Guyana Times - Sunday, November 27, 2022

BRIDGE OPENINGS

Sunday,

Sunday,

FERRY SCHEDULE

River dam squatters at Herstelling, Grove to get house lots, help to build homes – Pres Ali

...more than half of Herstelling squatters Venezuelans

leaders to ensure that once the squatters are removed no one else returns to occu py the reserves.

He contended that com munities have to be in volved in the solution to societal issues and cannot just “throw-up your hands”. As such, the President told residents that when the lands are cleared, they need to play a part in en suring that other persons do not take up occupation there.

According to Ali, this has been a reoccurring challenge.

“If you go through the history of this area and all the squatting on the dam, when they get [the house lots], a next set of the fam ily moves in on the dam… That’s the problem we’re faced with… We’ll take strong action and when we take strong action, you have to come out and sup port us. But we can’t be con tinuing giving people house lots over and over again,” the President posited.

conditions. They can’t make that choice. And as soon as [the squatters move] to their house, we’re going to remove [these structures on the sea dam] and you have to put rangers so that no new person comes out here,” the President stated while at the Grove sea dam.

Moreover, there were widespread complaints of dumping of garbage es pecially in the drains and koker canals, which leads to flooding in both commu nities. With regards to this issue, the President told residents that there is only so much Government can do and that they need to step up and take action to curb the wanton dumping of garbage.

Dumping site

At Grove, the Guyanese leader was shown a dump ing site on the corner of a new road that was built.

As Government works to improve the lives and living condi tions of Guyanese across the country, President Dr Irfaan Ali on Saturday or dered that persons who are squatting along the sea dam (river bank) on the East Bank of Demerara be removed and given house lots to relocate.

The Head of State did a walkabout in the East Bank communities of Herstelling and Grove, where he en gaged residents on a num ber of issues affecting them. Among the matters raised with the President was squatting along the sea dam in both communities.

At Herstelling, it was disclosed that approximate ly 195 houses have been il legally erected on the re serves at the sea dam. In response, President Ali in dicated that the Ministry of Housing along with oth er Government stakehold ers will be conducting a new housing exercise to en sure that the squatters are given house lots to relocate and have better living con ditions.

“The [Housing] Minister is going to come and he’s going to make one final as sessment [of the squatters to allocate house lots],” the Head of State posited.

Additionally, the Head of State also instructed that those squatters already with house lots be given as sistance to fast-track works so that they can be relocat ed as soon as possible.

“All those who have house lots, we will do the steel and cement project for the foundation. And will get NBS (New Building Society), GBTI (Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry) and Demerara Bank to come and qualify them… Let them come now,

we will give them the ce ment and the sand to build low-income homes and we will build on their land. So, we give them that offer and we’re aiming to com plete those houses in eight weeks,” he stated.

Provisions for squatters

Meanwhile, it was dis closed that of the 190-plus squatters in Herstelling, more than half of them are Venezuelan migrants. To this end, the Guyanese leader committed to mak ing provisions for them as well.

In fact, this assurance was given to a Venezuelan

Get house lots

Similar directions were passed during the Head of State’s visit to Grove, where he was told that most of the squatters on the sea dam have already been engaged to get house lots. As such, the Head of State urged that they be given the con struction materials – steel and cement – as well as easy access to bank financ ing to start building their homes in the coming weeks.

Further, for those in the squatting areas, especially the young people who are not working, President Ali committed to have them

“You can’t allow this –a brand new road and peo ple dumping garbage like this… All of you living right here, you must know [who is dumping garbage] … These things are very painful. How can we move forward when this non sense happens? We have to take collective respon sibility. The Government can’t build, build, build and we’re not taking responsi bility for anything,” he told the residents of Grove Back Street.

Earlier, the residents of Herstelling had complained of the same issue and the Head of State said to them: “If the people come with car and dump the garbage, all of y’all can get the car num ber. Everybody seeing the car or the pick-up – even the NDC Chairman says pick-up and cars coming –but if I ask y’all to give me a car number now or one pick-up number, y’all can’t give it… give me, with the NDC, a list of all the ve hicles’ number and photo graphs of the vehicles that coming to dump garbage.”

pastor, who resides in the community and informed the President that some 100,000 migrants are cur rently residing across Guyana. The Spanish na tional expressed his grati tude to the Guyanese lead er for welcoming them after escaping hardships in their homeland.

“We’ll work with you guys so that we can create better conditions for [the Venezuelan] people to live also,” Ali reassured.

The President also or dered the Ministries of Housing and Public Works to work with community

trained to take up jobs in areas such as the construc tion industry which is in dire need of workers.

“Those who don’t have jobs, we can get them trained immediately to work in the construction sector because we are short on labour now in construc tion. So, if they want jobs, that’s not going to be an ex cuse because we can train them as carpenters, ma sons…”

“We can’t have children growing up like this. I’m not going to tolerate this nonsense. It’s not a choice for them to live under these

Contending that collec tive responsibility needs to be taken, the President in structed that notices be giv en to residents, warning them not to dump garbage in the trenches and drains. To enforce this, the Head of State said a collective effort is needed and so he asked that rangers from the com munities be identified to monitor such activities.

The President also di rected Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken to have the Community Policing Groups (CPGs) involved in this exercise to maintain cleanliness in the villages.

Other issues raised during President Ali’s walkabout in the two com munities include derelict vehicles on the streets and illegal electrical wires in the water ways. (G8)

President Dr Irfaan Ali engaging squatters at the Herstelling river dam on Saturday morning

President Dr Irfaan Ali engaging residents at Grove, East Bank Demerara

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 Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown

Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

Energy conundrum

COP 27 - the twenty-seventh Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) - is over, and the thousands of delegates have returned to their home countries. The meeting, wherein 190 countries were represented, was held in Egypt, located in the Sahara Desert, which we know was once green and alive, pocked with lakes, rivers, grasslands, and even forests. Whatever might have caused that particular transformation, the delegates had gathered to prevent similarly cataclysmic changes to our present world because of the conceded Climate Change. This was brought about by our burning of fossil fuels to produce global warming beyond the 1.5degree Celsius mark that was determined to be the tipping point. They had heard that there is an 80% chance we have already passed that limit.

And the evidence of what is in store abounds: China experienced its most intense heatwave – up to 45 degrees Celsius - in six decades, and ironically, a drought disrupted a battery plant that was supposed to power electric cars with less fossil fuels. Droughts in Europe reduced river flows in Germany and France, which affected not only shipping of coal, but caused the shutdown of nuclear plants that could not be cooled. In Africa, hydroelectric power generation in some countries, like Malawi, was curtailed because of droughts, even as other countries were inundated by rain. One quarter of Pakistan was flooded.

Ironically, the much-lauded COP 27 fund that was launched to cover “loss and damage” caused by Climate Change merely confirmed that the world has implicitly moved from reversing its effects to dealing with what they evidently concede an inevitability. Against the background of the wealthy countries never satisfying their “commitment” to the US$100 billion annually to poorer countries to confront Climate Change, one has to wonder whether the sum eventually agreed on would ever be met.

At this time, all hopes are being placed on “renewables” to replace fossil fuels as the source of energy to power all the machines and devices that now are taken as basic for life in the modern world. But there are several challenges, not the least being that the production of renewables itself causes a certain amount of pollution, both in terms of the production of the materials - like lithium and copper – and in their recycling, which is being promoted. In the meantime, the costs of the inputs are rising as their demand heads north. The price of copper, for instance, has tripled in the last decade.

However, some – including in Guyana - are not even conceding that the renewable energy transition would take much longer than anticipated, and that their campaign to have us stop pumping oil is unrealistic. While renewable sources have undoubtedly increased massively, the human population continues to grow – we have just passed eight billion – and so would their energy needs. But even more pertinently, the example of China, which moved hundreds of millions out of poverty through the burning of coal, serves as a goad to leaders in Africa, India and elsewhere to do the same for their citizens. As we have seen in Guyana, very few will be moved by calls to “save the planet” while rich countries that caused the problem in the first place are continuing to set the standard for “the good life”.

The bottom line for success or failure in the fight to get a grip on global warming lies in whether the developed countries would abandon their dogmatic insistence on continued “economic growth”, when all this does is set ever higher levels of consumption for the rest of the world. For instance, with less than 5% of the world's population, the U.S. consumes 17% of the world's energy and accounts for 15% of world GDP. India, which has four times the population of the US but presently uses only one-third of its power consumption, would certainly not agree to keep its bottom 600 million in poverty while it changes over to renewables.

Newest propaganda puppet is so-called ‘Institute for Action Against Discrimination’

Dear Editor, The orchestrated rac ism machinery of the PNC is now churning out make shift organizations and as sociations to propagate PNC divisive lies about the social realities across Guyanese communities and among our citizens. Their newest propa ganda puppet is the so-called ‘Institute for Action Against Discrimination’, headed by the disgruntled former army Colonel Lelon Saul, who has purportedly written to the Democratic Black Caucus in the United States Congress with a hysterical claim that Guyana is on the brink of civil unrest because of ficti tious issues of discrimination swirling around in Saul’s head.

Almost a decade ago, Lelon Saul was sent into early retirement from the Guyana Defence Force, a sit uation from which he nev er fully recovered. His rad ical views about the PPP/C have never been a secret in and out of active duty, and have in fact been intensifying since he lost the CEO title his squaddies in the David Granger Administration be stowed on him at the Central Housing and Planning Authority following the 2015 elections.

Saul’s mindset was on full display most recently, during President Ali’s vis it to Belladrum. The retired Colonel took to the micro phone to rhetorically ask the

Head of State if he was fear ful for his safety in that com munity while visiting, forc ing the President to issue a strong rebuke. “I will visit any community in this coun try at any time and be safe. So, no need to be concerned for my safety”, President Ali responded.

Ahead of the 2015 elec tions in Guyana, retired GDF Brigadier and Burnham strongman David Granger was selected as the army boys’ Manchurian Candidate who would become President. The deal saw retired Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Harmon become Minister of State in the new Ministry of the Presidency, with portfo lio powers never before seen in Government since inde pendence. So much were Harmon’s powers that the co alition partner AFC demand ed reduction to achieve bet ter balance of power in the partnership. Dozens of other retired Brigadiers, Colonels and Captains were handed senior appointments across the Government spectrum, at the Georgetown Public Hospital, at the National Parks Commission, and at other strategic agencies and departments of the state, ef fectively ringfencing the gov ernance apparatus with mil itary management tactics, and preparing the machinery for the many strong-arm pol icies and programmes that would set the stage for a dic tatorship.

These ranged from forc ing citizens to pay more than one hundred new tax es, taking away cash grants from Guyanese children, rendering thousands of sug ar workers and Amerindian residents jobless, and re possessing farmlands in the MMA-ADA Scheme and in other parts of the country, while at the same time oil ing the elections-rigging ma chinery at GECOM with the appointment of Keith Lowenfield as CEO.

Lelon Saul landed at the CHPA as part of the mili tarisation strategy. While there, he singlehandedly is sued multi-million-dollar contracts without due pro cess to the husband of his subject minister, effectively discriminating against legiti mate contractors and depriv ing them of fair opportunities in the process. He prioritised the building of turnkey hous ing units for the military comrades, while stymieing the housing buildout for com munities that were perceived as supporters of the PPP/C. Since the failed seditious at tempts to steal the elections in 2020 by the Granger sol diers, Saul and several of his military squaddies have been frequenting extrem ist talk shows. These are the shows that have been calling for the destabilisa tion of the Government and country, with the vilest rac ist messages designed to agi tate the PNC support base to

make the country ungovern able. Not surprisingly, those treacherous efforts have been falling flat in President Ali’s ‘One Guyana’.

Now Saul is boldly writ ing to the US Congress with veiled threats of civil unrest in Guyana, a situation he appears to have firsthand knowledge of, and one for which he appears unaverse.

Saul and his fearmon gering squaddies would be well advised to take care ful lessons from the resolve demonstrated by the PPP/C and other national and in ternational stakeholders in the face of the undemocratic disposition of parties to the attempted election heist of 2020, and the citizens’ con tinued overwhelming rejec tion of their racist, divisive politics of yesteryear.

The orchestrated racism bogyman tactics being waged at home and abroad by Saul et al at the direction of PNC Leader Aubrey Norton, to fracture the Guyanese soci ety, will not work. Their intel lectual authors will continue to be isolated and fiercely re buffed by every truly patriot ic citizen of our country, even among their political strong holds; and their plans and schemes will eventually fall into the long arms of the law.

Respectfully, Kwame McCoy Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister

Carmine James of St Ignatius, Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo) displaying kitchen utensils made out of pottery, as other locals displayed their produce at the Rupununi Expo and Trade Fair which has returned after an absence of two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic (Andrew Carmichael photos)

Aubrey Norton, gone are the days of ‘sucking salt’

Dear Editor, Aubrey Norton wants Guyanese to ‘suck salt’ is how Minister Kwame McCoy puts it, and I add ‘to go back to ‘sucking salt’, as it was in the pre-1992 era, especially when Linden Forbes Burnham was in the height of his brutal tenure. So, I must concur with the Minister that “If Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton were to have his way, Guyana would indeed take a steep plunge into economic ruin. This will eventuate in the people ‘weeding grass’ at Enmore for a pinch of salt, a touch of cooking oil, and maybe a pound of rice flour.

