussing us for the mess he’s gotten himself into!! Why “us”, you ask, dear reader?? Well, there’s nothing the ex-bus driver can do to the Americans after ten years of steady economic implosion. He’s had to beg them back in!! But also, he figured, after buying off more than half of our erstwhile allies in Caricom, we’ve sussed him out after that fake flag incident, and he’s wasted his money!!

Can’t cash the same cheque twice!!

But your Eyewitness can also see Pressie not becoming flustered one bit by Mad Maduro jumping up and down like a fowl cock!! While there are some who question the point of him meeting Mad Maduro at Argyle, he just wanted to get a measure of the creature who could be so irrational in his pursuit of power. Pressie knew that all the other players had their own motivation for yanking Mad Maduro’s chain, but ultimately, it was his country that was being threatened to be shrunk by two-thirds! Ultimately, we might have to take on the bully with what we’ll be able to muster on our own!! And, good for us, he found Mad Maduro wanting!!

So, your Eyewitness moved his gaze in the crystal ball from off our shores to what might go down INSIDE our dear land of Guyana. And he saw great turmoil and upheaval in the party headquartered in Sophia. There were at least three factions from within - as well as two factions from without! - trying to stage a palace coup against the current leader. Trouble was, they couldn’t see that being so divided, the fella could pit one against the other - and in the end emerge unscathed!!

But the ball’s getting dim. Or was it his eyes because of that cheap high wine??! …for Ukraine?

Now, before you know it, it’ll be Feb 22, which will make it TWO years since Russia invaded Ukraine. Imagine that – two years of a war going on in Europe after WWII that was gonna stop all wars – at least in civilized Europe!! The Cold War that followed WWII, after all, was conducted mostly in benighted places like the Third World!! And you must be wondering, dear reader, when will this war be over?

In the beginning, most thought the mighty Red Army would sweep through the eastern Ukraine provinces that were friendly to them, and roll into Kiev in a matter of days!!

But for reasons only they know, the Western countries decided that they’d throw everything they had at Russia – via the Ukrainians! And they did!! Trouble is, it clearly wasn’t enough, and there’s now talk about Russia and Ukraine negotiating a peace deal that’ll see Russia incorporating the friendly- eastern Ukraine provinces back into Mother Russia!!

So, why did over 500,000 have to die? Who knows!! …in Gaza?

Well, this episode in Gaza only started last Oct 7 – so we’re only two months into that war. But it doesn’t take a crystal ball to see that the Israelis ain’t gonna stop their killing frenzy until the Palestinians are driven into the sea!!

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

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

9

SUNDAY, JANUARY 7, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

10 NEWS

SUNDAY, JANUARY 7, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Drug abuse, school drop-outs among issues raised during Police engagement with No 65 Village

Deputy Commander Superintendent Ravindra Stanley addressing the residents on Friday

S

Some of those who were engaged by the team

enior Police Officers within Division Six engaged residents of No 65 Village Corentyne, Berbice, on Friday during which the issue of drug abuse and petty crimes in the community was the focal point of discussion.

This initiative was a follow-up on a commitment made by Deputy Commander, Superintendent Ravindra Stanley to residents of continuous Police-community engagements.

On Friday, the team lis-

tened to several issues and concerns and more importantly, shared their plan of action to curb crime in the community.

Apart from drug abuse among youths, the issues of school drop-outs and noise nuisance were also highlighted as some of the challenges in the community.

However, to tackle the issue of school drop-outs, the residents were assured that the education system would be involved as soon as possible and efforts would be made for the youths to be

involved in free computer training, sports, skills enhancement and other programmes.

Nevertheless, during the interactive session, the Deputy Commander and his team members elaborated on several topics including obeying law and order; reporting every matter to the Police; delinquent youths; building a partnership with the Police and members of the community; being our brothers’ keeper and the role elders in the community can play in moulding the

new generation.

The residents expressed their gratitude to Deputy Commander Stanley and his team for the timely visit and assured the ranks of their full cooperation to bring peace to their commu-

nity.

Deputy Commander Stanley was accompanied by Assistant Superintendent S Laljit; Inspector M O’Donogue; Sergeant Tyndall; Sergeant Lynch; Corporal Moses;

Corporal Christopher; W/ Constable Durant along with representatives from the No 52-74 NDC - Liaison Officer, B Williams, and several other Police ranks and Community Policing Group members.

Man carrying Venezuelan Security ID convicted for illegal entry

V

enezuelan national, Ramon Andres Vansluytman was on Friday fined $15,000 or an alternative of four weeks’ imprisonment after he was charged with illegally entering Guyana.

He was reportedly arrested at the Sherima Crossing in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) on November 18, 2023. At the time of this arrest, he had in his possession one UHF

Convicted for illegal entry: Ramon Andres Vansluytman

radio set and a Venezuelan Security Identification (ID) card.

He was, however, found guilty of the offence by Magistrate Crystal Lambert during a trial at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

Following his conviction, Magistrate Lambert further directed that he be thereafter handed over to the Immigration Department to process his deportation.

11 Over 4000 Guyanese to benefit from GOAL scholarships in 2024 NEWS

SUNDAY, JANUARY 7, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

- Spanish tutoring for Public Servants

Basdeo Panday: A Caribbean Indian Politician

B

asdeo Panday, the fifth Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, lies in state at Red House in Port-of-Spain. The country’s newspapers noted he was the first Indian and first Hindu to earn that honour. And therein lies the challenge in the Caribbean for individuals from groups other than descendants of enslaved Africans to represent or be represented in the governance of the countries where Ravi Dev their forbears arrived as indentured labourers: they are still regarded as “exceptions” and frequently as a “problem”. The challenge becomes acute in the southern Caribbean, where People of Indian Origin (PIOs) form a plurality in Guyana, Trinidad and Suriname.

D

espite surpassing its target to provide 20,000 Guyanese with Guyana Academy of Learning (GOAL) scholarships free of cost, another 4750 persons will benefit from the programme this year.

This was revealed by former Public Service Minister Sonia Parag during the Ministry’s end-of-year press briefing on Friday.

According to Parag, the Government will continue to advance its bilateral partnerships with Cuba, China and Russia to make available several courses this year.

This includes courses such as food technology, biomedical technology, data science and agricultural science technology, among others.

Additionally, to bridge the tertiary education gap in hinterland communities, scholarships to the University of Guyana, Guyana School of Agriculture and technical in-

apply in the public sector but in the private sector or to be self-employed, whatever your heart desires,” Parag stated.

It was further disclosed that the Public Service Ministry will be partnering with US-based online course provider, Coursera, to offer Spanish tutoring for all public servants.

A total of 54,000 persons in the public sector will ben-

L-R Acharya (India); Singh (Fiji); Dev (Chair); Jagan (GY); Panday (TT)

By the time Basdeo Panday returned as a lawyer from England in 1965, Eric Williams had already removed Trinidad from the WI Federation. There, the DLP, representing Trinidadian PIOs, had been well represented, but not in the majoritarian-elected T&T Government, where the PNM had been victorious since 1956. Williams dubbed Indians a “recalcitrant minority”.

Significantly, Panday did not join the DLP, but the new leftist multiracial Workers and Farmers Party (FWP) launched by CLR James (who had broken from Williams), ex-DLP Leader Stephen Maharaj, and Oilfields Union leader George Weeks.

Unsuccessful in the 1966 elections, the FWP dissolved; and, in 1975, Panday launched the United Labour Front (ULF) with army mutineer Raffique Shah and George Weeks - determined to unite the mainly African oilfield workers with the Indian sugar workers, whose union he led. Even though the ULF won 10 of 36 seats and became the official opposition to Williams’s PNM, most of the votes came from Indian-dominated constituencies.

Against Panday's determined efforts, the ethnic cleavage in the society asserted itself to have, in effect, the ULF replace the old DLP. But Panday did not give up on multi-racial politics. In the 1981 elections, his ULF joined the Tobago-based DAC of ANR Robinson and Lloyd Best’s Tapia House to form the National Alliance, which did worse than the ULF on its own. For the 1986 elections, he spearheaded the National Alliance’s coalition with the ONR of PNM-dissident Karl Hudson Phillips to form the NAR, which won the elections.

