Guyana Times - Thursday, April 13, 2023

Oil blocks' auction extended until July amid strong int’l interest – Govt …work continues on finalising PSAs, 1986 Petroleum Act

Amid a plethora of interest being expressed by major international players, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has extended the end date for the auction of Guyana’s available oil blocks to July 15, 2023.

In a statement, the Ministry of Natural Resources explained that the auction of the oil blocks would be extended until July 15, 2023. Previously, the auction had been expected to end on April 14, 2023, after which evaluations and negotiations would have followed and the blocks would have been awarded in May 2023.

“Industry feedback and the advanced pace of modernising the oil and gas regulatory framework underscore the extended bidding period for the nation’s first competitive offshore oil and gas licensing round,” the Ministry said.

“The Round, officially launched on December 9, 2022, continues to receive strong global interest, and the Government has benefited from insightful feedback during the consultation periods of the Indicative Terms and Guidelines and the draft model production sharing agreements.”

It was further explained that, having recently concluded agreements with PGS Exploration and CGG Data Services, bidders can have additional 2D seismic data for

the blocks at their disposal. This will be available for both future and existing bidders, to better inform their decisions when they are bidding.

Meanwhile, work continues on finalising the model Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), a draft of which was recently released. Additionally, work continues on overhaul of the outdated 1986 Petroleum (Exploration and

Production) Act.

“Concurrently, the Government recognizes that the new era of oil and gas development, facilitated by these current and future rounds, must be governed by a modern regulatory framework, and has been thoroughly moving the finalisation of the model PSA, as promised in this Government’s manifesto, and the overhaul and strengthening of the 1986 Petroleum (Exploration

and Production) Act.”

In light of overwhelming interest from the bidders, the Government had been mulling an extension of the April deadline for submissions as far back as February. As such, the extension was being considered to allow other interested bidders to get their proposals in order.

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat had said in February that more than 20 companies have indicated their interest in buying oil blocks, and have already submitted bids. These companies, he had noted, are renowned in the oil and gas industry.

“A lot of companies have been making requests to us to have an extension, because they have to prepare their proposal to send to us so that we may consider. However, it stands at April for now,” Bharrat had explained.

Of the 20 companies that had entered bids, at least half of them had already paid their fees to enter the Government Data Room. Bidders are required to pay a US$20,000 fee that gives them access to the Government’s Data Room.

The sizes of the 14 oil blocks on auction range from 1000 to 3000 square kilometres (sq.km). Under the new fiscal terms in the draft PSA, Guyana stands to benefit from Zs high as US$20 million sig-

nature bonuses for the deep-water blocks, and US$10 million for the shallow-water blocks.

Additionally, all future PSAs would include the retention of the 50-50 profit-sharing after cost recovery; the increase of the royalty from a mere two per cent to a fixed rate of 10 per cent; the imposition of a 10 per cent corporate tax; and the lowering of the cost recovery ceiling to 65 per cent from 75 per cent.

Only recently, United States (US) oil giant ExxonMobil had said it was awaiting the final terms of the new PSA before it makes a decision on bidding for the remaining oil blocks offshore Guyana that are up for auction.

At the time the new PSA was released, Exxon had already registered for the bidding round.

ExxonMobil Guyana President Alistair Routledge told <<Guyana Times>> that his company’s interest in the auction is fuelled by its successful oil finds offshore Guyana.

Currently, the 2016 oil contract for the Stabroek Block, signed between the ExxonMobil-led co-venturers and the then Guyana Government, pegs cost recovery at 75 per cent. The remaining 25 per cent of revenue is spilt 50/50 between the Government and the co-venturers, while the country also gets a two per cent royalty from total revenues. (G3)

The 14 blocks up for auction

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, April 13 – 10:30h-11:15h and 23:30h-01:00h and Friday, April 14 –No retraction.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Thursday, April 13 –09:40h-11:10h and Friday, April 14 – 11:25h-12:55h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Sunny conditions interspersed with thundery showers in the mid-morning and early-afternoon hours are expected. Clear to partly cloudy skies are expected at night. Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-Easterly to East North-Easterly between 2.23 metres and 5.81 metres.

High Tide: 09:48h and 22:59h reaching maximum heights of 2.23 metres and 2.08 metres.

Low Tide: 16:12h reaching a minimum height of 0.98 metre.

SkyCana to start flying Guyana-Canada route in June

Options to travel to North America have now widened with the introduction of flights from Guyana to Canada and Houston, Texas in the United States by Dominican Republicbased airline SkyCana.

This was revealed on Wednesday by President Dr Irfaan Ali on his Facebook page.

The Head of State welcomed the news from SkyCana Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Frank Diaz Gonzalez, that the airline would commence the Guyana-to-Canada route from June 1, 2023.

The announcement was made following a meeting between President Ali and CEO Gonzalez at the Office of the President earlier on Wednesday.

SkyCana is a Dominican Republic company with a fleet that includes three Airbus A321, four Airbus A320, one Airbus A330300 and one Airbus A330200 aircraft. SkyCana is looking to fly three times a week to Canada.

Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh; Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill and Director of Presidential Affairs, Marcia Nadir-Sharma were also at the engagement with the airline officials.

Only last month, it was announced that SkyCana was exploring business opportunities in the Guyana

market.

Gonzalez had met with officials of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) on March 27, 2023 to discuss potential areas for partnership.

During that meeting, possible flight operations between Houston, Texas, and Toronto, Canada, via the Dominican Republic, were discussed. The stops in the Dominican Republic will only be for refuelling.

The CEO had shared that his company was aiming to connect Guyanese with more destinations and supply the needs of travellers in the country.

“We are here to collaborate with Guyana… and bring more operation in terms to connect with many destinations…you can travel and enjoy. We have aircraft up to 377 seats we can…supply any needs that you have here in the country,” Gonzalez boasted.

CJIA Board Chairman Sanjeev Datadin had lauded the intention of the airline to operate in Guyana.

“We all know that in Guyana at present, we are in need of [more diverse] routes out of Guyana … it is in our interest to encourage more and to try to provide better service to the Guyanese public and to try to provide more options to the Guyanese public,” Datadin had remarked.

(G8)

SkyCana officials with local stakeholders upon arrival at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (file photo)

President Dr Irfaan Ali and other Government officials with SkyCana CEO Frank Diaz Gonzalez and his team at the Office of the President in Georgetown on Wednesday

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Motherhood

As this year’s celebration of Mother’s Day draws nearer, we take a look back at our take on how we may alleviate teenage pregnancy, one of the major issues concerning motherhood.

The world has changed and the social dynamics have degraded alarmingly, with the juvenile population paying a heavy price. Fallout of the low threshold of the moral levels of currentday society includes the high statistics on incidents of teenage pregnancy.

Often, when a school-aged girl falls prey to the raging libido of adolescence and becomes pregnant as a result, both expectant mother and child are shunned by peers, school authorities, society in general, and sometimes even their own families; and this consequently spells poverty and the direst future for mother and child. However, awareness of the plight of these misled young girls is gaining momentum, and constructs are being put in place to facilitate their empowerment to enable a good life and a future of promise for mother and child, with education being the key component.

Some years ago, the then People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration initiated a programme whereby pregnant teenage girls were re-integrated into the school system. The Government’s project was supported by the United States Embassy, which donated a quantity of baby and hygiene kits to 20 teenage mothers who had been allowed and facilitated by the Ministry of Education to continue their academic studies. The assistance — which included diapers, blankets, bonnets, socks, soaps and towels — was in support of the Ministry of Education’s programme to afford school-aged victims of teenage pregnancy an opportunity to continue their secondary education.

The students were placed at the schools they last attended. However, if they indicated discomfort, they were placed at another school of their choice.

Those above 16 who did not desire to continue academic studies were enrolled at the Adult Education Association, the Carnegie School of Home Economics, or the Sophia Training Centre.

Young expectant mothers came to the attention of the Schools’ Welfare Department following the officers of that department undertaking outreach visits to health clinics, schools and communities.

Girls were interviewed to assess their education level as well as to ascertain what plans they had for their future as parents.

Parents of the young mothers were also interviewed in an effort to make the initiative a holistic rehabilitative effort, with educational sessions done with the teenage expectant mothers with the focus on empowering them to have a future that provided financial security for both mother and child.

These sessions covered several areas, including life skills, building self-esteem, literacy and numeracy, parenting and child care, skills training, stress and anger management, and basic Information Technology.

The objective of the programme was to identify the needs of the targeted individuals; collect, collate and disseminate information on their experiences; empower them to perform their roles as parents; and provide services to enhance and support their well-being.

These efforts were aimed at helping the young mothers to adjust to their new roles as parents.

A representative of the Ministry of Education said the Government had recognised that drastic changes in people’s lifestyles over the past three decades precipitated such occurrences in the social dynamics, and the programme to reintegrate teenage mothers into schools was one of the measures it had taken to ensure a progressive society for the vulnerable.

The Ministry official averred that education is a basic human right, and a child who had become pregnant at 14 should not lose that right.

Head teachers were encouraged to develop a sense of appreciation for teenage parents, as some are victims of broken homes and various other unfortunate circumstances.

According to the Ministry official, the findings of research done countrywide on the subject revealed that teen mothers have an interest in continuing their education, but need various forms of intervention and support to succeed in this area. These include an education environment that respects and understands their situation.

It is wise to introduce counselling sessions into the school system to prevent such occurrences as teenage pregnancy, because the cost in dislocated lives of families and the young mothers themselves is too high.

Dr Jagan and Burnham were complete opposites

Dear Editor,

Almost instantaneously after the celebration of the birth and life of the late Dr Cheddi Jagan on March 22nd at Babu Jaan, a ridiculously small number of letter writers and columnists have taken umbrage at the honorific title of the Father of the Nation which is bestowed upon Jagan by the Guyanese masses.