I think Norton is ‘out of his mind’, and not just out of his league. I mean, the reality is that the Dr Irfaan Ali-led People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration must never abandon “its sound national transfor mation agenda…” It is providing great dividends, and this is coming from no other but the International Monetary Fund (IMF), where the organisation stated that “Guyana’s economy remains resilient in the face of global eco

nomic tensions, and is on track for 47.2% growth by year-end.” And this is al most fully corroborated by the World Bank, where its figure is only a slight vari ation, standing at 47.9%.

And as for the immedi ate future, the World Bank is projecting a growth of 34.3% in 2023 for Guyana. So, I am forced to ask Mr. Norton what is really wrong with him.

Let me remind readers that even though Guyana’s economic growth is revolv ing around the develop ment of a nascent oil and gas sector, and spin-off developments, the over all ascendency is not lim ited therein alone. As the record shows, the non-oil economy is also expect ed to continue registering strong growth, projected at 7.7% in 2022, and driv en mainly by rebounds in rice-growing and gold-min ing, and continued expan sion in construction activi ty and wholesale and retail trade and repairs. The rice sector is also expected to expand by 25.1% in 2022, the gold mining sub-sector by 12.2%, and construction by 10.5%.

So yes, “…if Guyana

were to heed the advice or contemplate the lit tle-league leadership of Aubrey Norton and his third-grade advisers, this country would most as suredly fall prey and din ner to not only the ‘Dutch Disease,’ but also the PNC’s rice flour and bread fruit scorn all over again,” is how Minister McCoy ex panded on his truth.

Then, outside of the ac tual financial predictions, I add to the Minister’s pro nouncement that Guyana’s current ongoing develop ment was well planned. It is not a ‘fly-by-night’ fluke happening. For ex ample, where education is concerned, in the 2022 National Budget, some $74.4 billion was allocat ed to improving access to education and education delivery. This allocation is a 22.6 per cent increase from 2021, and accounts for 13.5 per cent of the overall $552.9 billion 2022 budget.

What have Guyanese reaped so far? The increase of the ‘Because We Care’ cash grant from $15,000 to $25,000 for each school child. Parents also re ceived an extra $1,000 on

the $4,000 school uniform voucher which is distrib uted annually. These two sets of increases allowed for an additional $2.2 bil lion in disposable income into the pockets of parents.

How about things like the $1.2 billion for the purchase of textbooks for public school learners, the over $20 million for the purchase of 2,000 mi cro-science kits, the $3.5 billion for the University of Guyana (UG), the $1.3 billion for an addition al 4,500 scholarships un der the Guyana Online Learning Academy (GOAL) programme, the $2 billion for the National School Feeding Programme which is benefitting a total of 85,773 learners across 902 nursery and primary schools; and the $6.6 bil lion for the construction, rehabilitation, extension, and maintenance of educa tional facilities. I rest my case.

Not only the marked progress in education, but the Housing Sector shows up the inanity and insan ity of Norton. I note that in the first half of 2022, the Government expend ed $8.1 billion of the $12.4

Opposition must educate themselves about various elections

Dear Editor, I am driven to comment on recent protests against the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and other threats of the use of protests by the po litical Opposition, which from all indications are less valu able than the ‘used cardboards’ from which the placards are made.

Peaceful protests remain a universal approach for di recting or jerking public at tention to one’s opinion, in an attempt to influence pre ferred changes where there are impacting consequences as a result of oversight, injus tices, etc. However, when pro tests are used to expose igno rance, or, rather, the lack of relevant educational potency to the matter being protested, the relevance and sting of the intervention is defeated before it begins, and even the protest ers themselves quickly come to realize that their efforts are a waste of time and are unde serving of consideration.

It is of note that GECOM, following precedence, has tak en the current approach of hav ing the Revised List of Electors (RLE) fully scrutinised by the public for twenty-one days. After this process, GECOM will produce the Official List of Electors (OLE) for the whole country. However, for the hold ing of the LGEs, GECOM will have to extract the Official List of Voters (OLV) from the coun trywide OLE, which is specif ic to persons residing in the

various Local Authority Areas (LAAs).

The circumstances empha sise the point that only persons residing in the specific LAAs are allowed to elect leaders to the various Constituency and Municipality Councils accord ing to the defined boundaries.

The Laws governing Local Government Elections refer to the Registered List of Voters, hence it is clear that after the Continuous Registration ex ercise which was followed by the period of Claims and Objections, due process is be ing followed by GECOM, as they now have the Revised List of Electors in the public domain to ensure a transpar ent approach for public scru tiny, and allow for further cleansing of the final lists.

The sequential steps are intended to allow for justified corrections in the cleansing process up to a cut-off date.

GECOM’s swift and ratio nal response to the calls by the PNC protestors must be ap plauded. The response is cer tainly educational, and testi fies against the shallow and unfounded allegations perpet uated by the Opposition sup porters who protested.

Notably, they, among oth er things, called for GECOM’s release of the OLV in prepara tion for the Local Government Elections (LGEs), which high lights their lack of understand ing of the process. Simply put for the update of the PNC stra tegic planners, GECOM has

not reached that stage as yet!

It gives a clearer idea why former President Granger moved unilaterally to appoint James Patterson as GECOM Chairman, and also suggests a significant breakdown with in the PNC camp with those that were instrumental in the Party’s known manipulation approaches of the past. The nation is witnessing demon strated uncertainty in the PNC/APNU/AFC camp, evi denced by the impending sig nal of a divorce based on the Cummingsburg Accord, and the PNC’s recent notewor thy failure to attend a sched uled clarification meeting with GECOM. It leaves one to ratio nalize on the roles of those who bore such relationships with the now condemned and pros ecuted staffers.

Guyanese are fully aware of the many dreams and al legations that Vincent Rip Van Winkle Alexander pur ports to be immune to in his representation as a PNCR Commissioner at GECOM. He tried desperately to cir cumvent the smooth process in 2020. It is necessary to re mind him and the public about the subversive role he played as part of the ‘Task Force’ that was set up for the review ing of the Local Government Elections System in 1995.

Consequent to his role, for more than a decade, we could not hold LGEs. The dreamers fell asleep for five years, from 2015 to 2020, as they used

the same List for two LGE and National and Regional Elections, but have now re awakened. Hence, GECOM must follow their carefully worked out “Work Plan” and hold LGEs promptly.

All the false comments about voter impersonation must come to light and be prov en. The PNC/AFC = APNU must bring proof of these wa tershed allegations. It must also be noted that Alexander was present at the highly suc cessful National Consultation of The National Registration (Amendment) Bill and he per sonally also contributed to the discussions.

It is time for our people to rise to the occasion and work together for a better Guyana. Bitterness must be replaced with better judgment, and let us work together and be count ed in the process as we build ‘One Guyana”.

The failure of the PNC, particularly in the now ap parently defunct APNU, to be present at a meeting that they had requested with GECOM is a clear manifestation of the fact that they are not aware of the proper preparation for LGE. They need to educate themselves on the process, stop thinking negatively, and banish the ‘naysayers’ among them.

Let us have the LGEs.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

billion allocated to further develop the housing sector, and what do we have now?

I will only offer a snippet.

Approximately 10 kilo metres of roads were up graded in existing hous ing areas at Uitvlugt, Belle West, La Parfaite Harmonie, Herstelling, Ordinance Fortlands, Bath, Balthyock, Good Hope, Mon Repos, Section D, Non Pariel; Tuschen and Onderneeming.

Additionally, 750 LED streetlamps were installed across the country during the first half of the year. Then there is the installa tion of electricity and dis tribution networks at 12 housing areas in Regions 3, 4 and 6, with similar works in 14 new housing areas slated for the second half of the year.

I add that infrastruc tural works are ongoing in housing areas in Regions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 10. In fact, in its half-year report, the Ministry of Finance re vealed that CH&PA com pleted works on 25 core homes at La Parfaite Harmonie, while anoth er 25 are slated for con struction by the end of the year. To date, we have the completed construction for 100 low-income homes at Hampshire/ Williamsburg, 150 moderate-income

homes at Cummings Lodge, and 125 houses for young professionals at Providence and Prospect; and all of these within the first half of the year. In fact, the CH&PA distribut ed 1,843 house lots during the first six months of the year, taking the total allo cation to 11,680 lots since August 2020.

Therefore, it is a non-argument, and so it is quite silly to pay attention to Aubrey Norton. The un folding of “…Budget 2022 continues, and properly evidences the PPP’s strat egy for the country.” In terms of a higher standard of living, better services and improving quality of life, “The PPP/C’s desire and intention for the coun try…is to make sure every single sector, every single person who interacts with the sector, which means every citizen, benefit in some way…”, and this is quite obvious.

To Aubrey Norton and his little league, I say gone are the days of ‘sucking salt.’ The PPP/C will en sure no negative recidi vism. The unfolding from the Government must con tinue.

Yours truly, H Singh

THE OVERZEALOUS BARKER (continued)

Last week we estab lished the possible causes for the inces sant barking of dogs. We shall now explore possible regimens that may assist in curbing this disturbing fea ture in canine behaviour.

One may think that it should be a relatively sim ple matter to arrive at a solution. If chaining the dog for long periods of time (even for the entire day) precipitates the continuous barking, then the solution should be simple: untie the dog from time to time.

Similarly, if we have es

the neighbours prepared to sully the otherwise good relationship with the dog’s owner by alerting him/her to the discomfiture the in cessant barking of the dog creates? Will one continue

which the complainant was hounded out of a village because she (a physical ly-challenged elderly per son) dared to seek Police intervention in a seri ous breach of the law. The poisoning of her dog was the repercussive effect. Interestingly enough (defi nitely in this mentioned case), the Police did not exhibit sympathy towards the complainant, nor did they try to understand the issue involved.

Let us now address the actual treatment possi bilities. The objective is obviously to accurately identify, and subsequent ly remove, the causative agents, which may be as sociated with loneliness, anxiety, bore dom, alerting the

caregiver to what the dog perceives as ominous threats and predators, chaining of the dog for long periods, etc., - (see above and also last week’s col umn). In addition, and of great concern, are caus es associated with (i) sep aration anxiety (ii) geneti cally-based aggressive and obsessive-compulsive dis orders (OCD). We will deal specifically with OCD on another occasion.

N.B.

(i) Please keep in mind that we are discussing the incessant/overzealous barker.

(ii) Reactions to noise, weather-related discom forting stressors (e.g., storms, lightning, thunder, explosive devices, etc.)

(iii) Excessive barking may lead to an inflamma tion of the vocal cords and surrounding tissues, a con dition which is different from a laryngitis; a condi tion which one’s veterinari an would diagnose.

Let it be clear that if the overzealous barking is not so continuous and is not

considered to be outside of a relatively normal be havioural repertoire based on triggers (e.g., storms, firecrackers, etc.) and con text (e.g., loneliness, bore dom, etc.), the offending animal can be taught when to bark (using rewards and verbal praise when ces sation has been achieved) and when not to bark.

When the dog barks in such a way as to annoy the caregiver and/or the neigh bours, one can – as a sim ple curative undertaking – teach the dog to inter act with a toy. Dogs tend to enjoy squeaky toys. In fact, the caregiv

er can have a tug-o-war in teraction with the compan ion animal and toy. In this way, one would be estab lishing bonding, reinforc ing TLC and removing anx iety.

The more I consider the methodologies used to com bat this incessant barking, the more I am reminded how complex the treatment procedures actually are. If the barking is pathologi cal, the anxiety state that leads to the abnormal vo calisation (incessant bark ing) has to be treated.

We will continue with the discussion on further treatment regimens next week.

tablished that leaving the dog unattended and alone in the house creates fear, loneliness, anxiety and boredom, then it should be easy to apply interventions which would remove the causative factors.

But what if the “care giver” is intransigent and uncaring, and is not even mindful that the contin uous barking is affecting his/her neighbours? Are

to suffer in silence, even if the barking disturbs a stu dent preparing for an im portant exam, or exacer bates the suffering of an ailing elderly patient?

Is one prepared to intro duce the Police to the di lemma – consequently and almost assuredly creating “bad blood” between one self and the indifferent caregiver?

I know of a case in

Eccles-to-Great Diamond Highway Project

5 Mocha squatters being removed from Govt reserves – Housing Ministry

Following months of continuous and baseless rejection of Government’s compensa tion offers for them to relo cate from the Cane View/ Herstelling (Mocha), East Bank Demerara area, the Ministry of Housing on Saturday started to remove the five persons squatting on the stretch of Government reserves that is the pathway of the new Eccles to Great Diamond Highway Project.

More than 25 Mocha squatters have already been relocated from the area, and according to the Housing Ministry, there are five per sons who remain on the land and have refused the com pensation packages offered by Government. These are: Joyann Alexis Ellis, Mark Gordan, Junior Ellis, Abigail Ifill and Anneita Beaton.