It was in that year that the political grouping of which I was part in NYC raised funds for the NAR, and I met Panday. In discussions, he was convinced that Trinidad “was not ready” for an Indian PM, and deferred to Robinson to become PM, even though DAC only brought in 2 seats to the ULF’s 8. Panday was made Minister of External Affairs, but soon reacted against him and the ULF’s constituency being peripheralized. He was expelled from the coalition and Government in 1988, along with several other Indian members, who then formed the UNC in April 1989.

In that year, I was part of a team that travelled to the Caribbean to invite leaders in the Indian communities to participate in the launch of GOPIO in NYC. Panday and Cheddi Jagan both spoke at the “Conference on Political Participation” that I co-chaired, and both analysed the challenges of political mobilisation in plural societies. They also participated in a breakout session I also chaired, where they were more specific in their comments. They helped to draft resolutions for presentation to the UN for free and fair elections in Guyana, and action against violence directed predominantly against the Indian community in Trinidad. Both were introduced to members of the US Administration who had attended the Conference.

Cheddi Jagan’s PPP won the 1992 elections in Guyana, and Panday’s UNC, having tied with 17 seats with the PNM in the 1995 elections, coalesced with Robinson’s NAR (2 seats) and he became prime minister.

He again led the party to victory in 2000, but internal wranglings led to snap elections in 2001, in which his UNC tied with the PNM with 18 seats each. He offered a coalition to Manning, who refused. By then the NAR’s Robinson was president, after being nominated by Panday, but he chose the PNM’s Patrick Manning as PM even though the PNM had less popular votes.

But Panday never gave up on multiracial politics, even though many stubbornly dubbed him an “Indian leader”. One incident illustrates his magnanimous national vision. Back in 1969, Eric Williams had banned Trinidad-born Black Power advocate Stokely Carmichael (Kwame Ture) long before the April 1970 Black Power rebellion. But when Panday became PM, he awarded a monthly grant to pay for Ture’s treatment for prostate cancer.

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

stitutes will be made available to several persons.

The Minister explained this move is part of efforts to address the local labour shortage while ensuring Guyanese attain skillsets to become financially independent.

“And it continues of course in 2024 and 2025. So, by the time we’re at 2025 we would be at the way, I’m hoping beyond 30,000 Guyanese who have the opportunity to earn a certificate. And the GOAL scholarship allows you not only to

efit from the initiative while another 2000 persons will benefit from Information Technology (IT) training through a partnership with Canada.

While the Spanish tutoring programme will not be mandatory, Parag said public servants are being encouraged to take full opportunity.

“We have been making Spanish mandatory in schools but we don’t want to be placing that on adults…but I know

a lot of public servants they are very eager to get onboard and learn another language” the Minister explained.

Additionally, each Government Ministry will have the option to generate tailored educational programmes to suit the function of their agency and fill in skilled gaps.

The programmes are scheduled to commence in March and will run for 16 months.

According to Minister Parag, the initiative forms part of the Ministry’s effort to ensure that citizens are equipped with the necessary knowledge in keeping with the ongoing development of the country.

“More than that is the bonus of training those persons with the end result being 100 per cent that they will be employed. So, that we’re looking to go further than just training people and putting them out there but making sure that they are able to be independent and able to be financially empowered,” Parag explained.

GOAL achievements The GOAL scholarship was launched in 2021 with the aim of offering Guyanese an opportunity to advance their education through online and distance learning (ODL) mode.

The sum of $1.8 billion in budgetary provision was

made available to the Public Service Ministry for the programme last year, given the Government’s commitment to the educational advancement of citizens.

With regards to internet connectivity and computer devices, resources were provided to ensure that ICT hubs in several regions are functional.

As a result, from 2021 to 2023, a total of 21,442 persons benefitted from GOAL scholarships, and this saw Guyanese attaining certificates, diplomas, Bachelor’s, Post-Graduate, Master’s, and Doctorate degrees in various courses.

Meanwhile, 15 persons in Region One (Barima-Waini) were awarded Government scholarships, 34 were awarded to persons in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) and 56 persons residing in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) received a Government scholarship in 2023.

Additionally, 142 Guyanese from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) received scholarships, 23 from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), 42 from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and 19 from Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni).

Minister Parag further disclosed that more than one person from Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), two persons from Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and 20 persons from Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) were granted the opportunity to pursue a tertiary education.

Guyanese were also provided the opportunity to study in Cuba, Russia and China.

More than 50 per cent of the beneficiaries in last year’s programme were women - the majority of whom are single parents.

Additionally, five persons living with disabilities gained employable skills and tertiary education through the programme in 2023.

12 NEWS

SUNDAY, JANUARY 7, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Finalisation of ICT platform for Single Window System underway – Min Croal

T

he Information and Communications Technology (ICT) platform for the much-touted Single Window System is currently being finalised, and according to Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal, implementation of the online service will commence very soon.

The Single Window System is designed to eliminate the red tape associated with the planning and permitting processes for land by creating a singular entry point for all agencies involved in the process. This system will feature an online application portal, facilitating quicker application approvals and online tracking.

During his Ministry’s closing press conference for 2023 held last week, Minister Croal disclosed that all the required preliminary works have been completed.

“Where we’re at now is… finalisation on the ICT platform that is required for us to go live. That’s all that is required. Well, of course, when that happens, we will have to gazette it… We’ll gazette to say this is the commencement date because you’ll have to issue a commencement order. But for the legitimacy of the single window, we’ve done [the necessary legislation]

Housing Minister Collin Croal

and that has been passed in the Parliament. And so, very soon you will see that into implementation,” the Housing Minister posited.

This innovative platform is set to revolutionise the process of planning and obtaining permits with a single entry point for the Housing Ministry’s Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) and other relevant partner agencies. It aims to eliminate bureaucratic hurdles, reduce processing times, and is built upon the principles of transparency, predictability, efficiency, electronic accessibility, scalability, and interoperability.

This will enhance the ease

of doing business in Guyana, enabling both local and international investors to seamlessly access the system and submit applications online from any location in the world.

Additionally, applicants will have the ability to track the progress of their applications.

The system also incorporates pre-consults, enabling applicants to assess the strengths and weaknesses of their submissions before making a ‘full application’.

The single window process is a strategy implemented by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government to integrate agencies’ approach to services, and efficiency, and to significantly reduce the

processing time for planning and building permission.

In December 2022, a $202 million contract was signed with Global Services – a Guyanese-led consortium with global experience – to make the issuance of planning and building permits hassle-free. The company was tasked with providing a server and network infrastructure; security solutions; and hardware and software maintenance and repairs.

The single window system will feature five key elements including one-window access to allow the CH&PA to be the point of entry for planning and building applications; as well as a dashboard to show the status of individual applications and generate progress reports, which can also be accessed by applicants.

Another feature of the system is a time-bound element by which the relevant agencies will have to respond to applications, otherwise they would automatically be considered approved.

Already, the National Assembly has approved the passage of the Planning and Development Single Window System in July 2023.

The legislative framework now paves the way for,

among other things, standardised application forms and checklists, as well as minimising the time for completing a transaction. Further, the electrical portal will enable investors to submit planning and building permits and check the status from anywhere around the globe. This new mechanism forms part of the Government’s attempt to increase the ease of doing business and foster a business-friendly environment.

Before the Bill’s passage, the CH&PA conducted consultations across the country, engaging with local Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), heads of service agencies and regulatory bodies.

Since approval of the Bill last year, these efforts have increased with sen-

sitisation sessions held in Regions One (Barima-Waini); Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara); Four (Demerara-Mahaica); Five (Mahaica-Berbice); Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

These Awareness and Capacity Building Sessions for the Planning and Development of Single Window System were wrapped up last October.

Consultant, Fareed Amin conducted the sensitisation sessions during which he conducted a comprehensive presentation aimed to providing insights into the functionality of the system. He was assisted by Business Analyst Kevin Sukhdeo, who did demonstrations of the system. (G-8)

NEWS

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 7, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Saturday engaged the residents of Kitty, Georgetown, during which several concerns were raised, thus leading to on-the-spot decisions aimed at developing the community (Press & Publicity photos)

14 FEATURE

SUNDAY, JANUARY 7, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Education is the vehicle to get you out of poverty

H

enry Hardin Chase, a veteran teacher with over 20 years of experience, has dedicated his life to education. He has taught various subjects at various levels, impacting the lives of

many students. In this feature article, a closer look is taken of his journey as a teacher, what inspired him to pursue a career in education, and how he has adapted his teaching methods to meet the evolv-

ing needs of students.