These misanthropists are so full of hate that they have failed to recognise the great struggles which both Dr Jagan and Janet Jagan had to endure in being relentlessly persecuted for the stance which they took against the colonial masters to liberate the Guyanese people. These bitter and envious people should read Jagan’s “The West on Trial” to fully appreciate the daily struggles which the Jagans and the members of the PPP had to bravely endure. They were beaten, tortured and jailed for what they believed in: dignity, self-respect, democracy and freedom.

One columnist seemed to believe that this title should be shared between Dr Jagan and LFS Burnham, but then he did not stop there. He insult -

ed, vilified and poured scorn on the Guyanese people by asking two rhetorical questions: ‘Who would want children like these? Which father in his right senses, with some residual dignity, would own up to be the ancestor of Guyanese, both of yesterday and especially today?’ The writer, being a US citizen by naturalization, has bluntly declared that Guyanese are not worthy of being the ‘children’ of the Father of the Nation. If his argument holds true, then the question must be asked: Are Trinidadians worthy of the late Dr Eric Williams? Are Indians worthy of Mahatma Gandhi? Are Americans worthy of the Founding Fathers (George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, et al)? And the list goes on.

However, the most relevant question the columnist should ask is: Are we worthy of our Father, who is in Heaven?

It is a historical fact that whilst Dr Jagan struggled against the horrors of the colonial system, Burnham supported the oppression against the Guyanese people, and orchestrated the first division of the Guyanese people, which his Party, the

PNC, has kept alive even today.

Even when Guyana’s Independence was achieved, he began a dictatorial rule which saw the continued deprivations and sufferings of the Guyanese masses. Life became worse than under the colonial rule, and the exodus of Guyanese to all parts of the globe began in earnest.

I am positive that some of these malcontents fled to the US under the PNC, only to return and glorify the very evil monster which continued on its destructive path, spewing racial disharmony and acrimony in its bid to get into Government.

It is also a historical fact that, during the 28 years of the PNC dictatorial rule, Guyana became worse when compared to Haiti. However, after the PPP/C took office in 1992 under Dr Cheddi Jagan, socio-economic development began with great intensity, and even after his demise, his successors never flinched or strayed from the Jaganite ideals, and took the PPP and Guyana to greater heights.

There are so many great achievements by this great man, but one

which I truly admired was his Job-like patience and perseverance in putting up with the rigged elections from 1968 onwards, but kept his Gandhi-like ideals aloft in fighting the PNC dictatorship.

I recall a famous quote from Gandhi: “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.”

Dr Jagan was the rightful Prime Minister/ President, but was kept out of office by a nefarious tyrant, whose band of corruptors wants to now label him as the Father of the Nation. This is a gross insult to all that a father stands for. Which father would assassinate, impoverish and deprive his children of basic food and medicines? A father must be assessed on the life he provided for his children, and Dr Jagan and the PPP always strove to bring the better life for all Guyanese; not the elusive ‘good life’ preached by the PNC-dominated Coalition.

Dr Jagan never wanted to be in Government for the sake of power, but for the uplifting of his people, unlike Burnham. They were complete opposites.

Yours sincerely,

Haseef Yusuf

President Dr Irfaan Ali joined the Seventh-Day Adventist Church on Wednesday for the Guyana Conference’s Sixth Quadrennial at the church's central location in Queenstown, Georgetown (Office of the President)

Works ramping up on Ogle-to-Eccles Bypass Road …land

this month

President Dr Irfaan Ali has been assured that efforts are afoot to fasttrack the ongoing preliminary works on the Ogle-toEccles Bypass Road project that will link the East Coast of Demerara to the East Bank of Demerara.

The Head of State on Tuesday visited the construction site at the Ogle end to check on the progress of the works on the much-anticipated bypass road project, which will run 7.8 kilometres through the swampy backlands to create a direct highway connecting the East Coast with the East Bank corridor.

“You can have an appreciation for the type of work and the effort that goes behind to bring these developments to reality… We have a number of difficulties in construction of these roads. Not only are we below sea level, but we have a high water table in some areas. Our drainage system in the backlands – and most of the developments are coming in the backlands – is far different. So, all of that has to be taken into consideration,” the President pointed out.

Currently, some 6.5 kilometres of land-clearing and sand-filling works have been completed at both the Ogle and Eccles ends. President Ali was told that the entire 7.8-km main alignment will be completely sand-filled by

the end of the month.

The contractor, Indiabased Ashoka Buildcon Limited, is using special technology for compaction during the sand-filling process called PVDs (Prefabricated Vertical Drains), which are durable plastic cores wrapped around geotextile filter fabric to facilitate the movement of water through slow-draining soils. This fabric will help to accelerate the primary settlement of the soil.

Technical Services Manager at the Public Works Ministry, Nigel Erskine, who was updating the Head of State on the project, explained there is a 180-day period for the compaction to settle and afterwards, the construction of the asphaltic road would start.

Meanwhile, the concrete drains that will run alongside the road will be built by two local sub-contractors –Jagmohan Construction and John Fernandes. Erskine noted that all the testing has been done and the sub-contractors would commence works on the pre-fab concrete drains soon.

They will also be producing the beams and the piles for the concrete bridges along the bypass road. There are 48 small bridges in total along the main alignment and one major bridge across the Lamaha Canal.

Last month, Public Works

Minister Juan Edghill had told Guyana Times that they have encountered a snag with the project regarding its design.

At the time the project was conceptualised and designed, there was a roundabout at the intersection with the Railway Embankment, which is currently a twolane road. However, with the Guyana Government now upgrading the Railway Embankment into a fourlane roadway, the roundabout has to be redesigned.

When the US$106 million contract was signed between the Guyana Government and Ashoka in June 2022, the contractor had reassured of delivering the project within the stipulated 24-month timeline.

According to Erskine, efforts are being made to meet the October 2024 deadline. This was in response to President Ali enquiring whether the contractor was

on schedule.

“They are a little behind schedule, but they have ramped up work and I think we will be able to complete this project in time… They’re working up to 10 o’clock in the night from both [Eccles and Ogle] ends,” the Technical Services Manager informed the Head of State.

Erskine further posited that “…it’s a significant development and we are going to be pushing the contractor to have this project delivered on time and within the cost of [the] budget”.

Back in 2015, the Indian Government had provided the US$50 million credit line for the road link that was initially slated for Ogle to Diamond, EBD. However, the project cost was driven up to over US$208 million by the previous A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government and the project languished under them.

However, when the current People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration took office in 2020, it redesigned the project into two phases to fit the line of credit – first from Ogle to Haags Bosch road in Eccles, which is about 48-50 per cent of the project, and then from Eccles to Diamond.

The Guyana Government will be undertaking the extension from Diamond all the way to Timehri where the country’s main port of entry, the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), is located.

It was announced in January 2022 that Ashoka Buildcon Limited won the contract to construct the road, ahead of two other Indian companies. Ashoka has built a number of bridges and roads.

RITES Limited, also out of India, secured the US$3.2 million contract for the provision of supervisory services

for this bypass project. Since the road construction is being financed by the EXIM Bank of India, it is a condition that companies from that country execute the various types of works, with assistance/support from local firms.

RITES, an engineering consultancy company, had conducted a 10-month design consultancy, which produced a Detailed Project Report (DPR) outlining the draft final design of the bypass road and recommended a fourlane highway as most feasible.

This project will see the construction of some 7.8 kilometres of road from the East Coast to the East Bank with each of the four lanes being 3.6 metres wide. The highway will also feature a median in the middle and sidewalks as well as several connector roads especially at the East Bank end to allow for further diversion of traffic.

clearing, sand filling to be completed

President Dr Irfaan Ali being updated on the preliminary works by Public Works Ministry’s Technical Services Manager Nigel Erskine during a visit to the construction site of the ECD-EBD Road Link Project PVDs being installed on a sand-filled section of the Ogle-to-Eccles Bypass Road

NGSA Math Questions

Govt working with C’bean countries to create 1st regional food hub

…hub to be located in Guyana; will help bring down food costs – Pres Ali

Preparations continue for the launch of the first ever regional food hub here in Guyana; which, according to President Dr Irfaan Ali, has the support of other countries in the region, including Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados.

During a Caribbean Association of the World Bank panel discussion, the Head of State spoke about the creation of a regional food hub. The first of its kind, the President said, a number of initiatives are being advanced to create this hub.

“Right now, we are focusing on the preparations for the launch of the first regional food hub here in Guyana. That will be linked to Barbados, because we have decided that we’re going to work aggressively with those who are ready to push forward. The leaders have addressed this, so Barbados, St. Vincent, Trinidad and

Tobago, we’re working on many different initiatives to see how we can advance this agenda in a very rapid way,” President Ali said.

It was pointed out during

the panel discussion by St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Finance Minister Camillo Gonsalves that Guyana has the largest available swathe of arable land for agricultur-

al purposes in the Caribbean. And with Brazil already being an agriculture powerhouse, Gonsalves was adamant that the Caribbean must reorient its trade networks in that direction.

President Ali also noted that the region has a problem in terms of affordability of food. In fact, the President said the cost for a healthy diet is highest in the Caribbean, when compared to other regions. This is something he noted a regional food hub can help change.

“In the region, we have the highest cost for a healthy diet. This is important, because food production is linked not only to social security and to livelihood issues, but also to health. And when you look at a healthy diet in the region, we have the highest cost at US$3.89 per person. While in the US, it is US$3.46 per person. In North America and Europe,

LGE 2023…

it is US$3.19 per person,” the President added. Among the initiatives being pioneered by Guyana is the development of the regional agri-tech campus. This project is being developed along with the Bangalore Bio Innovation Center in India.

The BBIC, according to its website, is a state-of-theart translational research and entrepreneurship center catering to all the needs of start-ups in life science located in the city of Bangalore, India. President Ali noted that the project will see technology and crop variety being developed that are catered for the Caribbean region.

Last year, an agri-investment forum and expo was held in Guyana, a joint initiative between the Government and Caricom Secretariat. Government has also said it would be partnering with the Private Sector to establish a regional food hub.