In a public notice issue on Thursday, November 24, the Ministry said the lands being occupied illegally by

these persons is stymieing development of the Eccles to Great Diamond Highway Project that seeks to ease traffic congestion on the East Bank Demerara corri dor.

“Five individuals re main non-compliant, refus ing to engage and contin ue to stall this development plan. As such, the following persons were given 2 weeks final notice from November 5th to vacate. These notic es have all been ignored. Every effort by the Ministry has been met with harsh, baseless and irrational re sistance,” the Ministry ex plained in the notice.

Despite their stance of refusing to engage Government, however, the Housing Ministry point ed out in the notice that the offer still stands with move-in ready single flat two-bedroom houses be ing available in the Little Diamond Housing Scheme.

Moreover, these five squatters have also been offered full compensation for their illegal properties at Cane View/Herstelling, a free residential house lot and a grace period to facil itate construction of their new homes – all of which have been continuously re jected.

To this end, the no tice indicated that while Government is ready to work with all Guyanese for their best interest, it will no longer stand by and allow the nation’s development to be held hostage by illegal ac tivities.

“Should the last offer be rejected by these illegal squatters, the Ministry will have no other choice but to proceed with a demolition exercise,” Thursday’s final notice further detailed.

Consequently, on Saturday morning, the Housing Ministry went ahead with that exercise to

start removing the squat ters.

Only two weeks ago, Housing Minister Collin Croal had called out the APNU/AFC Opposition for urging the persons occu pying the Government re serves not to relocate.

Leader of the Opposition Aubrey Norton, during a re cent visit to the area, had urged the five remaining squatters on the reserve to remain, stating that the area is ‘ancestral lands’.

Croal had stated that ex tensive work was done to en sure the residents were relo cated to developed housing schemes and were adequate ly compensated based on the market value of their struc tures.

As such, he described the Opposition’s statement as “reckless”, noting that the APNU/AFC is not interested in the development and up liftment of the very people it claims to represent.

“Those persons [the squatters] would have never been able to be regularised or have a document for own ership, as well as to [be able to] apply for utility in terms of electricity and water…,” the Minister stated.

Croal further noted that the process to remove the squatters was done in a way to minimise living disrup tion of the families while making sure that homeown ership is legally achieved as a means of building genera tional wealth.

Some of the residents who were relocated to the Farm-Herstelling housing areas have begun construc tion of their new homes, while others have already completed their structures.

Meanwhile, with regards to the progress of other sec tions of the new Eccles to Great Diamond Highway, the Housing Minister indi cated that “the lots are mov ing well, it is only this one lot that must be addressed”.

“Work has started on both ends of the highway, but the squatters are in the middle of the lots, which is impeding completion of the new four-lane highway alignment,” Croal had said.

(G8)

The area at Cane View/Herstelling (Mocha) that is being occupied by squatters, who are hindering the Eccles-to-Great Diamond Highway Project

This demolished building is one of the illegal structures that were on the reserves

“I am sorry” – Brazilian teen tells Police after being busted with cocaine

they stopped Jackson, who was on a red bicycle riding on the bridge heading in the direction of Brazil.

The Police then request ed to carry out a search on his person, to which he agreed.

During the search, the ranks found one transparent plastic bag containing 13.7 grams of suspected cocaine in his left-side pants pock et. He was then told of the offence committed and cau tioned, to which he replied: "I just bought it...l am sor ry". He was arrested and es corted to the Lethem Police Station along with the sus pected cocaine.

High…

…(political) treason

Your Eyewitness has always been intrigued by the name of one of the US’ most distinguished jurists –Justice Learned Hand. He was certainly “learned” –but how’d he get that name?? Turned out he was named after his maternal grandfather, Billings Learned!! Pure serendipity!! Anyhow, the goodly jurist once pointed out something that’s very apropos to our dear land right now: “…a society so riven that the spirit of moderation is gone, no court can save…a society where that spirit flourishes, no court need save…”

A19-year-old Brazilian lad was arrested by ranks of the Guyana Police Force at Lethem, Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo) after he was found to be in posses sion of 13.7 grams of cocaine while riding a bicycle across the Takutu Bridge that links Guyana and Brazil.

A report from the Commander of the Region, Raphael Rose, stated that the 19-year-old Brazilian na tional, Eloy Junio Jackson, a labourer from Bonfim, was nabbed around 17:30h on Friday by Police ranks from

the Division.

At the time of the arrest, the cops were reportedly on mobile patrol duty along the Lethem station district.

Based on the information received, the ranks went to the Takutu Bridge where

On arrival at the Lethem Police Station, the suspect ed cocaine was weighed by a Detective Constable in the presence of the teenager and it amounted to 13.7 grams.

Commander Rose said Jackson will be charged and he is slated to appear in court on Monday. (G9)

It surely looks like we’ve reached that point. Have you listened to the daily rantings of the PNC and AFC Opposition?? We know that the Opposition gotta “oppose”, but this Opposition have forgotten that’s only half of their job: they also gotta “PROPOSE”!! That is, they’re supposed to propose policies that show how they would develop the nation more than the incumbent’s policies are doing. All in the hope that they’ll persuade a majority of the electorate to vote for them come the next elections – here in 2025!! It’s that simple, stupid!!

But it looks like the PNC–AFC have become just an annoying irrelevance! Have accepted Raphael Trotman’s advice to Desmond Hoyte back in the day before he departed. The Opposition’s goal - said Trotman - was to “oppose, expose and depose” the PPP!! That’s right, folks – DEPOSE!! And Hoyte, of course, promptly segued into his “slow fyaah; mo’ fyaah” mode that led to four fellas breaking out of Lot 12 Camp Street to lay waste to large swaths of East Coast and sections of the Police Force. This, of course, raises the question as to why Trotman wasn’t considered as a dangerous rabble-rouser – like the present PNC Leader Norton??

Well, dear reader, it just proves that it’s not how you SAY things, but HOW you say it!! Norton still hasn’t mastered the art of crinkling his eyes and smiling like he means it while sticking the (verbal) knife in his opponent’s back!! So, in the meantime, we’re subjected to a weekly harangue by the Opposition Leader at his press conference, where it doesn’t matter what question he’s asked - or what answer he gives - it comes out like he’s declaring WWIII against the PPP!! And imagine the fella was attached to the Foreign Service when the PNC were in office. They never sent him to protocol training!!

Let’s take his adoption of the “emerging apartheid state” mantra, which he picked up from a fringe element of the Opposition. Now, in politics, there are always gonna be fringe elements that would try to push the envelope; that’s the only way they can get noticed!! But did he have to adopt it hook, line and sinker?? Does he really want to declare war?

…on ganja!!

Well, your Eyewitness has been following the heated (smoky) debate as to how we should deal with our favourite herb - brought to these shores by Indian indentureds - who gave it the name “GANJA”. Now, in an interesting twist, it was adopted by African Jamaicans, who made it essential as a sacrament in their Rastafari religion and spread it worldwide -- including back in a circle to the other WI territories like our mudland.

Anyhow, it appears like the powers-that-be aren’t persuaded the herb should be legalised in toto; so, right now, we have folks being thrown into the clinker for half an ounce in their possession!! What to do. Well, this Government have based their entire development scheme on a low carbon trajectory. Do they know that marijuana plants of the same mass absorb more than three times the carbon that trees do??

Now, because our sugar lands have become so unprofitable, we can actually earn carbon credits by growing hemp!! Go ganja!!

…sales gimmick

The Thanksgiving Black Friday Sale at Courts, that had folks lining up ten hours before Courts’ doors opened, just proves it’s money that makes the world go round!! So, next year, expect every Guyanese retailer to join the line!!

The cocaine that was found in the teen’s possession

Eloy Junio Jackson, the teenager who was nabbed with cocaine by Police

Fire guts car at Kwakwani

The Guyana Fire Service is investi gating a fire of un known origin which gutted a car on Thursday at First Phase Housing Scheme, Kwakwani, Upper Berbice River.

The property under which the car was parked is owned by 55-year-old businesswoman Audrey Harris, and her son, 23-year-old Anfonie Les Flores, is the owner of the car.

This newscast was in formed that at the time of the blaze, no one was at home.

Neighbours, upon see ing the car ablaze at around 16:00h, immediate ly contacted the Kwakwani Police Station and the Fire Service, before forming a bucket brigade that man aged to extinguish the blaze before the arrival of the fire tender.

It was disclosed that Les Flores had secured the house about four months ago and had left for the interior, leaving his car downstairs under the ve randah.

A small section of the house was also partially damaged by the fire.

The car on fire at First Phase Housing Scheme, Kwakwani

Irate minibus driver attacks cop

of law enforcement officers. This is the third incident for the week where a Policeman has been assaulted.

On November 24, Nicholas Balkishun, a 28-year-old tailor of Lot 108 Best Road, West Bank Demerara, pleaded guilty to three charges stemming from his assault of a Policeman, which was captured on video.

Arraigned before Magistrate Faith Mc Gusty at the Wales Magistrate’s Court, Balkishun pleaded guilty to behaving disorder ly, assaulting a peace offi

Another Traffic

Policeman was on Saturday afternoon assaulted by an irate mini bus driver, who was being given a traffic violation tick et.

The incident occurred at about 17:00h on Saturday. Reports are that the Lance Corporal that was attacked and beaten by the minibus driver, was proffering traf fic duties with a female col league on Montrose Public Road, East Coast Demerara.

According to the Guyana Police Force, the cops stopped minibus BAC 2287, driven by Okemi Omali Harry, a

30-year-old of Middle Street, Anns Grove, ECD, for speed ing.

The GPF in a statement said that the driver was told of the offence and asked to produce his driver’s licence. According to the statement, while the Lance Corporal was in the process of writing Harry a ticket, he then made attempts to take away his li cence from the cop, who re fused.

“The driver then started to assault the Police rank. A mobile patrol responded and the driver was subsequently arrested and placed into cus tody pending charges,” the

GPF said in a statement.

In a video recorded during the incident and seen by this publication, Harry can be seen punching the cop, chok ing him and pushing him to the ground.

The video, which was cir culated on social media, has caused outrage, with per sons calling for stiffer penal ties for assault and battery

cer, and driving under the influence (DUI). He has been fined a total of $27,500, bro ken down as follows: $10,000 for the disorderly behaviour charge; $10,000 for assault ing the Police officer, and $7500 for the DUI charge.

According to reports, Balkishun was arrested by traffic officers for driving un

der the influence (DUI) on Wednesday, and was tak en to the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station. While there, he became involved in an al tercation with about three Policemen, and was caught on video slapping one of the Policemen in the face.

“I would cuff yuh in yuh [expletive] face!” Balkishun was heard telling another Policeman.

Police Headquarters have reported that Balkishun has also been charged with damage to property and us ing abusive language. He will appear at the Vreed-enHoop Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

On November 22, two teenagers from Angoy’s Avenue in New Amsterdam, Berbice, who were caught on video assaulting a Policeman, were arrested. Their arrest came shortly af

ter a video recording which began circulating on social media showed the duo jointly attacking and assaulting the Police rank. That incident oc curred just after 08:00h. The duo, Quincy King, 18, and Christopher Abrams, 19, are expected to be charged with multiple offences, including assaulting a peace officer.

Police Headquarters re ported that the Policeman was providing the teens with traffic instructions and di rections, but they failed to comply with those instruc tions and an argument en sued. Upon trying to caution the men, the Policeman was knocked to the ground by the duo, and was then forced to get on his feet and defend himself from an aggressive and abusive Abrams, whom the video showed punching the cop about his body.

The Lance Corporal being attacked by minibus driver Okemi Omali Harry on Saturday

A screenshot of the teens assaulting the cop on Tuesday

Nicholas Balkishun is pictured here grabbing the Policeman’s uniform on Wednesday Okemi Omali Harry in Police custody (GPF photo)

Hindus must respond to malaise of Hinduism

While the Guyanese nation as a whole need to take a serious look at their institutions and begin to re-examine them for relevance to their present circumstances, the condition of the Hindu section - 28 percent at the last census, and dwindling under unrelenting Christian proselytization - is most dire. Whether it is suicide, alcoholism, domestic violence, or other dysfunctional responses to societal pressures, the Hindus are the ones most affected. We cannot pussyfoot around this fact.

While their challenges are also national challenges, Hindus would have to take a lead in dealing with them. I suggest that, firstly, we would have to engage in a reinterpretation, reformation, reaffirmation and re-grounding of our dharmic [religious, cultural, educational and social] institutions and traditions to deal with the present place (desh), time (kaal) and circumstances (parishtiti) in which we find ourselves.

Brought as indentured labourers (Girmitiyas) between 1838 and 1917, Hindu dharma was subverted through the regime of “discipline and punish” on the sugar plantations. As such, there must be a constant unmasking of the “social maya”, or hegemonic structural forces, that keep us entrapped by their various champions and promulgators.