Chase's journey as a teacher began in 1990, just after he graduated from high school. Initially, he had aspirations of becoming a lawyer, but at that time, the opportuni-

ties were not available.

Encouraged by a close friend who was an educator, he decided to pursue teaching.

As such, he applied to the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE), enrolled, and completed the two-year teacher training program in 1995.

After graduation, Chase started his teaching career as a lecturer at the University of Guyana in 1999, where he taught for four years, until he joined the Champions Private School.

Chase credits his longevity in the profession to his passion for education and sports, which he believes allows him to have a twofold impact on young lives. He detailed that, coming from a working-class home, he was taught that education is the vehicle to bring you out of poverty: a philosophy he

highlighted as a major bugbear the failure of many parents to understand and execute their role in the education process. Lamenting, Chase further empathised, “The difficulty teachers now face when attempting to discipline students in this modern day is not an issue I faced in my early days of teaching”.

Chase was very candid when discussing the unique challenges faced by male teachers in the education system. He detailed that he, as a male educator, works to maintain a balanced perspective while presenting a positive male role model to his students.

According to Chase, “As a male educator, it’s critical to ensure that, like myself, other male teachers pay attention to (their) mental, physical, and even spiritual health.” He noted that it is vital if they are to

Chase and student and a teacher

holds true even to today.

According to the longtime educator, it is for this reason that he endeavours to provide the opportunity for as many students as he can possibly assist to become healthy and productive adults who are each an asset to society.

Teaching has not always been a proverbial walk in the park for this veteran educator, as he reminisces on the vast changes to the educational landscape over the years and the many challenges these changes present for the modern-day teacher.

“The modern-day teacher must now compete with technology and social media; this also comes with new issues, like cyberbullying”, he explained.

In addition, Chase has

continue in this challenging profession.

Chase explained that a strict diet-and-exercise regimen, in combination with keen attention to mental wellbeing and a close relationship with God, has been his sustenance throughout his lengthy career.

In giving a glimpse into his personal life, the veteran Educator spoke of 2020 as a particularly challenging year. The interview took an emotional turn when Chase spoke of the pain he experienced in losing his family, after facing a divorce in that said year. This loss was exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic that ravaged the world, and the tumultuous 2020 General and Regional Elections that became

Principal of Chase’s Academy, Henry Hardin Chase

overwhelming to him and took him to an exceptionally dark place. He again had to tap into his mental and spiritual strength to pull himself from this situation and continue with what he believed to be his life’s calling.

Adapting to changing times and landscapes has been a pillar of Chase’s success. For all the many challenges outlined by the lifelong educator, he boasts of being able to adapt and find new methods to reach the unique needs of each student.

He said, “Gratification comes primarily from watching young charges grow, and hear the many success stories that would not have been possible without the educational opportunities afforded to these students. I have come a long way, and after 27 years, some very specific goals I’ve set for myself for this term… include acquiring land and constructing a building for the school.”

In addition, he is aiming to see improved performances in both academics and in sports. Chase has said he would like to see his students participate at the national level in track and field, and improve on all previous shows at exams such as CXC. Chase has expressed unwavering confidence in his students being able to achieve this feat.

Chase's journey as a teacher is a testament to his dedication and passion for education. He has impacted the lives of many students, and his legacy will continue to inspire future generations of teachers.

TURN TO PAGE 16

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 7, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

16 NEWS Guyana’s public spending more than doubled on hospitals, schools & other programmes – ECLAC SUNDAY, JANUARY 7, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

– accelerated spending also recorded in housing, roads & agriculture

G

uyana’s public sector spending has more than doubled in recent times, with programmes such as hospitals, schools and road infrastructure benefitting from Guyana’s injection of oil money to accelerate capital expenditure to benefit ordinary Guyanese.

This is encapsulated in the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean’s (ECLAC) 2023 “Preliminary Overview of the Economies of Latin America and the Caribbean” report.

The report notes that across the Region, capital expenditures are expected to remain stable around their previous year’s level, while in Guyana, the Government has been accelerating its expenditure on public investment programmes.

“In Guyana, expenditure on the public investment programme more than doubled, driven by the construction of hospitals, schools, housing, roads and agricultural infrastructure,” the ECLAC report states.

“It should be kept in mind that the execution of capital expenditures tends to be concentrated in the last quarter, so the figures for the first half of the year do not necessarily indicate the level of spending that will be achieved by the year-end.”

Meanwhile, it was explained that Guyana has been using funds from both the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) and the Reducing Emissions from

February and May of last year.

A few days ago, President Ali said that the policies and programmes being implemented by his Government are ultimately aimed at wealth creation and growth for every Guyanese. During a live broadcast on Thursday evening where he fired back at “propagandist messaging”, he highlighted the various ways in which the strategies rolled out by his Administration within the last three years have transformed communities and positively impacted the lives

Aerial view of the $2.6 billion Mandela Avenue to Eccles highway that officially opened in April 2022 Deforestation and Forest eighth and final withdrawal Degradation in Developing from the NRF, withdrawing Countries (UN-REDD), for US$150.1 million to finance budgetary allocations. projects under the 2023 “In the case of Guyana, budget. Back in November, the central government the Government had made made withdrawals from the its sixth and seventh withNatural Resource Fund, a drawals (both US$100 milsovereign wealth fund fi- lion, respectively) from the nanced by oil revenues. NRF. Then, in September, Although of a lesser magni- the Government reported tude, it is important to note its fifth withdrawal from the that Guyana received rev- NRF, totalling G$10.4 billion enues from carbon credits (equivalent to US$50 milfor the first time during the lion). first half of the year, having It was also announced agreed on the first commer- that in August and cial sale of carbon credits in September 2023, amounts December 2022. totalling US$200 million The credits in ques- or G$41.6 billion had been tion were sold to the Hess transferred from the NRF to Corporation to finance proj- the Consolidated Fund to fiects aimed at protecting the nance national development country’s forests,” ECLAC priorities. These withdrawsaid. als followed another US$400 Only a few days ago, million or G$83.2 billion bethe Government made its ing taken out of the NRF in

of almost every citizen.

“The purpose of Government is to invest and create the opportunity so that the population can grow wealth. We are skilfully crafting a model that meets our social and economic transformation in a way that ensures what we call resilience in the framework… we cannot just say that we have projected finances in the future so that we are going to spend in a way that is not sustainable.”

“So, we are creating a resilient approach to managing our finances; a careful

and considerate approach to ensure that our current expenditure does not become bloated and to ensure that the capital investment itself is adding value and creating value to the population in general,” he had explained.

Referencing the recent road network in the New Diamond Housing Scheme on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD), President Ali further highlighted how the investments in that area have significantly increased the net present and future value of lands and properties there.

(G-3) FROM PAGE 14

When asked what advice he would give to anyone wanting to follow in his footsteps, Chase had this to say: “As someone who values education and the teaching profession, I would advise anyone, regardless of gender, who is interested in becoming a teacher, to pursue their passion. While it's true that men have been expected

Principal Chase and fellow teachers

to provide for their families, and therefore may not have considered teaching as a viable career option, I believe that anyone who has the necessary qualities can become a great teacher.

“It's important to ensure that you have the qualifications and characteristics needed to excel in the profession, such as a good voice,

an excellent personality, and a passion for education.

Additionally, setting boundaries with your students and their parents is crucial to maintaining a healthy and productive learning environment. I encourage anyone interested in becoming a teacher to pursue their dream and make a positive impact on the lives of their students.”

NEWS

17

SUNDAY, JANUARY 7, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Traffic Dept mulls increasing speeding tickets to $25,000 - failure to wear seat belts to $35,000

W

ith an increase in road deaths during 2023 when compared with the figures recorded in 2022, Traffic Chief, Senior Superintended Mahendra Singh announced that several strategies will be implemented in an attempt to reduce road accidents.

