Guyana Times - Sunday, November 26, 2023.pdf

Nationwide coverage coverage from from the the best best news news team team in in Guyana Guyana Nationwide Issue No. 5565 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON BEACON OF OF TRUTH TRUTH THE PRICE $140 VAT INCLUDED

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023

Pres Ali challenges banking sector to be bolder, create more innovative lending policies

WHAT'S INSIDE:

5300 residents of Great Diamond, Golden Grove to begin accessing house lots by year-end P39

See story on page 3

…$17B expended to clear land, complete infrastructural works

– says financing must evolve to be more responsive to country’s needs House lot applications prior to 2020 will take priority – VP Jagdeo P11

2000 delegates attend World Hindu Congress in Bangkok – several honoured for remarkable contributions to Hindu society P24

One of several billboards designed by Impressions that are being erected across the country as part of the Government’s campaign against attempts by Venezuela to annex Essequibo, which is 2/3 of Guyana

Venezuela border controversy

Sherida Rahaman’s damaged computer saw her through to her degree in Education

Venezuela’s claims to Essequibo are based on – says Spanish-speaking nation has erroneous fallacies – Greenidge interpretation of Geneva Agreement Next 2 Stabroek Block MoH mulls continued persons projects well advanced medical education as Several arrested in bribery, house lot scandal – Exxon Guyana head criterion for renewal – says will produce a combined total of 500,000 barrels of oil per day of dentist licences $11B in contracts signed for Diamond to Buzz Bee Road project P13

Page 7

Page 41

Page 20

Page 40

P8

2

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

3

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Sunday, Nov 26 – 04:00h – 05:30h and Monday, Nov 27 – 04:00h – 05:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, Nov 26 – 15:20h – 16:50h and Monday, Nov 27 – 15:55h – 17:25h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY There will be sunshine and thundery showers during the day. Expect clear skies at night.

Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly to East South-Easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 15:38h reaching a maximum height of 2.76 metres.

Low Tide: 09:13h and 21:30h reaching minimum

heights of 0.61 metre and 0.44 metre

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2023

LOTTERY NUMBERS J

01 16 18

19 20 25

28

FREE TICKET

Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

02 03 07 19 25 LUCKY 3

4

1

9

6

Afternoon Draw

2

2

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

01 03 06 08 09 13 15

18

02

SUPER

PAY DAY

PAY DAY

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2023

05 06 08 14 15 1

13

05 07 13 14 20

7

2 Afternoon Draw

FP Afternoon Draw

9

0 Evening Draw

2X Evening Draw

955

DISCLAIMER: WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS IN PUBLICATION. PLEASE CALL THE HOTLINE FOR CONFIRMATION - TEL: 225-8902

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$80.58/barrel

-1.03

Rough Rice

$318.15/ton

+2.17

London Sugar

$737.80/ton

-1.11

Live Spot Gold Bid/Ask Low/High Change

USD Per Ounce $2002.70 $1991.70 0.00

$2003.70 $2004.40 0.00

Pres Ali challenges banking sector to be bolder, create more innovative lending policies

– says financing must evolve to be more responsive to country’s needs

T

he banking sector was on Friday given a cold dose of reality during President Dr Irfaan Ali’s address at the Guyana Oil and Gas Energy Chamber’s Annual Awards and Induction Ceremonial Dinner where he urged them to be bolder and more innovative when approving financing.

The President made these remarks while referencing the explosion of growth related to the oil and gas sector, in even the non-oil corners of the economy. An important ingredient of private sector growth is access to finance and according to President Ali, newcomers have it particularly hard.

“Let us not be naive, let us be practical. We live in a world today where we have to continuously present the case that newcomers in this sector are treated fairly. Already the cost of financing is very high.

If you get financing, that is,” the President said.

The President also had a direct message for the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and decision-makers of the banking world, urging them to be more vibrant and innovative in approving financing for businesses that approach them.

“We have to bring our insurance companies and brokers together. And find an innovative way in which we can carve out opportunities for the financial sector. We have to get our CEOs in the banking sector to be more innovative.

More vibrant. And create the opportunities for the local private sector.”

A section of the gathering at the event on Friday evening

“Not to be deal blockers.

They have to be responsive to the needs of the country. They have to understand where the country is headed. Most major companies globally do two things. There’s a specialist in governance, analysing policies. And there’s a budget on research and development.”

He further referenced the importance of companies changing the way they think and moving away from the insularity of the traditional business world to one that embraces partnership. Additionally, he urged them to put more emphasis on research and development.

“Most of the successful companies are those that invest in research and development. Our culture is that we look at research and development as an expense, not an opportunity. We have to change these things,” President Ali said.

“The other opportunities we are talking about that are directly linked to the oil and gas sector, if we’re going to po-

sition ourselves in leadership positions on food production, its fertiliser, chemicals, technology, all of this is important in positioning Guyana in the lead position on food security.

But they’re directly linked to oil and gas.”

The private sector has been vocal about the need for access to finance to be addressed, at one point calling out continued bureaucracy at commercial banks hindering access to financing. In a statement earlier this year, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) said that this situation was putting local businesses at risk of becoming unable to compete in Guyana’s oil and gas sector, as well as losing out in Government projects.

According to the chamber in its statement, local banks must be proactive and outline the hindrances – whether legislative, economic, social, or environmental – that are restricting better access to finance for the local private sec-

tor.

It was pointed out that despite charges from the highest level of Government, including President Ali and Senior Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh, coupled with concerns from the private sector, the banks have not been forthcoming with the information that could mitigate the challenges facing access to finance for local businesses.

This had led the private sector to come to the conclusion that the issues affecting easy access to finance may be caused by the banking sector itself, hence the calls for the hindrances to be clearly stated.

There have been some signs of improvement, however. Kester Hutson, who was elected to the position of GCCI President this year, had said during a press conference that access to finance is growing along with development in various sectors. These are all developments that he had urged businesses to capitalise on. (G-3)

4

guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023

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

Chinese vs Western financing

T

his year marks the 10th anniversary of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and the analysis excerpted below offers an insight into how it has fared vis-a-vis the Western-dominated financial system and lending initiatives. The foundation of this Western-dominated system was laid at the Bretton Woods Conference in 1944. The meeting established the IMF to ensure the stability of the international monetary system, and offer policy advice and financial assistance to countries in economic crisis. Its “sister organization”, the World Bank, focuses more on long-term assistance through loans and grants, supporting infrastructure and poverty reduction in developing countries.

Efforts to democratise these institutions have been made, but both the IMF and World Bank still remain under significant Western influence. Western countries are overrepresented on the IMF’s board and voting arrangements, while all the IMF’s managing directors have been European. All the World Bank’s presidents, save one acting president in 2019, have been U.S. citizens. Both institutions are based in Washington, D.C. China’s role in multilateral banks like the IMF and WB has expanded as its economy has grown, but Beijing continues to criticize the current global debt governance system as “dominated by the ‘Paris Club-IMF-World Bank’ structure of the West”, and has chosen to create its own path to expand its economic influence globally.

China’s state capitalism offers a unique alternative to Western infrastructure and development initiatives for the first time in decades. Through its robust, globally integrated economy, technological expertise, and extensive industrial power, Beijing can help fund and build projects on a scale that rivals the West in a way not even the Soviet Union could achieve. Furthermore, Chinese assistance does not require political and economic reforms typically attached to Western developmental initiatives.

China’s approach has seen significant success. It has become the world’s largest creditor since 2017, and is lending more than the IMF, World Bank and Paris Club combined. With US$1 trillion in reserves and more than US$2 trillion in contracts, China’s BRI has transformed global trade routes and economic development.

To implement its vision, Beijing has deployed a network of national financial organizations, including the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC), China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), China Development Bank (CDB), the Export-Import Bank of China, China Construction Bank (CCB), Silk Road Fund, China Investment Corporation (CIC), China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), and the People’s Bank of China.

China’s newfound leverage has seen it confront the West around the world. In 1990, for example, Western countries accounted for 85% of infrastructure construction contracts in Africa. Yet, from 2000—2020, Chinese entities provided $23 billion in funding for infrastructure projects across sub-Saharan Africa, more than double that lent by banks in the U.S., Germany, Japan, and France combined, according to a study by the Center for Global Development.

The economic lending and infrastructure practices of both the West and China have, however, faced criticism. Former Chief Economist at the World Bank, Joseph Stiglitz, has stated that the conditions placed on borrowing countries by the World Bank and IMF often cause significant pain for local populations, and stifle economic development in these nations. UN Secretary General António Guterres, urging for change, stated in 2023 that the IMF and World Bank benefit richer countries at the expense of poorer ones.

China’s projects have faced criticism for predominantly employing Chinese companies and workers, as opposed to making local hires, resulting in protests and attacks against them.

BRI deals are also criticized for being opaque in terms of financing and implementation, and countries struggling to repay loans have found themselves giving up some autonomy to their export revenues. And while allegations of Chinese debt diplomacy are often exaggerated in Western media, Chinese economic opportunism has increased debt burdens and debt-for-equity swaps with BRI partners.

While these challenges remain complex, investment stands out as a potential remedy. Rather than engaging in blind competition, a more effective use of funds for all parties involved could be achieved by acknowledging and pursuing greater coordination between Western and Chinese economic interests.

This has, fortunately, already begun in several areas.

President Dr Irfaan Ali joined a group of teachers in Region One (Barima-Waini) during his 2-day visit to the border region recently. The teachers showed their support for Guyana ahead of Venezuela’s December 3 referendum to annex Essequibo

President Ali’s exemplary leadership in border controversy Dear Editor, Please permit me to commend our President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, for his exemplary leadership in respect to the border controversy between Guyana and neighbouring Venezuela.

Having observed the sequence of events, together with strong support from our allies over the past week in terms of the Government’s plan of action, President Ali has assured the country that his government is planning for all possible eventualities following the December 3, 2023 referendum in Venezuela. As such, one can safely deduce that the population feels a greater sense of confidence and security, particularly those persons residing in communities that are closer to the border.

It is unfortunate, however, that despite the efforts by the President to unify Guyana, there are still a few political elements determined to undermine the national “apolitical” approach towards confronting this existential threat to our territorial sovereignty and integrity. In this regard, it was observed again that, specifically, the leadership of the Alliance for Change (AFC) political party continued to spread propaganda tar-

geting the Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, in relation to the ‘claim’ that it was he who made the proposal to consider conceding part of the maritime area to Venezuela.

Documented evidence has vindicated the Vice President; it recently surfaced in the public domain that such a proposal was put forward under the PNC Government in the pre1992 era. The AFC leadership has claimed that there is no such documented evidence. Contrary to this, the documents are now in the public domain, and anyone can independently confirm the facts. To this end, the evidence can be confirmed from examining pages 8788 of the “Memorandum of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on the Application filed before the International Court of Justice by the Cooperative Republic of Guyana on March 29th, 2018” in respect of the process of Good Offices (1989-2014), where it is stated that: “The facilitators (Emilio Figueredo for Venezuela and Barton Scotland for Guyana), held four meetings (New York 13th August 1990; New York, 29th October 1990; London, 26th January 1991; New York, 5th April 1991) at which the personal rep-

resentative of the SecretaryGeneral, Alister McIntyre, was present as a “friendly witness”, foreseeing that “as the talks progress [ed], he may assume a more active role, helping to dispel doubts about the aspirations and purposes of the Parties”.

The report goes on to state that… “According to the report presented to the Venezuelan Government

by Emilio Figueredo, at the first meeting (August 13th, 1990) Venezuela pointed out the convenience of breaking the problem down into three large areas: 1. A coastal area that involves territorial cessions to be defined in favour of Venezuela, above all to achieve a greater Atlantic projection; 2. A central area or zone of the Mazaruni, linked to energy cooperation, and with possible territorial implications; and, 3. An area considering an ecological reserve solution (which could be binational) could be visualized”.

“The Guyanese facilitator found this approach to areas interesting, and it was possible to complement it with cooperation formulas. It was agreed to maintain informal and low-profile status, without public statements…the Guyanese facilitator underlined the difficulties, includ-

ing constitutional ones, of any territorial arrangement, indicating that he was aware that the greatest contribution Guyana could make to overcome the dispute was in the maritime area. He agreed on a corridor towards the Atlantic, possibly accompanied by a small stretch of coastline. There was strong resistance, therefore, to solutions that significantly modify the land map and to share control of natural resources”.

Editor, with the foregoing revelation of evidence cited from the authoritative source, one can understand the ignorance displayed by some sections of the political spectrum, up until now, of the proposals thereto by the PNC Government with the view of amicably settling the border controversy. But now that all of the documented evidence is within the public domain, proving otherwise, I would like to urge the leadership of the AFC and others to desist from the politicization and propagandization of this matter. Any other form of behaviour is tantamount to political immaturity, unpatriotism, and worse: undermining the national unified position of solidarity that we all ought to resolutely demonstrate.

Yours respectfully, Joel Bhagwandin

guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023

5

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

Could the Opposition DETERMINATION IN PEACEFUL PURSUIT stop its hysteria?

OF INTEGRITY OF OUR

Dear Editor, The Opposition is on a campaign of hysteria as it relates to the Venezuela issue. This hyped-up excitement in our public space is fast becoming an annoyance for all right-thinking people in this country. Not only is their “hyper-tension” becoming an irritation, it also has the potential to drive fear and instability in the public domain.

The border dispute is in the hands of the highest court in the world, the ICJ, yet the Opposition is contending that the Government is not doing enough to settle the border issue. What do they mean by the term the Government is not doing enough? Are they suggest-

ing that we take up arms and lead a military attack against Venezuela?

Certainly not the way we would go!

Their latest panic attack comes through the use of the term “enhanced defence diplomacy”, whatever that nonsensical term entails, but the point is this: no defence by Guyana can or will be in the form of military confrontation, because that would be: (1) Playing into the hands of the Venezuelans, because we have no military might to match that of Venezuela. But even as it is, Maduro is not that stupid to ever risk an invasion, because with so many investments by the A, B, C and EU States in our economy, that mighty force un-

doubtedly would knock the “mad” out of Maduro. So, he should be mindful of this.

(2) Any move to go the military route would certainly undermine our case at the International Court.

It would be foolish, if not weaken our case, to pick a fight with Venezuela at a time when the matter is being adjudicated at the ICJ. (3) Further, to engage Venezuela in a military encounter would certainly give the PNC a leg up on the local scene. The PNC would gloat over the fact that our defence force would be humiliated in the face of the Venezuelan military aggression; and then, as deceitful as they are, they will turn again and say, “We told you so.”

Sadly, in that imbroglio,

they would like to turn out to be the “good guys,” the only party that cares for the nation. That sympathetic Judas of a situation cannot find favour with a thinking Guyanese public.

So, in either of the three scenarios listed above, let it be made pellucid that it will not happen, because we would not be goaded along that path.

Ours is a peaceful struggle that would ultimately result in a peaceful and lasting solution. We have done it before in circumstances of extreme provocation and came out peacefully victorious, so there is no need to panic now. Let the legal process take its course.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

NATION’S BORDERS

T

he Guyana Manufacturing & Services Association (GMSA) stands alongside all of Guyana against any attempt to violate the integrity of our borders; and stands with, and applauds, the Government of Guyana in its steadfast pursuit of a peaceful and lasting resolution to the Venezuela controversy in adherence to international law and in accordance with the rulings of the International Court of Justice.

The GMSA joins the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and the Leader of the Opposition in emphasizing that it is imperative that each and every citizen remains calm, determined, and vigilant. We express our confidence in the ability of our Government to confront, with competence and dedication, the declared threats from the Government of Venezuela to the patrimony of our nation.