The “Dharma for the age”, relaunched many times in our long history by applying eternal principles to present challenges, can be summarised in four SUTRAS [maxims]: LOK SANGRAHA, LOK SANSKAR, LOK VIYAWASTHA and LOK KALYAAN. When their principles are fully implemented within the concrete circumstances, they lead to the Hindu vision of the ideal society - RAM RAJYA.

LOK SANGRAHA - to gather the people together.> Hindus have to see themselves as one family. In the words of Swami Vivekanand: “Then and then alone you are a Hindu, when every man who bears the name from any country, speaking our language, or any other language, becomes at once the nearest and the dearest to you…when the distress of any one bearing that name comes to your heart and makes you feel as if your own son were in distress…when you will be ready to bear anything for them”.

The Hindu believes that, ultimately, the whole world is one family - VASUDHAIVA KUTUMBAKAM - but understands that love, like all other relationships, must begin at home.

LOK VIYAWASTHA - to organise the people.> For us in Guyana, coming overwhelmingly from the Eastern UP-Western Bihar, this was reinforced by Sant Tulsidas in his magnum opus, RamcharitmanasSANGHA SHAKTI KAL YUG: in this age “organisation is power”. While there were many negatives, the plantation experience produced an unintended consequence when it united the Girmitiyas against their common oppressor - the colonial power. For Hindus, many of the abuses of the jati system [status by birth, commonly dubbed the “caste system”], for instance, were eradicated in Guyana.

LOK KALYAAN – the welfare of the people.> Guyanese Hindus have many organisations, but they are ill-equipped with the resources needed - human, material, ideological … etc. - to effectively serve the needs of the community. This is one main reason why there is a lethargy in the community’s activities and responses to challenges. The “Purohit”, or ritual expert of the sixteen life sacraments, for instance, has been transformed into the “Pandit”, but has he/she been trained for this role by institutions created for this purpose?

Hindu organisations have to become much more activistoriented and focused. One glaring lacuna to be filled, for instance, is the need for social counselling against alcoholism, wife battering, and suicide attempts.

Hindu organisations and leaders have to also become more outspoken when Hindu interests and rights are threatened; this is their duty. Hinduism does not end in the mandirs; it does not even begin there. Our organisations have also to expose others to the Hindu vision; not in the aggressive, offensive manner of the Christian evangelicals, but in the Hindu tradition of sharing without asking for conversion. We must teach as well as learn…we who were Jagad Janini [world teachers] cannot be students only.

Hindu organisations must stop blaming the “enemy” only, and take charge of helping Hindus to craft their destinies. A great deal of responsibility lies with the professional class. They are figures of respect in our communities because that is part of our tradition. They, however, have a reciprocal duty, as part of that same tradition, to go among the people and share what their common dharma has bestowed upon them.

570g ganja found stashed under bucket at Plaisance

Police from Regional Division 4C (East Coast Demerara) found 570 grams of marijuana hidden un der a bucket in an abandoned yard at Plaisance, East Coast Demerara.

A report from the Police Division in dicates that between 09:00h and 12:00h on Friday, a party of policemen con ducted a cordon and search exercise in Britton Street, Plaisance, where sev eral persons, as well as the area, were searched. The ranks found a black plas tic bag containing a number of leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be canna bis, which was in an abandoned proper ty under a bucket.

The suspected cannabis was tak en to the Sparendaam Police Station where it was weighed and amounted to 570 grams. It was then sealed and lodged in the general property book. No one was arrested.

Only a day ago, Police found a quantity of marijuana and molly in Riverstown and Charity, Essequibo Coast. The ranks went to Riverstown,

where 24-year-old Nardeo Shamsondar, a labourer, was contacted, and a search was conducted on his residence.

During the search, a coffee bottle was found in a black plastic bag in his yard, and contained three transparent zip-lock bags containing several leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be canna

bis.

Also, 17 small parcels wrapped with aluminium foil, containing a whitish rock-like substance suspected to be co caine were discovered. Both substanc es were weighed and amounted to three grams of cannabis and 5.9 grams of co caine, respectively. (G9)

Ravi Dev

The ganja that was found at Plaisance, ECD

Labourer dies in tractor accident in rice field

A46-year-old man is now dead after his tractor toppled over and pinned him down in a rice field at Mahaica Creek, East Coast Demerara.

Dead is Abdool Sheriff Hussain, a labourer of Little Biaboo, Mahaica Creek, ECD.

The incident occurred sometime around 09:30h on Saturday in a rice

field at Handsome Tree, Mahaica Creek.

According to Police re ports, Hussain left home about two hours prior with a friend to go plough a rice field.

The friend, who owns the rice field, told inves tigators that while they were ploughing the field, he saw Hussain’s trac tor turn over. At the time,

the friend was about 20 feet away and immediate ly drove to his friend’s as sistance.

Upon arriving closer to the scene, the friend ob served that Hussain was pinned under the trac tor. He tried to rescue the 46-year-old labourer but was unable.

By AlvA Solomon

On November 18, Guyanese would have seen snippets of videos of new stories circu lating on social media of the infamous Jonestown.

On that day in 1978, approximately 918 indi viduals died from cya nide poisoning at what was called the People’s Temple Agriculture Project, or sim ply Jonestown, a project led by late US cult leader Jim Jones, who was also among those who died that day.

The area is located an hour’s drive from the centre of Port Kaituma in the North West District of Region One (Barima-Waini), and many residents of the area still have eerie feelings about the site. Some have never even visited the site, for obvious reasons. However, Latesha Bernard, a resident of the area, recently braved her feelings and decided to vis it what is left of Jonestown. Of course, she had company, and her friends who were visiting Port Kaituma were eager to see what remains of the infamous site.

“What happened there was sad. I wasn’t even born yet, but I grew up hearing about Jonestown from my parents and other folks,” Bernard said.

After contemplating the idea, she decided late last month to accompany her friends to Jonestown. “Well, it was kind of scary,” she said.

According to Bernard, during her trip, she was overcome by a sad feeling, as she thought about the many lives that were lost at the site. She said her friends were also nervous about the trip, while some were excit ed to see what remains of Jonestown.

The group departed by vehicle from Port Kaituma at around midday, and were at the entrance to Jonestown one hour later. There, they saw a large green and white sign, emblazoned “Welcome to the People’s Temple, Jonestown”, hanging above the entrance to the site.

The interior of Jonestown, Bernard said, is overgrown with vegeta tion, and although a group of residents had attempted to clear the site and erect a benab for visitors some time ago, the persistence of the thick vegetation had defeat ed their resolve.

Silence

Bernard said the group didn’t go far in from the main road, which is some five minutes’ drive. She said the site seemed very qui

et; only birds can be heard in the background. They walked around, and took photographs of the monu ment which was built at the location in memory of the victims of the tragic inci dent.

After meeting increasing crackdown from the US au thorities, Jones and his as sociates had built the infra structure at Jonestown for the People’s Temple church after travelling to the area

in 1974. Jones’s church in the United States was split after being perceived to be involved in politics in California.

In 1977, Jones and his associates convinced their followers to migrate to Jonestown after receiv ing permission from the Guyanese Government. They moved to Guyana by the hundreds, but soon after became frustrated, as life changed considerably.

According to media re ports, at the time, the pop ulation had become in creasingly concerned about Jones’s apparent sway to communism, his mental health, and his spread of propaganda on Soviet and Cuban news and commen tary.

US Congressman Leo Ryan visited Jonestown on the eve of what would turn out to be the largest mass killing in history. His del

egation’s visit was initial ly stalled by colleagues of Jones, and while spend ing time at the communi ty, Ryan began to receive numerous complaints from residents about the condi tions they were living un der. Jonestown’s population at the time had comprised more than 70% African Americans.

After encountering hos tility during his visit on November 17, 1978, Ryan was told to leave the site by Jones’s security the next day. That day turned out to be dramatic, as Ryan was stabbed while compiling data on persons who want ed to leave the site. He died when his entourage came under gunfire at the Port Kaituma Airstrip on the af ternoon of November 18, 1978. During that time, Jones and his associates had prepared a deadly con coction of Flavour Aid mixed with cyanide and other harmful chemicals for resi dents at Jonestown. Temple residents were forced to drink the concoction, which led to their untimely deaths. The grisly scene was pro cessed by Guyanese and American authorities in the days following the mass kill ings, and remains one of the most infamous incidents in global history.

This monument was erected at the grisly Jonestown site, near Port Kaituma, North West District (Latesha Bernard photo)

Teacher recounts horror of being victim of a vehicular accident

By Andrew CArmiChAel

Within seconds one’s life could change dramatically be cause of a reckless road user, and on many occasions that reckless road user is a driver.

That is the case of a uni versity lecturer, whose din ner turned into a nightmare and changed her life forever.

Monix Hetemeyer, a sur vivor of a vehicular accident, is now someone living with a disability. The lecturer at the University of Guyana’s Berbice Campus and teach er at New Amsterdam Secondary School, who also serves as a co-pastor for a church, refers to herself as

a wife, mother, sister, and singer.

However, she said her life changed on February 20, 2022, when she was hav ing dinner and enjoying the comfort of open-air dining with a friend at a snackette in New Amsterdam, Berbice.

“Out of nowhere, a vehi cle ploughed into our table, propelling us through the glass window and into the snackette. The driver did not have a licence but yet still he was driving. It was the worst night of my life to date.”

Prior to that, Hetemeyer was involved in a lot of things, including being a musician and an assistant pastor. However, she was

forced to stop participating in the activities she was ac customed to, and forced to go through rehabilitation both mentally and physical ly.

Additionally, she had to find extra money to take care of her medical expens es.

“And I still have to do this because of my condi tion which creates a con stant need for money. God was and continues to be my source. Now I have a dis ability because of some one else’s negligence on the road,” Hetemeyer explained.

The 35-year-old lectur er said she is now left to live the remainder of her life in discomfort because of a person’s negligence. However, on the positive side, Hetemeyer refuses to let the accident determine the rest of her life. She said

being someone living with a disability does not mean that her life is over.

“I am back at work and I am seeking the means to get my prosthesis which will improve my ability to move around.”

Hetemeyer is appeal ing to drivers to value their lives and those of others.

“It is funny how only my friend and I who were hav ing a good time were phys ically harmed by the mis hap and not the person who caused it.

“Breaking road safety regulations is a blatant dis play of irresponsibility,” she emphasised.

Hetemeyer has also launched an appeal for pub lic assistance to pay for her prosthesis.

She can be contacted on telephone number (592) 681-7552.

...as unlicensed driver caused victim’s leg to be amputated ...needs assistance for prosthetic leg

Survivor of a vehicular accident, Monix Hetemeyer

“Out of nowhere, a vehicle ploughed into our table, propelling us through the glass window and into the snackette. The driver did not have a licence, but yet still he was driving. It was the worst night of my life to date” – accident survivor

Dhandarry Nature Resort – a paradise on the Abary River

ride across the savannah and into the forested area if they wish. They also get to pass through the rice fields and see grazing cattle in the savannah.

The resort was estab lished in 2005, and accord ing to Ramdeo, the moti vating factor came when he was a little boy visiting the farm.

“When I would come

By Andrew CArmiChAel

Dhandarry Nature Resort is consid ered a paradise on the Abary River where one can enjoy nature at its best while participating in fish ing, kayaking and horse back rides.

The resort situated on the western bank of the Abary River is the number one tourist site in the coun ty of Berbice.

It is situated 25 miles up the Abary River, but just five miles from Onverwagt where a boat takes you twenty minutes upriver to the resort.

It’s all nature and offers organic foods grown on the Abary River.

The resort even allows for visitors to do their own cooking if they wish to.

During a recent tour of the facility as part of the Tourism Ministry’s Media Fam visit, Ramdeo said the resort also offers boating and adventures. Tourists visiting the resort have the opportunity to explore on foot or go on a four-and-ahalf-kilometre horseback

to visit dad on the farm, I would sit in his camp house and imagine what can hap pen here but there was no tourism at that time in the late 70s.”

However, Ramdeo said he got inspired from watch ing movies and fantasised about developing his fa ther’s farm into a resort.

Dhandarry Nature Resort is owned by Kumar Ramdeo, who is also a rice and cattle farmer.

Dhandarry Nature Resort...

That has now become a reality.

However, in doing so there were some chal lenges in developing the farm into a nature resort. Ramdeo shared that he fell ill after starting the project and had to put it on hold. Nevertheless, he was able to complete it.

Already, he has invest

ed $20 million in the project and plans to expand.

“I would like to put in about six more rooms all to be fully self-contained with air conditioning.”

Currently, the rooms available are not air condi tioned, thereby allowing vis itors to experience nature to its fullest.

He pointed out that since the COVID-19 pandemic; lo cals have started to visit the resort. Prior to that, all of his visitors were foreigners; mainly from Europe. Now

the ratio is more than two to one, with the locals outnum bering the foreigners.

The resort offers differ ent packages which include day tours, overnight, and meals if required.

“Another part of it is if you want to cook for your self, you can bring your own things to cook or you can have us provide – the resort is self-sufficient. We produce our own meat, eggs, etc. Our vegetables and all of our food is organic.”

The investment need ed, he said, is a further $20

million and with an aver age of between six to twenty groups per month, Ramdeo said he will have to depend on his farm to supply the needed capital.