Addressing senior Police officers in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) on Saturday at the Police Academy at Adventure, Corentyne, Singh pointed out that driving under the influence, speeding and inconsiderate use of the road are some of the major causes of serious road accidents.

He believes that the fines for speeding should be increased from its current $7500 to $25,000 and failure to wear seat belts from $7500 to $35,000.

The proposal for an increase in fines has already been made and submitted. Additionally, new ticket-based offenses have already been submitted for approval, Singh said.

However, Singh admitted that the Police have a significant role to play in the reduction of road accidents.

As such, he called on the senior officers to place more emphasis on the realignment of shifts to have more Police officers visible both at

Region Six Commander, Senior Superintendent Shivpersaud Bacchus, and Traffic Chief Mahendra Singh addressing senior Police officers in Region Six on Saturday

night and day, based on statistics from areas that are considered problematic.

“We must ensure that the speed guns that we are using are calibrated to avoid cases being thrown out of court,” he said while noting that the current fleet of speed guns will need to be calibrated by October of this year.

Singh said very soon, the Guyana Police Force is expected to acquire 120 speed guns.

Meanwhile, the senior traffic officer said drivers must change the culture of late departure which results in many drivers being impatient while behind the wheel. Further to that, there are many poorly maintained vehicles on the roadways and some drivers exhibit

poor parking choices.

Compounding those issues, he noted, is roadside vending, which the Police have little control over.

As it relates to strategies being re-implemented, Superintendent Singh related that he will continue to engage bar owners to promote safety tips and awareness and use the entertainment industry to promote road safety and security.

Additionally, he noted that the department will continue to publish information about those charged for traffic violations and subsequent convictions.

Singh called on the officers to ensure that they have an unbiased approach to enforcement while adding that they must engage all stakeholders to impose pos-

itive pressure on delinquent road users.

“Whose responsibility is it for road safety?” the traffic officer asked the senior Police officers and then provided the answer. “All of us,

including the general duty and CID,” he said.

Last year in Region Six, there were 19 road deaths from 16 fatal accidents. The region has recorded a 20 per cent decrease over its 2022,

figures.

As of Saturday, there were two serious accidents recorded in the region for 2024, compared to six for the corresponding period in 2023. (Andrew Carmichael)

18

SUNDAY, JANUARY 7, 2024

guyanatimesgy.com

Regional

Venezuela opposition Argentina Government taps Central Bank reserves extends committee to protect with US$3.2 bln debt sale overseas assets by 1 year

V

A

r g e n t i n a ’ s cash-strapped Government will raise US$3.2 billion in hard currency in order to meet debt repayments via an issuance of 10-year bills to the central bank, according to a decree in the official gazette on Friday.

The new Administration of libertarian President Javier Milei is battling against the country’s worst economic crises in two decades, including inflation racing towards 200%, a lack of foreign currency reserves and rising poverty.

It faces looming debt payments with creditors, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), with which it is looking to hammer out an agreement and release funds as part of a delayed review of the South American country’s US$44 billion IMF programme.

A r g e n t i n a ’ s Government is set to meet a delegation from the IMF on Friday and over the weekend, which could eventually unlock some US$3 billion. However, the debt raising suggests it needs a quicker injection of funds, despite campaign pledges by Milei to curtail

A man walks past the facade of Argentina’s Central Bank, one day after the inauguration of Argentina’s President Javier Milei and his Vice President Victoria Villarruel, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, December 11, 2023

central bank financing of the Treasury.

“Governments change, non-transferable bills stay the same. There is no magic bullet, no panacea,” said local economist Gabriel Caamaño, adding that it remained unclear when the seventh IMF programme review would be unblocked.

“Because of this we have to keep damaging the central bank’s balance sheet to avoid default.”

Presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni said in a daily press conference that the debt issuance aimed to allow the Government “to meet maturities with private creditors,” but added

that the move would not damage the central bank’s position.

While the central bank has built up gross foreign currency reserves since Milei took office in December, analysts estimate that net reserves remain some US$8 billion in negative territory.

The major grains producing nation, which has struggled with cyclical economic crises for years, recently paid some US$920 million to the IMF and faces an upcoming capital payment to the fund for about US$1.95 billion in mid-January. (Excerpt from Reuters)

enezuela’s opposition politicians on Friday extended the functions of a committee administering the country’s overseas assets, which replaced the now-eliminated interim government, for 12 more months.

Via this legal reform, the opposition National Assembly will maintain its function to safeguard Venezuela’s assets abroad, also because it is the body recognised by the United States, opposition politicians - who oppose the Government of President Nicolas Maduro - added.

Venezuela’s assets held abroad include bank accounts, gold held in the

Bank of England, and oil refiner Citgo Petroleum, a subsidiary of state-owned PDVSA, which is protected by the United States Government from being auctioned to pay creditor debts until Jan 18.

“We’re committed to being coherent in the fight to completely escape and leave behind the entire system of what the dictatorship of Nicolas Maduro’s regime signifies,” Dinorah Figuera, president of the opposition National Assembly, said from Spain, where she has lived in exile for years.

The opposition national assembly has appointed a committee to govern the country’s foreign as-

sets since it voted to remove interim President Juan Guaido and dissolve his Government in 2022.

The opposition national assembly’s session was transmitted over Zoom, which it says is due to the majority of its members living in exile due to harassment from the Government.

The meeting of the ruling party-dominated assembly in Venezuela took place in central Caracas.

The ruling party dominated National Assembly re-elected Jorge Rodriguez, the Government’s chief negotiator with opposition politicians, as its president during its meeting. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Some families of kidnapped migrants paid ransoms, Mexico Minister says

S

ome of the families of kidnapped Venezuelan and Honduran migrants paid ransoms to their abductors before the group was rescued this week, Mexico’s Security Minister said on Friday.

The 32 migrants were kidnapped from a bus over the weekend by armed men aiming to extort money from them and their families in the United States.

“They took photos and in the early morning of December 31, the kidnappers called the families to ask for money. In some cases, deposits of a part of the required resource were made,” Mexican Security Minister Rosa Icela Rodriguez said in a regular

news conference.

The migrants were abandoned by their kidnappers and rescued on Wednesday in the northern city of Reynosa in the state of Tamaulipas. Six of the migrants were from Honduras and 26 were Venezuelan, with three having dual nationality with Colombia, Mexico said.

During Friday’s news conference, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador rejected speculation that Police had been involved in the kidnapping, saying the allegation that has circulated in local media was aimed at undermining the work of security forces.

Migrants in Mexico frequently say they are extorted by local Police and feder-

al authorities as they head north toward the border.

One migrant who travelled the same bus route from Monterrey to Matamoros a week before the kidnapping told Reuters he and other migrants were extorted by Police who threatened to hand them over to a cartel if they did not pay. Reuters was unable to verify his story.

In an interview with Reuters on Thursday, Tamaulipas State Security spokesman Jorge Cuellar also rejected the idea that authorities were involved in the mass kidnapping, though he acknowledged there were occasional “isolated cases of bad Police officers.” (Excerpt from Reuters)

The price of passage: Migrants fear threat of extortion in Guatemala

L

uis Alfredo Rodriguez held his young son’s hand as he walked along a busy street near Tapachula’s central plaza, asking for money from those passing by.

The 27-year-old Venezuelan migrant had just crossed into the Mexican border city hours earlier with seven of his relatives, including his wife and children.

But they arrived with no money, Rodriguez explained. Everything they had was lost to extortion as they travelled northward through neighbouring Guatemala.

“At every Police checkpoint, the Police officers demanded money,” Rodriguez told Al Jazeera, his forehead

creased with worry as he kept an eye on his children.

“It was a lot of money.”

Hundreds of thousands of migrants and asylum seekers like Rodriguez pass through Guatemala every year, as they make their way through Central America to the southern border of the United States.

But many are reporting that the country is one of several hotspots for extortion, as officials and security forces target travellers with pay-for-passage schemes.

Rodriguez said the police threatened to turn his family over to immigration officials and expel them south to Honduras. “If you don’t pay, they say they will return you,” he explained.