The GMSA reminds each and every Guyanese that, in this time of unprecedented and unlawful threat against our nation, in unity we prevail, in division we succumb; and all must take comfort in the fact that the democratic countries of the world: the United States of America, Canada, Caricom, the Commonwealth countries, the vast majority of the countries of Europe, and member countries of the Organization of American States, including our neighbouring Brazil, are unequivocally in support of Guyana, and will oppose any attempt to annex any part of our country.

Guyanese at World A desire for power and greed Hindu Conference Dear Editor, Several Guyanese, including this writer, are participating in the quadrennial World Hindu Congress, being held in Bangkok from November 24 through 26 at the Impact Convention Center just outside of the sprawling modern city of skyscrapers.

Over two thousand delegates, coming from dozens of countries, have registered for the threeday conference. In addition to Guyanese, several delegates come from neighbouring Suriname and Trinidad, and the Caribbean Hindu diaspora in North America and England.

The last global Hindu confabulation was held in 2017 in Chicago, and dozens of Guyanese participated. Because of COVID, the WHC was delayed from 2021 to now. World Hindu conferences were previously held in Trinidad and Suriname, but not in Guyana as yet. A Hindu conference is in the making for the latter half of 2024.

India, Thailand, and other Southeast Asia nations share common Dharmic and cultural values. Thailand was chosen for this year’s WHC because the country shares several Hindu practices.

Thailand is a Buddhist nation with a significant number of Hindus, and people who also embrace Islam and Christianity.

Buddhists embrace many

practices of Hinduism.

The theme of the WHC 2023 is “Dharma, the Abode of Victory”. Seven parallel thematic sessions planned “to articulate the values, creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of Hindus in all its vibrance and glory will constitute this WHC”, say organizers.

The organizers of the WHC say it is held “to provide space to discuss and deliberate upon the opportunities and challenges facing Hindus across the world, and how to address them valiantly. It will also focus on areas of strategic importance to Hindus, and provide avenues for collaboration among Hindu leaders, activists, and thinkers for the Hindu resurgence”.

The conference also provides opportunities for Hindus “to network, exchange ideas, work confidently, and model their future course of action”.

Scheduled to address the conference are: the Prime Minister of Thailand; the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, from where the bulk of Caribbean Hindus trace their roots; the head of Hindus in India (Sarsangachalak), Shri Mohan Bhagwat; and other prominent leaders. Guyanese and other Caribbean nationals are due to make presentations, especially in the areas of education, politics, business, and challenges facing Hindus in the region.

Yours faithfully, Vishnu Bisram

Dear Editor, The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela’s claim to Guyana’s Essequibo on a matter settled over a century and two decades plus amounts to bare greed and downright wickedness.

The unfounded claim to the Essequibo centres on the fact that the region is rich in natural resources, including our oil finds, which adds economic significance to Guyana as a developing nation. Control over the territory would potentially give Venezuela access to such valuable resources.

There is a particular ungodly spirit at play here.

When you struggle to become, there is a tendency to go unnoticed. On the other hand, when you begin to prosper due to grit and strategic planning, everything hidden in the woodwork crawls out to get a claw on what you have, or are building.

The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is not without wealth. The Republic consists of several small islands and a continental landmass. It has an area

of about 353,841 square miles, with water making up 3.2% of the total area.

As is the case with other countries around the world, the economy is also driven by the natural resources located in the nation.

It is argued that Venezuela’s oil reserves easily trump the combined deposits of the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Since 2010, the country has had the world’s largest oil deposits, estimated at 300 billion barrels. Natural resources include natural gas, land for agriculture, water for electricity production, and other resources.

According to estimates, the country’s natural resources total about $14.3 trillion. The country also produces iron, copper, bauxite, coal, zinc, gold, and the like. Venezuela also has great tourism potential. In the past, visitors were known to have been attracted to great tropical weather, wildlife, varied landscapes, and other things.

So, what is their problem in claiming Essequibo?

Simple, a desire for power and greed. The leaders must ask themselves what they have done wrong or are doing wrong to find themselves in their current economic predicament.

Cognisance should be taken of the fact that when the human body does not receive the nutrients it needs, it begins consuming its fat reserves, if any. If no fat reserves remain, the body starts to break down muscle tissue in a process called “catabolism.” As a last resort, the body consumes its muscle mass. It

could be said that this phenomenon also occurs in economics.

The leadership of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela needs to examine its ways, and strategically address the aforementioned, instead of employing scare tactics and attempting to bully a smaller neighbour, that has become the envy of progress. Guyana will prevail. Essequibo is ours.

Sincerely, Dr Marcel Raymond Hutson

Sunday, November 26, 2023

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 Skeleton’s Compass (2022) 13:30 Movie - Slumberland (2022) 15:30 Forged in fire 16:30 Payless Power Hour 17:30 The Healing Touch 18:00 Wheel of Fortune 18:30 Week-in-Review 19:00 Lucifer S5 E10 20:00 Arrow S5 E10 21:00 Riverdale S5 E8 22:00 Unsolved Mysteries 23:00 Stand-up Comedy 00:00 Sign off

6 FEATURE

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

MISUSE OF PET MEDICATION – continued…

W

MISUSE OF DRUGS OTHER THAN ANTIBIOTICS

e began, two weeks ago, to dedicate the PET CARE Column to the topic of companion animal caregivers who, with great pride and self-confidence, use/misuse questionable drugs to “cure” their pets.

It seems that this topic aroused the attention of doctors (human health practitioners), veterinarians, and yes, pet owners/ caregivers themselves.

More than a few opinions related to the misuse of antibiotics were received, while others advocated that it is not only antibiotics (as a group of medications) that are misapplied to animals (and humans). Today we will have a look at some of those other types of medication that are used unnecessarily and incorrectly – most of which may cause irreparable damage to the recipient immediately, and to the general population in futurity.

Some other misused medications:

1. Drugs incorrectly used to treat diarrhoea (“loose bowels”) As mentioned previously, it does not make convincing sense for the pet owner to attempt implementing a cure when he/ she does not know the cause of the ailment. In the case of “loose bowels”, one should firstly ascertain the following: Is the discharge watery or just soft? Is it tinged with blood or mixed with copious amounts of liquid blood? Is the watery

discharge black in colour?

Is there a frequent discharge during the course of an hour? Are worms visible in the stool? Is the smell of the faeces extraordinarily high and putrid? Has the animal been in contact with any toxic substance(s), for example rat bait, contaminated food/water, cleansers of the premises, plant fertilizers and pesticides, chemicals placed on the animal’s skin to get rid of ticks, fleas, lice, mites, etc? Is the animal reacting to stress and fear caused by explosive devices, and/or music with extremely high decibel levels? Are other animals in the yard suffering from a diarrhoea with similar symptoms? Is the caregiver routinely deworming his/her pets?

You see where I am going with all these questions?

If one cannot correctly answer those questions delineated above, then how can one implement the correct treatment? In fact, administering drugs willy-nil-

ly can cause more damage than good – precipitating a worsening of the condition, and even death. The caregiver /Veterinarian/Animal Health Assistant must be sure what the causative agent is before attempting a cure.

2. Drugs used to eradicate worms (Anthelminthics) Let’s be clear: a worm is not a worm, is not a worm.

Tapeworms are very different from Roundworms, which are very different from Heartworms. Their life cycles are often totally different, as are their associated symptoms, as are the meds used to control/ destroy these internal parasites. We have a tendency to “worm out” without a clue of what the internal parasite may be; and

worse, we decide to double the dose of the OTC (overthe-counter) dewormer, which may be totally inappropriate for the causative agent.

3. Drugs used to prevent diseases (vaccinations) Firstly, I have to query where (from whom) the caregiver is receiving/ pur-

skin ailment “Ringworm” is not associated with any worm at all. It is a disease caused by fungi. Therefore, it follows that deworming products will not be effective against “Ringworm”.

Further, all fungus infections are not optimally treated by all anti-fungal medications.

“Jock Itch” and “Athlete’s foot”

chasing vaccines? All vaccines are not the same.

Clearly, a cat vaccine cannot be used on a dog. How often must the vaccine be given within the context of administering the primary course, and how many weeks apart must the vaccine be given in order to achieve optimal efficiency (so important to know)?

Let me also emphasize, and remind the caregivers, that all vaccines are not the same – even when they are originating from the same drug company.

For example, using a multivalent vaccine (protecting against many diseases simultaneously) may not be fully relevant here in Guyana, where some of the diseases are not known to exist.

4. Antifungals Again, so often pet owners are fooled by words that portray an inaccurate meaning. For example, the

in humans are skin ailments caused by fungi, and should not be treated with products that are specifically produced for canine and feline pets.

Your veterinarian can provide you with information about any treatment that may be appropriated for your companion animals, as well as advise you regarding precautions you should take to avoid “Ringworm” infection to yourself and to all the members of your family, especially the children who tend to closely play with fungus-infected pets daily.

Also, your vet will advise you properly on the usage of anti-fungal preparations, and their applicability and functionality, bearing in mind that skin lesions/ infections may also be caused by bacteria and even by mange mites and other ecto-parasites living in/on the skin.

NEWS

7

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Venezuela border controversy

Venezuela’s claims to Essequibo are based on fallacies – Greenidge

– says Spanish-speaking nation has erroneous interpretation of Geneva Agreement

O

ne of the challenges facing Guyana in its border controversy with Venezuela is the fact that the Spanish-speaking country has based its entire claim to Essequibo on fallacies and there is a divergence when it comes to the facts.

This was according to Guyana’s agent in the border controversy before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Carl Greenidge, during a Panel Discussion and Public Awareness Session at The Bishops’ High School, who added that Venezuela has a completely different interpretation of the 1966 Geneva Agreement to everyone else.

Asked about the challenges facing Guyana in resolving the controversy, Greenidge identified not only Venezuela’s deceptions but its duplicity as well.

“You have a party on the other side that commits itself to things by way of treaties or agreements and then denies that it does so. So that is one side. In looking at the mechanisms available to us, the Geneva Agreement, we find that every day, it is cited by Venezuela. And yet, their interpretation of what the Agreement says conforms to no interpretation that anybody else has.”

“The Geneva Agreement makes no mention of Essequibo. It does not make any mention of a transfer of land to Venezuela. Nowhere does it say that Venezuela has to approve what Guyana does within Guyana’s borders. And yet, in spite of all of that, a good deal of Venezuela’s presentations to the rest of the world and the justification for disputing what is taking place rests on those fallacies,” Greenidge said.

Venezuela has alleged, among other things, that the 1899 Arbitral Award should be null and void. It has based these claims on the writings of one Severo Mallet-Prevost, a member of the Venezuelan delegation at the 1899 arbitration.

Mallet-Prevost alleged in a letter, written shortly after he was given a Venezuelan

The students present at the panel discussion national award and opened in 1949 only after his death, that there was fraud in the 1899 arbitration. However, these claims have never stood up to scrutiny.

“But in so far as we’re aware that is where they pinned their argument, that was even rejected in November last by our lawyers, at the Hague.

Suggesting that this was speculation. They had not submitted any information.

And so, the Court is not in a position to act on what has been aired,” Greenidge pointed out.

“If common facts aren’t shared by the two sides, or recognised or accepted, it makes it a lot more difficult.

But in the end, the problem is one side has in their mind that they will not stop bullying, as it were, until such time as they get some land. And we agree that on the basis of law, Venezuela has no rights to the territory it's claiming. In 1899, the heart of the dispute with Venezuela was about the mouth and estuary of the Orinoco River. Not of Essequibo.”

Guyana’s Spanish-

speaking neighbour has laid claim to more than twothirds of Guyana’s landmass in the Essequibo region, and to a portion of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in which nearly 11 billion barrels of oil have been discovered largely by United States oil giant ExxonMobil.

After years of failed good offices process via the United Nations (UN), Guyana is seeking a final and binding judgement from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to reinforce that the 1899 Arbitral Award remains valid and

Guyana’s agent on the border controversy case, Carl Greenidge binding on all parties, as been criticised by the United well as legal affirmation States, Caricom, and the that Guyana’s Essequibo re- Organisation of American gion, which contains much States (OAS), as well as sevof the country’s natural re- eral other nations in the sources, belongs to Guyana Region, including Brazil, and not Venezuela. for seeking to, among other The Guyana Government things, gain a national conhas declared its commit- sensus to annex Essequibo. ment to resolving this longIn addition to its substanding border controversy stantive case, Guyana is with Venezuela through the currently seeking an injunclegal process at the World tion from the ICJ against Court. This position was Venezuela’s efforts to annex also reaffirmed by Guyana’s Essequibo via the December National Assembly in a 3 referendum. Following the unanimous vote. determination of Guyana’s Over the past few weeks, application against the refGuyana has been inform- erendum, hearings on the ing regional and interna- case’s merits are the next tional partners of a referen- stage. A final decision on the dum planned by Venezuela substantive case might not for December 3, which has come for years. (G-3)

8 NEWS

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Several persons arrested in bribery, house lot scandal

S

everal persons were arrested by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in relation to corrupt transactions for the sale and issuance of house lots at the Housing and Water Ministry.

This was disclosed

by Minister within the Housing Ministry, Susan Rodrigues in a statement, where she noted that solid evidence was uncovered against staff members and outsiders suspected of conducting illegal transactions.

One of the employees, who was working in an operation with the Police and under her instruction, was instrumental in their arrest. After he was implicated in social media posts of alleged bribery but not a shred of evidence was provided, she shed light on the facts of the investigation.

“His efforts have led to

Minister within the Housing and Water Ministry, Susan Rodrigues

the arrest of several persons. This will no doubt assist the Police to further their investigations.

Unfortunately, the reckless and vindictive postings on social media, which

prove nothing, has compromised months of tedious investigative work which could have potentially led to more arrests,” Rodrigues expressed.

Over the last few days

on social media, there has been an avalanche of allegations levelled against employees of the Housing Ministry. The Minister maintained that she is committed to rooting out corruption and strident steps were taken to work with the Police to address this wherever it exists in the Ministry.

She added that regrettably, members of the public continue to encourage the practice of offering bribes and willingly participate in these illegal transactions.

“When they lose their money without receiving the favours they expected, they take to social media to complain, instead of going to the Police. There is little or nothing we can do with social media postings that bear no evidence,” said Rodrigues.

TURN TO PAGE 17

Awareness…

…of Venezuela’s barefacedness

T

he Government decided that we oughta become more aware of the controversy Venezuela created over where our border falls. Now, your Eyewitness has been aware of this bit of eyepass since he was a tyke in short pants trudging over to Lil ABC!! He still remembers he had to do the “Lizard Crawl” - along with all the rest of the rascals who connived every day to drive poor Miss Walton to distraction!! Doing the lizard crawl meant that, when he got home, he didn’t need to invent an excuse as to why his clothes were so filthy!! “Teacher mek me do de lizard crawl again, Maa!!!” Nine times outta ten, he just got that way playing “Bow! Bow!” – or what some call “Cowboy and Indians”!!

Anyhow, the fella from the Guyana National Service who came to teach the Lizard Crawl explained this was how we’d take on the Venezuelans when they invaded us to take over our Essequibo!! Your Eyewitness and his friends were more than WILLING to throw their crawling bodies against those Venezies!! As to whether they were “able” was another story they didn’t give much mind to.

All they knew was that instead of the twigs they used in “Bow Bow”, they’d be given real guns that would go “Bang! Bang!!”

So, yes, as he got older, his generation became quite aware of the Venezuelan threat…and he fully supports the idea that today’s young’uns oughta know the facts.

And what are those facts, you ask, Young Padawan??

Simply that Essequibo’s ours, because way back in the early 1600s, the Dutch were the ones who settled up the Essequibo River!! And they struck treaties with Amerindian tribes who lived and roamed all over what is now the eastern part of Venezuela for millennia!! If truth be told, the Spanish only SAID they owned the Essequibo region – but they NEVER ever possessed it by living there!!

Possession, as they say in international law, is nine-tenths of the law!!