Government’s focus on agriculture is down to the vision of making Guyana the bread basket of the Caribbean, and reducing the regional food import bill. Last year, President Dr. Irfaan Ali had declared that his Government would be pursuing an aggressive campaign to dismantle regional barriers to agricultural trade, and that in the next four years, with the assistance of more diversified crops, Guyana would aim to reduce Caricom’s food import bill by 25 per cent.

It was reported in February that member states of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) have collectively achieved a significant 57 per cent of the target set to realize “Vision 25 by 2025”. This announcement was made during the first Caricom Ministerial Task Force (MTF) on Food Production and Food Security meeting for 2023. (G3)

GECOM invites applications for local observers

In preparation for holding the upcoming Local Government Elections (LEG) in June, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is calling on domestic organisations/groups interested in mounting observer missions to monitor the elections to submit their applications.

This is in accordance with the provision of Section 145 B of the Local Authorities (Elections) Act, Chapter 28:03, and in order to enhance transparency, credibility and impartiality in the conduct of the local government polls, which will be held in Guyana on June 12, 2023.

Those who are desirous

of observing the elections will have to apply to GECOM for accreditation. All local observer groups are required to fulfil a set of minimum standards, including: Familiarity and experience with electoral laws and procedures; Previous experience of election monitoring and/or other relevant experience or knowhow and specific training, national and/or international; Interpersonal skills (e.g. capacity of balanced judgement, ability to work in teams, ability to cope with difficult situations, respect for diverse attitudes, good communication skills, readiness to work in a multi-cultural environment); Ability to maintain profes-

sional independence and strict impartiality in the conduct of duties; and Demonstrated commitment to democracy and human rights.

Applications submitted must contain: Name, address and contact details of the eligible organisation or group; Name of the head of the eligible organisation or group, and evidence of similar past experiences; The type of activity covered by the organisation or group, and evidence of similar past experiences; Name and contact details for proposed observers; Official/ registration documents etc, and the proposed Local Authority Area(s) to observe.

The Observer Application

Form is available on GECOM’s website (www. gecom.org.gy). Applications must be submitted to the Chief Election Officer no later than Friday, May 12, 2023.

“All decisions taken by the Guyana Elections Commission pertaining to approval/denial of applications for accreditation as local observers shall be final,” a missive from the electoral body on Wednesday stated.

The Private Sector

Commission (PSC) had disclosed last month that it has already written to the Elections Commission requesting Local Observer Accreditation status for the upcoming local government polls.

After several delays, the long-overdue LGE was set for March 13 this year, but GECOM subsequently deferred the Nominations Day in December 2022 to address issues relating to its regis-

tration exercise. This postponement was after court action was filed by Oppositionaligned persons challenging the process used to compile the List of Electors, or Voters’ List, for the impending LGE.

In February, Local Government and Regional Development Minister, Nigel Dharamlall, set Monday June 12, 2023 as the date for the holding of the much-anticipated and long overdue LGE in Guyana. TURN TO PAGE 9

President Dr Irfaan Ali

23 years later…

Enmore man gets life sentence for deadly cutlass attack on neighbour

jury of his peers. He murdered Daniel Singh, 49, on May 21, 2000 at Enmore, East Coast Demerara. Reports are that Singh did not approve of Bhikhari’s relationship with his young daughter.

During the killer’s sentencing hearing on Wednesday, Justice Barlow admonished him for his beastly act, emphasising that such actions would be strongly condemned by the court. According to the High Court Judge, grown men in any community must assist in maintaining law and order, and not behave like a beast.

Why wait for tomorrow?

…Drill baby! Drill!!

The aptly-named “Prosperity” FPSO just sailed into our waters, and is getting hooked up with all those “floaters and risers” and stuff to start pumping at least 260,000 barrels of that sweet, light Brent crude every day of the year!! It’s some distance from the Lisa Destiny and Lisa Unity, exploiting, as it will, the Payara find. Now, we know that Prosperity’s gonna be churning out more than 260,000 bpd, don’t we?? The aforementioned Lisa FPSOs were rated to produce 340,000 bpd, and look at how they’re up to 380,000 bpd without working up a sweat!!

Fifty-seven-year-old

Deonarine Bhikhari, who had been on trial for the murder of his neighbour, which occurred almost 23 years ago, was sentenced to life imprisonment on Wednesday by Justice Jo-Ann Barlow at the High Court in Demerara.

In imposing the custodial sentence, the Judge specified that the convicted killer must serve a minimum of 30 years — from which the period he spent in pretrial custody must be deducted — before he is considered eligible for parole.

Bhikhari, who had initially pleaded not guilty to a charge for the capital offence of murder, contrary to common law, was found unanimously guilty by a

Despite the jury’s verdict, she pointed out, the convict has shown no remorse, and has continued to maintain his innocence: “Laying blame at everyone else’s doorstep except his own”, while noting that he had fled the country to avoid being prosecuted.

The dead man’s children, in their impact statement, detailed the hardships they faced as a result of their father’s untimely passing.

They recalled having to drop out of school at an early age to assist their mother with providing for their basic needs. They were high in praise of the justice system, expressing that even though it has been more than 20 years since their father’s death, their family has finally gotten justice.

“I believe that all these years my dad’s blood was crying out for justice for this crime, and I also believe that our family did get the justice we were looking for at the end of this case. No sentence can fill the hole that this tragedy has created by taking away my dad from us in such a sad way, but it does console the hurt I feel: to know that the defendant will still be punished for this crime, and has not gotten away with it scot-free,” their statement read.

“I do not hate the defendant, but I am hurt by what he did. My dad, Daniel Singh, was a kind-hearted, caring family man, who went out of his way to make

sure we had food to eat and that our basic needs were met. He reminded us daily that we must help to look out for each other. And those are the memories I cherish most about my dad…”

In the end, Justice Barlow ordered that Bhikhari must attend behaviour modification sessions, including anger management classes, during his incarceration.

He was represented by Attorney-at-Law Nirvan Singh, while Attorneyat-Law Konyo SandifordHolder was the prosecutor.

Daniel Singh, a single father, was living at Hope West, Enmore, ECD with his four children. Guyana Times understands that Singh and Bhikhari usually had confrontations, since Bhikhari and Singh’s then teenage daughter had reportedly liked each other, but Singh did not approve of this. At the time, Bhikhari was in his 30s while the young girl was in her late teens.

It is, however, unclear what might have triggered Bhikhari’s actions on the day in question. It was reported that, on that day, Singh was sitting on his front step when he was attacked by the cutlass-wielding man, who also killed three of the family’s dogs while injuring his young daughter.

After the attack, Bhikhari had fled to neighbouring Venezuela, but due to the crisis in that country, he later returned home, and was only apprehended by Police in May 2018 at a house at Enmore. (G1)

So, by this yearend, we can expect production of over 600,000 bpd!! How sweet it is!! What makes it even sweeter is that, with the war in Ukraine showing no sign of letting up – in fact we’re hearing about “counteroffensives” and all! –and OPEC cutting back their production by 1 million bpd this month…we can expect VERY buoyant oil prices, thank you!! Your Eyewitness can just hear those cash registers jingling at the New York Fed, where we park our oil money!

They say it ain’t good to count your chickens before they’re hatched – but these aren’t chickens coming out of the bottom of the Atlantic, are they?? No siree Bob!! This’s the black gold the world just can’t do without!! No matter what they say about “renewables” and such like, it’s coal production that’s gonna be taking a hit in the next decade!! Yeah…big, bad, dirty coal!! First the brown lignite…then the black coal, and then - after maybe two decades - the heavy, sulphur-laden crude out of Venezuela and Canada!! And finally, our sweet, light Brent not-so-crude!!

So, from where your Eyewitness sits, it was a no-brainer for the PPP to summarise its oil policy as “Drill, baby! Drill!!” We probably got a 30-year window to make the most of what the good Lord gave us! It was He who made the good earth exert all that heat and pressure on those sunken ancient forests to turn them into oil, wasn’t it?? His “bounty” isn’t confined to the on-the-surface goodies!!

Anyhow, by 2025, the “One Guyana” FPSO will be steaming in to exploit the Yellowtail strike!! With a rated capacity of 260,000 bpd, you just know that’s gonna be exceeded to get our production up to ONE MILLION BARRELS PER DAY in that year!! It’s purely coincidental – if serendipitous for the PPP! – that the next General Elections are gonna be held then!! And in case anyone misses the slogan for those elections, the good FPSO “One Guyana” gonna remind them!!

Your Eyewitness is also pretty sure - with the higher oil revenues - there might just be more than a chicken in every (Guyanese) pot!!

…Bid, baby!! Bid!!

Now, in case you forgot, even though Exxon/Hess/ CNOOC and a number of other oil multinationals own massive swaths of deep-water ocean real estate – others are salivating cause of the former’s 13-billion (and counting) confirmed reserves – and there’s some prospects left. The Government had requested bids since 2022 – which was to’ve been closed tomorrow. But the deadline has been extended to July 15!!

Fact of the matter is, some new players – at the governmental level, even!! – have not surprisingly expressed interest in view of the roiling oil markets!! But investing in oil prospects – especially offshore – ain’t the same as buying salara - where you can actually see how much of that good, sweet coconut flakes you’re getting!! With oil, there are reams and reams of data that gotta be analysed – and even then, there’s no sure thing!! Look at the first company off the block – CGX: those poor guys still haven’t struck anything.

But these new bidders gotta move quickly: that window of opportunity’s even tighter for them!!

…cultivate supporters today!!

The Opposition seems to have a schizoid strategy for getting power. By highlighting their “kith and kin” in the armed forces, are they expecting to attract non-traditional voters – who’ve been sensitised by some condign beatings at Mon Repos??

Dead: Daniel Singh

Jailed: Deonarine Bhikhari

Faulty chiller causes massive fire at Mario's Juice Bar

The damaged Mario’s Juice Bar

The once popular Mario's Juice Bar on Sheriff Street, Georgetown was destroyed on Tuesday night by a mas-

sive fire that tore through the establishment.