He was one of several mi-

grants and asylum seekers who described Guatemala as the most difficult country he crossed, calling it even more challenging than the Darien Gap, a notoriously perilous stretch of jungle between Colombia and Panama.

Extortion schemes have long been an issue in Guatemala, according to Eduardo Woltke, a migrant rights defender in the office of the country’s Human Rights Ombudsman.

But Woltke told Al Jazeera that the problem has recently grown worse.

He has received reports of officials abusing their positions not only to compel payments but also to coerce sexual acts. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, JANUARY 7, 2024

19

Around the World

Israel, Hezbollah trade fire OILNEWS OIL NEWS across Lebanon border amid alarm over Gaza war spillover Oil to remain A volatile in 2024, says BofA

U

S oil companies and refiners are likely to face another challenging 12 months in 2024, Bank of America (BofA) analysts wrote in a note on Friday, who expect Brent crude to average US$80 per barrel this year.

Crude futures lost over 10% in 2023 in a tumultuous year of trading marked by geopolitical turmoil and concerns about the oil output levels of major producers around the world.

“We expect oil to remain volatile, exacerbated by outsize paper market influence, informed by geopolitics and OPEC policy,” BofA wrote in the note.

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies, or OPEC+, is currently cutting output by around 6 million barrels per day, representing about 6% of global supply.

According to BofA, the bigger challenge for investors this year is to not underestimate Saudi’s commitment to oil while acknowledging that Brent could remain in a notional US$70-US$90 band due to non-OPEC output and an uncertain demand outlook.

The brokerage said absolute valuations for the sector, on average, are less compelling than at any time since COVID, following the strong recovery over the past three years.

BofA, however, sees tailwinds from recent dealmaking in the largest US shale field, the Permian basin.

It sees Occidental Petroleum, Exxon Mobil and Chevron among the top picks for 2024. (Reuters)

ir raid sirens sounded across northern Israel on Saturday as Lebanon’s Iranian-backed Hezbollah group said it fired rockets at Israel, and Israel said it struck a “terrorist cell” in retaliation, as top US and EU diplomats visited the region seeking to keep the war from spreading.

Fighting raged on inside Gaza, especially in and near the southern city of Khan Younis, where the Israeli military said it had killed three members of the militant Palestinian Hamas group that rules the densely populated coastal strip.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the European Union’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, were on separate trips to the

region to try to quell spillover from the three-monthold war into Lebanon, the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Red Sea shipping lanes.

Israel and Hezbollah often trade fire across the Lebanese border, the West Bank is seething with anger, and the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen seem determined to continue attacks on Red Sea shipping until Israel stops bombarding Palestinians in Gaza.

“We have an intense focus on preventing this conflict from spreading,” Blinken told reporters in Chania, Greece, on what is his fourth trip to the region since Oct 7.

He said he would spend the next few days discussing with allies and partners

Israeli soldiers rest at an observation post near the IsraelGaza border, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in southern Israel, January 6, 2024

how they can use their influence, including on ways to protect civilians and maximise humanitarian aid. The fighting has displaced most

of Gaza’s 2.3 million population and caused acute shortages of food, water, and medicines. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Russian missile attack kills 11 in Pokrovsk in Ukraine’s east – Donetsk regional governor

A

Russian missile strike killed 11 people on Saturday in and around the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, the governor of the Ukrainian-controlled part of Donetsk region said.

“Eleven dead, including five children - these are the consequences for now of strikes on Pokrovsk district,” Vadym Filashkin wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in his nightly video address, said Russian must be made to feel the con-

sequences of every such attack.

“The Russian strike quite simply targeted ordinary, private homes,” Zelenskiy said.

“And Russia must be made to feel that none of these strikes will pass without consequences for the terrorist state.”

Pictures posted online by the regional governor showed rescue squads sifting through large piles of smouldering rubble in the dark as well as a burned-out vehicle.

Filashkin said S-300 missiles had been used in a se-

ries of Russian attacks, with the main strike hitting the town of Pokrovsk and nearby villages.

He said the attack showed Russian forces were “trying to inflict as much grief as possible on our land”.

There was no immediate response to a request for comment from Russia’s Defence Ministry.

Pokrovsk had been subject to Russian shelling on Friday. The town lies in Ukrainian-held territory, about 80 km (50 miles) north-

Required inspections will take around four to eight hours per aircraft, it said.

In Friday’s incident, the Alaska Airlines flight from Portland, Oregon to Ontario, California, had reached 16,000ft (4876m) when it began its emergency descent, according to flight tracking data.

The airline, carrying 177 passengers and crew, landed safely back in Portland.

Images sent to news outlets showed the night sky visible through the gap in the fuselage, with insulation material and other debris also seen.

There were no immediate indications of the cause of the apparent structural failure, nor any reports of injuries.

The section of fuselage involved appears to be an area that can be used as an additional emergency exit door by some operators, but not by Alaska. (Excerpt from BBC News)

nti-racism activists in Spain have called for a ban on the use of blackface seen in many of the country’s traditional Epiphany celebrations.

Rita Bosaho, the first Black woman in Spain’s Parliament, said the practice - part of annual Jan 5 parades on the eve of Epiphany that depict the biblical Three Kings who brought gifts to Jesus - tarnish the memory of enslaved people and disempower Black children.

In the parades, actors portraying the kings, or Magi, ride past on floats and fling sweets, which are eagerly scooped up by children. Early Christian texts describe one of the kings, Balthazar, as African and Renaissance paintings often depict him as Black.

In the eastern town of Alcoy that has a long tradition of the parades, dozens of people acting the role of pag-

west of Donetsk, the Russian held centre of the region.

The governor of the adjacent Dnipropetrovsk region said one person was killed in drone strikes around the town of Nikopol, a frequent Russian target on the opposite bank of the Dnipro River from the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

And officials said three people were injured in Russian shelling of areas of Kherson region to the southwest. (Reuters)

Bangladesh polling booths set ablaze, opposition FAA grounds 171 Boeing Anti-racists slam starts election strike planes after mid-air blowout blackface use in Spain’s on Alaska Airlines jet Epiphany parades

P

olling booths were set on fire in Bangladesh on the eve of today’s general elections, hours after four people were killed in a suspected arson attack on a commuter train.

This came as Bangladesh’s main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, started a 48-hour general strike on Saturday, calling on people to boycott the vote because it says the Government of incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina cannot guarantee its fairness.

Police on Saturday said unidentified arsonists set fire to at least five primary schools, including four polling stations.

They were investigating fires in Gazipur, on the outskirts of the capital, Dhaka, suspected to have been set in the middle of the night by those aiming to disrupt the elections, which the main opposition party has pledged to boycott.

“We have intensified patrolling and remain on high

alert,” said Gazipur Police Chief Kazi Shafiqul Alam.

The election commission has asked authorities to increase security around polling stations.

Arsonists also attacked polling booths in the northeastern districts of Moulvibazar and Habiganj, Police said, with similar incidents reported elsewhere in the past two days.

Police in the coastal district of Khulna arrested two people on Thursday night accused of trying to set fire to a school, which serve as voting stations. The following day, another bid to set fire to a primary school nearby was averted, said Saidur Rahman, Police Chief of the district.

The Khaleda Zia-led BNP, and numerous other opposition parties, have boycotted the elections, saying they are intended to solidify the rule of Prime Minister Hasina.

Hasina, 76, is assured of a fourth consecutive term in today’s vote, which observers have criticised as one-sided.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

T

he US airline regulator has ordered the grounding of some Boeing 737 Max 9 jets after part of one plane fell off during an Alaska Airlines flight.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the inspections would affect 171 planes.

On Friday the Alaska Airlines flight had to make an emergency landing after take-off from the US state of Oregon.

United Airlines says it has carried out the inspections required by the FAA on some of its 79 Boeing 737 Max 9 planes.

Removing some of the aircraft from service is expected to cause about 60 cancellations on Saturday, the airline said in a statement.

Earlier, the FAA said it would “order the temporary grounding of certain Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft operated

by US airlines or in US territory”.

A

es accompanied the kings in Friday’s event, their faces painted black and with exaggerated, red-painted lips.

Some ran along the edge of the crowd high-fiving children.