But we ain’t really gotta go back to those days, ‘cause there was an arbitration panel on which Venezuela sat via their representatives, who signed along the dotted line on what the Arbitral Panel decided in 1899!!

And in international law, the most fundamental law is “agreements must be kept”!! They even have a fancy Latin expression for it – pacta sunt servanda!! Take THAT, Mad Maduro!! And that’s all we gotta remember!

Backing that up, when Venezuela was whinging “we wuz robbed” - just before we got independence - the Brits had them sign the “Geneva Agreement”, which set out the procedure to settle the controversy they created.

And that’s why we took the matter to the ICJ. They’ll have the final word!! …of our fighting force Some Opposition Neanderthals are going on about “only one race” is in the army being sent to hold off the Venezuelans – in case they’re rash enough to actually cross the border. But such a retort is rich, innit?? Here it was as a condition for getting independence - Burnham and his merry PNC riggers were told to “balance armed forces” from the historic African Guyanese preponderance. No less than the ICJ told them to do it!!

To illustrate, the Governor in 1964 recruited a Special Services Unit (SSU) with equal numbers of African and Indian Guyanese. So, there’s no question the latter “didn’t wanna enlist”!! But as soon as Burnham got independence, he disbanded the SSU and formed an army that was more African Guyanese than ever. And went on to form a People’s Militia that was just as skewed.

Now, if the PPP had actually tried getting more Indian Guyanese into the Army, can you imagine the stink (and riots) that woulda been precipitated?? …of our commonality While there are some Opposition scorpions who just can’t help stinging with their divisive remarks - as above most Guyanese have rallied around our One Guyana. Let’s remember THAT, after this storm has passed!

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, NOVEMBER 26, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

10

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

11

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

House lot applications prior to 2020 will take priority – VP Jagdeo Venezuela’s border controversy is political

B

ack in 1988, I submitted a paper, “Legal and political issues in the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy”, for my writing assignment towards a JD (juris doctor) degree. The question Ravi Dev raised was why Venezuela created the controversy on August 18, 1962, over the Arbitral Award that was handed down in 1899, by claiming before the UN General Assembly that the latter was “null and void”.

Of note was that Venezuela also had a border dispute with its eastern neighbour Colombia that had been submitted to Spain for settlement in 1891. The results of that Arbitration Award in 1898 were mostly in Colombia's favour, and Venezuela claimed the Colombians had unduly influenced the Spanish Queen, and they had evidence of collusion. The demarcation was conducted in 1907, but disputes led to the Swiss being called in to mediate a border agreement by 1922 that was demarcated in 1932.

Another dispute necessitated further negotiations in 1941, resulting in another demarcation, which Venezuela again protested as a “sell out” to Colombia. But Venezuela did not raise this dispute at the UN, as it did the controversy it manufactured with our Essequibo border. Why? The latter was a lower-hanging political, not legal, fruit.

My contention remains that a confluence of several political factors led to Venezuela claiming the Award was “null and void”, rather than any legal grounds supported by the posthumous publication in 1949 of an allegation by Severo Mallet-Prevost, Venezuela’s legal counsel, that the tribunal had acquiesced to a back-room deal between Russia and Great Britain. As such, Guyana correctly refused to enter into subsequent negotiations with Venezuela – either directly or through arbitrators as Colombia did – but after a long and tortuous process, used the Geneva Agreement to have the Venezuelan-generated controversy over the status of the Arbitral Award decided by the ICJ. What were the political factors motivating Venezuela?

Firstly, after decades of dictatorships, democratic governance was introduced in 1958 with the election of Romulo Betancourt, which led to great expectations of improvement in living conditions. When these failed to materialise, armed leftist insurrections inspired by Castro’s exploits in Cuba were launched by several groups, such as the Revolutionary Left Movement (MIR), based near the Guyanese border.

Betancourt’s energies began to be increasingly consumed in trying to contain the “communist terrorist threat”.

Similar movements were also launched in several other Latin American countries, and the US, under JFK, launched the USAID and the Alliance for Progress to counter “the spread of communism in the western hemisphere”.

In Guyana, Jagan’s PPP had won the August 1961 General Elections, and had expected they would lead Guyana to independence from the British. When the US expressed concerns about Cheddi Jagan and his “communist” inclinations after JFK’s meeting with the latter on Oct 25, 1961, these would have matched Betancourt’s fears of an independent Guyana providing a sanctuary to Venezuelan leftist “terrorists”.

President Kennedy visited Venezuela, and met Betancourt on Dec 16-17, 1961 to promote his anti-communist Alliance for Progress. The very next day, on December 18, Jagan addressed the 4th Committee of the United Nations and called for the British Government to decide on a date for Independence.

By that time, the US had convinced the British to hold off granting independence to British Guiana, and on Feb 19, 1962, there were CIA-AFL/CIO-inspired “Black Friday” riots in Georgetown. MIR was banned by the Venezuelan Government in May 1962.

It was against this background that Venezuela raised its border controversy at the UNGA in August 1962, as a political strategy to kill two birds with one stone: rally Venezuelans on a nationalistic line against “perfidious Albion” for elections due in 1963, and pre-empt a “communist threat” on its eastern border.

They would have calculated that the Americans would not oppose them because of their common concern. They were also holding a seat on the U.N. Security Council during 1962, and may have felt they were in a stronger position to raise their border controversy then. They would have also calculated that in order to maintain their credentials in the Non-Aligned Movement, it was better to tweak the British Lion’s tail than to be seen bullying a small, newly independent Guyana.

In the present, Maduro has also raised the ante on their border controversy to counter the political challenge he faces next year after the economic and social implosions. These will intensify immeasurably when the ICJ’s legal judgment is announced in our favour. We must hold the line against his bullyism.

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

P

ersons who tendered their house lot applications after the year 2019 will not receive their parcels of land anytime soon, as the Government works on processing older applications in their priority list.

This was the position taken by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo during his Thursday press conference, outlining that it is illegal to fast-track the process by paying officials at the Housing Ministry.

Currently, if a person applied in 2020 and after, they do not fall within the criteria to benefit now.

“If you have applied in 2020, 2021, or 2022, don’t come to the Ministry. You’re not going to get it now. If you want to pay anyone, it would be illegal for them to do that and to say that they can help you if you only applied recently. We work with a system, even the people who applied under APNU. We didn’t discriminate because if you applied [during that time], you’re still eligible. We work with, based on the dates of application,” Jagdeo divulged.

These comments were made in light of recent allegations of corrupt practices at the Housing Ministry, whereby several employees were implicated in social media posts, reportedly that they collected monies to ac-

The Ministry of Housing and Water

celerate the house lot approval process.

The VP encouraged persons with such information to contact the Police so that the matter could be investigated.

“Any information people have about scammers there, you should just go and report it to the Police. Don’t even go to the Ministry. Carry it to the Police…We will investigate it because we have a huge task there. People can get a house lot immediately if they had made an application before the year 2019.”

This week, the Housing Ministry said it has been brought to management’s attention that a number of allegations are circulating on social media about corrupt activities by certain employees in relation to housing matters. As such, anyone with solid evidence of such

corrupt activities is being encouraged to come forward to report the same immediately to the Guyana Police Force, the subject Ministers, or the Permanent Secretary.

That press release has unequivocally stated that the Ministry of Housing and Water will not condone any form of unethical behaviour or corruption. The release states, “Any employee who is found to be engaging in corrupt transactions will face serious disciplinary action and also the full force of the law, where appropriate.”

Further, in response to the allegations made, the Ministry has intensified monitoring of the activities in the areas highlighted, in order to ensure that all procedures are strictly followed.

Members of the public are also reminded that all appli-

cations for house lots are processed directly at the Ministry and its Regional Offices, and by employees so authorised.

“The Ministry does not have any middlemen or external agents who are authorised to conduct business on its behalf. The Ministry of Housing and Water remains committed to its mission to empower citizens through our housing programmes,” the release also added.

It was reported in September that a total of 25,996 house lots had been allocated up to that time since the Government took office, with a significant portion – 14,054 – being granted to young individuals between the ages of 21 and 35.

There are approximately 57,000 pending house lot applications. However, to address this and provide lots and housing units to thousands of people, a substantial $170 billion is required, said President Irfaan Ali a few months ago. Another $400 billion would be needed to develop about 200 kilometres of roadways needed for access to the new housing areas being developed in the immediate to medium terms.

This is in keeping with its manifesto; the PPP/C Government is committed to delivering 50,000 house lots to Guyanese within its first term in office.

12 NEWS

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

French Guiana Armed Forces pledge commitment to regional peace & security

Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier Omar Khan, and Commander of the Armed Forces in French Guiana, General Marc Le Bouil, during their meeting

A

ir Force Brigadier General Marc Le Bouil, Commander of the Armed Forces in French Guiana, has reaffirmed his country’s unwavering support to peace and security amid the current regional challenges.

General Le Bouil led an 11-member delegation to Guyana for a courtesy call on Chief-of-Staff Brigadier Omar Khan and other key members of the Guyana Defence Force leadership.

During their discussions, Brigadier Khan warmly welcomed the delegation, emphasizing the enduring friendship between the two organizations, and highlighted Guyana’s commitment to partnerships with military allies that share

common values, particularly a respect for international law.

General Le Bouil, in underscoring the significance of his visit, emphasised the continued commitment of France and its Armed Forces to a strong friendship with Guyana, and maintenance of stability in the region.

The longstanding relations between Guyana and French Guiana, highlighted by officers and soldiers undergoing training in French Guiana, reflect the depth of the strategic partnership.

This ongoing partnership between Guyana and French Guiana reinforces the shared commitment to upholding democratic principles and ensuring the peace and security of the region.

FEATURE

13

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Sherida Rahaman’s damaged computer saw her through to her degree in Education W

hen Sherida Rahaman was reading for her degree in Education at the University of Guyana (UG), she encountered several obstacles, but one which she converted into an inspiration was her damaged computer, which she utilised until she completed

woman became a mother during the final stretch of the programme; and that, coupled with unreliable internet services at the remote village of Kwebanna in the North West District, is among the fond memories she keeps close to her heart as she basks in the joyful moments of the dis-

Sherida Rahaman’s laptop, which continued functioning well throughout her three years of study at the University of Guyana although it was damaged three weeks after she started the programme

the programme this year.

This determined young

tinction she attained after completing studies at UG.

“The screen was a bit blurred, but it (was) still going strong,” Rahaman said, noting that the device served its purpose well. “I never lost an assignment,” she said.

Today, the mother of three says she is proud of the sacrifices she made, as she noted, “This is only the beginning for me, since I also want to complete my Masters.”

“Melted computer”

Schoolteacher Sherida Rahaman read virtually for the degree from Kwebanna, she and her husband Michael making many sacrifices as she prepared to embark on her years of study. However, Rahaman was not prepared for an incident which she now makes light of, but which had challenged her determined spirit soon after its occurrence.

“One afternoon, I asked my daughter to plug in the fan for me; and instead of plugging in the fan, she plugged in the iron, and when she realized the fan wasn’t spinning, she checked for the fan cable and plugged it in, and didn’t plug out the other one. She left both the iron and the computer plugged in for about half an hour, and I smelt something burning,” Rahaman said.

“It was the iron that fell on the computer and melted it,” Rahaman said, as she

Restructuring life

Sherida Rahaman laughed at the incident.

The iron’s printed shape remains to this day on the laptop, she said.

She said the incident occurred a mere three weeks

after she had bought the laptop, and she noted that she had started the programme at the University of Guyana (UG) only a few weeks prior.

Rahaman was born and raised at Kwebanna, and after completing primary school there, she attended the Santa Rosa Secondary School. She said that soon after completing her secondary education, she started teaching, and commenced training at the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE).

She noted that she always saw the importance of higher education, and attending university was always in her plans.

TURN TO PAGE 18

14

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

T

International Day of the Jaguar

he jaguar is a majestic animal that plays a very important role in our environment. Being an apex predator, jaguars help to control the populations of prey within their natural ecosystems. This ensures that they contribute positively toward environmental services such as the provision of clean water, materials for food and medicine, and climate control.

Sadly, jaguars face numerous threats that jeopardise their existence.

In Guyana, jaguars are mostly killed out of fear, or in

retaliation for killing a domestic animal. In fact, every 9-13 days, a jaguar is killed in Guyana as it comes into contact with cattle farmers, gold miners, or someone engaged in similar economic activity.

In these situations, people hardly take a step back to think through alternatives to killing wild cats, or to study the circumstances that may have led to conflict in the first place. In most of these cases, people either lack the necessary know-how or tools to ensure humans and jaguars can co-exist mutually in the same space.

To ensure mutual coexistence between humans and jaguars, the following actions can be taken: > Reduce hunting for prey species of the jaguar > Keep livestock and pets in enclosed areas (pens/

corrals) > Avoid walking alone, once you are aware of a jaguar’s presence in your area > Keep your surroundings clean, and avoid having overgrown bushes > Keep your surroundings well lit.

To raise further awareness on this issue, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is partnering with the Guyana Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission (GWCMC) and Dr. Anthony Cummings, Professor of the University of Texas at Dallas, to host a Jaguarthon under the theme “Think Like a Jaguar”. This will comprise a series of runs and post-run conversations that would emphasise the importance of wild cats, including jaguars, pumas, and other wildlife, to the well-being of humans.

Beyond human wildlife interactions, the runs will also engage entities and agencies in Guyana involved in tackling challenges related to human health, including domestic violence, alcohol and drug abuse, and safeguarding the welfare of women and children.

The Jaguarthon runs are to make the point that wildlife health and well-being are dependent on that of humans across Guyana. Runs will be held in Annai on Thursday, December 14, and in Georgetown on Sunday, December 17, from 07:00 hrs.

For more information on this event, log on to https:// jaguarthon.com/.

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

FEATURE

15

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Harris Paints gives you the ‘A to Zee’ of finding the right colours for Christmas

Retail Services Manager at Harris Paints, Nigel Dodson

Trade Representative at Harris Paints, Carl Ageday

s the holiday season approaches, it is a fact that almost every Guyanese household will be thinking about repainting; or, in some cases, new homeowners would be painting their dream homes for the first time.

However, choosing the right colour blends can be a tedious and exhausting task, hence <Guyana Times> reached out to the professionals at Harris Paints to provide the right tips to enhance both the interior and exterior - and also the environment – of our homes. After all, the holiday season is all about spreading joy and creating a warm, inviting atmosphere for our loved ones and guests.

Whatever you're looking to do: refresh your living room, transform your kitchen, or add a festive touch to your front door, Harris Paints has you covered from A to Zee. Moreover, Nigel Dodson,

Retail Service Manager at Harris Paints, is very elated to share his expertise on selecting the ideal shades for the holiday season. He explained that, with a wide range of decorative primers, texture finishes, and coating products, Harris Paints offers lots of options to make every home merry and bright.

“Well, first, we have to look at your surface, and what surface you're applying the texture on”, he disclosed.

This, he explained, is an important consideration, as different surfaces usually require different preparation and application techniques. Whether it's a wall, ceiling, or any other surface, understanding its composition and condition is crucial for achieving the desired outcome.

Depending on the condition, a homeowner may need to use a primer or a specific type of textured paint to ensure a smooth

A

Harris Paints' products & tools

and professional finish.

Emphasizing the importance of proper surface preparation to achieving long-lasting and beautiful results, Dodson has offered the following tips: “Look at the surface. If it has mildew on it, then you need to clean the surface and ensure that you put on the right kind of um, primal, to avoid that mildew coming back to the surface. So, for that, we have super grip and superblock, that we use af-

ter cleaning the surface…

We apply that on before we apply the paint,” Dodson added.

By starting with a thorough evaluation of the surface, the expert has explained, any painting project must begin on the right foot.

When it comes to choosing the right colour of paint for the space, there are also several factors to consider.