Eyewitnesses reported that the fire started at about 22:30h and spread quick-

ly throughout the building, leaving the community in a state of shock and disbelief.

Mario's Juice Bar, which had been serving fresh and

GECOM invites applications...

GECOM subsequently appointed April 17 as Nominations Day.

The Elections Commission had already extended the process to provide a further opportunity for political parties, groups or individuals wanting to contest the upcoming LGE to submit their applications for approval of their symbols by March 1, 2023.

Section 48(1) of the Local Authorities (Elections) Act, Chapter 28:03, provides that all political parties, voluntary groups, and individuals who are desirous of contesting Local Government Elections are required to submit a symbol for approval by the Guyana Elections Commission no later than the 21st day before Nomination Day.

Meanwhile, GECOM has already been in preparation mode over the past few months as it gears up for the long overdue elections. The Commission had previously indicated that its approved work plan entails,

among other things, that the Elections Secretariat would immediately move to roll out a robust civic and voter education programme, appoint Electoral Registrars and Assistant Electoral Registrars, and extract the Preliminary List of Voters (PLV). These activities, it noted, are directly linked to the preparation of Registers of Voters for each of the 80 Local Authority Areas (LAAs).

In this regard, the GECOM Secretariat had already completed the training of management and polling day staff for all of the Local Authority Areas, and the receipt of applications for and approval of symbols submitted by political parties, voluntary groups, and individuals who intend to contest the elections.

LGE, which are constitutionally due every two years, was last held in 2018. At the November 2018 local government polls, the then PPP/C Opposition had secured 52 of the 80 Local

FROM PAGE 7

Authority Areas (LAAs). This had followed the holding of the LGE in 2016, during which the PPP/C also claimed the majority of the LAAs. (G8)

Mario’s Juice Bar that was destroyed by fire delicious smoothies and juices for over a decade, was a staple for the area.

The security officer attached to the business, who was on the scene at the time of the fire, expressed shock as he described the scene as chaotic. He said the flames were so intense that he could feel the heat from several feet away.

According to him, 15 minutes after the staff had left the building, he heard a loud explosion in the kitch-

en area of the business place.

Upon investigating, he saw flames, and he immediately ran to the business next door to alert them. Shortly after, a call was made to the Fire Service, and within minutes, the business was fully engulfed in flames.

The Fire Service was alerted to the fire at around 23:13h, and dispatched water tenders and a water bowser from the Central and

Campbellville Fire Stations to the location. When they arrived, they found that the structure involved was a one-flat concrete building, and as a result of the fire, the building and its contents were destroyed.

After an investigation, it was determined that the purported cause of the fire was the overheating of a faulty industrial chiller which ignited, and the fire spread through the entire building. (G9)

Riot act read to delinquent Region 8 contractors

…delayed contracts terminated in Mahdia

The Government is taking a hard stand against delinquent contractors in Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro/ Siparuni), with some of them even having their contracts terminated.

Minister within the Public Works Ministry, Deodat Indar, was accompanied by Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai during an outreach

to Mahdia on Wednesday. While there, residents raised with the Minister several issues they have with the roads. The Minister was accompanied by local leaders and engineers during his inspection.

For instance, there was an $87 million concrete road project that has faced almost three years of delay despite its extended September 2022 dead-

line. The project was said to have been delayed by poor weather, faulty equipment, and stone shortage.

Minister Indar was having none of it. “This is no longer a project with K&P [Project Management] and the Government of Guyana. I am instructing the Permanent Secretary to cancel it," Indar said after inspecting the thoroughfare. In addition to the

current optimal weather, it was pointed out by the Minister in a release that completed portions of the road also had structural issues.

Another road project in Mahdia that is on the chopping block for termination is a $60.5 million concrete road project at Danjah Street. The Minister informed residents that with only 42 per cent of the project having been completed and the contract being well over its completion date, this project would be cancelled.

Meanwhile, a $108.6 million concrete road that measures 500 metres was also inspected, with Minister Indar reading the riot act to the contractor. questioned by Minister

Indar on why preparatory works were not done, the weather was again blamed. However, both the Minister and residents rebutted this, with the Minister threatening to terminate the contract if the road is not completed.

According to Indar, "At the strike of one month from now, if this road isn't done, consider your contract done.”

Both Ministers also addressed other community concerns raised by residents. For instance, residents were informed that a contract to repair a bridge at Mango Landing is out for tender and that the procurement process will be fast-tracked.

When it comes to trucks damaging the roadway at

Micobie, Minister Indar pledged to forward the matter to the Minister of Natural Resources for further action, since it is in a mining zone. Residents were also informed that the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GL&SC) and the Ministry of Housing would be doing an outreach to Mahdia in the coming month, to assist residents with their land-related concerns.

In budget 2023, a total of $136.1 billion was set aside for the Ministry of Public Works to continue the transformation of bridge and road networks across the country. Specifically, $38.5 billion was allocated for work on community roads, particularly in underserved areas. (G3)

Minister within the Public Works Ministry, Deodat Indar, and other officials during his inspection of roadworks in Mahdia

Draft real estate legislation completed – AG

The Guyana Government is now one step closer to regulating the local real estate industry, as the first draft legislation has been completed and is expected to be shared with stakeholders soon for feedback. This was revealed by Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC, during his weekly programme Issues In The News.

“The Real Estate Bill is now complete in draft, and we will continue to consult with stakeholders on the current draft, and then it will move to Cabinet, and then for onward transmission to the Parliament…I will be circulating it to stakeholders in a matter of days, and the consultative process will continue,” he disclosed.

Guyana Times understands that the Draft Real Estate Bill includes provisions to regulate the operation/functions of real estate agents; registration and qualification of real estate

agents; and reporting mechanism for transactions conducted by real estate agents, among other things.

According to Nandlall, he has had several consultations with the stakeholders before and during the drafting of the Real Estate Bill. In fact, he noted that the draft bill was compiled using feedback and recommendations made during those consultations.

The Attorney General told Guyana Times, “Significantly, the bill was prepared based upon recommendations that came from the real estate agents [during] consultations which were held with them.” He added, “…consultation is an important part of our governance, and is an important part of our legislative agenda.”

Additionally, AG Nandlall noted that legislation in other jurisdictions in the Caribbean region as well as in North America were also examined in preparing Guyana’s real estate draft.

Moreover, the Attorney

General explained that real estate is one of the sectors that Guyana has an obligation to regulate by way of legislation under the Anti Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) structure. This, he underscored, is important to the country’s AML/CFT standing.

“Real Estate legislation is an important requirement under our structure, because that is one of the areas that are unregulated. Guyana is scheduled to un-

dergo a mutual assessment later this year, and one of the deficiencies identified in our AML/CFT structure is the absence of legislation governing real estate transactions,” he noted.

To this end, the Legal Affairs Minister said Government is hoping to have this Real Estate Bill enacted before Parliament goes into recess in August.

Real estate agents in Guyana have been pushing for regulations to govern the sector, especially since there has been an increase in

the sale of real estate here with the passage of the new Condominium Bill last year and the heightened presence of international real estate companies operating in the country.

Back in November 2022, Nandlall had said real estate laws in Guyana are necessary now more than ever, given the country’s development trajectory.

“It is something that is long overdue, and the need for regulation to be brought to this industry has assumed even greater importance since we have become an oil and gas producer. Large companies have come here; huge transactions are taking place involving the sale and transfer of lands; you have joint venture arrangements being entered into to the tune of billions of dollars, and we have an unregulated real estate industry,” Nandlall had posited.

The Attorney General had further said, “I keep saying all the time (that) we have to update our laws, we have to revamp our legal

system to ensure that it embraces the modern changes that are taking place, or else the legal system and the law will be left behind and commerce will run ahead. We can’t allow that to happen, we must do it in sync, and the society must move forward as a whole. No society can advance without the law as an institution being there to regulate the conduct of human affairs.”

The Guyana Government has embarked on regulating the real estate sector with the passage of the Condominium Bill in May 2022, which sets a structured and clear policy framework to guide the ownership and management of town houses and condominiums. Described as a ‘modern piece of legislation’, the Condominium Bill, Number 4 of 2022, makes provision for the horizontal and vertical subdivision of land and buildings into units for individual ownership, and the use and management of condominiums and matters connected to it.

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall SC

Upcoming Local Government Elections… CJ to rule on challenge to GECOM’s method of compiling voters’ list

Exactly one month before Local Government Elections (LGE) are scheduled to be held, acting Chief Justice Roxane George, SC, will deliver a ruling on the application of APNU’s Chief Scrutineer, Carol Joseph, challenging the process used to compile the Voters’ List for the upcoming polls. The long overdue LGE have been set for June 12.

Despite arguments to the contrary, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has maintained that it acted lawfully in compiling the Voters’ List/ Official List of Electors.

Last December, Joseph, through her attorney Roysdale Forde, SC, had re quested an urgent hearing of an application she had filed challenging the pro cess used to compile the Voters’ List for the LGE. The application, which is being heard by acting Chief Justice Roxane George, SC, lists the Chief Elections Officer, the Commissioner of Registration, and the Attorney General as respon dents.

When the matter came up for another hearing on Wednesday, GECOM’s lawyer Kurt DaSilva amplified on written submissions he had earlier laid over to the court.

Counsel also answered a series of questions posed to him by the court. Joseph’s lawyer was not available for Wednesday’s hearing, and as such, Attorney-at-Law Selwyn Pieters stood in for him.

Following DaSilva’s address, the Chief Justice, despite alluding to her heavy workload, committed to handing down her ruling on May 11 at 15:30h.

Joseph is asking the court to make a series of declarations: that GECOM acted ultra vires and unlawful-

ly in compiling the List of Voters for Local Government Elections; that the action of the Chief Elections Officer and/or the Commissioner of National Registration in extracting a List of Electors under GECOM’s order is similarly ultra vires and unlawful; that GECOM acted in dereliction of its duty under the relevant electoral laws; and that GECOM has a constitutional duty to ensure that registration of electors is conducted in accordance with the law.