He said he does not have the needed capital, explain ing that the 2021 floods hit both his rice and cattle busi ness, resulting in heavy losses. However, the resort can stand on its own feet currently.

Ramdeo said everyone who visited has always said they want to return.

The resort also offers night-time nature activities which include alligator spot ting, and star gazing.

“Early in the morning, you can look out for the manatees. You can also do bird watching. Those birds wake me up at five and then you have another set at six and then at seven thirty you have more. They all have different melodies,” he ex plained.

As the second leading cause of death (after accidents) for peo ple aged 10 to 34, suicide is a serious public health problem. Guyana’s suicide rate for 2019 was 40.30, a 2.03% increase from 2018. Worldwide, men are more than three times more likely than women to take their own lives. Firearms are the most common method of suicide (used in about half of all suicides).

However, in Guyana, the combined data on “sui cide” and “suicide attempt” shows that females have a higher rate than males,

even though fewer females die of suicide than males. Suicidal acts of women are often spontaneous, and they are more like ly than men to take a less potent substance (such as kerosene, OTC drugs, and sleeping tablets) as well as a lower dosage of toxins. The rates among Indo-Guyanese and AfroGuyanese were almost similar (Indo-Guyanese had a rate of 36.33 per 100,000 compared with 36.2 per 100,000 for AfroGuyanese). The data also shows that for IndoGuyanese, suicide at tempts were 6.7 times more than suicides, while for Afro-Guyanese, the at tempted suicide rate was 7.9 times more than sui cides.

However, suicide is pre ventable. Knowing the risk factors and recognising the warning signs for suicide can help prevent suicide.

RISK FACTORS, WARNING SIGNS, AND PROTECTIVE FACTORS

Suicide is linked to mental disorders, particu larly depression and alco

HEALTH TIPS SUICIDE PREVENTION

hol use disorders, and the strongest risk factor for suicide is a previous sui cide attempt. The Suicide Prevention Resource Center defines risk and protective factors and warning signs as follows:

* Risk factors are char acteristics that make it more likely that an indi vidual would consider, at tempt, or die by suicide.

* Warning signs indi cate an immediate risk of suicide.

* Protective factors are characteristics that make it less likely that individ uals would consider, at tempt, or die by suicide.

RISK FACTORS FOR SUICIDE

Certain events and cir cumstances may increase risk (not in a particular or der, except the first one).

* Previous suicide at tempt(s)

* A history of suicide in the family

* Substance misuse

* Mood disorders (de pression, bipolar disorder)

* Access to lethal means (e.g., keeping firearms in

the home)

* Losses and other events (for example, the breakup of a relationship or a death, academic fail ures, legal difficulties, fi

nancial difficulties, bully ing)

* History of trauma or abuse

* Chronic physical ill ness, including chronic

pain

* Exposure to the sui cidal behaviours of others

D r . T ariq J agnarine F amily m e D icine , e n D ocrinology /D iabe T es

In some cases, a recent stressor or sudden cata strophic event or failure can leave people feeling desperate, unable to see a way out; and that becomes a “tipping point” toward suicide.

A recent CDC report highlights the complexi ty of suicide. While a men tal health condition may be a contributing factor for many people, the report notes, “many factors con tribute to suicide, among those with and without known mental health condi tions.” A relationship prob lem was the top factor con tributing to suicide. This was followed by a crisis in the past or upcoming two weeks, and then by prob lematic substance use.

CDC reports that about half, 54 percent, of peo

ple who died by suicide did not have a known mental health condition. However, many of them may have been dealing with men tal health challenges that had not been diagnosed or known to those around them.

WARNING SIGNS OF SUICIDE

* Often talking or writ ing about death, dying, or suicide

* Making comments about being hopeless, help less, or worthless

* Expressions of hav ing no reason for living; no sense of purpose in life; say ing things like, “It would be better if I wasn’t here”, or “I want out.”

* Increased alcohol and/ or drug misuse

* Withdrawal from friends, family, and com munity

* Engaging in reckless

HEALTH TIPS SUICIDE PREVENTION

behaviours or more risky activities seemingly with out thinking

* Dramatic mood chang es

* Talking about feeling trapped, or being a burden to others.

PROTECTIVE FACTORS

* Contacts with pro viders (e.g., the follow-up phone call from a health care professional)

* Effective mental health care; easy access to a variety of clinical interven tions

* Strong connections to individuals, family, commu nity, and social institutions

* Problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills.

As with mental illness, one of the biggest barri ers to preventing suicide is stigma, which prevents many people from seeking

help.

The CDC report recom mends a comprehensive public health approach to suicide prevention, and identifies several strate gies that states and com munities can undertake, in cluding such measures as teaching coping and prob lem-solving skills to help people manage challenges, expanding options for tem porary assistance for those in need, and connecting people at-risk to effective and coordinated mental and physical health care.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

If someone indicates they are considering sui cide, listen, and take their

concerns seriously. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about their plans. Let them know you care, and they are not alone. Encourage them to seek help immediately from a knowledgeable pro fessional. Don’t leave them alone.

Five tips if concerned about a friend or loved one:

* Ask, “Are you thinking of killing yourself?” (While people may be hesitant to ask, research shows this is helpful.)

* Keep them safe. Reduce access to lethal items or places.

* Be there with them. Listen carefully, and ac knowledge their feelings.

* Help them connect.

Call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

* Stay connected. Follow up, and stay in touch after a crisis.

Feeling suicidal usu ally means that someone is hopeless. They may feel like no one can help. They may be out of better options for escaping feelings or sit uations that are unbear able and painful. But they can feel better again some day, and a trusted person will get them the help they need.

If someone is going to hurt themselves right now or has already hurt them selves, call 911 immediate ly, or take them straight to the emergency room.

Mental health 67,000 persons targeted with CAD$2.9M grant – Dr Anthony

The Canadian Government has re leased a grant to the International Development and Relief Foundation (IDRF) of CA$2.9 million to be used in the area of men tal health in Guyana.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony shared that this is coming out of the Guyana Mental Health and Well Being Conference ear lier this month. Over the course of five years, the in tended reach is a whopping 67,000 persons with mental health challenges.

“This project would go over the next five years and during the life of the proj ect, the intention is to reach at least 67,000 persons and help them with issues relat ing to mental health, includ ing training,” he informed.

Under a partnership and funding with UNICEF, Guyana is being assisted to train its healthcare work ers, especially nursing staff.

“Right now, we have psy chiatric aides that work at the hospitals. We have 73 of these category of work ers and we want to upgrade their skills. Each of these

persons, we are going to work to see to enrol them in a nursing assistance pro gramme and over the next couple months, they can be upgraded.”

Meanwhile the Pan America Health Organisation (PAHO) re mains a close partner un der the Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mh GAP), helping primary care physicians to diagnose the more common psychiatric illnesses that would present during primary healthcare

visits.

The Minister opined, “By doing this, we envisage that we can identify people who are vulnerable to suicide and once we take action, we should reduce those num bers. There are a number of training that would be happening and we already have partners that would be working with us.”

Resilience training has also been rolled out for the population, and facilitators were also trained. This will be ongoing over the next

year.

“We started some train ing in resilience, teaching the general population how to cope with stress, what to do, how to do it. In some cases, we were able to train a number of trainers who would use this technique to help persons in the commu nity.”

There is a Mental Health Unit located on Quamina Street, Georgetown where persons can make contact to participate or seek assis tance.

Last week’s conference would have revealed that approximately 10 to 15 per cent of Guyanese have a mental health disorder, according to the Guyana National Mental Health Action Plan, painting the

need for intervention and data collection. Challenges such as COVID would also have to be included in the action plan, since many pa tients developed depression and anxiety during treat ment and after discharge.

Statistics place Guyana at second in the world for the highest suicide rate with 40.3 for every 100,000 persons. In 2020, a gen

der breakdown of suicides pointed to 19 per cent for males and 81 per cent for fe males.

Most recent figures also show that 15-20 per cent of the Guyanese population have some form of mental health illness, be it mild, se vere, or acute. There are 150 different conditions that can be classified as mental health illnesses. (G12)

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony

Diarrhoeal diseases, skin rashes most common trends during floods – Health Minister

Amid the current rainy season and warnings of potential flooding, Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony has urged citizens to implement common prac tices to keep themselves safe.

This is in light of instanc es where flooding has result ed in skin rashes or diar rhoeal conditions among the population. For diarrhoeal diseases, he noted that sim ply boiling water before con sumption is a good preventa tive measure.

“In flood conditions, we noticed two general trends. One is that if the water is not safe, we can see people hav ing diarrhoeal diseases. To prevent diarrhoeal diseases, a simple way is to boil the water. I suspect everyone would have access to some means of boiling water. It’s better to use boiled water in those conditions,” the Health Minister shared on Friday.

Chlorine tablets have

also been used to kill germs in water, since floodwaters cause increased contamina tion of potable water.

“We can also add bleach to the water. One teaspoon of bleach to one litre of wa ter. In that way, it can help to disinfect the water and kill germs. If you have chlo rine tablets, that can be add ed to water and it’s the same effect it would have. Very of ten during flood conditions, water can be contaminated.”

Dr Anthony has advised that if skin rashes develop, it is essential to visit a health facility and be treated with medications.

He shared, “The second most prevalent condition we see is that people would have skin rashes. If you have skin rashes, it’s important that you come and see one of the doctors at the health centre and they would be able to identify what types of rashes you have and prescribe the appropriate medications.”

The Hydrometeorological Service of the Agriculture Ministry has forecasted wet ter than usual rainfall con ditions across all regions of Guyana for the months of November 2022 to January 2023, otherwise known as Guyana’s secondary rainfall season.

The usual secondary rainfall season will be aug mented by persistent La Nina conditions during the season. Rainfall is expect ed to increase considerably from mid-November and continue at least to January, 2023.

During the upcoming rainy season, water levels in conservancies, reservoirs, and inland rivers across Regions One to Eight and 10 are likely to increase with a high risk of flooding. On the other hand, Region Nine would continue to be dry, but can expect more than the usual amount of rainy days. (G12)

Cops unite to tackle speeding on roadways in Region 5

Police officers in Region Five (MahaicaBerbice), who witness people being killed and se riously injured every day on their roads, are joining forces to highlight the human cost of excessive speed.

The campaign is taking place during the time when the Guyana Police Force is observing road safety month, which is observed annual ly in November and aims to spread awareness about causes and measures to pre vent road accidents.

Traffic Officer, Inspector Lloyd Thomas on an episode of “Police and You”, said that speed is a key risk factor in road traffic injuries, influ encing both the risk of a road crash as well as the severi ty of the injuries that result from crashes in the region.

He said that after con ducting an evaluation, ranks in the region found that most of the fatal accidents that occur are caused by drivers who are not from the district.

“…majority are people who are from out of the re

gion, like Georgetown, go ing towards East Berbice. Drivers of Georgetown are not really au fait with the road…and, a contributing factor is the speeding,” he said.

As such, he advised driv ers that usually speed while on the roadways to desist, to avoid injuries and fatalities.

“If you know that you want to [be] on time, then you have to leave early,” he warned.

Last year in November, the Region Five Regional Commander, Senior

Superintendent Kurleigh Simon, announced that speeding was a challenge they were battling, and they were trying to curb these ac tivities.

The Commander had also warned that drivers should adhere to the speed limits on the roadways in order to avoid accidents.

“The West Coast Berbice road is a very technical road to drive, and if you don’t know it, then you shouldn’t be speeding. You should try as much as possible to com ply (with) the speed limit of the road…there are cer tain parts of the road where the speed limit is 55km per hour…if you are gonna drive within the prescribed speed limit, it gives you am ple thinking time, braking time…,” he said.

The Commander had fur ther underscored that be cause a major activity in the region is cattle rearing, there would be animals on the road, which can cause acci dents. He said if drivers ad here to the traffic laws, there would be a reduction in road accidents. (G9)

Region Five Traffic Officer, Inspector Lloyd Thomas

100 homes to be constructed in Lethem Housing Support Programme …to

be completed in 1st quarter of 2023

The first hundred beneficiaries of the Lethem Housing Support Programme on Saturday signed their agreement with the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) to move forward with the con struction of their homes.

The Lethem Housing Support Programme is the brainchild of President Dr Irfaan Ali. The agency will be constructing a $3 mil lion low-income home and providing $1 million in sup port to each beneficiary for the building cost. Moreover, the Housing Ministry will be partnering with the New Building Society, Republic Bank Guyana Ltd, and the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry, as they will be offering loans to the tune of $2 million, at a rate of 3.5 per cent to the pro

spective homeowners.

Housing Minister Collin Croal stated that the pro gramme is aimed at pro moting occupancy in hous

ing schemes. He noted that assessments showed close to 300 empty allocated lots existing in nearby schemes such as Tabatinga and

Culvert City.

"So, what we also do in addition to allocations is to recognise and have support programmes that

have home construction and homeownership at the fore," Minister Croal said.