The colour scheme is one factor, since the colours chosen can greatly impact

the overall mood and ambience of a room. It is essential for a person to select colours that resonate with their personal preferences and create a space to add to their comfort. Also, the use of the room is another factor to consider.

Different rooms serve different purposes, and the right paint colour can enhance the functionality and atmosphere of a room.

“Let’s say a calming and soothing colour might be ideal for a bedroom, while

a vibrant and energizing one may very well work in a home office or creative space,” he explained.

Dodson explained that lighting is another crucial consideration.

“Natural and artificial lighting can significantly affect how the colours appear in a room,” he said. “It's important to test paint samples under different lighting conditions to ensure that the chosen colour looks as desired throughout the day.”

TURN TO PAGE 16

16 FEATURE

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Harris Paints gives you the...

Personal preferences also play a significant role in selecting the right colour of paint. Everyone has unique tastes and aesthetics, and it’s essential to choose colours that align with their personal style and preferences.

Homes should reflect the owner’s personality, and make them feel at ease, he offered.

Noteworthy, however, colours can be changed based on seasons, and people’s preferences can vary, depending on their moods or age. Thus it is advis-

ers to trust their own instincts.

“You are the one living in your home, so you know best what colours

The colour chart for customers to choose

able to avoid recommending specific colours, and instead encourage custom-

will make you feel happy and comfortable,” Dodson explained.

Trade Representative Carl Ageday related, “Especially in kitchen areas - where, you know, things might spill, fall or splash - I would tend to say use colours that won’t, as I said earlier, hold that, that dirt; you know… You might be frying your plantains, and then you touch the wall, you look back at your fingerprint on the wall. So, take those things into consideration.

“And finally, um, I always keep an extra gallon around, in case I need it; or buy a four- or three-gallon, because you never know, uh, life happens,” Ageday explained.

One must keep in mind that using eco-friendly and non-toxic paints for home improvement during the holiday season has numerous benefits. It is a healthier option for the family, since those paints do not

The Water Street location

contain harmful chemicals or volatile organic compounds (VOCs); which can cause respiratory problems, headaches, and other health issues.

It has been explained that Harris Paints are made from natural materials, and do not release toxic fumes into the air during and after application. This is especially important during the holiday season, when houses are being cleaned and dust and other harmful residues are in the air.

“Well, for areas where children (gather) a lot, you might want to use a darker colour, so even if something goes on the wall, you could easily take it off. And the thing about Harris Paints is you can apply your detergent on any painted surface without affecting the paint,” Ageday underlined.

It comes back to having that one-gallon around, just in case you want to do a little touch-up.

The experts have ad-

vised it is important to note two things: non-toxic paints are a better choice for homes with children or pets, as they are much safer if accidentally ingested or touched. And Harris Paints’ products do not flake or peel.

Meanwhile, with respect to popular colours, it again comes down to personal preferences and the room’s function. Generally, neutral and earthy tones like beige, grey, and taupe are popular choices, as they create a calming and sophisticated atmosphere.

Lighter shades of blue and green are also excellent options for bedrooms and bathrooms; they give out a vibe of relaxation and peace.

Brighter and bolder colours, such as red and yellow, can add a vibrant and energetic feel to living spaces and kitchens, promoting creativity and socialization.

Ultimately, it’s all about selecting a colour that reflects your style

FROM PAGE 15

and enhances your home’s overall aesthetic.

Harris Paints has been in that industry for in excess of 50 years, but has been opening and providing services to Guyanese for over 30 years. The quality of paint that you’ll get from any of its brands can ‘stand up’ in this climate, both externally and internally.

And since we are all excited about the Christmas season, Harris Paints is one of the places to check out. There’s always something going on at any of the Harris locations to ensure consumers save.

For this Christmas season, customers can get $2,000 off every gallon of satin, flat and gloss enamel paints. There is also a 40 per cent discount on its Excel brand, and 50 per cent off on its wood care products.

Harris Paints is located at Third Avenue in Diamond, EBD; Regent and Albert Streets in Georgetown, and at Water Street in Georgetown.

NEWS

17

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Several persons arrested...

FROM PAGE 8

While eliminating corruption from a Ministry that distributes land was regarded as a ‘near impossible task’, she said it can be reduced significantly with help from law-abiding citizens.

“We cannot do it alone. I am therefore imploring the public to desist from participating in bribery. If you have any information or evidence that can lead to the arrest and conviction of staff members or anyone who claims to have contacts in the Ministry that can assist with land allocation in exchange for money, please report it to the Police or come to my office and I will contact the Police to facilitate a full investigation.”

It was reminded that responding to social media posts that are engineered to create confusion and scandalise the reputation of those at the helm of the Ministry is not feasible.

“My only interest is in exposing the truth and ensuring people face consequences for corruption. The resolve of the Ministry to discharge its mandate of serving the needs of

the Guyanese public remains unshaken,” the Minister added.

One day prior to Rodrigues’ statement, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Bishram Kuppen, denied any corruption in the Ministry and called on the public to provide the necessary evidence so that the Ministry could deal with culprits accordingly.

In fact, he noted that anyone with solid evidence of such corrupt activities is being encouraged to come forward to report the same immediately to the Guyana Police Force, the subject Ministers, or the Permanent Secretary.

That release has unequivocally stated that the Ministry

of Housing and Water will not condone any form of unethical behaviour or corruption. The release states, “Any employee who is found to be engaging in corrupt transactions will face serious disciplinary action and also the full force of the law, where appropriate.”

Further, in response to the allegations made, the Ministry has intensified monitoring of the activities in the areas highlighted, in order to ensure that all procedures are strictly followed. Members of the public are also reminded that all applications for house lots are processed directly at the Ministry and its Regional Offices, and by employees so authorised

19

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

20 NEWS

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

MoH mulls continued medical education as criterion for renewal of dentist licences

T

he Health Ministry will soon convene a meeting with the Guyana Dental Council (GDC) to examine and discuss possible amendments to the current law governing dental practitioners in Guyana.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony said one prime consideration is the implementation of Continued Medical Education (CME), as part of a mandate for the renewal of their annual li-

cences.

CMEs are educational activities aimed at maintaining and increasing the knowledge, skills and professional performance that a physician uses to provide services for patients and the public. Dr Anthony contended that making CMEs compulsory is one way of raising the standards of dentistry in Guyana.

This position arose at the opening of the annual Dental Convention

held at the Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre in Kingston, where the Minister stressed that equitable healthcare and services are paramount in Guyana’s healthcare sector.

He assured that the Government of Guyana remains fully committed to expanding dental care and oral health services across the ten administrative regions, especially at a primary healthcare level.

“Over the last two or

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony speaking at the Annual Dental Convention

three years, we have invested a lot of resources, making sure that in every region we have competent persons who will be able to deliver care. And just this year, we would have added 33 new dental chairs in various areas in every region,” he said.

While emphasising the importance of good dental health, the Minister said that through the newly

launched Comprehensive Child and Youth School Health Screening Programme, some 208,000 children in schools are expected to benefit from general and specialised screening, including dental health throughout their school life.

“Over a child’s school year, he or she will be screened at least 3 times; Through regular screen-

ing, we will be able to grow them (children) in a healthy environment and inculcate healthy habits because the biggest challenge of non-communicable diseases still affects us and therefore if we start early by teaching them the right thing, we can affect the life course and how they live,” it was outlined.

Dr Anthony pledged that the Ministry will continue to seek out its international partners and discuss possible collaborations for training in areas that are specific to the field of dentistry.

One month ago, it was announced that the Cheddi Jagan Dental School will be modernised as the Health Ministry is seeking to transform the institution into a reference centre by integrating technology and increasing resources for improved services.

With these investments, patients will experience enhanced dental treatment, care, and related operations.

21

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

22

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

23

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

AI-4D will shape future of developing nations – Dr Ramsaroop – as AI-4D concept launched in Guyana

T

Chairman of Guyana-Invest, Dr Peter Ramsaroop, along with Dr Rosh Khan and others at the event

he highly-anticipated 'AI-4D Showcase' was launched on Friday at the Guyana Marriott Hotel under the theme "Democratizing AI for Development."

AI landscape in Guyana and beyond.

The visionary behind the AI-4D Showcase, Eldon Marks, has said, "The AI-4D Showcase is not just an event; it's a movement. We are on a

The visionary behind the AI-4D Showcase, Eldon Marks

The event showcased homegrown AI innovations that are propelling the nation into a significant role in the global AI arena.

The exhibition kicked off with a captivating series of endogenous AI innovations, and culminated in the grand unveiling of "TrueSelph," a globally applicable AI product promising to redefine the

mission to ensure that AI becomes a force for good, accessible to all, and a catalyst for positive change in Guyana and beyond. TrueSelph, along with the other remarkable AI innovations we're showcasing, represents the future we're building together."

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Intelligent Company, Nick Brown has

said, “As we engage with these cutting-edge AI innovations, it's clear that Guyana is on the path to becoming a hub for technological advancement. The AI-4D Showcase is a testament to the nation's dedication to harnessing the full potential of AI for positive change."

The IDB Rep Lorena Salazar, during her presentation, said the event under-

The AI-4D concept

scores Guyana’s commitment to innovation, and its emergence as a key player in the global AI landscape.

“The democratization of AI is not just a concept; it's a reality we are witnessing here today,” she underscored.

CEO of Guyana-Invest, Dr Peter Ramsaroop, noted that the showcased innovations and TrueSelph exemplify the transformative power

of AI in shaping the future of developing nations.

The AI-4D Showcase was transformed into an expo-style spectacle, providing attendees with a unique opportunity to interact with AI innovations at their respective engagement stations.

This immersive experience deepened participants' understanding of the transformative potential of AI.

The event has set the stage for Guyana's continued progression in the field of AI, and promises a future where innovation, accessibility, and positive impact are at the forefront of technological development.

The AI-4D Showcase has undoubtedly marked Guyana's emergence as a key player in the global AI landscape.

24 NEWS

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

2000 delegates attend World Hindu Congress in Bangkok – several honoured for remarkable contributions to Hindu society

M

ore than 2000 delegates from 61 countries participated in the World Hindu Congress (WHC) in Bangkok, Thailand - a global platform that brings together Hindu leaders, thinkers, and influencers from around the world to deliberate on issues affecting the Hindu community.

The WHC aims to unite Hindus, promote dialogue, and foster collaboration for the betterment of the global Hindu society. The World Hindu Congress 2023 was held from November 24-26 and featured discussions on diverse themes such as the Hindu Organisations Conference, World Hindu Economic Forum, Hindu Education Conference, Hindu Political Conference, Hindu Youth Conference, and Hindu Women Conference.

The event comprises in-

The ceremonial lighting of the lamp which signifies commencement of the forum

sightful sessions, discussions, and dialogues, fostering unity and collaboration within the global Hindu community.

The plenary session of the inaugural ceremony was addressed by Param Pujaniya Sarsanghchalak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak

Sangh, Dr Mohan Bhagwat, who delved into the theme 'Jayasya Aayatnam Dharmah,' emphasising the paramount role of Dharma in our journey to triumph.

“What is meant by Jaya?

The dictionary meaning says it is victory but what is victory? The standpoint

The largest gathering of Hindus at an international event

of Hindus about Jaya is that it’s not about victory and victims. It isn’t about conquering and the conquered. Jaya is about joining everybody together.”

However, reflecting on the significance and pur-

pose of the World Hindu Congress, its founder Swami Vigyananand expressed, “After independence, Hindus were vilified by a political class led by Jawaharlal Nehru and their so-called academics and intellectuals.

The general Hindu society and many Hindu organisations began to retreat from the Hindu identity during this difficult period.”

He stated that Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh stood

countless ancient Rishis, it is the pulsation of spiritual power. This is the invaluable specialty of Sanatan Dharma.”

Further, Prime Minister, Kingdom of Thailand, His Excellency Srettha Thavisin, who was unable to attend the event, sent his message.

“Thailand is honoured to host the World Hindu Congress 2023, which brings together individuals from across the globe bound by

Mata Amritanandmayi Devi has been honoured for her contributions to Hindu society

firm in the most challenging times and kept the flame of Hindu identity alive and burning through their Shakhas. This was followed by the Shri Ram Janmabhumi Movement.

The aim was to make the Hindu identity visible, respectable and acceptable worldwide, advocating the use of the word Hindu and Hindu Dharma only.

Also, during the event, Mata Amritanandmayi Devi, Swami Purnatmanand Maharaj of the Bharat Sevasharam Sangh, and Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami of Hinduism were honoured for their remarkable contributions to Hindu society at the World Hindu Congress.

In her acceptance speech, Amritanandmayi stated, “A very powerful vibration pervades every particle of sand, every atom and the very atmosphere of our country Bharat. It is the vibrations of Vedic chants and spiritual austerity performed by

the principles and values of Hindu Dharma. This gathering provides us with a unique opportunity to celebrate our shared Dharmic heritage.”

Meanwhile, a momentous declaration encapsulating the collective voice of the global Hindu community was unveiled which, stated that the World Hindu Congress strongly condemns unwarranted criticism of Hindutva and Sanatan Dharma. It also dispels the 150-year-old conspiracy to limit Hindus with “ism” that is Hinduism.

Intellectually dishonest terminology is the seed behind the vicious anti-Hindu narratives. The global Hindu community has urged to unite in promoting and embodying Hindutva, which can be loosely translated as Hinduness; through collaborative global initiatives.

The declaration was accepted at the plenary session amidst the presence of delegates from 61 countries around the world.

25

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

26

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

27

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

28

SUNDAY, AUGUST 26, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

29

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

30

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

31

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

32

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

33

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

34

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

35

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

36

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

37

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

38

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

39

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Venezuela border controversy

Govt, Opposition MPs working in unison for all Guyanese – Edghill tells Reg 10 stakeholders

T

he Government of Guyana has taken its public awareness campaign to Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), and has engaged stakeholders there, including religious leaders, regional officials, the business community, women, and youths, on the Venezuela Border Controversy.

The initiative was spearheaded by Public Works Minister Bishop Juan Edghill, who on Friday evening assured the gathering that the Government was not being laid back, or taking this serious matter for granted, but is instead working in partnership with the Opposition Members of Parliament to

Public Works Minister Bishop Juan Edghill

lead well-thought-out intentional means to deal with this national issue.

Persons waving the Golden Arrowhead in a show of solidarity

He reminded everyone both sides have agreed that Guyana’s sovereignty is of paramount importance, and that this is a matter on which all Guyanese are completely united. Both the Government and the Opposition have condemned the blatant violation of the rule of law by Venezuela, and have agreed that no effort should be spared to resist Venezuela’s persistent posture to undermine Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Minister Edghill has made it clear that Guyana is pursuing a path of peace, and is not out to have war with

A section of the gathering on Friday evening

anybody.

“When you pursue a path of peace, you look for a mechanism where we could sit and dialogue and find answers and solutions,” he explained.

The Minister added that instead of waiting after a war to look for a resolution, Guyana has sought to find resolution and dialogue before any fighting has started.

“As far as we are concerned, we sat at the table and submitted ourselves to a tribunal way back then; and having heard our case, our borders with Venezuela were decided upon, and with the

write up, it said it was ‘a full, perfect and final settlement’ of all the questions referred to the Arbitrators. And this was held up for more than 60 years,” he explained.

Edghill reiterated that, in addition to a path of peace, Guyana has also employed diplomacy, and is pursuing international law as well as engaging the country’s allies.

“The Vice-President, at his press conference, made it very clear that we are engaging our allies in the event of any eventuality; and that is all we will say,” Edghill declared.

Reiterating his call for persons to stop fearmongering, Edghill urged those gathered to seek information on this matter only from official channels.

Meanwhile, Opposition MPs in the region were not part of the meeting.