“The process employed by the Commission to prepare a Register of Voters for use at the next Local Government

son that the said Order, No. 55 of 2022, is ultra vires and unlawful.”

She also wants the court to set aside the extraction of the List of Electors by the Chief Election Officer and/or the Commissioner of National Registration; as well as for an order to be granted compelling the Elections Commission to comply with the relevant sections of the Local Authorities (Elections) Act, Cap 28:03.

Another order is being sought to direct and/or compel GECOM to compile a register of voters in accordance with the provisions set out in the Local Authorities (Elections) Act, Cap 28:03, before conducting any Local Government Election in Guyana.

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has appointed April 17 as Nominations Day in preparation for hosting of the long overdue LGE in June.

the opportunity to object to persons on the Register of Voters in the manner provided for in, and contemplated by, Local Authorities (Elections) Act Cap. 28:03”, Joseph has deposed in court filings.

Another ground in her application outlined that the process employed by GECOM to prepare a Register of Voters for use at the next Local Government Elections has not been in accordance with the Local Authorities (Elections) Act.

To this end, Joseph has asked the court to grant orders setting aside GECOM’s order to extract a List of Electors for Local Government Elections “…on the ground and for the rea-

On Nominations Day, parties or organisations/ groups or individuals running at the polls make their way to a designated location set by GECOM, where their representatives are required to submit their List of Candidates to the Chief Election Officer (CEO), as well as sign on to the required documents, such as a code of conduct, in order to contest the elections.

LGE, which are constitutionally due every two years, was last held in 2018. At the last LGE in November 2018, the then PPP Opposition had secured 52 of the 80 Local Authority Areas (LAAs). This followed the holding of the LGE in 2016, when the PPP had also claimed most of the LAAs.

Local Government Elections were constitutionally due at the end of last year, but GECOM was without a Chief Election Officer and could not have prepared to host the elections. GECOM, a constitutional body, was allocated $5.2B in the 2023 National Budget to carry out its functions. (G1)

Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George, SC

Carol Joseph

Miner jailed for unlawful possession of gun, ammo

consequences.

The defence counsel argued for a lesser sentence, citing that the miner was a first-time offender and had no prior criminal record.

After considering the submissions, the Magistrate handed down the sentence of one year in prison and a fine of $50,000. The Magistrate also warned the accused that the consequences of carrying an unlicensed firearm and ammunition are dire, and that he must take responsibility for his actions. Vieira was then taken into custody to begin his sentence.

mother contacted the Police and reported the incident. Officers arrived at the scene and were led to the location of the hidden weapon by the concerned mother. The 12-gauge shotgun, wrapped in plastic, was retrieved and taken to the Imbaimadai Police Station. During interrogation,

Vieira reportedly admitted to carrying the weapon, and was subsequently arrested by the Police. The incident serves as a reminder of the seriousness of carrying unlicensed firearms, and the need for everyone to abide by the law to ensure the safety of the Guyanese people. (G9)

Aminer has been sentenced to one year in prison and fined $50,000 for carrying an unlicensed firearm and ammunition at Imbaimadai, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

On Tuesday, Darby Vieira pleaded guilty to the charges before Magistrate Dylon Bess at the Georgetown Magistrate's

Court. During the proceedings, the prosecutor pointed out that possession of an

unlicensed firearm and ammunition is a serious offence which can lead to severe

Police reports indicate that, on April 4, 2023, Vieira visited his mother's home in Omenike Village, Region Seven, and was seen carrying a shotgun, which he later hid in a clump of bushes. The following day, Vieira's

The firearm that was found by Police

Jailed: Darby Vieira

Berbice teen chopped to death over old feud

Ateen of Dukestown, Corriverton, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) is now dead after he was on Monday chopped by two men in his community.

Dead is 18-year-old Keon Byass, a labourer of Dukestown, Corriverton, Corentyne.

Police have since said that the teen was chopped by two men with whom he had an ongoing misunderstanding, as they had wounded each other in the past.

However, relatives said previous incidents between the youths were not dealt with effectively by the Police, including one incident which saw the nowdead teen having a hand almost severed.

Speaking with Guyana Times , the now dead teen’s aunt, Bridgette Byass said that her nephew went to the tailor on Easter Monday and on his return home about 09:30h, he was attacked by the two brothers at the head of the street where he resided.

“He was on his way and these fellas trail him and then they ambush him. They start to chop him from the road front and he ran, but he had nothing to defend himself and they continued chopping him. People were there, but nobody really want to come forward to say anything. They keep chopping him and he fall down and couldn’t move anymore,”

she said.

Police said that the teen attackers were both armed with cutlasses. The injured lad was then rushed to the Skeldon Public Hospital and subsequently transferred to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital.

On the way to the hospital, Byass reportedly revealed to his brother the identity of the persons who had injured him.

After that, his aunt said that his “only words were “dem two brothers chop me’ and from then he was unconscious until he arrived at the New Amsterdam Hospital. “We couldn’t get to see him, because he was never stable. He went into shock... he bleed too much,”

she disclosed.

He succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday afternoon. The two suspects live a stone’s throw away from the teen’s home.

His aunt explained that the teens had an ongoing feud.

“He and them had an ongoing problem from since school days. The very first time they catch him was year before the last and they chopped him and his hand couldn’t work until now. The Police never take no step and this thing continue going on. A few months ago, during last year, they attacked him and he had to defend himself and he pelt a bottle and one of them get injured –

stab or cut or something. Nothing come out of that story.”

During that incident, according to Byass, another of her nephews was also wounded.

Police in a release said about 17:30h on Tuesday one of the suspects turned himself in at the Springlands Police Station. Byass leaves to mourn three siblings and his parents.

The dead teen’s mother, Christina McDonald is calling for justice.

“They did it once and we didn’t get no justice; now they do it again and kill him. I need justice for my son,” she said as she burst into tears. (G4)

Police intercept car in Linden, find unlicensed firearm

In a recent intelligence-led Police operation, three individuals were apprehended in the vicinity of the WismarMackenzie Bridge in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), with one of them found in possession of an unlicensed firearm.

The operation was con-

ducted by the Special Branch Unit, Criminal Investigations Department (CID), and Regional Division #10 ranks.

In a statement, it was noted that the police officers intercepted a blue motor car, with registration number PNN 9833, which was being driven by a 27-year-old resident of

Amelia's Ward, Linden.

The driver and two other individuals, a 21-yearold barber of Burnham Drive, Wismar, and, a 34-year-old clothes vendor from North Ruimveldt, Georgetown were in the car.

After stopping the car, the Police Officers requested to search the vehicle

and its occupants and according to the statement, it was during this search that one of the occupants was found to be carrying a one-strap Nautica shoul-

der bag around his neck.

When the Police searched the bag, they found a .38 revolver without any ammunition. The serial number on the weap-

on was defaced, raising suspicions about the ownership and intended use of the firearm.

When questioned by Police Officers, the man admitted that he was not a licensed firearm holder. However, he refused to provide any further details about the origin or purpose of the firearm, stating that it was his own personal possession.

He also claimed that the other occupants of the vehicle were not involved in any illegal activities.

The three men were escorted to the Mackenzie Police Station, where they remain in custody as investigations continue. The car has been impounded. (G9)

Dead: Keon Byass

The firearm that was found in the car at Linden

Winston Jordan’s misconduct trial refixed to April 24

Trial into the misconduct in public office charges against former Finance Minister under the previous APNU/ AFC Government, Winston Jordan, has been deferred from April 11 to April 24. The new trial date was fixed on Tuesday by Senior Magistrate Leron Daly.

Jordan is currently out on $3 million bail after being charged by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) —an arm of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) — for misconduct in public office. He was first arraigned at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on December 28, 2021.

It is alleged that Jordan, being and performing duties of Finance Minister, and being the concerned Minister for the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), a company owned by the Government, between February 26, 2020 and July

31, 2020, at Main Street, Georgetown, wilfully misconducted himself by acting recklessly when he signed a NICIL Transfer of Property Order which was published in the Official Gazette transferring to, and vesting to BK Marine absolutely, all buildings, erections, stellings, platforms and further appurtenances; that is to say, Mudlots 1 & 2F of Mudlot 3A, B & D, situated at North Cummingsburg, Georgetown, being over 2.553 acres for payment of $20,260,276, the property being valued at over $5B.

It is further alleged that the property being sold at a price that was grossly undervalued to such a degree amounts to an abuse of the public’s trust without reasonable excuse or justification.

Back in December 2021, Jordan was arrested by SOCU, an arm of the GPF that specialises in white-collar investigations, as part of

investigations into alleged instances of corrupt governmental transactions between 2015 and 2020.

BK Marine, SOCU said, had paid only 10 per cent of the purchase price; that is, $20 million, and Jordan had gone ahead to issue a vesting order, passing the title

to the purchaser without the purchaser making payment of any further sums of money. According to SOCU, the vesting order stated that the property is being sold free from encumbrance and liabilities, and no further sum of money is owed by the purchaser. It said that the transport was subsequently issued for the property, and the value strangely stated on the transport was $400,000,000. Further, SOCU said, the agreement of sale stated that the title must be passed only upon full payment of the purchase price.

SOCU contended that investigators have evidence to establish that a facility located some seven miles upriver, being a mere fraction of the size of the State property under investigation, was sold by a private company for US$17 million.

It had pointed out that this was only one of several

investigations that implicated former Minister Jordan. While Jordan had previously denied any wrongdoing regarding this transaction, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC, had announced that there were active investigations into a number of suspected shady dealings under the former APNU/AFC Government, and the former Finance Minister had been implicated in a number of “nefarious transactions”.

On behalf of the State, the Attorney General had also filed civil proceedings against Jordan at the Demerara High Court over the sale of the river frontage to BK Marine. In that case, Nandlall was seeking to overturn the contentious sale of the State property. To this end, he had asked the court to declare the agreement of sale between BK Marine and NICIL illegal, unlawful, null, void, re-

pugnant, and contrary to public policy.