Bosaho, who led the Equality Ministry’s racial diversity department from 2020 to 2023, said the use of blackface in the parades persisted because of a lack of debate on racism that she said permeated Spanish society.

“It sends a message that racism, that our skin doesn’t matter,” Bosaho added.

A 2021 study commissioned by the Equality Ministry found that although nearly half of people of African descent living in Spain were born in the country, only 12% described themselves as “Afro-Spanish” and 60% said they did not feel Spanish due to discrimination they suffered. (Excerpt from Reuters)

20

guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, JANUARY 7, 2024

You’ll face controversy if you are too vocal. Don’t get in(March 21volved in situations that are April 19) contentious or can put you in an awkward position. Do something that adds to your knowledge.

ARIES

Travel, learn and engage in TAURUS events and pastimes that awak(April 20en the spirit within. Have some May 20) fun but do so on a budget. Don’t go into debt or let anyone lead you in an unwise direction.

You’ll gravitate toward GEMINI someone entertaining, but (MAY 21before you decide to buy into June 20) what you hear, do your research. A misleading conversation could lead to a costly mistake.

Reach out to people you CANCER find exciting. Find a way to in(June 21July 22) corporate excitement into your daily routine. Concentrate on what makes you happy. Don’t live someone else’s dream.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Pickles VIRGO

Make a move or change that broadens your awareness and takes you in a direction that offers opportunities.

Participate in events that offer a different approach to life.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Think about what you can accomplish, then get things done. Refuse to get into a nowin situation. Make personal growth, love and learning your goals.

SCORPIO

Follow your heart and explore what’s possible. Get involved in an event that offers insight into the possibilities.

Rely on your intuition to guide you. Be wary of false information.

(Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Peanuts

Don’t sit idle or hammer away at something that leads nowhere. Go where the action is and experience something that helps you figure out your next move. Believe in yourself. Love is on the rise.

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

You won’t see things accuSAGITTARIUS rately. When in doubt, take (Nov. 23a wait-and-see approach and Dec. 21) refuse to let anyone talk you into something. It’s up to you to stand up for your rights.

Calvin and Hobbes

Consider making your CAPRICORN space more convenient and (Dec. 22comfortable. Doing something Jan. 19) you love will offer peace of mind and insight into what’s best for you. Avoid risky situations. Trust your instincts.

AQUARIUS You must be astute to avoid problems. Mixed emo(Jan. 20tions will make it difficult Feb. 19) to decide if someone is being straight with you. Rely on the facts, regardless of what you want to be true.

PISCES Use your imagination, and (Feb. 20- you’ll discover how to make Mar. 20) your money grow. Stay ahead of the crowd, and you’ll be the go-to person in your group.

Keep an eye on the pulse.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 7, 2024

ICC Men’s T20 World Cup: June 2024…

CWI President anticipates economic windfall for Caribbean

C

ricket West Indies (CWI) President Dr. Kishore Shallow has lauded the International Cricket Council’s (ICC’s) unveiling of the highly anticipated fixtures for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Slated to be unfolded across the Caribbean and the USA from 01 June to 29 June 2024, this tournament promises an unparalleled celebration of cricket excellence, and an opportunity to showcase the region’s cultural richness on a global platform.

“Similar to many stakeholders, I share the excitement with the unveiling of the fixtures for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. This represents remarkable progress with the preparation of this historic event,” Dr Shallow has said.

He added, “The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup holds immense promise for the Caribbean, not just in terms of cricketing fervor, but also as a catalyst for economic growth and regional development.”

Dr. Shallow highlighted, “This tournament is projected to yield over US$300 million in direct economic impact for the Caribbean. Moreover, it

CWI President, Dr. Kishore Shallow

is anticipated to captivate more than a billion viewers worldwide through television broadcasts, further elevating the global stature of the Caribbean as a sporting and tourist destination. This influx of visitors, heightened tourism, and burgeoning business prospects will create a ripple effect.”

Dr. Shallow has emphasised, “The impact on jobs, revenue streams, and the overall quality of life for our citizens will be substantial.”

Dr. Shallow reiterated CWI’s unwavering commitment to collaboration by stating, “Cricket West Indies remains steadfast in its collaboration with inter-

national partners to ensure the resounding success of the ICC T20 World Cup. Together, we aim to deliver an unforgettable tournament that not only captivates cricket enthusiasts worldwide, but also leaves an enduring legacy of unity, sportsmanship and economic prosperity across the Caribbean.”

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup sets the stage for a significant economic windfall for the Caribbean, providing a unique opportunity for the host nations to showcase their cultural heritage and allure to a global audience, while leaving an indelible mark on the world of cricket.

(Sportsmax)

Lakers’ continuing slump...

It seems to happen a lot versus us, where the percentages go the other way. We had our game plan and how we wanted to execute that, and I thought we did that as well as we could. They made us pay.”

Ham is growing frustrated about the huge focus placed on every Lakers’ result.

“I’m tired of people living and dying with every single game we play,” Ham said. “It’s ludicrous, actually.

It’s like, ‘Come on, man, this is a marathon, and we hit a tough stretch’. It’s the same team. We played some highlevel games a little while ago, and we just got to get back to that. We got to keep the fight going, we cannot lose our fight. This is the NBA, this is a marathon, and you have to look at the totality of the picture.”

Davis, meanwhile, understood the scrutiny that would come with their current losses.

“Wearing this uniform, you get a lot of flack, and guys are watching you under a microscope as a team,” he said. “You have a couple of bad games, lose a couple in a row, you can’t lose your confidence; can’t be on social media listening to whatever people are saying.

We’ve got to stay together in this locker room and find our way out of it. There’s no help coming, there’s no cavalry. We’ve got to do it with the guys we’ve got, and remain together,” he said.

“We still have a lot of

21

FROM PAGE 22

LeBron James

basketball left, but we’re trending in the wrong direction right now, and the last thing we need, especially when guys are out, is to separate and fall apart. So, we got to stay together for sure and figure it out. We can’t be in our feelings; we can’t be complaining or whatever; we can’t take anything personal.

We have to look individually: myself, everyone in the locker room, the coaching staff, look at ourselves in the mirror and figure out what we can do individually better to help the team be better.

And I think then we can come out and flip things around,” Davis has said.

The Grizzlies improved to

12-23 after Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 31 points and Marcus Smart added 29 points with a season-high eight 3-pointers.

“It was good, because obviously we haven’t won here in a while”, said Ja Morant, who had 21 points for Memphis.

“It’s the team that knocked us out of the playoffs. Obviously, we’re not where we want to be right now during the season, so this was a big-time win for us. We can carry the momentum from this game.”

The Grizzlies are on the road against the Phoenix Suns today (Sunday), while pressure is on the Lakers as they take on city rivals the Los Angeles Clippers.

(Sportsmax)

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SUNDAY, JANUARY 7, 2024

USA trainer ignites Rising Sun Turf Club ...Charge lands 2023 Horse of the Year title

D

amain Dharamjit closed the 2023 racing season on a history making note, then his charge flew out of the gates with ‘jet-propelled speed to start the new racing season.

Spankhurst, trained by Dharamjit, was voted Horse of the Year at the first-ever awards ceremony to recognise equine and human excellence in the sport.

Trainer Dharamjit then rang in the New Year racing season by igniting Rising Sun Turf Club racecourse with fireworks of another kind, and it started with Twisted Jet in the second race rocketing out of the starting gate to score in gate to Wire Fashion, with Colin Ross aboard for Jumbo Jet Stables.

In the third race, the aptly named Game Changer crushed importations Nice Company and Queen Domina comfortably. This was the changer, as the naysayers’ condemnation that G-Class horses cannot beat importations was ridiculed. The stage was now set for the battle royal.

Dharamjit missed out on a Hi-5 of wins, as his sure-

Damain Dharamjit (left), Jockey Colin Ross and Nasrudeen Mohamed Jr. (right)

fire winner Spankhurst’s rider Ross jockeyship saved him from being dislodged from his mount. This incident happened as the six runners negotiated the paddock bend turn where riders were vying for the best position to place their mounts.

Unfortunately, there was an infringement that hampered Spankhurst and Ross’s chances of success. Ross’s riding skills saved him from being dislodged from his mount and suffering certain injury.