Chief Executive Officer of CH&PA, Sherwyn Greaves stated that the project is also aimed at job creation and improving the regional economy.

"We are pleased to say that all the contractors are from Region Nine, all the timber and bricks are from Region Nine [and] all the workers that will be work ing on these houses will be from Region Nine," the CEO stated.

During the activi ty agreements were also signed between CH&PA and the first two villages: Surama and Kwatamang for the supply of clay blocks.

Moreover, Expressions of Interest have been pub lished for lumber and oth er hardware materials to

construct the homes. In an other two weeks, these con tracts are expected to be awarded.

Some 600 land allot tees in Lethem are ex pected to benefit from the Lethem Housing Support Programme. With sup port provided by the Government, the allottees will not be required to pro vide collateral to the banks. They will also benefit from the Government’s steel and cement housing subsi dy for the construction of their foundation. The first set of homes are slated for completion during the first quarter of 2023.

Approximately forty house lots were also dis tributed at the event. This will add to the close to 19,000 house lots allocated by the Ministry since 2020. (G12)

A Region Nine resident being engaged by the Housing Ministry officials

The fourth coronavirus death for November was on Saturday an nounced by the Health Ministry, making it a total of 1285 fatalities to date.

A 42-year-old male, who hailed from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), died on Friday after testing positive for the virus. It is unknown whether he was vaccinated.

Meanwhile, eight new coronavirus infections have been reported, bringing the confirmed cases in the coun try to 71,573. This is divided between 32,813 males and 38,760 females.

Currently, over 100 ac

tive infections are being monitored by the Health Ministry.

From the dashboard, there are four persons in the Intensive Care Unit. Two patients are in institutional isolation, 110 in home isola tion and one in institution al quarantine. Meanwhile, 70,172 recovered cases have been recorded.

To date, Guyana has processed 705,559 sam ples to test for presence of COVID-19. The Health Ministry has made arrange ments for samples from re cent COVID-19 deaths to be sent overseas for analysis,

in order to determine which strain of the virus is circu lating locally.

In the Region of the Americas, that is, Latin America and the Caribbean, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has in creased to 179 million while the death toll in the Region has gone up to 2.8 million. Globally, there are 627 mil lion confirmed positives with 6.5 million deaths.

If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms asso ciated with COVID-19 or needs any additional in formation, they are asked to contact the COVID-19

Hotline 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www.health.gov.gy.

All Guyanese are being encouraged to continue ob serving the public health measures set out by the Health Ministry. This en

courages the need for ev eryone five years and old er to get vaccinated against COVID-19; the need for ev eryone to get a COVID-19 booster dose after complet ing the primary vaccina tion series; the need for cor

and consistent use of a face mask when leaving your home; the importance of maintaining a safe dis tance of six feet from oth ers and; good hand hygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Labourer dies in...

As a result, the friend left the rice field and went for help. About five minutes later, he returned to the rice field, and with the help of public-spirited citizens he brought, they turned over the tractor and took an unconscious Hussain to a dam, where they tried to

revive him but he remained motionless.

The Police were sum moned to the scene, and the body was examined for signs of violence, but none were seen.

Nevertheless, the body was escorted to Mahaicony Public Hospital where

FROM PAGE 12

Hussain was officially pro nounced dead by medical professionals.

The body was then tak en to Bailey’s Funeral Parlour, where it awaits a post-mortem examination.

Only back in May, a young farmer – Avinash Persaud – died in a simi lar manner after his trac tor toppled and pinned him while he was working in the backlands at Mahaica, ECD.

Initial reports revealed that Persaud was work ing in the backlands when he reportedly encountered difficulties with the trac tor, which suddenly top pled and pinned him in a swampy area.

Persons nearby re moved Persaud from under the tractor and rushed him to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Meanwhile, also a year ago, in November 2021, a 20-year-old rice farmer, Samuel Singh of Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), also died after his tractor toppled and pinned him in a rice field at Caracas, Vryheid Village, West Canje, Berbice.

Singh was a licensed heavy-duty machine oper ator.

EPA greenlights environmental permit for gas-to-shore project

After several rounds of consultations and intense re view of the project over the past months, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic Administration’s model Gas-to-Shore initia tive.

The project includes the construction of a 300-mega watt power plant, a natu ral gas transport pipeline, materials offloading facili ty and Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) Plant.

According to the EPA in a notice, the environmen tal permit was approved in accordance with Section 12 of the Environmental Protection Act, Cap 20:05.

The grounds for the ap proval include the fact that the Environmental

Assessment Board re viewed and declared the Environmental Impact Statement and Environmental Impact Assessment related to this project, acceptable pursu ant to Section 11 (13) of the Environmental Protection Act, Cap 20:05.

Moreover, the agency explained that it was sat isfied that the project can be conducted in accordance with good environmental practices, and in a manner that avoids, prevents and

minimises any adverse ef fects which could result from the activity.

“The technical reviews and recommendations from a team of independent in ternational experts, the public inputs at the scop ing stage, views expressed by members of the public during consultations, the submissions made after the EIA was submitted for public review, and all oth er relevant considerations, indicate that the project is environmentally-sound and in the public’s interest,” the EPA further indicated in its notice.

This approval by the EPA comes just over two weeks after Cabinet give its no objection to the se lection of the CH4 Guyana Inc/Lindsayca Inc consor tium to construct the com bined cycle power plant and NGL plant at Wales, West

Deadly fishing expedition US tourist jumped out of boat in panic – Police

Apost-mortem exam ination (PME) is to be conducted on the recovered body of 38-yearold Thomas Carstens Jr, the American tourist who went missing after the boat in which he was travel ling capsized on Tuesday at about 100 kilometres up the Essequibo River in North Rupununi, in the vicinity of Apoteri Village.

Carstens Jr and sev en other foreign nation als had on November 18 ar rived in Apoteri Village, North Rupununi, via a pri vate chartered aircraft for a seven-day fishing expedi tion which is hosted by Mark Bolton of Kanuku Lodge Eco Resort, who is also the host for “Amazon River Monster”.

On November 22, Carstens Jr and anoth er American tourist, Jered Weiland, along with their tour guide and boat captain, 29-year-old Jim George, de parted the resort where they headed upstream in the Essequibo River in an alu minium boat that was pow ered by a 15-horsepower out board engine.

After about 1 hour and 30 minutes upstream, they were traversing through rap ids when the outboard en gine encountered a mechan ical problem which caused the boat to drift down the rapids.

Police said water started to get into the boat, causing Carstens Jr to panic.

As a result, it is report ed that Carstens Jr jumped into the water where he held on to the side of the boat. He then tried to get back into the boat but while doing so the boat became “off balance” and took in more water.

Weiland and George then

jumped into the river and managed to swim to an is land that was about seven metres away from where the boat stopped. The boat sank and Carstens Jr went under water and did not resurface.

Police added that Carstens Jr, Weiland, and George were due to return to the Eco Lodge Resort at 17:00 on the date, and after they did not show, a search party went up the river where Weiland and George were found on the island. They related what trans pired to the search team and the matter was reported to the Police.

On November 23, a team of Police went to the location where the incident occurred. The following day, the tour ist’s body was recovered about 5km from where the incident happened.

The body, which was in

an early stage of decompo sition, was then fished out of the water and placed into a boat to be transported to Lethem.

The body arrived at Lethem on November 25 and the autopsy is scheduled for today.

In a statement on the mat ter on Wednesday, Tourism Minister Oneidge Walrond urged that persons ensure their tours and tour oper ators are approved by the Guyana Tourism Authority. The Minister warned that tours that are not approved often do not have the neces sary safety systems and pro tocols in place.

Just last month, a Brooklyn cop vacationing in Guyana went missing while swimming in Orinduik Falls. His body was subsequently recovered near the popular tourist site.

Bank Demerara, as part of the Gas-to-Shore Project.

In an announcement on November 10, President Dr Irfaan Ali had revealed that CH4/Lindsayca was the number one-ranked group to build the two plants under an Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) contract.

According to the Head of State, negotiations were slated to commence imme diately with the United States-Guyanese consor tium and be wrapped up by the end of this month in order for the signing of the contract.

Power China was ranked number two, and could be engaged if negoti ations fail with Lindsayca.

At total of nine firms were publicly pre-qualified to bid on the EPC contract, and Request for Proposals (RFP) were issued to these bidders. By September, five bids were submitted, of which the CH4/Lindsayca

consortium was the high est bidder with US$898.76 million.

Apart from the power plant and NGL plant, the scope of US$900 million Gas-to-Shore Project, which has a 25-year lifespan, also consists of the construction of 225 kilometres of pipe line from the Liza field in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana, where ExxonMobil and its partners are cur rently producing oil.

Approximately 220 ki lometres of subsea pipe line offshore will run from the Liza Destiny and Unity floating production stor age and offloading (FPSO) vessels in the Stabroek Block to the shore. Upon landing on the West Coast Demerara shore, the pipe line will continue for ap proximately 25 kilometres to the NGL plant at Wales.

Exxon, with funding from cost oil, is expected to deliver the completed pipe line by the fourth quarter of

next year, in order to allow for the commissioning and testing ahead of the power plant coming online by the end of 2024.

The pipeline would be 12 inches wide, and is ex pected to transport some 50 million standard cubic feet (mscfpd) of dry gas per day to the NGL plant, but has the capacity to push as much as 120 mscfpd.

The route of the pipeline onshore would follow the same path as the fibreop tic cables, and would ter minate at Hermitage, part of the Wales Development Zone (WDZ) where the Gasto-Shore Project would be housed.

At present, Government is engaged in negotiations with landowners who will be affected by the proj ect, with a view to offering them appropriate compen sation in exchange for their properties.

While the Guyana Government would own the 300MW power plant and NGL plant, it would be re cruiting an international firm to operate the project to international standards and best practices.

The PPP/C Administration is confident that this gas-to-energy project would significant ly slash electricity costs in Guyana by at least half of what currently obtains. (G8)

Abusinesswoman is now worried about how she will meet her loan payments and clear other debts after her variety shop was broken into and over $300,000 worth of items stolen.

Shiv's Copy Centre, Bill Payments, Catering Corner and Boutique Stall, located at Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice Public Road, was broken into sometime between Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

Owner Shivanie Poone told this publication on Thursday morning; the padlocks were discovered missing from stall and upon investigating, she dis covered the shop was bro ken into and items stolen.

According to Poone, she

discovered that a large quantity of male and fe male clothing was missing. She added that footwear, perfumes, flash drives, memory cards and $10,000 were also stolen.

"All the clothes hang ers went on the ground, probably they gone with some because I discovered a lot of clothes hangers on the ground. They eat, they drink and they throw down everything and leave it there. We also recover the hammer that they break the door with. And they for get two skirts I must say. Because two skirts went on the ground and it seems that the place was dark and they didn't see it and there where they drop the clothes hangers," the busi

nesswoman revealed.

She said a report was made to the Fort Wellington Police Station.

Losses are estimated in excess of $300,000.

"People don't under stand, you working so hard.

I have bank loan, busi ness loan, I borrowed mon ey from two persons and look now everything gone.

I don't know where I will find this money to replace these people money, also the bank loan," Poone said, adding that “it’s very hard for poor people” to earn when persons are working hard to make a living and such disaster occurs. The woman also related that it is the first time her shop was broken into and bur glarised. (G4)

The body of the US tourist in the Rupununi River

“It’s very hard for poor people” –businesswoman says after shop burglarised

Clothing hangers on the floor of the stall that was burglarised

Gas-to-shore project

Around the World OIL NEWS

Protests erupt in Xinjiang and Beijing after deadly fire

from leaving their homes for as long as 100 days.

In the capital of Beijing 2700 km (1678 miles) away, some residents under lock down staged small-scale protests or confronted their local officials over move ment restrictions placed on them, with some successful ly pressuring them into lift ing them ahead of a sched ule.

A $65-$70 price cap on Russian oil may be too high to hurt Moscow

The planned price cap of US$65-US$70 per barrel for Russia’s oil is not expected to immediately shrink Putin’s oil revenues, considering that this is more or less the price that buyers currently pay for Russian crude, multiple industry sources familiar with the transaction prices told Reuters.

The primary goal of the price cap is to reduce the oil income available to the Kremlin that funds its war in Ukraine. The other key objective of the price cap is to keep Russian oil flowing by restricting maritime transportation services when the crude is being bought above a certain price cap.

No final decision has been taken by the G7 and the EU yet, but the price cap mechanism and the EU embargo on imports of Russian crude by sea are set to enter into force in less than two weeks, on December 5.

Public anger in China towards widening COVID-19 lockdowns across the country erupted into rare protests in China’s far western Xinjiang region and the country’s capital of Beijing, as nationwide in fections set another record.

Crowds took to the streets on Friday night in Xinjiang’s capital of Urumqi, chanting “End the lockdown!” and pumping their fists in the air, after a deadly fire on Thursday triggered anger over their

prolonged COVID-19 lock down according to videos circulated on Chinese social media on Friday night.

Videos showed people in a plaza singing China’s na tional anthem with its lyric, “Rise up, those who refuse to be slaves!” while others shouted that they wanted to be released from lockdowns.