However, last September, Justice Brassington Reynolds dismissed the lawsuit on finding that while the Attorney General is authorised to bring an action for misfeasance in public office against Jordan, he did not, in the case at bar, satisfy the elements of the tort.

Referencing a plethora of case law, he held that the pleadings in Nandlall’s Affidavit in Support were misconceived, and therefore ruled that the case was an abuse of the court’s process, before striking it out. As such, he had awarded costs of $2 million each to Jordan and BK Marine.

Describing it as “one of the most shocking decisions I have ever witnessed in my brief career at the Bar”, Nandlall had signalled his intention to appeal the decision of the High Court Judge. (G1)

Gunman opens fire on home of photographer in cybercrime trial

Bruce, his wife and son were at home.

The gunman reportedly arrived on a motorcycle and discharged eight rounds in the direction of the photographer’s home, hitting his house and a vehicle in the yard.

No one was injured. Police arrived on the scene shortly after the incident.

The trial of Bruce, who is charged with a cybercrime offence over the so-

cial media cartoon character “Mudwata”, is currently ongoing.

Bruce, 35, a father of two, is on trial before Diamond/Golden Grove Magistrate Sunil Scarce accused of being the person behind the cartoon character “Mudwata”, who, according to the Police, has made slanderous publications about several persons, contrary to the Cybercrime Act.

In January of 2022,

Police arrested Bruce and several other persons on allegations of the cartoon character slandering persons. Police Headquarters have said ranks have seized several pieces of equipment from a house at DD Eccles, EBD. And several voice messages were also collected, which, when analysed, matched with the “Mudwata” commentary, the Police Headquarters have said.

cybercrime charges.

At the time of the incident around 22:38h,

Former Finance Minister Winston Jordan

A snippet of CCTV footage shared by Keron Bruce on social media showing the gunman at his fence shooting at his home

Agunman on Tuesday evening opened fire on the Eccles, East

Bank Demerara (EBD) home of a photographer currently on trial in relation to

Keron

THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 2023| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

24 shade houses constructed in schools across 6 regions

In an ongoing effort to promote youth development in the agriculture sector, 24 shade houses were constructed in schools across Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara); Four (Demerara-Mahaica); Five (Mahaica-Berbice); Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and Seven (CuyuniMazaruni).

The joint initiative by the Agriculture Ministry’s National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) and Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) is a part of the growing number of climate-smart practices being encouraged among farmers and introduced within schools, and is a means of controlling exposure to harsh or unfavourable climatic conditions.

Thus far, the Agriculture Ministry has collaborated with 23 secondary schools to construct shade houses to assist students who are completing School Based Assessments (SBAs) for

the upcoming Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams. One was also built at the University of Guyana’s Tain Campus in Berbice.

“We did 14 [shade houses] last year and already for 2023, we’ve completed an additional 10,” Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha is quoted as saying in a release from the Ministry, which added that seven of the 14 constructed in 2022 was completed through funding from the BNTF.

“We know we have to get our youths involved in agriculture to ensure longevity, sustainability, and food security. We have to build that interest and show how exciting agriculture is by establishing a solid foundation while they are in school,” Mustapha said.

In addition to the shade houses, many schools were also given technical assistance, seeds, seedlings, and tools to complement their crop science efforts while some received ducklings and chicks with feed to as -

sist with the livestock aspect.

NAREI spent some $10,690,000 in 2022 to construct shade houses along with planting materials, irrigation systems, and tools.

For its ventures in 2023, the organisation has so far spent some $20,870,000.

Some of the schools that benefited from the initiative were 8th of May Secondary School and Cottonfield

Secondary School (Region Two); Leguan Secondary

School and West Demerara

Secondary School (Region

Three); Cummings Lodge

Secondary School (Region Four); Woodley Park

Secondary School (Region Five); New Amsterdam Multilateral School (Region Six) and St Michael School (Region Seven).

This initiative is a part of the plan by the Caribbean Community (Caricom) to collectively lower the Region’s food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025, which Guyana is spearheading, as well as a continued undertaking to involve Guyanese youths in the sector more often.

The Agriculture and Innovation Entrepreneurship Programme, conceptualised by President Dr Irfaan Ali, was one of the first initiatives launched by the Government to promote youth involvement in agriculture.

The programme, directed towards graduates from the Guyana School of Agriculture and the University of Guyana, now has some 100 participants and has earned over $10 million from the sale of high-value crops like broccoli and cauliflower.

Cattle farmer admits to killing, burning worker’s body

...son, worker freed

ACorentyne cattle

farmer will know his fate on May 4, when he goes before Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall for sentencing after he admitted to killing a worker in 2017.

On Monday, 47-yearold Bharrat Ramsaywack, called “Bobby”, a cattle farmer of Number 55 Village, Corentyne, pleaded guilty to killing a 21-year-old block maker back in 2017.

The farmer was on trial for the October 2017 murder of Mahendra Ghanie, called “Sanjay”, whose burnt remains were found amid burning debris near

Ramsaywack’s yard on October 6, 2017.

Ramsaywack along with his son Prem Ramsaywack, who was 16 years old at the time of the murder, and Mohanlall Suesankar, another employee, were indicted in December 2018, for the murder of Ghanie with the latter two being accessories to the crime.

During the trial in the High Court, Ramsaywack indicated that he wanted to change his plea. After he was allowed to do so, Justice Morris-Ramlall ordered a probation report.

Meanwhile, when the trial continued on Wednesday, Attorney-atLaw Mursaline Bacchus,

who was representing the younger Ramsaywack, and Attorney-at-Law Arud Gossai, who was representing Suesankar, made a nocase submission which was upheld by the court. This led to the two other accused walking free.

The State’s case was presented by Attorney-at-Law Muntaz Ali.

The bones of 21-year-old Ghanie were found in a shallow grave with burning coconut shells next to a cemetery at Number 55 Village, close to Ramsaywack’s fence.

It had been reported that the trio offered the Police a confession statement stating that Ghanie was struck on his head with a piece of wood rendering him unconscious. They then reportedly dragged him and dumped him into the shallow grave. Ghanie was then set afire. The men after checking and finding that the body was not destroyed, burnt it again in another shallow grave. They had earlier accused Ghanie of stealing a goat. (G4)

Students and technical officers from NAREI in one of the shade houses that were constructed

Cattle farmer Bharrat Ramsaywack, called “Bobby”

Dead: Mahendra Ghanie, called “Sanjay”

NGSA Science Questions NGSA S. Studies Questions

Answers for last published Science questions

1a) Herbivores are animals that consume only plants.

1b) Grass

1c) The lizard preys on the

Answers for last published Social Studies questions

grasshopper, which is a primary consumer. They share a predator-prey relationship.

1di) Grasshopper

1dii) Insecticides are designed to kill insects, and the grasshopper is an insect.

1a) Helpfulness

1b) Helping elderly persons with their chores

1c) Helping each other to study

1d) Showing kindness is one way of showing we care

Showing kindness makes us feel good

Hunt on in Ecuador for gunmen who killed 9 port workers

Police in Ecuador are searching for a group of around 30 gunmen who killed nine men working at the fishing port of Esmeraldas on Tuesday.

The heavily-armed gunmen arrived both by sea and by land and appeared to fire on the workers indiscriminately.

Ecuadorian Interior Minister Juan Zapata said they may have been targeted, because they had paid "protection money" to a rival gang.

Gang-related violence has been on the increase in Ecuador.

Many gangs engage in extortion, threatening local businesses and forcing them to pay them regular fees for their "protections". If they refuse, their businesses or the owners themselves are attacked.

Police said some of the victims were boatmen, some

hauled cargo, and others worked in the warehouses on the water's edge, where shrimp and fish are stored. The youngest was 28 and the oldest 79 years old. Video shared on social media shows a boat full of men arriving at the port. Dozens of shots can be heard ringing out as people on the dockside flee in panic.

Police said that at least 180 rounds had been fired during the attack.

While the victims worked in small-scale fishing businesses in Esmeraldas, the port is also of strategic importance for drug traffickers, who use it to launch speed boats laden with cocaine.

Esmeraldas is located on Ecuador's northern border with Colombia and many of the gangs slip back and forth across the border to escape the security forces.

(BBC News)

Jamaica: Mother of 2 to be sentenced for beating daughter with electric wire

Crime fear grips T&T, criminals take over – Pastor Dottin

One religious leader is calling on National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds and Police Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher to break their silence and give the public some kind of assurance and comfort as crime fear continues to grip the people of Trinidad and Tobago.

From brutal home invasions to deadly robberies and even a drive-by shooting on the nation’s highway on Monday night, SeventhDay Adventist pastor Clive Dottin suggested that no one feels safe anywhere. In fact, he said on Tuesday, nationals were no longer fleeing T&T to seek better jobs elsewhere, but people were trying to escape the criminal elements who are taking over the country.

Dottin said as violent crime increases, families and business owners have

US-led plan to “end” migration through Darien Gap spurs questions

Rights groups and other observers have raised questions over a United States-led plan to stem the “illicit movement of people” through a dangerous jungle passage between Panama and Colombia popular with US-bound migrants and asylum seekers.

The US Department of Homeland Security said on Tuesday that a deal had been reached with the Panamanian and Colombian authorities to address “irregular migration” through the so-called Darien Gap.

and Colombia, it added, without going into further detail.

Almost immediately, observers questioned how the effort would function in practice.

“The externalisation of the US border continues,” Al Otro Lado, an organisation that provides legal and other assistance to migrants and refugees in the US and Mexico, tweeted on Wednesday.

Amother of two was dragged to the Kingston and St Andrew Parish court on Tuesday after she was charged for using an electric wire to beat her 14-yearold daughter.

Camille Salmon pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and cruelty to a child when she stood before Senior Parish Judge Lori-Ann Cole-Montague.

The Crown told the Judge that while reprimanding the child on March 30, Salmon used an electric wire to beat her “all over her body”, causing cuts and bruises.

However, the Crown did not disclose who reported the incident, which landed the woman in court.