Dharamjit is a former USA-based trainer. He is not big in stature, but stands very

tall in the sport of horse racing in his place of birth - Guyana.

Reliving his early childhood entry into the horse racing arena, he recounted, “I have been involved with horses from birth. My family were horse people. When I was about ten years, I started to get more active. That is the time a youngster’s love for animal grows. I choose horses.”

The 55-year-old seasoned campaigner shared that his experiences in Guyana from a youth helped him with the success he enjoyed as an owner/ trainer when he got involved in

horse racing in America.

He shared, “I was involved in horses’ ownership for close to 20 years in the USA, but only started training five years back.”

Recounting his journey, Damain, as he is called, relived, “I bought young horses. Most of them that I bought were two-year-olds, and not pricey.

As you are aware, every trainer dream is to win the Derby, and more so the Kentucky Derby or English Derby. I was no different, and my humble background, upbringing, and country of birth gave me more confidence.”

He explained, “I felt I had that opportunity with a horse named Street Prince 2012.

As a two-year-old, he finished second to the Todd Pletchertrained Forty Tales, who was one of the favourites heading to the Derby. Forty Tales won in a quick time. I was offered US$1.2 million, but turned down the offer. Some might argue that I was foolish, but it was the dream, not money.”

He continued, “I started preparing him with the Kentucky Derby in mind.

Unfortunately, he suffered an injury and did not make it to the race. He returned to racing, but did not fully recover his promise. My Derby hope was gone.”

Dharamjit continued, “I bought inexpensive horses, but they proved to be financially lucrative. One such horse was See This Quick, who went on to earn over US$150,000. My exploits in Belmont Park, USA had its share of challenges, but that is what strengthens us and makes horse racing intriguing. The challenges.”

Switching leads from an international arena to home – Guyana - to train horses, he declared, “There isn’t anything like home. Two years ago, I started to help my nephew Junior (Nasrudeen Mohamed).

He is very busy with his business enterprise, and has passed on the baton.”

Asked what he has done since he took over the reins from Junior, he said, “Nothing, really, I was always working with my nephew, so I knew the horses. Now I am fully in charge, but I keep him informed how the horses are going, as horse

2023 was record-breaking for Regal cricket teams

I

n 2023, Regal cricket teams dominated softball cricket in and out of Guyana, and are eager to continue in 2024.

On the field, there were three teams, because in softball cricket there are three categories for competition: Open, Masters and Legends.

While the Legends have proven themselves as true champions, the other Regal teams were not too far behind.

The Legends, with players 50 years old or older, entered five major tournaments and won all five titles. It was a year of firsts for the Regal Legends, as they won the Orlando Softball Cricket League title in March for the first time.

Before 2023, it was the only trophy that was missing from their cabinet. With the bat, Rudolph Baker, Ramesh Deonarine and Unis Yusuf turned up when it mattered the most; while David Harper, Khamraj Sumair and Parsram Persaud were consistent with the ball in chilly weather, especially in the final against the home side Orlando Legends, when the temperature was as low as eight degrees Celsius.

In April, the Legends copped the inaugural Speaker’s Softball Cup, which was organized by the Everest Cricket Club in Georgetown. The Mahendra Hardyal-led side won all of their matches in this tournament, with consistent performances coming from Eric Thomas (now deceased), Wayne Jones and Baker.

In July, the champs returned to the United States of America, this time to New York City. When the dust was settled on the fourth of July weekend, the Regal Legends emerged as the champions once again. This was a hard-fought tournament, and in the final against Toronto, the Regal Legends were pushed but eventually held on, thanks mainly to Sumair, Deonarine, Thomas, Throy Kippins and Hardyal.

Then Guyana became the battlefield for two major tourna-

racing is Junior’s passion, and his dream (is) to see the sport grow and become the best in the Caribbean one day. As you are aware, he (Junior) and an interim team are working to get legislation implemented to regulate the sport, so that horse racing in Guyana will be on the international map.”

Sharing advice to the youths who want to make horse racing their career, he disclosed, “There isn’t any secret. Do not be afraid to ask questions, because every day you learn something about horses. Most of all, hard work does pay off.

If you don’t believe, I think we have a horse God to take care of everything. There are instances you do not know what to do, and miracles happen. isn’t that God’s work?”

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In nippy conditions, Regal Legends copped the Orlando Cup for the first time

Regal Legends captain Mahendra Hardyal (right) lifting the ‘Eagle’, the symbol of supremacy in softball cricket in New York

ments. At the end of September, the Prime Minister’s T20 Softball Cup was played for the first time, right after the conclusion of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) rather than the traditional date of early November. However, a brandnew tournament was launched and played in mid-November, the Vice President’s Softball Cup, which was full of hype.

While the Prime Minister’s T20 Softball Cup attracted overseas participation and the finals were played under floodlights at the Demerara Cricket Club, the Vice President’s Cup was made up of local teams. Again, Regal Legends humbled all opponents to take away the championships.

The Regal Masters also clinched the championships in the same tournaments on home soil, to emulate their seniors.

In Orlando, the Regal Masters (40 years and older) began their year on a winning note, and also took the Speaker’s Cup at Everest Cricket Club on May 1. However, in the Big Apple, the Campbellville-based side stumbled at the final hurdle. Since then, the Masters side regrouped to claim the

year-end titles, but captain ‘Bobby’ Parasnauth is looking for a clean sweep in 2024.

With the likes of Patrick Rooplall, Tyrone Sanasie and Roy Persaud, they have the artillery to win all tournaments in the new year.

The Regal All-Stars side were not afforded the opportunity to play in every major tournament, like the Masters and Legends, but gave a fair account of themselves on the rare occasion. They missed out on participating in the Orlando Cup and in the New York Softball Cricket League Independence Cup, while there was no Open Category in the Speaker’s Cup. They got their opportunities in the Prime Minister’s T20 Softball Cup and the brand-new Vice President’s Softball Cup in Guyana, where they made hay while the sun shone.

The All-Stars lost in the final of the Prime Minister’s T20 Softball Cup under the lights at DCC, but bounced back to end the year with the Vice President’s Cup, which they won at the Police Sports Club, Eve Leary, where a large crowd turned up.

With a similar calendar set

for 2024, the Regal sides will be working hard to sweep all tournaments, to consolidate their position as the best softball teams in the arena in and out of

Guyana. Look out for the guys in the uniform sporting the colours of the Golden Arrowhead as they head to a tournament near you.

Lakers’ continuing slump frustrates LeBron James

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eBron James has delivered an honest assessment of the Los Angeles Lakers’ play after the team’s slump continued with another loss, this time against the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Lakers suffered a 127-113 home loss on Friday, despite 32 points from LeBron, 31 from Anthony Davis, and 19 from Austin Reaves, who added a careerhigh 12 assists.

Los Angeles, who have lost four straight games and been beaten in 10 of their last 13, have been struggling badly since lifting the NBA Cup in Las Vegas. Coach Darvin Ham had insisted ahead of the game that he continues to have the support of the franchise, despite speculation over his job status, with his team sitting below .500.

With their record now at 1719 and the Lakers now 11th

in the Western Conference, LeBron did not hold back.

“I mean, we just suck right now,” James said after the game. James said he felt too much weight had been given to the Lakers’ triumph in the in-season tournament.

“That was just two games,” James said. “It’s a small sample. Everyone is getting so cracked up about Vegas, and keep bringing up Vegas. It was two games. We took care of that business.

It was the in-season tournament, we played it, we won it. But that was literally just two games.”

Memphis were last in the league for 3-point shooting percentage going into the game, but the Lakers gave up a season-high 23 from deep.

“They’re NBA players,” added LeBron. “They work on their craft, too.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 21

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23 World Cup semis a ‘major accomplishment’ – Ramson GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SUNDAY, JANUARY 7, 2024

…As he discusses National Stadium upgrades for World Cup

T

he International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday revealed the Groups and fixtures for the Men’s T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and USA in June; with Guyana being scheduled to host 5 Group matches and the first semifinal.

Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr. has described the development as a major accomplishment for the country.