Reuters verified that the footage was published from Urumqi, where many of its 4 million residents have been under some of the country’s longest lockdowns, barred

A crucial spark for the public anger was a fire in a high-rise building in Urumqi that killed 10 on Thursday night, whose case went viral on social media as many internet users sur mised that residents could not escape in time because the building was partially locked down.

Urumqi officials abrupt ly held a news conference in the early hours of Saturday to deny COVID measures had hampered escape and rescue, but internet users continued to question the official narrative. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Reports emerged on Wednesday that the EU is discussing capping the price of Russian oil at somewhere between US$65 and US$70 per barrel. Such a cap, if approved, would not effectively lower the price of the flagship Russian crude currently being traded on the market.

According to two of Reuters’ sources, some Indian refiners have been paying a discount of US$25-US$35 for Russia’s Urals compared to Brent, which – as it stands – is currently lower than the proposed price cap of US$65-US$70, since Brent trades at around US$85 per barrel these days.

The EU ambassadors of the 27-member bloc were discussing the G7 proposal of a cap but failed to reach a decision on Wednesday as EU countries are split over whether a price cap of US$65-US$70 is too high or too low.

One group of EU countries, including Russian neighbours Poland, Lithuania, and Estonia, believe the proposed price cap is too high and will still give Russia a handsome revenue from oil.

Another group of mostly southern EU members with large shipping industries – Greece, Malta, and Cyprus – have said a US$65-US$70 cap is too low and demand compensation for the potential loss of Russian oil trade to their shipping, according to EU diplomats who spoke to Reuters. (Oilprice. com)

Head of Haiti’s Police Academy killed at training facility

Awoman was found dead and around 10 people were still miss ing on the southern Italian holiday island of Ischia af ter a landslide engulfed buildings during heavy rain on Saturday, a local Italian Government official said.

Torrential rain hit the port of Casamicciola Terme, one of the six small towns on the island, in the ear ly hours, triggering flooding and bringing down buildings.

“Currently the confirmed death toll is one, a woman. Eight missing persons have been found, including a child, and there still are around 10 missing,” the prefect of

Naples, Claudio Palomba, told a news conference, add ing that around 100 people living close to the landslide area had been evacuated.

Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini said earli er during an event in Milan that eight people had been killed.

Seventy firefighters are working on the island, which lies some 30 km (19 miles) from Naples, to rescue resi dents from damaged build ings and search for missing persons, Italy’s fire brigade said on Twitter.

Images showed thick mud, debris and stones in Casamicciola Terme. Several

cars were submerged on the shoreline, apparently pushed into the sea by the storm.

“There are some difficul ties in the rescue operations because the weather condi tions are still challenging”, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi told reporters in Rome.

Ischia is a volcanic is land that draws visitors to its thermal baths and pic turesque hilly coastline. It is densely populated and statis tics show it has a large num ber of houses that were built illegally, putting inhabi tants at permanent risk from flooding and earthquakes. (Excerpt from Reuters)

US bans sale of Huawei, ZTE tech amid security fears

The US has banned the sale and import of new communica tions equipment from five Chinese companies, includ ing Huawei and ZTE, amid concerns over national secu rity.

Other companies listed include Hikvision, Dahua and Hytera, which make vid eo surveillance equipment and two-way radio systems.

It is the first time US reg ulators have taken such a move on security grounds.

Hikvision said that its products present no security threat to the US.

It said the decision “will do nothing to protect US na tional security, but will do a great deal to make it more

harmful and more expensive for US small businesses, local authorities, school districts, and individual consumers to protect themselves, their homes, businesses and prop erty.”

Huawei and others have previously denied supply ing data to the Chinese Government.

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said its members had voted unani mously on Friday to adopt the new rules.

“The FCC is committed to protecting our national se curity by ensuring that un trustworthy communications equipment is not authorised for use within our borders,”

the commission’s chairwom an Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement.

“These new rules are an important part of our on going actions to protect the American people from na tional security threats in volving telecommunica tions,” she added.

Because the ban is not retroactive, the firms listed can continue to sell products previously approved for sale in the US.

The restrictions in the US are the latest levied against Chinese tech firms follow ing spying concerns, which US officials have become in creasingly wary of in recent years. (Excerpt from BBC News)

The Police in Haiti have launched an investigation fol lowing the assassina tion of the director of the National Police Academy, Commissioner Rigaud Harington, who was shot dead on the grounds of the Police training facility on Friday afternoon.

According to Police

spokesman Garry Desrosiers, who confirmed the killing, Harington was shot inside an official Police vehicle as he was about to enter the Police academy. Video circulating on so cial media Friday showed Harington’s body stretched out on the ground.

Desrosiers was unable to provide further details,

but this latest incident took place in the capital, where gangs are estimated to con trol 60 per cent of the city.

For several months, fol lowing the 2021 assassina tion of President Jovenel Moise, the crisis has deep ened in the French speak ing Caribbean Community (Caricom) member state. (Jamaica Observer)

Biden administration grants Chevron license to expand oil operations in Venezuela

The Biden adminis tration on Saturday issued an expanded license to Chevron Corp, al lowing it to produce petro leum or petroleum-based products produced by its joint ventures in Venezuela.

Under the agreement, Chevron would regain par tial control of its activ ities in Venezuelan oil fields that it had stakes in through joint ventures with the country’s staterun oil producer, Petroleos de Venezuela SA. The joint ventures were producing about 200,000 barrels a day.

A senior administra tion official told reporters that the Venezuelan gov ernment will not receive any profits under the deal. Chevron will be prohibited from any transactions with Iran or Russian-controlled entities in Venezuela.

The authorization comes after the Venezuelan gov ernment and its politi cal opposition announced Saturday plans to imple ment a $3 billion humani

tarian program using funds unfrozen by the U.S.

As part of that agree ment, both sides will re sume talks next month in Mexico City to develop a framework to usher in po litical changes, including potentially holding presi dential elections by 2024.

The license would re store Chevron’s operations in Venezuela to the levels in place in 2019 before the Trump administration re stricted the oil company’s activities there as part of a sanctions campaign to oust President Nicolas Maduro. Before the U.S. halted Chevron’s operations in Venezuela produced about 15,000 barrels of crude oil a day.

It is not a permanent li cense and would need to be renewed every six months. The U.S. reserves the right to withdraw or amend the license at any time. Chevron’s existing license was set to expire on Dec. 1.

The senior administra tion official disputed that the move was aimed at low

ering soaring energy costs as the U.S. heads into the winter. Instead, the official said, the U.S. was provid ing sanctions relief because the Venezuelan govern ment was taking “concrete steps that alleviate the suf fering of the Venezuelan people and support the res toration of democracy.”

Chevron expanded li cense “is not something that is going to impact in ternational oil prices,” the official said. “It is about Venezuela and a policy about supporting a peace ful, negotiated outcome to a political, humanitarian, and economic outcome in Venezuela today.”

Still, the license comes just ahead of new sanctions on Russia that will reduce the global oil supply and send prices north. By easing sanctions on Venezuela, the Biden administration ap pears to be sending a signal to world oil markets that may panic over a potential shortfall. (Excerpt from The Washington Times)

Protests against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak measures in Urumqi city, Xinjiang Uygur, China in this screen grab obtained from a video released November 25, 2022

Landslide hits Italian island of Ischia: one woman dead, 10 missing

ARIES

(March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

Put your head down and take care of unfinished busi ness. The less time you have to engage in conflict or con troversy, the better. What you accomplish will make a differ ence.

You've got plenty happen ing. If you don't like what you are doing, make a move. Take control of your life and set your priorities straight. Put pres sure on those who try to get in your way.

GEMINI (MAY 28June 20)

CANCER

Map out your course. The preparations you make and the follow-through you dis play will keep you moving in a positive direction. Don't let anything slow you down; you're on a roll.

Give yourself a break and en joy your day. Try your hand at something that brings you joy or opens your eyes to a host of oppor tunities. Trust your intuition and make a positive change.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Move forward, but don't make unnecessary detours that re strict you. Planning a fun day with people who make you laugh will inspire you to revis it some past ideas that you'd left by the wayside.

Be careful whom you trust or share sensitive information with, and avoid getting caught in someone's drama. Look in ward and do something geared toward personal gain and self-improvement.

A short trip will be enter taining and knowledgeable. Don't hold back when it comes to learning, being assertive and taking responsibility for your life and happiness.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

If you collaborate with someone who brings out your best, it will lift your spirits and give you hope. Talk shop and discuss skills, knowledge and what you enjoy doing most.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

CAPRICORN

(Dec. 22Jan. 19)

Don't start something you cannot finish. Look for oppor tunities and exciting ways to make your home and relation ships more dynamic without taking on debt. Don't argue. Romance is in the stars.

Share your feelings and in tentions with someone close to you to find out where you stand. You'll need to convince others to meet you halfway by offering something unique to ensure you get your way.

AQUARIUS

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

PISCES

(Feb. 20Mar. 20)

Keep your plans secret until you are ready. A change at home will impact the en tertainment and lifestyle you choose. Stretch your imag ination, and you'll devise a way to do your own thing.

Sign up for something you believe in and do your part, but don't allow anyone to take you for granted. Maneuver yourself into a leadership position by of fering something familiar.

Peanuts

Calvin and Hobbes

Dilbert

West Indies opt to play for draw on final-day tussle

An incapacitated Raymon Reifer and a gritty Joshua Da Silva declined to chance their arm at notching the West Indies' first first-class win on Australian soil in more than 25 years, opting instead to defend grimly and fight out a draw in the pink-ball tour match against the Prime Minister's XI at Manuka Oval.

Chasing 309 for victory after the PM XI's sporting declaration at 221 for 4 late on day three, the tourists shut up shop at the fall of the eighth wicket, with

eight overs to go. Da Silva started aggressively before putting up the shutters in the last hour, while Reifer remained unbeaten off 26 scoreless balls. Not expected to bat due to a groin injury, Reifer did not even look to score, declining even the easiest singles hit to the outfield.

West Indies' most recent firstclass win in Australia came in the fifth Test of the 1996-97 battle for the Frank Worrell Trophy. Courtney Walsh's tourists - piloted by Brian Lara's century and Curtly Ambrose's seven wickets - had

thumped Mark Taylor's side inside three days at the WACA.

"It was just the right time," PM XI captain Josh Inglis said of his generous declaration late on Friday, which paved the way for the nail-biting finish. "We wanted to set up the game, which made today really exciting. It's a great occasion. Every time you're gearing up for international cricket, it's a great challenge. And to play against an international side is great. I think our boys had a really good week."

All results were possible when the West Indies entered the dinner break at 221 for 5, requiring a further 88 runs for victory off a minimum of 31 overs. The last session started horribly for them, when Roston Chase succumbed after just three balls, beaten in flight by Ashton Agar as he miscued and lofted a catch to Joel Paris at mid-off.

The pendulum swung the tourists' way when Da Silva and Alzarri Joseph combined for an enterprising 48-run seventhwicket stand. Joseph, who swung lustily and impressively, was grassed on 24 by Aaron Hardie in the slips, before guiding Mark Steketee to Michael Neser at gully four overs later.

When Steketee had Kemar Roach gloving a short ball to Peter Handscomb at slip, the West Indies had fallen to 273 for 8, and duly parked the bus.

Tagenarine Chanderpaul was named “player of the match” for his fine double innings (119, 56), which should surely earn him a Test debut against Australia at Optus Stadium, starting on November 30.

"It was nice to get some runs," the soft-spoken Chanderpaul said. "I knew it was going to be tough… just happy to get some runs."

Renshaw (81, 101

SCOREBOARD

West Indies 2nd Innings (T: 309 runs)

Kraigg Brathwaite (c)b Neser 20

Tagenarine Chanderpaul

lbw b Paris 56

Nkrumah Bonner

c & b Agar 12

Devon Thomas c Paris b Steketee 55

Kyle Mayers c † Inglis b Neser 20

Joshua Da Silva †not out 52

Roston Chase c Paris b Agar 13

Alzarri Joseph c Neser

b Steketee 31

Kemar Roach c Handscomb

b Steketee 0

Raymon Reifer not out 0

Extras (b 5, lb 3, nb 5, w 5) 18

TOTAL 106.5 Ov (RR: 2.59) 277/8

Did not bat: Jayden Seales

Fall of wickets: 1-39 (Kraigg Brathwaite, 18.3 ov), 2-85 (Nkrumah Bonner, 35.6 ov), 3-119 (Tagenarine Chanderpaul, 53.3 ov), 4-177 (Kyle Mayers, 62.6 ov), 5-187 (Devon Thomas, 65.1 ov), 6-221 (Roston Chase, 75.3 ov), 7-269 (Alzarri Joseph, 95.5 ov), 8-273 (Kemar Roach, 97.4 ov)

BOWLING O-M-R-W Michael Neser 18-3-43-2 Joel Paris 16-4-42-1

Mark Steketee 15-0-56-3 Aaron Hardie 9-1-33-0

Ashton Agar 25-9-41-2

Todd Murphy 23.5-10-54-0

Fitness Express backing Carlos “the Showstopper” Petterson

Pandit

Pandit

Need

Astrology

Fitness Express is sup porting powerlifter Carlos Petterson in his quest to medal at the upcoming Commonwealth Games, which are set to be held in New Zealand from November 28 to December 4.