After hearing the allegation, the Judge said, “I can understand why you were charged with cruelty.”

Explaining her action, the woman said she doesn’t normally hit her children.

“I’m a single mother of two, Your Honour. I work very hard…It has come to my knowledge that she is in-

terested in other things that is not childish. She don’t listen… It hurt me as a mother that I see my 14-year-old texting her friend disgusting things that she wants to do,” Salmon said, adding that she knows she was wrong and even issued an apology to her daughter.

In response, ColeMontague said, “Mother, one thing I know for a fact, is that perhaps one of the hardest jobs on God’s green earth these days is to parent a child and to parent a teenager… especially because they are exposed to so much.”

She continued: “... But there is a place that as a parent you must not cross…”

Turning to the teenager, who was accompanied by her grandmother to court, the Judge asked if she thought that she had been good all the time.

Responding, the child said she only “sometimes sent the texts”.

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

been searching for safe places outside of the country.

He said the time has come for the relevant authorities to wrest back control from the criminal elements.

“The authorities have to confront the criminal elements, the local mafia ... and let them know that we will not allow them to win this battle in terms of crime.”

Claiming he had received feedback from many people over the weekend following reports of home invasions at Bejucal and Aranguez which he described as terrible, Dottin said, “There is a level of fear in the society that is horrendous…”

“We need to show the criminal elements that we have courage, that we have faith in God, and we are prepared to confront them.”

(Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Chilean rights groups condemn ‘quick trigger’ law

Just blocks from Santiago’s busy Avenida Matta, dozens of people gathered silently outside the 4th Police precinct this past weekend, lighting candles in tribute to Corporal Daniel Palma.

Shot in the head last week while conducting a check on a suspicious vehicle, Palma was the third Police Officer to be killed in Chile in the past month, stunning a country already grappling with an uptick in violent crime.

Zuli Peraza, who moved from Venezuela to Chile a year and a half ago, attended the vigil with her husband and their teenage daughter. The killing occurred just blocks from their home.

“I’m worried for my daughter, my husband, and my home,” Peraza told Al Jazeera. “Violence has increased in this country.”

The spate of killings

The 60-day campaign seeks to “end the illicit movement of people and goods through the Darien by both land and maritime corridors”, as well as open “new lawful and flexible pathways for tens of thousands of migrants and refugees”, the Department said in a statement.

The countries would also launch a plan to reduce poverty and create jobs in border communities in Panama

“The language in this statement is vague on purpose. How exactly do they intend to end migration thru the Darien Gap + ‘reduce poverty, create jobs’ in 60 days? What are these alleged ‘new lawful + flexible pathways’?”

Nearly 250,000 migrants and refugees crossed through the Darien Gap last year, according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) – nearly double the number of people who took the route in 2021.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Brazil could suspend social media sites over school violence content

spurred lawmakers to swiftly pass new legislation giving Police greater protections. The Government said that US$1.5 billion in additional security spending, along with new laws to combat organised crime and drug trafficking, which were signed last Thursday, will aid the fight against the rising violence.

But human rights groups have said one of the laws, which gives Police more leeway to use force when their lives are under threat, could increase Police abuses and put more people at risk. Critics have dubbed it the “quick trigger” law.

“We need to change the Police so they respect human rights, but we also need to create better conditions to confront crime,” Rodrigo Bustos, executive director of Amnesty International’s Chile branch, told Al Jazeera.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Brazil could fine or suspend social media companies that do not effectively regulate content related to school violence, Justice Minister Flavio Dino said on Wednesday.

The new measures, set to be published through an ordinance on Wednesday, seek to curb threats of school violence in the country, which have soared after two separate attacks left five dead in recent weeks.

"If there is no compliance, the process to apply sanctions will go ahead," Dino told a press conference, adding that the new measures, which could range from fines to suspensions, are in line with national law.

A 2014 Brazilian law rules that internet companies are not responsible for content that users post unless they fail to comply with a court order to remove the content. The Supreme Court is currently discussing this law's scope and validity.

In March, Meta Platforms and Alphabet's Google appeared before Brazil's Supreme Court to defend the law, while the Government looks to expand regulation over social networks.

Dino said Brazil's consumer secretariat will immediately start determining each company's responsibility in proactively regulating harmful content to students.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Soldiers and police have been deployed to the port to search for the gunmen

Brazilian Justice Minister Flavio Dino

Oil prices gain 2% as inflation data remains hot

Oil prices gained more than two per cent on Wednesday amid the release of US consumer price data for March showing consistent inflation pressure that has analysts predicting the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates in May.

The US Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose a slight 0.1 per cent, compared to its 0.4 per cent increase in February, according to Department of Labor data released Wednesday.

Year-to-date, the CPI is up five per cent, compared to six per cent year-to-date in February.

The Dow edged up slightly on the CPI data, which suggests slowing inflation, but not enough to inject a great deal of optimism in the economy. The March CPI increase represents the smallest increase since May 2021.

The oil price gain comes as analysts had expected a higher increase in the CPI.

At 12:55h EST on Wednesday, Brent crude was trading up two per cent at US$87.32, for a US$1.71 gain on the day. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) was trading up 2.16 per cent at US$83.29, for a US$1.76 gain on the day.

"The CPI number implies, to a certain degree, that the Fed will start cutting rates by the end of the year. That's a positive demand development for energy," Robert Yawger, director of energy futures at Mizuho Securities, told Reuters.

The dollar also dropped sharply on Wednesday in response to the lower-than-expected CPI increase.

Speaking to Reuters on Wednesday, Convera senior market analyst Joe Manimbo said that “Headline inflation coming down more than expected is backing the view of the Fed being basically one more and done”.

Also on Wednesday, Neil Dutta, head of economics at Renaissance Macro Research, was cited by Yahoo Finance as saying that “the odds of stagflation went down while the odds of a soft-landing went up”. (Oilprice.com)

Ghana 1st to approve “world-changer” malaria vaccine

Ghana is the first country to approve a new malaria vaccine that has been described as a "world-changer" by the scientists who developed it.

The vaccine – called R21 – appears to be hugely effective, in stark contrast to previous ventures in the same field.

Ghana's drug regulators have assessed the final trial data on the vaccine's safety and effectiveness, which is not yet public, and have decided to use it.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is also considering approving the vaccine.

Malaria kills about 620,000 people each year, most of them young children.

It has been a massive, century-long, scientific undertaking to develop a vaccine that protects the body from the malaria parasite.

Trial data from preliminary studies in Burkina Faso showed the R21 vaccine was up to 80 per cent ef-

Around the World

Ukraine war, already with up to 354,000 casualties, likely to last past 2023 – US documents

As many as 354,000 Russian and Ukrainian soldiers have been killed or injured in the Ukraine war which is grinding towards a protracted conflict that may last well beyond 2023, according to a trove of purported US intelligence documents posted online.

If authentic, the documents, which look like secret US assessments of the war as well as some US espionage against allies, offer rare insight into Washington's view of one of Europe's deadliest conflicts since World War II.

Reuters has not been able to independently verify the documents and some countries, including Russia and Ukraine, have questioned their veracity, while US officials say some of the files appear to have been altered.

One February 23, 2023 assessment, titled "Battle for the Donbas Region Likely Heading for a Stalemate Throughout 2023", says Russia is unlikely to be able to take that part of east

German Foreign Minister embarks on post-Macron “damage control” in China trip

Ukraine.

"Russia's grinding campaign of attrition in the Donbas region is likely heading toward a stalemate, thwarting Moscow's goal to capture the entire region in 2023," reads the assessment above a classified map of Russian positions.

"These tactics have diminished Russian forces and munition stockpiles to a level that, barring an unforeseen recovery, can exhaust Russian units and frustrate Moscow's war aims, resulting in a protracted war beyond 2023."

Russia's Defence Ministry did not respond to a request for comment. Moscow has said it does not know if the documents are real and they may be an attempt to sow discord.

According to an assessment collated by the US Defence Intelligence Agency, Russia has suffered 189,500-223,000 total casualties, including 35,50043,000 killed in action and 154,000-180,000 wounded.

Ukraine has suffered 124,500-131,000 total casualties, including 15,50017,500 killed in action and 109,000-113,500 wounded in action, according to the document entitled "Russia/ Ukraine - Assessed Combat Sustainability and Attrition."

(Excerpt from Reuters)

North Korea fires missile, prompting Japan to issue warning for Hokkaido

of Staff said.

North Korea fired a missile on Thursday, South Korea and Japan said, prompting a warning for some Japanese residents to take cover.

fective when given as three initial doses, and a booster a year later.

But widespread use of the vaccine hinges on the results of a larger trial involving nearly 5000 children.

These had been expected to take place at the end of last year, but have still not been formally published. However, they have been shared with some Government bodies in Africa, and scientists.

Prof Adrian Hill, director of the Jenner Institute at the University of Oxford, where the vaccine was invented, says African countries are declaring: "we'll decide", after being left behind in the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic.

He told me: "We expect R21 to make a major impact on malaria mortality in children in the coming years, and in the longer term [it] will contribute to overall final goal of malaria eradication and elimination."

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Germany's Foreign Minister begins a visit to China today aiming to reassert a common European Union policy toward Beijing days after remarks by French President Emmanuel Macron suggested disarray in the continent's approach to the rising superpower.

Macron provoked a backlash in the United States and Europe when he called on the EU to reduce dependence on the US and cautioned against being drawn into a crisis over Taiwan driven by an "American rhythm and a Chinese overreaction".

Many European politicians, diplomats and analysts saw Macron's comments in an interview with Politico and French daily Les Echos as a gift to what they called Beijing's goal of dismantling transatlantic unity.

As a result, the stakes of the inaugural trip by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock have

risen, with many EU members hoping Berlin will use this opportunity to set out a clear and united EU line on China, analysts said.

Macron was widely seen as taking a weak line on Taiwan by warning Europe should not get "caught up in crises that are not ours" – although his office insisted this was not his intended meaning and his position on Taiwan and China had not changed.