“First of all, it’s a big accomplishment for us to host the Cricket World Cup once again. The last time we would have hosted this was 2007, at this level.

We would’ve hosted World Cups at different leagues: like Women’s World Cup, Under-19 World Cup etcetera; but actual World Cup, this is the first time I think we would’ve hosted it since then. I think it’s a big deal to have World Cup back in the country, but it’s also that we’re having semifinals too, which is also a major accomplishment for us,” the Sport Minister elatedly shared.

He added, “So, we’re pretty pleased where that’s concerned, to have our bid succeed.”

Responding to inquiries about the upgrades that are being made to the National Stadium at Providence in anticipation of the World Cup, the Minister touched on some of the key projects

ballpark idea of what that investment would look like, but it’s an investment that is not just for World Cup. And that’s one of the things that’s important, both for me, as well as the country, that they know it’s not just for this specific event.”

Referencing the proposed heavy investment Barbados would make in their World Cup preparations, Ramson Jr. explained, “The investment that we

The National Stadium at Providence is undergoing upgrade in order to host 6 matches of the upcoming T20 World Cup

at the moment. Ramson Jr. explained as follows.

“We’re advancing the preparation for that by commencing the work; it’s already commenced. There’re so many different projects that are happening at the same time. We’re actually modernizing the locker rooms, the dressing rooms, so that it reflects a real modern type of look and feel, and it’s in keeping with the overall requirements too.

“And then we have the practice facilities. We had done quite a bit of work in preparation for the World Cup for the Under-19s. So, that actually helped us, but there’s still quite a bit of things to do to make it ready for more senior stuff.

So, we’re also going to have to make some investments there too.”

Ramson Jr. went on to

assure that there is enough time to complete the works, some of which have been recommended by the ICC and CWI after inspections of the venue.

“We’ve got time. I’m not worried about the time on the modernization work, because those are small projects, projects that will only take a few weeks to complete. But in relation to whether we’ve completed all of the projects, there’s still a number of projects that will commence now too, coming out of this year’s budget, but they’re starting now,” Ramson assured.

On the matter of what the investment into the upgrades would cost, the Minister did not have a ballpark figure, but assured that it would pay dividends in future.

“I can’t give any kind of

Slingerz keen on clinching Elite League spot tonight

V

ersatile junior chess players Sachin Pitamber and Kyle Couchman have outplayed senior and junior players alike to emerge clear winners in separate rapid/blitz chess tournaments contested at School of the Nations during the last weekend of December 2023.

Thirteen-year-old Pitamber amassed eight and a half out of a possible nine points, and won the first-place cash prize of $50,000 in the Open category of the Rapid Tournament on Saturday, December 30th, 2023. FIDE Master Anthony Drayton earned second spot, just under Pitamber, with eight points. He received $30,000 in cash as a prize. Veteran player Justino Da Silva, who came in third with six and a half points, received the $20,000

Sachin Pitamber, winner of the Open Rapid 2023, receiving his prize from Gilbert Williams

U-20 category went to upand-coming 13-year-old Aditi Joshi, who managed to hold her own against rated players. She received a $10,000 cash prize.

Slingerz FC are one step away from re-entering the Elite League

up, but I don’t want to look past the finals; I think that’s a little premature. But we got some plans in the future.

Definitely, if we get into the league, we’ve got to do some strengthening.”

Since their resuscitation in 2022, the team’s main aim has been to re-enter the Elite League. Touching on this topic, the Coach had high words of praise for Club President Javid Ali, who has supported them throughout the journey.

“Basically, we got to give a lot of kudos to the President, I think he’s a man that loves the game. He’s one of the owners that backs the team with his money, not his mouth. It would be unfair to him not to get into the Elite League, cause when I got onboard that was his objective.

He said he want to get to the

Elite League, and we had to go through a route,” the Head Coach explained.

Pollard went on to add, “We didn’t have any problems. This would be our 15th game, and we didn’t concede a goal up to now. But I (that) think where we are, we’re 30% of how I want our team to play.”

The Elite League Promotional Playoff final is set for the Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground on Carifesta Avenue tonight, after conflicting schedules forced a venue change from the Police Sports Club Ground at Eve Leary.

While the final is set for 19:00hrs, the final of the GFF Women’s League Division One, between the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and Guyana Police Force (GPF) Women, is set for 17:00hrs.

The Men’s T20 World Cup would be played from June 1st to 29th in the Caribbean and USA. In addition to the first semifinal on June 26, Guyana will host five group matches from June 2nd to 8th, two of which will feature the West Indies.

The World Cup bowls off on June 1st in the USA, and concludes with the grand finale at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.

Pitamber, Couchman victorious in GCF’s Rapid/Blitz tournaments

O

nce champions of the Elite League, Slinger Football Club are one step away from recapturing a spot in that top-flight competition. A comfortable 3-0 victory over Winner’s Connection last Friday evening took Slingerz FC one step closer to securing their spot in the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF’s) Elite League competition, which they had championed in 2015 and exiting shortly after.

The West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) team will now meet the Berbice FA team Monedderlust in the Elite League Promotional Playoff final today: Sunday, January 7. Speaking with the media following their semifinal win, Coach Charles Pollard revealed that a lot of hard work had been done over the past week in anticipation of the grand finale.

“From now to then, I think we’re going to be training the hardest, because we’re in the finals. We’re right there, we don’t want to get ifs and buts! So, it’s going to be a tough week for these guys,” the Slingerz Head Coach shared.

Quizzed on whether Slingerz has what it takes to shine in the Elite League, Pollard was not too keen to look too far ahead, but highlighted one key factor.

Pollard divulged to media operatives, “Yeah, I think we need to strengthen

made in 2007, let’s say it’s about 16-20 million back then. Think about all we would’ve done and hosted at National Stadium since then. That would’ve paid its return multiple fold.”

The Sport Minister added, “I’ve never been dissatisfied with the investment that we’ve made at the National Stadium.

Obviously, you know the modernization part of it is expensive.”

Kyle Couchman, winner of the Blitz 2023, receiving his prize from Gilbert Williams

prize. The Best Female prize of $20,000 went to 14-year-old junior Ciel Clement. This is a commendable accomplishment for Clement, who continues to improve her game.

In the U-20 category of the same competition, first place went to Ricardo Narine, who scored 7.5 points. The former Junior Champion was awarded a cash prize of $30,000.

Reigning Junior Champion Keron Sandiford also secured 7.5 points for second place on the tie-breaker; he was awarded $20,000.

The third position went to junior player Alexander Zhang, who had 7 points; he received $10,000. Best Female in the

On New Year’s Eve, the Blitz tournament saw repeated participation by some players. Young Couchman emerged as the winner, finishing with 7.5 points. The 14-year-old was awarded $20,000. Coming in second place was Sandiford, who also secured 7.5 points and received a cash prize of $15,000.

Justino DaSilva defended his spot with 7 points, and earned third place and $5,000. The Best Female Prize again went to Aditi Joshi, who received a $5,000 cash award.

The Guyana Chess Federation executed several tournaments in the 2023

game season for their male and female, junior and senior players to earn, maintain, or improve their rankings. This end-of-year tournamant was no different for the organizers, and as expected, there was an excellent turnout of players to compete. The events saw almost 30 competitive chess players vying for the top 3 rankings in the two One-Day chess tournaments.

For context, rapid and blitz chess games have the same rules as classical chess, but each player has much shorter time limits to score victories. Chess players were each allotted 15 minutes, with five-second increments, and 5 minutes with five-second increments for the respective events. For both competitions, the Open category contested was for first, second, third, and Best Female positions.

The Under-20 category contested for first, second, third, and Best Female positions.

The chess tourneys, sponsored by the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF), were organized by the Youth Committee of the Federation.

The Board and Executive Management of the GCF sincerely thank all players, parents, members, supporters, and sponsors who have made 2023 activities, events, and tournaments possible. Special thanks to the School of the Nations for their support in providing the venue for tournaments and the GCF chess club. The Federation looks forward to working with new and existing players to continue building a vibrant community of chess players.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 7, 2024

Sport is no longer our game, it’s our business

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a ‘major accomplishment’ on clinching Elite – Ramson …As he discusses National Stadium upgrades for World Cup

League spot tonight

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