The 1899 Arbitral Award, which definitively settled the land boundary between Guyana and Venezuela, was the result of a legitimate process that was set in train in 1897. The 1899 Award was also accepted by both parties for nearly sixty-three years.

World AIDS Day awareness 5300 residents of Great conference kicks off Diamond, Golden Grove to begin accessing house lots by year-end

…$17B expended to clear land, complete infrastructural works

A

A

head of World AIDS Day, which is observed annually on December 1, the Ministry of Health’s National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS) on Friday launched a three-day awareness conference at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre in Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.

The first day of the conference focused on educating young people, particularly students, about acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), its prevention, and treatment options. The conference also aims to educate youngsters about other Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs).

During the opening session, NAPS Programme Manager, Dr Tariq Jagnarine emphasised that the World AIDS Day theme, “Let Communities Lead”, aligns with the Ministry’s commitment to empowering and engaging the general public in the ongoing fight

Participants at the 3-day event

against STDs. “The way we tailored this conference is a lot different from last year … So, the first day is going to be focused on youths. Then Saturday, you can log onto our Facebook page where we will be focusing on men. Men practicing safe sexual behaviours, gender-based violence, and leadership among others,” Dr Jagnarine explained.

A session will be held today to empower healthcare workers, fostering discussions on how medical professionals can maximise their involvement in the population to help minimise the spread of STDs. Addressing the students present on the first day, Dr Jagnarine emphasised the crucial role of schools in educating students about a society where AIDS is no longer a threat.

He highlighted the potential of schools to shape students’ understanding of STDs and promote responsible behaviour.

“Communities, including your schools, colleges or wherever you attend, play a pivotal role in fostering awareness, reducing stigma, and discrimination, and promoting safe sexual practices, which is at the forefront of our preventative measures at the Ministry of Health’s National AIDS Programme Secretariat,” the doctor stated.

He encouraged them to take advantage of the education and awareness sessions, and integrate the knowledge garnered into their daily lives so that they can make the right decisions when certain situations arise.

The opening session saw a series of panel discussions being facilitated by heads of various educational institutions such as the University of Guyana’s School of Medicine, the Guyana School of Agriculture, and lecturers from the Government Technical Institute.

llottees at six blocks in Great Diamond and Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara (ECD), will begin accessing their lands by the end of the year, according to Housing Minister Collin Croal.

The Minister made this revelation while inspecting ongoing infrastructural works in the areas on Friday, where he was accompanied by a staff from the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA).

These works, amounting to close to $17 billion, include land clearing, the construction of access roads and the installation of pipe networks, benefitting around 5300 persons in various income brackets.

The Minister visited Great Diamond Blocks One, Three and Five, where more than half of the work in the areas is completed, paving the way for the commencement of the lot identification. The remaining allottees can expect access early in the new year.

However, regarding Great Diamond Block Seven, the Minister expressed dissatisfaction with the sluggish work of contractors, as works are slated to be completed by the end of the year. While acknowledging initial challenges such as swamped lands and poor access, Minister Croal empha-

Housing Minister Collin Croal and the team on the ground

sised that these obstacles were addressed and contractors behind the deadline will be held accountable.

Meanwhile, at Golden Grove Block Nine, allottees are also poised to gain access to their land by yearend, with most preparatory works finalised, requiring only a few finishing touches on the road network. The ongoing works at Golden Grove Block 11, segmented into four lots, are also nearing completion. Minister Croal has committed that lot identification in this block will commence in early December.

Finally, Golden Grove Block 13 is also progressing so that allottees can begin construction soon. A number of individuals who were allocated Golden Grove Block 18 will also now occupy this

area due to challenges faced by the low-lying land at Block 18. Lot identification across these areas will be conducted in tranches.

The PPP/C Government has committed to delivering 50,000 house lots to Guyanese within its first term in office. It entered office when there was a backlog of over 76,000 applications. Having distributed almost 30,000 lots, there are approximately 57,000 pending house-lot applications.

In August, the Ministry outlined that infrastructural works are ongoing in several schemes along the East Bank of Demerara to accommodate more than 5000 low, moderate and middle-income residential house lots and industrial/commercial lots, spanning some 1700 acres of land.

40 NEWS

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

$11B in contracts signed for Diamond to Buzz Bee Road project C

ontractors are mobilising to continue works on the East Bank Demerara (EBD) four-lane highway after $11 billion in contracts were awarded for the Diamond to Buzz Bee Dam project.

This was announced

by Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal on Friday. He noted that among the works to be conducted is the rollout of the four-lane roadway with accompanying drainage and revetment facilities.

He did not reveal the names of contractors nor when the road project is expected to commence and a timeline. Attempts to contact the Minister on Saturday for several clarifications proved futile.

However, the first phase of this project was the Mandela-to-Eccles road, on which construction started in April 2021.

For the second phase, the four-lane road was extended beyond Eccles all the way to Great Diamond, East Bank Demerara. The $13.3 billion Eccles to Great Diamond highway project saw 12 companies

Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal

contracted to construct the four-lane road to run from the Eccles Dumpsite Road all the way to Great Diamond, connecting to the already completed Eccles to Mandela Avenue Highway.

This four-lane road project is a result of efforts by the President Dr Irfaan Ali-led Government to ease traffic congestion on the East Bank, which not only leads to the country’s main port of entry – the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) – but also fields traffic coming from West Demerara.

These projects run

alongside the India-funded bypass road project which would link the East Bank Demerara corridor to the East Coast of Demerara (ECD), creating a new highway in the backlands.

The Indian Government had provided a US$50 million Line of Credit (LoC) for the road link that was initially slated for Ogle, ECD, to Diamond. Under the previous Government, however, the project was at a standstill for several years.

Having taken office in 2020, the People’s Progressive Party Administration has since

The expansion will alleviate traffic congestion on the EBD highway

redesigned the project into three phases to fit the LoC. It will now run from Ogle to Haags Bosch at Eccles in the first phase, then from Eccles to Diamond, and finally from Diamond to Timehri to connect to the CJIA. However, the Indian LoC will only cover the first section of the road, that is, from Ogle to Eccles.

President Irfaan Ali

has notified that approximately eight interconnecting roads are likely to be built between Eccles and Diamond, to connect old and new highways.

In Budget 2022, an allocation of $2.1 billion was made for the widening and paving of the East Bank highway from Grove to Timehri. In January 2023, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)

approved some US$100 million to commence the Diamond/Grove to Timehri Road project.

Significant investments are particularly being made in advancing the road network to increase better access between the East Bank and East Coast of Demerara, and soon, the two districts will become better integrated into one big city.

Govt hands out $3M in agricultural inputs to Crabwood Creek farmers

Residents of Crabwood Creek

F

armers of Crabwood Creek, Region Six, received a total of $3 million in agricultural inputs, including farming posts and barbed wire, to construct a fence to prevent cattle from destroying the crops.

The items which were handed over included 1500 posts and 160 rolls of barbed wire.

The handing over took place during the farmers’ meeting hosted at Crabwood Creek Community Centre

Minister Mustapha handing over agricultural materials to farmers

on Friday, where several concerns were raised by farmers including drainage and irrigation, among others.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said the funding for the items was provided by the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) and Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA).

As Guyana continues on its trajectory to have a vibrant and resilient sec-

tor, Minister Mustapha reaffirmed that farmers will continue to receive the necessary support and inputs to boost food productivity.

“Crabwood Creek is an area that is an important agricultural area, both in rice and cash crops. And we have to continue to give support to the farmers to ensure that they get the kind of support that we want to give them,” noted the Minister.

In relation to irrigation, Mustapha informed that plans are in place to provide

an efficient drainage system since some of the old pumps were reactivated.

He indicated that the committee in the region should work along with all the farmers to ensure they benefit from an adequate supply of water.

“For Crabwood Creek, we set up a small committee to work with us with the D&I people…So we do not have contradictory information. I want you to help us to manage the system.

We have to put systems in

place. Sometimes, we might have to schedule the water so that one area can be provided with water,” the Agriculture Minister stated.

Shortly, a machine will be made available to conduct excavation works.

For 2024, Minister Mustapha stated that a system can be incorporated to highlight the number of cash crops and rice farmers in the area, to decide the hours of work each farmer will receive from the machine.

Agriculture is important to attain food security, as Guyana is driving the agriculture agenda regionally, the Minister emphasised.

Farmers will benefit from the $850 million in fertilisers, which was announced by President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, he added.

The Minister also handed over a gasoline tiller to Tagore Memorial Secondary School. Free planting materials will be made available soon for the cash crops.

NEWS

41

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Next 2 Stabroek Block projects well advanced – Exxon Guyana Head

– says will produce a combined total of 500,000 barrels of oil per day

W

ith the first oil at the Payara development only recently announced, work is progressing on the next two projects in the Stabroek Block - the Yellowtail and Uaru wells, which will together produce as much as 500,000 barrels of oil per day.

This update, along with references to the gas-to-energy project, were provided by Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) President Alistair Routledge, during the Guyana Oil and Gas Energy Chamber’s (GOGEC) Annual Awards and Induction Ceremonial Dinner.

“This is, as has been previously said, the fastest-growing economy in the world.

With the milestone of the first oil from our third major development, Payara, announced just last week, and two future projects well underway, GOGEC will have more opportunities to fulfil its commitment to fostering economic growth,” he said.

When it comes to the gas-to-energy project, the

EEPGL President Routledge

Alistair

EEPGL President explained the positive effect this project will have on Guyana.

“We’re collaborating with the Government to deliver lower emissions, lower costs, and reliable gas-powered energy to Guyanese consumers.

It will also provide the foundation for further renewable energy development. These projects deliver on society’s need for affordable, reliable energy,” Routledge said.

“On the social front, our commitment to local con-

Liza Prosperity in Guyana’s waters

tent is delivering better opportunities for families across Guyana. Almost 6000 Guyanese and 1500 businesses are now participating in and benefitting from the oil and gas industry.”

Guyana has been declared one of the fastest-growing economies in the hemisphere, with growth projections of 47 per cent, on the back of the oil industry offshore Guyana and specifically, the oil discoveries in the Stabroek Block.

The Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square

kilometres). Exxon, through its local subsidiary Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), holds 45 per cent interest in the block. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd holds 30 per cent interest and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, holds the remaining 25 per cent interest.

ExxonMobil has said it anticipates at least six projects offshore Guyana, including the Whiptail project, will be online by 2027. Production

has already started on the Liza Phase 1 and 2 projects, as well as the Payara development. Yellowtail and Uaru, Exxon’s fourth and fifth developments, have already received governmental approval.

The Yellowtail Development Project is set to commence production in 2025 using the “One Guyana” floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel, which will yield the largest target of 250,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) during a 20-year period that will generate at least 1300 direct jobs.

Yellowtail, which will be located 126 miles offshore Guyana, includes up to three drillships drilling up to 67 wells, the FPSO vessel and SURF production system, with tankers taking the oil to global markets. The US$10 billion development project will target an estimated resource base of about 900 million oil-equivalent barrels.

The Uaru project, the fifth project, is meanwhile budgeted to cost US$12.683 billion and will be subject to cost

recovery under the Stabroek Block Petroleum Sharing Agreement. It is expected to significantly contribute to Guyana’s oil production, with 250,000 barrels of oil per day also targeted.

Meanwhile, Guyana is also developing an integrated Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) plant and a 300-megawatt (MW) combined cycle powerplant at Wales, West Bank Demerara (WBD), as part of the gas-to-energy project.

The project will see ExxonMobil piping gas from the Liza Field in the Stabroek Block onshore in Wales via a pipeline that it will procure, install and maintain.

Based on studies conducted, ExxonMobil would be able to produce up to 50 million cubic feet of gas per day for this initiative without impacting oil production activities offshore.

The operationalisation of the long-awaited gas-to-energy project is expected to result in current electricity charges being cut in half, which would fuel the expansion of the industrial and commercial sectors.

take by mouth include: • valacyclovir (Valtrex) • acyclovir (Zovirax) • famciclovir (Famvir) A doctor may prescribe one of these medications if a person has a weakened immune system or otherwise has regular outbreaks. A person takes it once or twice a day. These medications can shorten the duration of an outbreak and may keep them from reoccurring.

• Pain relief Over-the-counter options contain analgesics such as benzocaine or lidocaine. They do not speed up the healing process, but they can reduce discomfort. People should dab these ointments, creams, or gels onto the sores with a Q-tip, and it is important not to share these products.

If a person applies the medication with a finger instead, they should wash their hands before and after.

Some alternate options include medications such as ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol).

COMPLICATIONS Rarely, oral herpes can lead to complications, especially in people with weakened immune systems. Possible complications include: • Dehydration, if pain from the sores makes drinking difficult.

• Herpetic whitlow, a painful infection that can occur through a cut on the skin and cause blisters, usually on the fingers.

• H e r p e t i c keratoconjunctivitis, a secondary infection that can cause eye swelling and irritation, sores on the eyelids, and, without treatment, vision loss.

• Encephalitis, or swelling of the brain, which may occur if the infection spreads.

• Encephalitis can be life-threatening.

HEALTH TIPS COLD SORES

Dr. Tariq Jagnarine

F

ever blisters on the lips, also known as cold sores, are small, blister-like lesions. They may also form on the chin, cheeks, or in the nostrils, as well as the gums or the roof of the mouth. Fever blisters result from infection with the herpes simplex virus.

Antiviral medications may help manage them.

Cold sores usually cause pain, a burning sensation, or itching before they burst and crust over. People sometimes call them fever blisters. There is no way to cure or prevent these sores, but a person can take steps to reduce the frequency and duration of outbreaks.

CAUSES The viral strains that cause cold sores, usually HSV-1 and less often HSV-2, are highly contagious and transmit easily during close contact, such as sexual contact. After the virus enters the body, a person may

have: • Flu-like symptoms • Sores in or around their mouth or in their nostrils • Sores around the genital area, in some cases It is possible for oral herpes sores, or cold sores, to develop around the genitals if transmission happens during oral sex.

A cold sore outbreak typically lasts 1–2 weeks, without treatment, before the body’s immune system suppresses the virus. The virus does not leave the body, and though it remains inactive most of the time, it can periodically reactivate to cause cold sores.

Most people with oral herpes do not realize it until they experience cold sores or other symptoms. Some people have just one outbreak and no reoccurrence because the virus stays dormant. there may be frequent outbreaks that continue for many years.

SYMPTOMS Some people with oral herpes have no symptoms, and others only experience them after the first exposure to the virus. Still, at least 25% of people with oral herpes experience reoccurring outbreaks. In this case, cold sores often appear in the same locations each time.

Initial symptoms of an HSV-1 infection may appear 2–20 days after exposure to the virus and can include: • Lesions on the tongue, mouth, chin, cheeks, or in the nostrils • Mouth or tongue pain

• Lip swelling • Difficulty swallowing • Sore throat • Swollen lymph nodes • High body temperature • Headaches • Dehydration • Nausea There may also be an infection of the mouth and gums, known as gingivostomatitis.

This lasts for 1–2 weeks and does not reoccur. Also, in adults, an infection of the throat and tonsils called pharyngotonsillitis may develop with the initial oral herpes infection.

STAGES OF COLD SORE SYMPTOMS • A cold sore develops in several stages when it reoccurs.

• A tingling, itching, or burning sensation around the mouth often indicates the start of an outbreak.

• Painful, fluid-filled sores appear, usually around the mouth.

• The sores break and produce fluid.

• A yellow crust forms on the sores.

• The crust comes off, revealing pink skin that heals in 3–4 days.

Without treatment, most cold sores disappear within 1–2 weeks and do not leave a scar.

DIAGNOSIS People with reoccurring outbreaks can manage them at home by recognizing the signs and using medication. However, consult a healthcare provider if: • Symptoms are severe.

• A cold sore does not

start to heal within 10 days.

• The gums swell.

• The person has a weakened immune system.

• Other symptoms are causing concern.