Fitness Express CEO,

Jamie Mc Donald, has recently handed over a cheque to Petterson, after wishing the athlete well and declaring he is look ing forward to seeing him in action. For his part, Petterson has thanked McDonald for the generous support.

Matthew

not out) and Handscomb (55, 75) have hurtled themselves into contention for international recalls with their contributions for the home side. (Cricinfo)

Tagenarine Chanderpaul

The match ended in a draw

Carlos

Showstopper” Petterson (R) receiving the cheque from Jamie Mc Donald, CEO of Fitness Express

FIFA WORLD CUP: Qatar 2022 Roundup…

on the counter-attack.

Lewandowski's late strike ended Saudi Arabia's hopes of building on Tuesday's re markable victory over Argentina, and boosts Poland's hopes of reaching the last 16 for the first time since 1986, when they were beat en 4-0 by Brazil in the first knockout round.

Czeslaw Michniewicz's team need just one point against Argentina on Wednesday to qualify from Group C, while Saudi Arabia face Mexico for a place in the last 16. (BBC)

Mbappe scores twice as France reach knockout stage

Kylian Mbappe scored twice for France as the defending champions laid down a mark er by beating Denmark to become the first team into the World Cup knockout stage.

The 23-year-old forward, France's young est scorer in the competition, stole the show once again with second-half strikes to take

while Martin Braithwaite agonisingly fired into the side netting. But with four min utes left, Mbappe had the final say, sneak ing in at the far post to convert Antoine Griezmann's cross. (BBC)

Argentina keep World Cup hopes alive with Messi-inspired win over Mexico

Lionel Messi produced a moment of trademark magic to help keep Argentina's World Cup hopes alive with victory in a tense encounter against Mexico.

In a maelstrom of noise at Lusail Stadium, Messi and Argentina knew defeat would end their hopes of reaching the last 16 after only two games, following the stun ning loss to Saudi Arabia in their opener. The tension was mounting as Mexico frus trated Messi in an attritional game, espe

Australia forward Mitchell Duke has dedicated his match-winning goal against Tunisia to his son, and has said it is "a moment I will hold very dear for the rest of my life".

Duke took advantage of a positive start by Australia when he superbly flicked Craig Goodwin's cross into the far corner to put them 1-nil up after 23 minutes. That sparked an outburst of jubilant celebra tion from the small contingent of Australia fans behind the goal, which momentarily si lenced the hostile and unwavering support

by France in their opening match, will take on tough opponents Denmark next - but with qualification in their own hands.

"At the end of the day, it's just one game. Nothing will change for us," said Australia boss Graham Arnold.

"I told the players I am very proud, but we have achieved nothing at this moment. We are here, and want to go as far as we can go. I don't want emotion from the playersstaying up all night looking at social media and all that stuff - I want them to recover and refocus." (BBC)

Argentina

his side through. Mbappe had earlier blazed over from 12 yards and forced Kasper Schmeichel into a save with a rising shot. Then the Paris St-Germain star broke the deadlock just past the hour mark, exchang ing a fine one-two with Theo Hernandez be fore stroking in.

Denmark equalised just seven minutes later with their first effort on target, as de fender Andreas Christensen headed home at the far post after France failed to clear a corner. Christensen may have counted

cially in a first half littered with fouls and stoppages that never allowed Argentina to gain any momentum. Messi changed all that after 64 minutes when he took one touch to control a pass with his left foot, be fore drilling an unerring finish past Mexico keeper Guillermo Ochoa into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

The masses of Argentina supporters in a crowd of 88,966 went wild in celebration and relief as their World Cup campaign got back on track. Enzo Fernandez added a su perb second with a curling shot into the top

for Tunisia.

Knowing defeat would mean an early exit from the World Cup, Australia held on to the narrow lead, that keeps alive their hopes of qualifying for the last 16.

"I spoke to my son when I got selected for the World Cup," said Duke. "You have to have that belief you can score, [and] I told my son I would share that moment with him. [The celebration] was a little 'J' for the first letter of his name. I haven't seen it yet, but apparently he did it back to me in the stadium. It is a moment I will hold very dear for the rest of my life."

Hissed and jeered throughout by strik ing clusters of fans draped in red at the Al Janoub Stadium, Australia held their nerve to claim their first victory at a World Cup since 2010. They survived a desperate on slaught from Tunisia in the second half, with Youssef Msakni forcing goalkeeper Mathew Ryan into a save at his near post, though that came moments after Mathew Leckie had come inches away from connect ing with Goodwin's cross at the other end.

Stoke City defender Harry Souttar put in a superb performance, making several key blocks and tackles as Australia dug in. Australia, who suffered a humbling defeat

Lewandowski scores first World Cup goal in Poland win

Robert Lewandowski has scored his first World Cup goal as Poland earned a cru cial victory over Saudi Arabia, which leaves Group C wide open. The Barcelona striker capitalised on an error by Saudi Arabia mid fielder Abdelulelah Al Malki before sending a composed finish past onrushing goalkeep er Mohammed Al Owais.

Lewandowski, who missed a penalty in Tuesday's goalless draw with Mexico, was visibly emotional after ending a run of four World Cup games without finding the net.

Piotr Zielinski had given Poland a firsthalf lead from Lewandowski's cutback, but Saudi Arabia were awarded a penalty five minutes later for Krystian Bielik's foul on Saleh Al Shehri. Wojciech Szczesny kept out Feras Al Brikan's effort, before producing a sensational one-handed stop to prevent Mohammed Al Burayk from burying the rebound. Saud Abdulhamid was denied by Sczcesny, and Al Brikan shot over the bar in the second half, while Arkadiusz Milik and Lewandowski were both denied by the wood work as Poland sought to double their lead

himself lucky to still be on the pitch at that point, after receiving only a yellow card on 20 minutes for dragging back Mbappe, who was looking to run clear.

France keeper Hugo Lloris made a sharp stop to keep out Tottenham team-mate Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg's first-time shot,

corner three minutes from time, but it was Messi who made the breakthrough and the difference.

Victory in a tough final Group C game against Poland will send them into the knockout phase. (BBC)

Australia defeated Tunisia 1-0

defeated Mexico 2-0

Mbappe’s two goals sent France into the knockout stage

Lewandowski's late strike ended Saudi Arabia's hopes

guyanatimesgy.com

Team Guyana sweeps podium in cycling

The Guyanese boys have swept the top three spots of the 2022 Inter-Guiana Games cycle race on Saturday morning in West Demerara. Sherwin Sampson claimed the top spot in a time of one hour, 19 minutes and 11 seconds, and was followed by Alexander Leung and Aaron Newton in that order.

This race commenced at Schoonord, West Bank Demerara and headed towards Bushy Park in Parika, East Bank Essequibo, before returning to the National Track and Field Centre at Leonora, WCD for the grand finish.

On Friday, diminutive Surinamese Demetri Madamsir has clocked the best time in the trials held at the National Park in Georgetown. He was, however, unable to repeat his feat in this segment of the race.

In the time trials, Madamsir had clocked 4 minutes and 10 seconds for his two-lap ride around the inner circuit of the National Park, beating the Guyanese duo of Alex Leung and Aaron Newton were making

By TimoThy Jaikarran

The Guyana Bodybuilding Fitness Federation’s (GBBFF’s) National Seniors Bodybuilding Championships are set for staging at the National Cultural Centre on December 18, 2022, and GBBFF President Keavon Bess has said the athletes are gearing up nicely for this flagship event, and he is extremely grateful that COVID-19 mandates have been eased tremendously. He also divulged that the athletes have gone into overdrive in terms of their training.

Speaking to this publication, Bess has said, “The conditions this year are better than what we had last year, and even far better than what we had in 2020. So, persons are no longer required to wear masks or wash their hands upon entering (the venue). Even though these are things they still should do, and while there is no mandate in place for this, we still encourage persons to do these things with the highest level of hygiene (in mind).

“COVID-19 is still with us, but… we are back to a sense of normality, and persons can come out and enjoy bodybuilding the way they

their

at the IGG. They had finished second and third respectively, Leung clocking 4:12:10s, and Newton 4:13:26s.

A total of 10 riders, five each from Suriname and Guyana, had participated in this cycling event.

French Guiana did not participate in the event. Mario Washington,

know to enjoy bodybuilding.”

Bess has said the athletes are displaying great interest in the competition. Interest is at optimum level, and the athletes have been putting in the work in the gyms. He said the athletes are aware of the prizes up for grabs, and that, together with bragging rights for an entire year, are powerful motivation for the athletes. All the athletes, he said, are determined to go on stage and give of their best.

“Athletes’ preparation is going smoothly. I and the Organizing Secretary have visited some gyms and interacted with some of the athletes who are preparing for the competition. Training has been going well so far. We have also been seeing some photos from

athletes, as they are keeping us in tune with their preparation for the competition. And from what we have seen, we know without a doubt that it is going to be a competition of the highest quality,” Bess has shared.

Bess has divulged that the GBBFF is pleased to know what level of preparation the athletes are subjecting themselves to; because, come December 18, fans would be anticipating serious competition in the championships.

Approximately 30 athletes would be competing in the four segments of the competition, which are:

* Bodybuilding

* Bikini

* Women’s Wellness

* Men’s Physique

Bess has said that the official list of athletes who would be participating in these Championships would be publicised within the first week of December. However, the athletes who have thus far confirmed their participation include Darious Ramsammy, Christina Ramsammy, Rosanna Fung, Nicolas Albert, Emmerson Campbell, Odel CrumEwing, Ashanti Conway, Jonathan Jeffery and Julio Sinclair.

Day 1 action in table tennis in the Inter-Guiana Games commenced at the National Gymnasium at 11:00hrs on Saturday with Guyana coming up against Suriname in their respective categories. At the end of day one, Guyana emerged victorious, having won most of their fixtures.

In the first game of the day, Guyana emerged victorious 3-1 after Colin Wong of Guyana and Shariq Bipat (Suriname) had gone head-to-head in the boys’ singles. Wong won the first round 11-9 but lost round two 13-11. However, the talented Guyanese did not let up, and bagged the next two rounds 11-4 and 11-9.

In the girls’ singles, Guyana’s Jasmine Billingy went up against Maria Kanhai of Suriname. Not an easy customer, Billingy stormed to a 3-0 victory after

involved in the IGG.

The IGG, which commenced on Friday, would see male and female athletes competing in track and field, badminton, volleyball, tennis, table tennis, swimming and basketball activities. Males have just

competed in cycling, while females would be competing in football.

The IGG runs from Friday, November 25 to Sunday, November 27, and is being hosted at multiple locations in Regions Three and Four.

recording scores of 11-1, 11-5 and 11-3 in the one-sided affair.

In the mixed doubles, Guyana was again victorious in keeping Suriname at bay with a 3-0 win. The likes of Saalih Rahim and Jasmine Billingy were just what the local contingent needed to brush aside Suriname’s Shariq Bipat and Maria Kanhai 11-8, 11-1 and 11-6.

In the boys’ singles matches, Suriname stunned Guyana 3-2. Ebo McNeil of Guyana put up a valiant fight against Shariq Bipat in round won, and won 12-10. But he lost round two 11-8 and managed to win round three 118. however, Shariq took the next two games 11-9 and 12-10 to give his side a win.

In the fifth game of the day, Guyana dominated the girls’ singles 3-0, with Samara Sukhai thrashing Suriname’s Yasmien

Jodiwongso 11-4, 11-4 and 111, and Akira Watson of Guyana recording a flawless 3-0 victory over Kayleigh Idrisman after recording scores of 11-4, 11-7 and 11-

In the girls’ doubles matches, Seona Barker and Shackecy Damon of Guyana whipped Kayleigh Idrisman and Yasmien Jodiwongso 3-1. They won their games 11-2, 11-9, 12-10, despite losing the second round of the game 11-7.

The final game of the day witnessed the boys’ singles, this saw Saalih Rahim of Guyana blindside his opponent Shariq Bipat 3-0. Rahim won his three games 13-11, 11-3 and 12-10.

The competition will continue today with mixed teams’ format, girls, boys singles, boys & girls doubles and mixed doubles.

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 - lezas@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.

debut

Adjani Cutting, Aaron Newton, Alexander Leung and Sherwin Sampson are the five Guyanese who had participated; while Team Suriname had comprised Jair Norton, Isiah Pawirodinowo, Xavi Wadilie, Jeorcen Adelaar and Dimitri Madamsir.

More than 400 athletes from Guyana, French Guiana and Suriname are expected to battle for supremacy in the IGG championships. The Ministry of Sport in Guyana is aiming to develop this event and start expanding it to other countries

Sherwin Sampson posing with his parents after claiming the win

Guyana’s top cycling trio of Sampson, Leung and Newton

IGG

GBBFF’s National Seniors Bodybuilding Championships