A doctor can usually diagnose the issue by considering the symptoms and making a visual examination, but in some cases — such as if the person has a weakened immune system — they may also order a blood test or take a sample of a sore fluid for testing. Some factors that can weaken the immune system include HIV, medications following an organ transplant, some types of cancer, and some cancer treatment.

TREATMENT Most cold sore outbreaks resolve in 1–2 weeks without treatment. However, some over the counter or prescription medications can shorten an outbreak’s duration and reduce any discomfort or pain, though these do not remove the virus from the body. In most cases, it is best to use treatments as soon as the first signs of an outbreak appear.

• Antiviral creams Over-the-counter antiviral creams can shorten the duration of an outbreak. Most creams, such as Zovirax and Soothelip, contain acyclovir or penciclovir. A person should apply the cream to the affected area every 2–3 hours for 5 days.

• Oral antiviral medications Some examples of antiviral medications that a person can

HOME REMEDIES Some people find that the following home care techniques relieve cold sore symptoms: • Applying cold, soaked tea bags to the area every hour • Dabbing the area with diluted geranium, lavender, or tea tree oil • Using petroleum jelly to keep the skin moist, preventing cracking.

• There is no scientific evidence that these remedies work or are safe.

to:

PREVENTION When sores are present, try

• Avoid kissing and other skin-to-skin contact involving the affected area.

• Use a dental dam or condom during oral sex.

• Avoid sharing personal items, such as towels and lip balm.

• Follow correct handwashing techniques.

• Avoid touching areas where sores can develop, such as the eyes, mouth, nose, and genitals.

• If touching the sores is necessary, wash the hands with soap and warm water before and after.

42

guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023

Regional

Mexico crime: Alleged security Argentina's Milei chief for El Chapo's sons detained says shutting central bank 'non-negotiable' M A

rgentina's Presidentelect Javier Milei said on Friday that the closure of the country's central bank, a signature campaign pledge, was a "non-negotiable matter", according to a statement from his office posted on social media platform X. The comments, in response to what he called "false rumours", come as the outsider libertarian economist races to put together his team ahead of taking office on Dec 10, with some signs that he is picking a more moderate Cabinet than expected.

Argentina's social security administration ANSES, a key institution given Milei's pledge to slash state spending and subsidies, will be led by economist Osvaldo Giordano from the key central Cordoba region, the statement added.

That marks a shift from

Argentine President-elect Javier Milei addressing supporters after winning Argentina's runoff presidential election, in Buenos Aires, Argentina on November 19, 2023

a previous plan that Milei would appoint a close ally to lead the Administration.

Horacio Marin, a private energy sector executive, was also confirmed as the incoming chief of state oil company YPF. Milei faces major hurdles to implement his more radical reform plans, which include dollarising the economy, shutting the central bank and privatising

State companies like YPF, which will take time if they can be done at all.

His libertarian coalition has a limited number of seats in Congress and no provincial governors. Milei also has to juggle demands from the more mainstream conservative bloc, whose public backing was key to him winning the run-off election last week.

(Reuters)

CARPHA warns of increase in dengue cases in the region

T

he Trinidad-based Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) says it has noted the continued increase, over the past six months, in reports of suspected and confirmed cases of dengue in the Caribbean region.

CARPHA said that the increase has been noted in member states that have seen increased rainfall.

It said that the associated risks and ripple effects must not be underestimated as outbreaks of dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases like Zika and Chikungunya pose a significant threat to health, tour-

ism, as well as social and economic development.

“Regional health security remains at the fore of CARPHA’s focus. In this regard, any public health threat, such as dengue, that imperils the integrity of our regional response systems must be dealt with in a timely and effective manner and as such demands, that as the Caribbean Community, we mobilise efforts to maximise efficiencies,” said CARPHA’s executive director, Dr Joy St John.

“Member states are encouraged to remain vigilant and flexible with their national work plans and

available resources to maximise chances of successful responses. In 2023, four CARPHA member states have reported dengue outbreaks and trends are being monitored in others with subsets of all four Dengue serotypes circulating across the region,” she added.

CARPHA said dengue is known to cause outbreaks every three to five years and that in the recent past, the seasonality of dengue transmission in the Americas and the Caribbean has added to the record highs of total case numbers and complications.

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

exico's National Guard has arrested the alleged security chief of a faction of the Sinaloa cartel, Néstor Isidro Pérez Salas, also known as "El Nini".

"El Nini" is accused of leading a ruthless group of bodyguards providing protection for the sons of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán.

The sons, known as "Chapitos" (little Chapos), rose to lead a faction of the cartel after their father was jailed.

The US had offered $3M (£2.4M) for information leading to his capture.

He is wanted there on drug trafficking and weapons charges.

The US authorities are

T

where we will question and sometimes challenge each other," Gilmore told reporters in Havana.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, on a visit to Cuba earlier this year, announced Gilmore`s visit but told reporters the EU would not "impose" demands on the island’s Government.

The United States and the European Union have critiqued Cuba`s response to the 2021 protests - the largest since former leader Fidel Castro's 1959 revolution - as repressive and heavy-handed. Rights groups say around 1000 Cubans were jailed for their political beliefs fol-

lowing the demonstrations and several subsequent protests.

Cuba's Government blames the US Government for stoking the protests in a bid to overthrow Cuba’s Government and says those detained are guilty of assault, vandalism and sedition, among other crimes.

"No one is convicted for their political opinions," Cuba’s Foreign Ministry said prior to Gilmore`s visit on social media.

Tensions around the issue flared just days before Gilmore`s arrival after a prisoner died this week in Cuba, prompting a rebuke from the US embassy.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

The two other "Chapitos" remain at large.

According to US investigators, "El Nini" is one of the most feared hitmen for the Chapitos, tasked with kidnapping, torturing and killing rival drug traffickers.

He was detained in Culiacán, the capital of the state of Sinaloa, which is the stronghold of the cartel of the same name.

In a joint operation, soldiers and members of the National Guard swooped down on the Colinas de Rivera neighbourhood.

Mexican media reported that "El Nini" tried to flee by climbing on to the rooftop of a house, but gave up after shots were fired.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

IDB launches expanded platform for responsible AI in LAC

T

he Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has launched a new platform that will offer a one-stop-shop with consulting, training, a broader portfolio and all the tools that countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region need to use artificial intelligence (AI) responsibly.

IDB said together with its innovation laboratory, IDB Lab, it has presented fAIr LAC+, a new phase of an initiative launched in 2019.

IDB said the AI ecosystem is complex, cross-sectoral and multidimensional, and each country has distinct and specific challenges.

“In this context, Latin

American and Caribbean countries can use fAIr LAC+ to harness technology for concrete and tangible gains like reducing social inequality and improving public service delivery,” it said.

It said the new fAIr LAC+ portfolio will focus on the three dimensions where the region has the highest need for AI support: designing and applying regulatory frameworks; developing, adopting, and using technologies; and strengthening skills and capacities. “fAIr LAC+ will offer governments and other members of the ecosystem both tools and advice and support on developing and strengthening capacities to make AI

projects sustainable. It will help policymakers co-create regulatory frameworks, provide training on how to use AI responsibly and ethically, develop startup accelerator programs in the region, and encourage the adoption of best practices and international governance standards,” the IDB said.

It said through the new initiative, the IDB and IDB Lab will make their experience and knowledge available to the region to promote and help cement strategic alliances among the different players in the ecosystem, including governments, the private sector, academia and civil society. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Uruguay, China agree to pursue bilateral trade pact as well as Mercosur deal

EU Human Rights Envoy in Cuba to U discuss aftermath of 2021 protests he European Union’s human rights envoy was set to meet on Friday with Cuban officials as the island`s communist-run Government faces sharp rebuke from the European bloc, the United States and rights groups for jailing protesters involved in anti-Government demonstrations in 2021.

EU representative Eamon Gilmore said "all topics" were on the table ahead of the dialogue with top Cuban officials after two days of meetings with the island’s Government and civil society.

"There are issues in which we will find common cause, and there are issues

trying to stem the flow of fentanyl from Mexico to the US by targeting the cartels which are smuggling the synthetic opioid.

According to the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), three of El Chapo's sons - Ovidio Guzmán López and his half-brothers Iván Archivaldo and Jesús Alfredo Guzmán Salazar have built a fentanyl-trafficking empire which smuggles millions of doses of the deadly opioid to the US. Ovidio Guzmán López, also known as "El Ratón" (The Mouse), was extradited to the US in September and has pleaded not guilty to charges of drug trafficking and money laundering.

ruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou and Chinese Premier Li Qiang are keen to keep working on a bilateral free trade agreement as well as pursue one between China and the wider Mercosur trade bloc, according to a joint statement.

The statement follows a Thursday meeting in Beijing between the two and comes after China and Uruguay this week upgraded their bilateral relationship to a "comprehensive strategic partnership," elevating Montevideo's ties with Beijing to those of Argentina and Brazil.

Beijing is seen as particularly interested in an FTA with Mercosur as that could put pressure on Paraguay, the last remaining South

American country with ties to Taipei, to rethink its links with Taiwan which China considers part of its territory.

The statement said that Uruguay and China were committed to pursuing a bilateral FTA and noted that a joint feasibility study had been completed.

"At the same time, the two sides are willing to promote China-Mercosur FTA talks," it added.

Lacalle Pou first proposed a bilateral FTA with China in 2021 to secure similar opportunities for its exporters as those enjoyed by Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Peru - countries which have secured tariff-free access to the world's second-largest economy.

"Uruguay is firmly committed to close relations

with China and active participation in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)," Lacalle Pou said, according to a readout of the meeting in Chinese state media.

Uruguay was also "willing to... accelerate establishing an FTA between Uruguay, Mercosur and China," Chinese media quoted him as saying.

But Uruguay faces stiff opposition from fellow Mercosur members Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay who want their bloc to settle an FTA with Europe instead.

Last November, they warned they could take "measures" against Uruguay if it forged ahead with its plans to unilaterally negotiate an FTA with China. (Excerpt from Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023

43

Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS OPEC+ moving closer to compromise with African producers, sources say

O

PEC+ has moved closer to a compromise with African oil producers on 2024 output levels, four OPEC+ sources told Reuters, after disagreements over those targets forced the group of oil-producing nations to postpone a key meeting.

OPEC members Angola and Nigeria were aiming for a higher oil output allowance, officials told Reuters on Thursday.

The postponement of the meeting of Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies such as Russia, known as OPEC+, from Nov 26 to Nov 30 sent oil prices sharply lower. But they have since recovered, with Brent crude prices on Friday trading above US$81 a barrel.

On Thursday OPEC said the meeting would be held virtually.

One of the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he felt "with 99% of confidence" that OPEC+ could reach an agreement on Nov 30.

A second source said that an "understanding has been reached" over the African producers issue.

Two other sources said that an agreement was near.

Nigeria's governor to OPEC Gabriel Tanimu Aduda told Reuters on Thursday that he was not aware of any disagreements with other members of OPEC+ over his country's production targets.

Nigeria and Angola were among several countries given lower targets at the last OPEC+ meeting in June after years of failing to meet the previous ones.

As of October, Angola was pumping less than its quota for 2024, according assessments by independent sources cited

by OPEC. Nigeria is pumping close to its 2024 quota of 1.38 million bpd but less than a 2024 level of 1.58 million bpd being considered for it subject to independent assessments.

Several analysts have said they expect OPEC+ to extend or even deepen oil supply cuts into next year in order to support prices.

The market is also waiting to see if Saudi Arabia extends its additional 1 million bpd voluntary production cut, which is due to expire at the end of December. (Reuters)

Five wounded in Kyiv by largest drone attack yet on Ukraine

U

kraine's capital suffered what officials said was Russia's largest drone attack of the war on Saturday, leaving five people wounded as the rumble of air defences and explosions woke residents at sunrise.

The attack began hitting different districts of Kyiv in the early hours of Saturday, with more waves coming as the sun came up. The air raid warning lasted six hours.

Ukraine's air force initially said 71 of the 75 drones had been shot down, but subsequently revised the number of downed craft to 74. Its spokesperson said on television that 66 of those had been downed over Kyiv and the surrounding region.

Air force chief Mykola Oleschuk praised the effectiveness of 'mobile fire' units - usually fast pickup trucks with a machine gun or flak cannon mounted on their flatbed. According to him, these

downed nearly 40% of the drones.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko, writing on the Telegram app, said the attack had injured five people, including an 11-yearold girl, and damaged buildings in districts all across the city.

Fragments from a downed drone had started a fire in a children's nursery, he said.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy pointed out that the attack had come in the early hours of the day when Ukrainians commemorate their worst national tragedy the 1932-33 Holodomor famine in which several million people starved to death.

"Wilful terror .... The Russian leadership is proud of the fact that it can kill," he wrote on Telegram.

Ukraine's leadership has previously drawn parallels between Holodomor and Russia's current invasion. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Gaza hostage release back on after aid row settled

A

Gaza hostage release deal was back on track on Saturday night after a row over aid supplies to the north of the besieged enclave was resolved following mediation

by Qatar and Egypt.

A Palestinian official familiar with the diplomacy said Hamas would continue with the four-day truce agreed with Israel, the first break in fighting in seven weeks of war.

"After a delay, obstacles to release of prisoners were overcome through Qatari-Egyptian contacts with both sides, and 39 Palestinian civilians will be released tonight, while 13 Israeli hostages will leave Gaza in addition to 7 foreigners," Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari said on social media.

Eight children and five women would be released

by Hamas as well as the seven foreigners, he said.

The armed wing of

9-year-old Ohad Munder reacts as he meets with his family members after he returned to Israel to the designated complex at the Schneider Children's Medical Center, during a temporary truce between Hamas and Israel, in Petah Tikva, Israel, in this handout picture released on November 25, 2023

Hamas had earlier said it was delaying Saturday's scheduled second round of hostage releases until Israel met all truce conditions, including committing to let aid trucks into northern Gaza.

Hamas spokesperson Osama Hamdan said only 65 of 340 aid trucks that had entered Gaza since Friday had reached north-

At least 10 killed in shopping mall blaze in Karachi, Pakistan

Rescue workers moving the body of a man who was killed after a fire broke out at a mall in Karachi, Pakistan [Akhtar Soomro/ Reuters]

A

t least 10 people have been killed in a fire at a shopping centre in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi, according to officials and local media.

The blaze on Saturday tore through the multi-storey RJ Mall, a commercial highrise that also houses call centres and software firms.

Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui, the mayor of Karachi, wrote on the social platform X that at least 10 people died and 22 people were injured as a result of the fire.

The fire has been extinguished and first responders were working to cool the area, he wrote.

Some local media outlets said the death toll may be higher.

Local broadcaster Geo News said the blaze started early in the morning at the mall located on Rashid Minhas Road in Pakistan’s most populous city and commercial capital.

It reported that firefighters rescued about 50 people but more remained inside the building.

Local news website Dawn cited Police surgeon Summaiya Syed as saying that 10 bodies had been brought to several hospitals, with most of them going to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC).

Some of the injured were also being treated at hospitals, according to local media.

The exact cause of the fire remains unknown, with officials promising an investigation will be launched to determine the cause.

Roads surrounding the building were cleared as rescue operations were under way.

Kamran Tessori, the governor of the southeastern province of Sindh, said in a post on X that he has requested a report on the incident from the Karachi city commissioner. (Al Jazeera)

ern Gaza, which was "less than half of what Israel agreed on."

Al-Qassam Brigades also said Israel had failed to respect the terms of the Palestinian prisoner releases. Qadura Fares, the Palestinian commissioner for prisoners, said Israel had not released detainees by seniority, as was expected.

Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter, a member of Israel's security cabinet, told Channel 13 News that Israel was "abiding by the deal" with Hamas that Qatar had mediated.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Uttarakhand tunnel collapse: Rescuers to dig by hand to rescue trapped workers

R

escue work to save 41 workers trapped in a tunnel in India's Uttarakhand state has been delayed by at least four to five days because the drilling machine broke down inside the tunnel.

Rescuers will begin digging manually once the faulty part is removed.

The workers have been stuck inside the tunnel for two weeks after a portion of it collapsed due to a landslide.

The operation has been challenging due to the presence of rocks, stones and metal inside the debris.

Rescuers have to resort to drilling by hand because the auger keeps getting stuck on pieces of metal that have been mixed in with the debris, and say it would be better to switch to manual drilling instead of waiting for a replacement machine.

Arnold Dix, a tunnelling expert helping with the res-

cue work, told reporters at the site: "The machine has broken. It's irreparable. It is disrupted."

But Dix said he was confident the 41 men would return home, saying there were "many ways" to reach them.

A section of the 4.5km (3 miles) Silkyara tunnel in the Indian Himalayas caved in on November 12.

Contact was established with the trapped men shortly thereafter, and they have been receiving oxygen, food, and water ever since.

Rescuers were just 9m (30ft) from breaking through to the workers before the auger broke.

In the meantime, ambulances have been kept on standby outside the tunnel. Officials say the aim is to pull the workers out to safety and shift them to the nearby hospital as quickly as possible. (Excerpt from BBC News)

China offers visa-free entry for citizens of France, Germany, Italy

C

hina will temporarily exempt citizens of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia from needing visas to visit the world's second-largest economy in a bid to give a boost to post-pandemic tourism.

From Dec 1 to Nov 30 next year, citizens of those countries entering China for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, or transiting for no more than 15 days, will not need a visa, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Friday.

China has been taking steps in recent months - including restoring international flight routes - to revive its tourism sector following three years of strict COVID-19 measures that largely shut its borders to the outside world.

The Government is also looking to re-establish its image around the world after clashing with many Western countries on various issues including COVID, human

rights, Taiwan and trade.

A recent Pew Research Center survey in 24 countries revealed that views of China were broadly negative, with 67% of adults expressing unfavourable views.

More than half of the respondents said China interfered in the affairs of other countries and did not take into account the interests of others.

In August, China scrapped all COVID test requirements for inbound travellers. It resumed 15-day visa-free entry for citizens of Singapore and Brunei in July.

International flights in and out the country, while recovering more slowly than services on the domestic network, have been picking up.

China's aviation authority said in October that 16,680 weekly flights were expected from November through March, with passenger flights expected to reach 71% of the total four years ago. (Excerpt from Reuters)

44

guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023

ARIES

Set yourself up for an adventure. Choose to be around people who enjoy the same things as you, but don’t move too quickly or believe everything you hear. Bide your time and listen attentively.

(March 21April 19)

Build a solid base and TAURUS take advantage of an oppor(April 20tunity. Don’t feel compelled May 20) to put your money on the table or buy into someone else’s dream. Gather information and do your own thing.

Pay attention to how peoGEMINI ple treat you. Cultivating re(MAY 28lationships will help prevent June 20) a misunderstanding. Don’t make excuses for someone’s actions; recognize who is good for you and who isn’t.

Avoid events that can put CANCER you in a vulnerable position.

(June 21Be aware of what’s going on July 22) around you. Concentrate on something or someone you enjoy and explore creative ideas.

Observe what others do, but take the road that makes you feel comfortable. Put your energy into home- and self-improvement, and get involved in activities that offer mental or physical stimulation.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Get an outside opinion before making changes that might conflict with someone else’s plans. It’s better to be safe than sorry when dealing with joint ventures, medical issues or contracts. Don’t let your emotions take over.

VIRGO

Pickles

(Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Social events, reunions and reLIBRA solving issues regarding your liv(Sept. 23- ing arrangements are in your best Oct. 23) interest. A chance meeting will lead

to information that prompts you to change how you choose to earn or use your money. Personal growth and updating your appearance are favored.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Peanuts

Take care of unfinished business early and make plans to do something that sparks your imagination and encourages change or new beginnings. Changing your lifestyle will add to your stability.

Stay calm. Slow down SAGITTARIUS and get things right the first (Nov. 23time. Don’t let anyone conDec. 21) vince you to take on responsibilities that don’t belong to you. Emotional manipulation is apparent, so be firm.

Pace yourself. Be wise reCAPRICORN garding how much time and (Dec. 22money you allocate toward Jan. 19) helping others. Look out for your interests first; you’ll find it easier to help others with your own needs met.

Calvin and Hobbes

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

Listen carefully. Say no to suggestions that aren’t good for you. Pay attention to your body and do whatever helps build strength and a positive outlook. Make your well-being a priority.

PISCES (Feb. 20Mar. 20)

Opportunity is apparent, but it’s up to you to implement the changes necessary to take advantage of what’s available. Let your imagination lead the way, and trust and believe in yourself.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023

45

Root opts out of IPL 2024 a day before retention deadline E

ngland batter Joe Root, who had made his IPL debut for Rajasthan Royals earlier this year, has opted out of IPL 2024 just a day before the retention deadline.

Royals said in a statement on their website that they “respect” Root’s decision.

“During our retention conversations, Joe informed us of his decision to not take part in IPL 2024,” Kumar Sangakkara, Royals’ Director of Cricket, said.

“Even in a short span of time, Joe was able to create such a positive impact on the franchise and the players around him. His energy around the group and the experience he brought to the Royals will be missed. We respect his decision totally, and wish him success in everything he does.”

Rob Key, England’s Managing Director of Men’s Cricket, had said, after announcing the squad for the Caribbean tour, that Root “needs a break” at the end of the World Cup. “He’s not stopped since probably New Zealand or what he did in Pakistan, the ILT20, New Zealand, the Hundred, Ashes, and so on,” Key had

is the deadline for franchises to announce their releases and retentions ahead of auction on December 19.

Royals have already been active in the trade window, bringing in India fast bowler Avesh Khan from Lucknow Super Giants, while letting go of Devdutt Padikkal to Super Giants.

Shahbaz traded to Sunrisers, Dagar to RCB India allrounder Shahbaz

Joe Root was surplus to Rajasthan Royals’ requirements in IPL 2023

said.

In the IPL 2023 auction, Root was snapped up by Royals for his base price of INR 1 crore (US$121,000 approx. at the time). He played three games for them, but batted in just one, scoring 10 against Royal Challengers Bangalore in Jaipur.

Though opportunities were limited, Root tried to be a “sponge” in India to “soak up a lot of different information” and adapt to the T20 format. He also enjoyed the company of youngsters like Yashasvi Jaiswal, the breakout batter of IPL 2023, and Riyan Parag.

“The 32-year-old’s ad-

dition to the Royals squad brought in plenty of depth and experience, which served as a learning experience for a lot of youngsters in the side, like Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, Yashasvi Jaiswal in the team,” the franchise said in the statement. “His camaraderie with his England teammate Jos Buttler, and his bonding with Yuzvendra Chahal was also one of the memorable highlights of the former England Test skipper’s stint with the Royals.”

Root has become the second England player, after his Test captain Ben Stokes, to pull out of the next season of the IPL. November 26

Ancelotti confident Real Madrid can handle injury problems

C

arlo Ancelotti is confident Real Madrid can cope with their current injury problems ahead of Sunday’s trip to Cadiz.

Madrid are on a run of seven LaLiga matches without defeat, and will be out to go top of the table with a win, before current leaders Girona play on Monday.

Los Blancos will be without a host of leading players, due to injury, with the likes of Vinicius Jr, Eduardo Camavinga, Eder Militao and Aurelien Tchouameni all unavailable. Boss Ancelotti has, however, said there is no cause for concern, as he has complete faith in his squad.

He said on the Madrid website: “We’ve had injuries that have hampered us, but the squad is solid.

We’ve always been competitive, despite the absences. We go into the game full of confidence, and we hope that the injured players recover soon. We’re convinced that we can handle the problems, because we

Carlo Ancelotti embracing Vinicius Jr, who is currently injured

have a squad that gives me confidence. Those who have played less have an opportunity. It’s an opportunity to show how good the players are that make up this squad.”

Madrid take on 16thplaced Cadiz before facing Napoli in the Champions League on Wednesday, and then Granada in the league three days later; meaning that Ancelotti’s side face three games in seven days.

Ancelotti criticised the hectic schedule, and added: “The calendar cannot be sustained, and those who draw it up have to look at

this.

Now we have this problem, and it will increase because there will be a World Cup and a Champions League with more matches.

The only solution is to reduce the number of games, and this can be done by LaLiga, UEFA and FIFA, but they do the opposite.

“It’s all good if you reduce the number of matches, and that will reduce the number of injuries and improve the quality of the spectacle. I’ve seen 8-0 games and 14-0 games, and I don’t know if that makes much sense.” (Sportsmax)

Ahmed will be representing Sunrisers Hyderabad next season, after his franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore traded him for bowling allrounder Mayank Dagar. It is understood that the trade is a direct swap between the two teams.

Dagar, who plays domestic cricket for Himachal Pradesh, played three games for Sunrisers in what was his maiden IPL season after

he was purchased for INR 1.8 crore ($219,000 approx.) in the 2023 auction. Shahbaz was secured for INR 2.4 crore ($320,000 approx.) before IPL 2022.

Both Sunrisers and RCB have new managements in the upcoming season.

While Sunrisers have Daniel Vettori as their new head coach, RCB have appointed Andy Flower in the same role. (ESPNCricinfo)

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix…

Verstappen on pole as Hamilton struggles

R

ed Bull’s Max Verstappen has beaten Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc to take his 12th pole in 22 races this year at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Verstappen was 0.139 seconds ahead of Leclerc, while McLaren’s Lando Norris appeared to have lost a chance for pole with an error on his final lap. A slide at Turn 13 left Norris down in fifth place, behind team-mate Oscar Piastri and Mercedes’ George Russell.

Lewis Hamilton was 11th out of the top 10 for the second race in a row. Before returning to the pits, Hamilton said to his race engineer Peter Bonnington over the team radio: “There’s something wrong with this car, mate.” The seven-time world champion was 0.346secs slower than Russell in the second session.

Marko bets against Verstappen Although the result looks entirely predictable on paper, within Red Bull, there was some doubt as to whether Verstappen could secure pole after a difficult weekend, until qualifying. Leclerc has taken pole position at three of the past four races, and Verstappen had appeared to be struggling through the three practice sessions, complaining of his car bottoming and bouncing, and suffering from a lack of front grip on Friday and lack of rear on Saturday. The extent of his struggles was clear when it was revealed by team principal Christian Horner in a conversation with Verstappen over the team ra-

dio that Red Bull motorsport adviser Helmut Marko had bet him 500 euros (£435) that Verstappen would not be on the front row.

“Helmut lost a bet?”

Verstappen asked. “What world are we living in?”

Verstappen said his car was much better in qualifying after some changes, and he will start his final race of the most dominant season in history from the front of the grid. He said: “Very weird.

The whole weekend so far has been a bit of a struggle.

We definitely improved the car for qualifying, and from lap one, it seemed a bit more together and we could push more.

“Around here, with the tyres, you have little slides, and it can cost you a lot of lap time. That was happening to us in practice, but in qualifying, it was a bit more connected.”

Leclerc was another driver to surprise himself in qualifying, as Ferrari had also had a difficult lead-up to the session. On the first runs in the top 10 shootout, Leclerc used scrubbed tyres, as did all other drivers apart from Verstappen, and was slowest. But on new tyres, the Ferrari improved and Leclerc

produced what he said was “a really, really good lap”.

He added, “It was a bit of a surprise, because honestly, considering the weekend we’ve had until now, I did not expect it at all. The last lap, I knew I had to put everything together. [At] the last corner, there was a bit too much sliding, but I think everybody had that. Really happy in second place. Q1 and Q2 I was worried to go through; so, to be on the front row is great.

“Our car is very peaky.

On scrubbed tyres, it was a good lap, but I was last. On new tyres, everything came together.”

Piastri had been the slower McLaren driver all weekend, but Norris’s error allowed the Australian to sneak ahead for a strong result at the end of an impressive rookie season.

Piastri, who was cleared after being under investigation for impeding Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, said: “Difficult session. It has been close this weekend. A bit of a messy one. I have been struggling to get it together this weekend. Before qualifying, I had not done a lap without a mistake. I did better in qualifying.” (BBC Sport)

46 Archery Guyana close 2023 activities with Indoor Open A GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023

rchery Guyana closed their competitions for the year with their 2023 Year-End Indoor Open at the National Gymnasium.

Held from November 7-11, the tournament saw 36 archers - 13 women and 23 men - vying for the top spots in the ranking rounds over 4 days, leading up to the elimination and medal matches on the final day.

In the Men’s Barebow, Ryan Chichester topped the rankings with 421 points; followed by Jeewanram Persaud with 418 and Teemahall Lall with 396 as the top 3. Roshini Boodhoo topped the Women’s

competition, Jeewanram Persaud’s dominance earned him 524 points. He was followed by Faraad Gani with 462, and Mehandra Chatargum with 440. In the Women’s Recurve, Julie-Ann Williams topped the rankings with 408 points, followed

by Roshini Boodhoo with 375 and Bibi Salim with 296.

As the elimination matches commenced, tensions were high as the archers shot their best to move up in the brackets towards the medal matches. In the Barebow Men’s Elimination Round, Ryan Chichester, Jeewanram Persaud and

also beat Rodrigues 6-2. In the Semi Finals, Chatargum beat Chichester 6-0, and Persaud beat Lall 6-0, to come up against each other in the gold medal match; while Chichester and Lall battled it out for the bronze. After 5 sets, Chichester emerged victorious with a 7-3 score to take the bronze medal.

The gold medal was also hotly contested, with Persaud claiming a 6-4 victory in a 5-set match against Chatargum, who settled for the silver.

In the Barebow Women’s event, Roshini Boodhoo and Julie- Ann Williams were giv-

Compound archery demo - Zahir Zamaluddin and Menandra Chatargum (red shirt)

en byes to the semi-final. Bibi Salim beat Melesa Ramnarine 6-0 to take on Boodhoo in the Semi, and Naudia Maraj beat Alexandra Gomes 6-5 to take on Williams in the Semi.

Boodhoo beat Salim 6-0 and Williams beat Maraj 6-0 to advance to the final, as Salim took on Maraj for the bronze, which she won.

The gold medal match was hotly contested by Williams and Boodhoo, but Williams emerged winner after a 1-arrow shoot-off as Boodhoo’s time ran out. Williams won

6-5 to take home the gold, while Boodhoo took the silver.

The Barebow Under-18 men’s event also saw some exciting matches, with Daniel Elliott beating Mehran Hamid 6-0 and Daniel Cox beating Ismaeel Bacchus 6-0.

The winners moved to the semifinals, where Elliott beat Cox 7-3 after 5 sets.

Muhsin Wazidali beat Zico Teixeira 6-0 to advance against Saifullah Gani, who beat Asif Rahaman in the Semifinals, where Gani emerged with a 6-2 score to move into the Final against Elliott. In the bronze medal match, Wazidali won 6-0 against Cox, while Elliott and Gani fought for the gold.

After another 5-set match, Gani won 6-4 to take home the gold medal, and Elliott took home the silver.

In the Barebow Under-18 Women’s match, Fatima Gani was given a bye to the semifinals, while in the Quarter finals, Ashana Naraine beat Alisha Sakoor 6-0, Summayyah Karim beat Nataliya Pollard 6-0, and Arshia Naraine beat Jaquiza Chase 6-0. In the semifinals, Gani beat Ashana Naraine 6-0 and Arshia Naraine beat

Archers on the line

Barebow rankings with 397 points; Julie-Ann Williams followed with 380 and Alexandra Gomes with 278.

Daniel Elliott took the top-ranked spot in the Under-18 Barebow Men’s competition with 353 points.

Saifullah Gani followed with 346 and Muhsin Wazidali with 276. In the Under-18 Barebow Women’s competition, Fatima Gani topped the ranking with 318 points, Arshia Naraine scored 189 and Summayyah Karim 172.

In the Men’s Recurve

Teemahall Lall were given byes to the Quarter Finals, as Ricardo Lall beat Afzal Karim 6-0, Faraad Gani beat Gregory McKoy 6-0, Mehandra Chatargum beat Jaza Percival 7-3, Richard Dookie beat Kenrick Cheeks 6-0, and Courtlee Rodrigues beat Naresh Sukhu 6-0 to advance to the Quarters.

Chichester then beat R. Lall 6-0 to advance to the Semi against Chatargum, who beat Gani 6-0. Lall beat Dookie 6-2 to advance to the Semi against Persaud, who

Chase 6-0 to advance to the finals.

In the medal matches, Ashana Naraine beat Summayyah Karim 6-5 in a 1-arrow shoot-off for the bronze, as Fatima Gani beat Arshia Naraine 6-0 to take the gold while Naraine settled for silver.

The last matches of the day were the Recurve Men’s and Women’s competitions, which were full of excitement as they battled for the top medal spots. Jeewanram Persaud got a bye to the semifinal, while the other 6 men competed.

Naresh Sukhu beat Jaza Percival 6-0, Mehandra Chatargum beat Afzal Karim 6-0, and Faraad Gani beat Sean Duncan 6-2, causing each winner to advance to the semifinals, where Persaud beat Sukhu 7-1 in a 4-set match and Gani beat Chatargum 6-5 to move on to the gold medal match. In the bronze medal match, Chatargum beat Sukhu 7-1 to take the bronze.

The Gold medal match was also a 5-set match, as Persaud beat Gani 7-3 to leave Gani with the silver.

Only 3 women contested the Recurve Women’s compe-

tition, so Julie-Ann Williams went thru to the finals with a bye as Bibi Salim and Roshini Boodhoo shot it out. Boodhoo eventually beat Salim 6-2 to move to the finals against Williams in the gold medal match, as Salim copped the bronze medal.

The gold medal match saw Boodhoo and Williams battling it out for 5 sets, whereafter Boodhoo emerged with a 6-2 victory to take the gold and Williams the silver.

After the end of the medal matches, patrons and competitors were given a special treat, a demonstration of compound archery, which is one of the other disciplines of target archery. Michael Chatargum and Zahir Zamaluddin put on the demonstration shooting at the 18-metre indoor distance, after which the medal ceremony was conducted. The medals were presented by Archery Guyana President Mrs Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon, Treasurer and Continental Judge Mr Robert Singh, Competition Committee Chairman Mr Jeewanram Persaud, and Vice Chairman Mr Umasankar Madray.

A special presentation was also made to the judges in the form of “The President’s Appreciation Award”.

The Board of Directors of Archery Guyana wishes to acknowledge and thank the Competitions Committee and Judges Committee for their hard work and dedication to the sport, affiliate clubs for their participation, and for the usual kind support of the National Sports Commission, Guyana Beverages Inc., Mr. Samuel Arjoon, and the Management of Oasis Water.

CLASSIFIED ADS Johnson replaces Anderson in West Indies “A” Team TO RENT

…Anderson to now play with Emerging Team

Business Opportunity: Restaurant for Rent – West Bank Demerara (at Aracari Resort, Versailles – between Harbor Bridge and Vreed-en-Hoop).

Turn key Business. Furnished and equipped. Phone 264-2946, 626-5290.

C

ricket West Indies (CWI) has announced that Jordan Johnson will replace Kevlon Anderson in the West Indies “A” Team’s 14-member squad for the ongoing tour of South Africa.

Unfortunately, Anderson experienced challenges with his visa documentation and was unable to travel to South Africa.

Anderson will now join the West Indies Academy team in Antigua for the two four-day, firstclass matches against Emerging Ireland at the Coolidge Cricket Ground (CCG).

Johnson will travel immediately to South Africa, and will be available for selection for the second and third four-day “Test” matches against South Africa “A”.

Following the recent International Cricket Council (ICC) announcement, that South Africa will now host the ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup in January 2024, the “A” Team call-up provides

ACCOMMODATIONS

Jordan Johnson

Kevlon Anderson

Johnson with the opportunity to gain valuable experience of South African conditions.

West Indies “A” won the first “Test” against South Africa “A” on Friday by one wicket in a thrilling finish at Willowmore Park in Benoni. The two teams will now travel to East London for the second match at Buffalo Park, starting on Tuesday, 28 November. First ball daily is 10am local (4am Eastern

Caribbean/3am Jamaica).

West Indies Academy will start their first-class series against Emerging Ireland on Saturday at the Coolidge Cricket Ground.

First ball daily is 10am local (9am Jamaica).

SQUADS West Indies A Team: Joshua Da Silva (captain), Tevin Imlach (vice captain), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Kavem Hodge, Jordan Johnson, Akeem Jordan, Shamar

Joseph, Shermon Lewis, Jair McAllister, Zachary McCaskie, Kirk McKenzie, Abhijai Mansingh, Jayden Seales, Kevin Sinclair West Indies Academy: Nyeem Young (captain), Kevlon Anderson, Ackeem Auguste, Joshua Bishop, Teddy Bishop, Carlon Bowen-Tuckett, McKenny Clarke, Leonardo Julien, Johann Layne, Matthew Nandu, Ashmead Nedd, Kelvin Pitman, Junior Sinclair, Isai Thorne, Kevin Wickham MATCH SCHEDULES West Indies A Team 21 to 24

November: 1st “Test” – West Indies A beat South Africa A by 1 wicket at Willowmoore Park, Benoni 28 November to 1 December: 2nd “Test” vs South Africa A at Buffalo Park, East London 5 to 8 December: 3rd “Test” vs South Africa A at Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein West Indies Academy 2 5 2 8 November: 1st four-day match vs Emerging Ireland at CCG, Antigua 2-5 December: 2nd fourday match vs Emerging Ireland at CCG, Antigua

Aracari Hotel, West Bank Demerara (Versailles – between Harbor Bridge and Vreeden-Hoop) – Air Conditioned Comfort. Amenities include TV, Restaurant, Bar, Swimming Pool, Gym. Free parking, Free WIFI. Spend 7 nights and get 1 Free.

Breakfast included. Long term rates available. Packages and getaways available. Phone: 2642946-9. www.aracariresort.com.

ENTERTAINMENT Swimming Pool Family Fun & Buffet – Crystal Clear Pool. Kids and Adult Sections. Very Safe. All you can eat Buffet Sunday Adults $3,000, Kids $1,000 11 AM – 3 PM over 12 options to choose from. Aracari Resort: West Bank Demerara (Versailles, Vreeden-Hoop)- Every Weekend. DJ Music. Groups and Excursions welcome – Phone 264-2946-9.

WANTED One Night watchman Call 612-2125

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023

Limacol Schools’ Football League…

47

West Indies vs Ireland Emerging series…

Thorne’s 4-fer bundles Entertaining clashes out Ireland for 213 expected today as League A enters 6th round

W

ith two rounds remaining in the Limacol Schools’ Football League, the Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground on Carifesta Avenue is set to come alive today when play resumes, with teams eager to grab points on the last laps.

With lots on the line for the top three finishers in the League, Chase’s Academic Foundation currently lead the proceedings, followed by Bartica Secondary, Carmel Secondary and Santa Rosa Secondary respectively.

Today’s first game in the New GPC Incsponsored tournament will see a top-two clash starting from 13:00hrs and involving Chase’s Academy and Bartica Secondary going head-to-head for possibly a spot at the top of the table heading into the final round.

Having been a force in the competition, Chase stumbled last weekend when they were without the services of a few key players, and had to settle for a draw against Mackenzie High. However, they will look to make a comeback today, but Bartica Secondary, in defeating Santa Rosa Secondary last weekend, proved that they are no pushovers. A nail-biter is thus anticipated.

A look at what to expect when the New GPC-sponsored Limacol Schools’ Football League resumes today

Two teams who haven’t been at their best this tournament, Christianburg Wismar Secondary and Ann’s Grove Secondary, will be looking for redemption at the expense of each other in the game that follows. With both languishing in the bottom half of the points table, their match is set for a 15:00hrs kickoff and possibly fireworks.

The final game of the day is likely to be an entertaining spectacle involving Carmel Secondary and Santa Rosa Secondary.

Both championing separate schools’ football tournaments this year, Carmel (Digicel Champions) and Santa Rosa (Milo Champions) will have a lot to prove on the field, with the first whistle expected to be sounded at 16:30hrs.

Heading into the Sixth round with 13 points from 4 wins and a draw and a whopping +19 goal difference, Chase’s Academy currently lead the points table.

Tied on points are Bartica Secondary and Carmel Secondary, both with 12 points from 4 wins in 5 rounds. However, Bartica has a superior goal difference of +7, as compared to Carmel’s +4.

Santa Rosa Secondary, with 9 points from two wins, two draws and a loss are in fourth, while Mackenzie High with 5 points from a win and two draws complete the top 5. Ann’s Grove Secondary have 4 points heading into this round, while Christianburg Wismar have 3, and East Ruimveldt Secondary are yet to make their mark.

fightback of sorts from Teddy Bishop and Kevlon Anderson in the final overs of the day steadied the ship for West Indies’ Emerging players when they looked to be in hot water on the first day of their first four-day match against Emerging Ireland.

Bishop’s 48 from 66 balls, including 7 fours and 1 six; and Anderson’s 20 from 51 deliveries, consisting of 2 boundaries, saw out the remaining overs to stumps after both openers were sent back to the dugout in quick succession.

Ackeem Auguste was dismissed by Matthew Foster for 5 from 18 deliveries, while Matthew Nandu contributed just 1 run off 22 balls before falling prey to Foster.

The West Indies Emerging team are looking to hunt down a 213run first innings total set

by Emerging Ireland on

A scene from Day 1 of the 1st Four-day match between West Indies and Ireland Academy

the first day. The visitors won the toss and opted to bat first. Murray Commins led the charge with a blistering 93 runs from 123 balls, including 17 boundaries. Commins fell short of the century, however, due to West Indies Captain Nyeem Young’s bowling.

SCOREBOARD Emerging Ireland 213 Stephen Doheny b J Layne 3 James McCollum c JA Bishop b J Layne 6 Cade Carmichael c M Nandu b J Layne 59 Murray Commins c JA Bishop b NRJ Young 93 Morgan Topping c C Bowen-Tuckett b NRJ Young 17 Scott MacBeth c C Bowen-Tuckett b I Thorne 2 Gavin Hoey b NRJ Young 0 Fionn Hand c C Bowen-Tuckett

b I Thorne 25 Matthew Humphreys c JA Bishop b I Thorne 0 Mike Frost c C Bowen-Tuckett b I Thorne 2 Matthew Foster not out 0 Extras – 6 b: 1 lb: 2 wd: 2 nb:1 Total 213 all out (61.4 overs) BOWLING O-M-R-W Johann Layne 10-0-43-3 Isai Thorne 9.4-3-33-4 Nyeem Young 11-2-56-3 Joshua Bishop 16-4-44-0 Kevin Wickham 1-0-6-0 Ashmead Nedd 14-6-28-0

Ireland’s Cade Carmichael also hit a half century, 59 from 97 balls, while the next best score came from Fionn Hand, who added 25 runs from 38 deliveries.

The West Indian players produced a collective bowling effort, as Young and Johann Layne each took 3 wickets, while Isai Thorne stood out with 4 scalps. Thorne claimed 4-33 from 9.4 overs, while Young took 3-56 from 11 overs. Layne took 3-43 from 10 overs. Although not among the wickets, Guyanese Ashmead Need was economical, conceding only 28 runs from 14 overs.

The Four-day match continues today at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua.

CWI announces Macron as new technical partner and official team kit supplier …To unveil new-look jersey for CG United ODI Series vs England

T

he West Indies Men’s and Women’s teams will be wearing new team jerseys, starting from the upcoming Series against England, as part of a new technical partnership between Cricket West Indies (CWI) and leading European sportswear company Macron.

The home players will be wearing new One Day International (ODI), T20 International (T20), and training kit apparel across the Series all featuring the West Indies iconic maroon that fans in the Caribbean and around the world love and adore.

Macron, as CWI’s new official technical partner and team kit supplier, is an Italian-based sports apparel manufacturer which has, for over five decades, been supplying equipment and sportswear from grassroots to elite athletes, sports players, and teams.

The new partnership will see Macron supplying team playing and training kits

for all home and away Test, ODI, and T20I matches covering all West Indies Men’s and Women’s international teams, including ‘A’ Teams, the Academies, and age group teams.

The team jerseys feature high performance material that not only supports performance, but helps reduce plastic waste and energy consumption. Each jersey is made from a special 100% PET recycled polyester thread that comes from thirteen recycled bottles and requires less energy in production of the apparel.

The new partnership also helps CWI’s desired aim to increase sustainability, reduce plastic waste, and reduce energy consumption, which is important for the future of Caribbean countries.

The new team kit designs will be unveiled in the build-up to the three-match CG United ODI Series which bowls off at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on 3 December, and the T20I

Series which starts on 12 December at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.

Macron’s online store will enable fans around the world to purchase the new range playing and training apparel, as well as caps, polo shirts and other accessories. Fans in the

where and how fans can buy the new West Indies kit will be announced in the coming days.

CWI Commercial Director Dominic Warne has said: “CWI is looking forward to a great technical partnership with Macron as a top-quality sports brand suppling tech-

Caribbean will initially be able to purchase the new range on match day at the four venues hosting the West Indies vs England Series, either through a click and collect service via CWI’s online channels, or at West Indies merchandise stands in each venue.

CWI is also working with regional retail partners to stock the new West Indies Macron range. More details on

nical apparel to sports teams around the world. We believe the new kit will be loved by fans and players, and will also help the environment. The players will enjoy high quality technical apparel to support their high-performance requirements. We know fans will enjoy the new maroon jersey designs, which supporters can purchase at all West Indies matches as well

as through Macron’s e-commerce store. The team jerseys will also make a positive environmental impact using recycled plastic bottles in their production. We’re looking forward to seeing lots of maroon in the stands and the streets, with fans rallying to see West Indies home for Christmas and with the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup coming to the Caribbean and USA in 2024.”

Macron CEO Gianluca Pavanello said: “Given the history, success and international prestige of West Indies Cricket, we can be particularly proud of this partnership. This further confirms the quality and reliability of the teamwear we supply to the growing number of sports federations who choose to wear the Macron Hero on their chest. We are committed to designing and producing game sets and technical garments that express the history, symbols and identity of West Indies Cricket.”

Further information will

be announced on windiescricket.com and CWI’s social channels using the ‘windiescricket’ handle.

FULL MATCH SCHEDULE (with start times) December 3: 1st CG United ODI at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua – 9:30am December 6: 2nd CG United ODI at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua – 1:30pm December 9: 3rd CG United at Kensington Oval, Barbados – 1:30pm December 12: 1st T20I at Kensington Oval, Barbados – 6pm December 14: 2nd T20I at Grenada National Stadium, Grenada – 1:30pm December 16: 3rd T20I at Grenada National Stadium, Grenada – 1:30pm December 19: 4th T20I at Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad – 4pm December 21: 5th T20I at Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad – 4pm

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Pg 47

Pg 47

Limacol Schools’ Football League…

West Indies vs Ireland Emerging series…

clashes expected today bundles as League out Ireland for 213 enters 6th round Pg 46

2023 activities with Indoor Open GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, NEWS HOTLINE: 231-8063 EDITORIAL: 223-7230, 223-7231, 231-0544, 225-7761 SPORT: sport@guyanatimesgy.com SALES AND MARKETING: 231-8064 - marketing@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.