Meanwhile, Taiwan said on Wednesday it had successfully urged China to drastically narrow its plan to close air space north of the island, averting wider travel disruption in a period of high tension in the region due to China's military exercises.

China has not commented on the no-fly zone, but South Korea, which was also briefed on the plans, said the decision was taken owing to an object falling from a satellite launch vehicle.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

The Japanese Government warned residents of the northernmost main island of Hokkaido to take immediate cover, saying a missile was likely to fall near the island around 08:00h Japan time (2300 GMT).

The ballistic missile was launched off the east coast of the Korean Peninsula, South Korea's Joint Chiefs

The launch comes two days after North Korean State media KCNA reported that leader Kim Jong Un called for strengthening the country's war deterrence in a "more practical and offensive" manner to counter what it called moves of aggression by the United States.

North Korea has criticised the recent series of joint military exercises between the US and South Korea as escalating tensions, stepping up its weapons tests in recent months.

(Reuters)

2nd Tennessee lawmaker to return to chamber after expulsion

Asecond Democratic legislator has been restored to his seat in the Tennessee House of Representatives after he was controversially expelled from the Republicancontrolled chamber for taking part in a gun control protest.

Representative Justin Pearson faced expulsion along with Representatives Justin Jones and Gloria Johnson for taking part in the protest on the House floor in the wake of a deadly school shooting in

Nashville that left three children and three adults dead.

The move represented only the third time since the United States Civil War that the chamber had moved to expel a legislator, and the first time the legislators in question did not face allegations of criminal activity or serious misconduct. The action was decried by the White House and state legislators across the country, who called the expulsion “undemocratic”.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

A Police Officer inspects remains of a Russian missile which hit a residential area, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, April 9, 2023 (Reuters/Stringer)

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock

DAILY HOROSCOPES

Don't labor over the impossible. Consider what you can achieve by adjusting how you live. Beef up your ideas and explore how to make your life less stressful. Protect your heart.

PICKLES

(March 21-April 19)

Consistency matters. Make decisions and follow through. It's not enough to complain or criticize; make suggestions, offer solutions and take the helm if necessary.

(April 20-May 20)

Pay attention, or someone will take advantage of you. Ask questions and research anything that interests you. Knowledge will protect you from people looking for a free ride.

(May 21-June 20)

Life will throw you a curveball; it's up to you to recognize where it's coming from if you want to accept the challenge. Patience will help, but intelligence will be key. Enjoy the ride.

(June 21-July 22) (July 23-Aug. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Lend a helping hand. Your insight and experience will be valuable. Build alliances with colleagues; it will help you initiate a plan that benefits the underdog.

What you discover will alter how or where you live. Act quickly to take advantage of a time-sensitive offer. A change of location will increase your awareness and bring about change.

Stretch your mind. Update how you present yourself to ensure you attract favorable attention and improve your life. A routine will encourage continuity. Don't get angry over what you can't change.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

Avoid anyone messing with your emotions. Stick close to home and do your best. Be sure to finish what you start. Counting on someone to do things for you will lead to disappointment.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Make plans to socialize and expand your interests. A hobby or investment will give you the push you need to get more involved in making your money grow. Do your due diligence.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Stick to your budget. Bad behavior will weigh you down. Refuse to let anyone play emotional games with you. Fend for yourself and make decisions based on your needs. Don't fold under pressure.

Take everything you do seriously. Your efforts will be assessed by the people you are trying to impress. Focus on what you want to achieve instead of comparing yourself to others.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

Finish what you start. Getting tasks out of the way will ease your mind and give you a reason to celebrate. Consider how you can make changes that improve your life.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

AMSI lends support to Petra Organization

ThePetra Organization will soon be making strides to construct two new goals, compliments of the generosity of Atlantic Marine Supplies Inc. (AMSI).

According to a missive from the Organization, the AMSI, located at Eccles Public Road, East Bank Demerara, has made a monetary donation to Petra, and that has made it possible for the goals to be constructed. The goals will be used on the Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground on Carifesta Avenue to complement schools’ football tournaments.

The gesture from AMSI, along with gestures from others, has made it possible for the Organization to now enjoy use of both the Ministry of Education (MoE) and the nearby National Insurance Scheme (NIS) grounds to host their programmes.

The Petra Organization

wishes to express heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to AMSI and all the other companies, supporters and well-wishers who made the completion of the project

possible. Petra also extends gratitude to Mr. Brentnol Bourne, the designers and fabricator of the goals.

Meanwhile, Petraorganized Milo Schools’

Under-18 football tournament will head into the quarterfinal stage at the aforementioned Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground this Sunday. In the quar-

TATA IPL 2023: Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings…

terfinals, Chase’s Academy will take on Ann’s Grove

Secondary, while an all-Linden clash will see defending Champions Christianburg Wismar battling rivals

Mackenzie High School.

East Ruimveldt

Secondary and Santa Rosa

Secondary will duke it out for a spot in the semifinal, while Carmel Secondary and Bartica Secondary would lock horns with the same goal in mind.

The quarterfinal action is set to kick off at 12pm on Sunday, April 16, 2023.

Royals hold off Dhoni and Jadeja in grandstand finish

Itwas set up perfectly.

The whistles at Chepauk were getting louder with each moment as MS Dhoni took strike with 21 needed off six balls. Two wides later, Sandeep Sharma nailed a yorker before erring in length and seeing Dhoni wallop back-to-back leg-side sixes.

Dhoni was leading Chennai Super Kings for the 200th time in the IPL, and he had the chance to script another fairytale; and the perfect finish loomed even after Sandeep went around the wicket and pulled things back, bringing the equation down to five needed off the last ball.

This was still Dhoni territory, but Sandeep nailed another perfect yorker from around the stumps, and Rajasthan Royals eked out a three-run win to go top of the table after four games.

Super Kings needed an improbable 54 off 18 balls, with Ravindra Jadeja and Dhoni still new to the crease. Dhoni began the assault with a four and a six in Adam Zampa’s last over, before Jadeja took over in a 19run penultimate over bowled by Jason Holder, hitting him for one four and two sixes. Sandeep, however, just about kept his calm, and Royals became the first side to defend a sub-190 total this season.

Ashwin, Chahal, Zampa storm CSK’s spin fortress Chasing 176, Super Kings lost the prolific Ruturaj Gaikwad in the third over. But Devon Conway and Ajinkya Rahane added 68 in 43 balls to keep the chase on track. Rahane, who had scored a blazing half-century against Mumbai Indians in his last outing, was quick off the blocks again, pulling Jason Holder through midwicket and slinking down the

track to deposit R Ashwin over the long-off boundary while rushing to a 19-ball 31.

In Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal and Impact Player Adam Zampa, however, Royals had a spin attack made for Chepauk conditions, and they extracted plenty of purchase even with dew starting to kick in. Ashwin’s dismissal of Rahane turned the tide for Royals. From 78 for 1 in the 10th over, Super Kings slumped to 122 for 6 at the end of the 17th.

Zampa conceded 14 in the 18th over, when Dhoni went after him, but even including that, Royals’ spinners conceded just 95 in 12 overs while taking five wickets, while their Super Kings counterparts went for 84 in 10 while taking three.

Buttler and Padikkal set the tone

Yashasvi Jaiswal has been in red-hot form for Royals this season, and he threatened to go on another boundary spree in the powerplay when he hit two fours off the left-arm quick Akash Singh in the first over after Super Kings elected to bowl.

But Tushar Deshpande, Super Kings’ go-to bowler in Deepak Chahar’s absence, prised Jaiswal out in the

next over.

Royals kept the left-right combination going by promoting to #3 Devdutt Padikkal who sat out the match against Delhi Capitals. Padikkal and Jos

wickets of Padikkal and Sanju Samson in the space of three balls, and Royals responded with the now familiar tactic of promoting Ashwin up the order. The scoring rate dipped for a while, with Royals failing to find the boundary in five successive overs, before Ashwin broke the drought with a slashed four off Theekshana in the 14th. He then swatted Akash for successive sixes in the 15th, before falling later in the over for a 22-ball 30. Buttler, who had been 34 off 17 at the time he lost Padikkal, didn’t hit another boundary, and eventually fell for 52 off 36 balls. In the process, he also crossed 3000 runs in the IPL, becoming the third-quickest to

Seeming at one stage on course for 200, they finished on 175 for 8, with Deshpande dismissing Holder and Zampa in the last over.

Impact Player Strategy

Royals brought in Zampa as their Impact Player: he walked out to bat at #10, to face the last ball of their innings, replacing Buttler. The finger injury Buttler picked

up earlier in the competition could have played a part in his removal.

Super Kings, meanwhile, yanked off Sisanda Magala, whose two overs went for 14, after he injured a finger in his right hand while taking the catch to dismiss Ashwin. Super Kings subbed in Ambati Rayudu, who batted at #6 and lasted just two balls. (ESPNCricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

Rajasthan Royals (20 ovs maximum)

BATTING R B

Yashasvi Jaiswal c Dube

b Deshpande 10 8

Jos Buttler b Ali 52 36

Devdutt Padikkal c Conway b Jadeja 38 26

Sanju Samson (c)† b Jadeja 0 2

Ravichandran Ashwin c

Magala b Akash Singh 30 22

Shimron Hetmyer not out 30 18

Dhruv Jurel c Dube

b Akash Singh 4 6

Jason Holder c Conway

b Deshpande 0 1

Adam Zampa run out

(Theekshana/†Dhoni) 1 1

Extras (w 10) 10

TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 8.75) 175/8

Did not bat: Kuldeep

Sen, Sandeep Sharma, Yuzvendra Chahal

Buttler went after Maheesh Theekshana - who was playing his first game of the season - hitting him for four fours and a six in his first two overs, both inside the powerplay. That got them into groove for a 77-run second-wicket partnership off just 41 balls, which took Royals to a formidable 88 for 1 in the ninth over.

Bowlers keep CSK in the game

Jadeja helped Super Kings claw back with the

the mark in terms of innings taken. The ostensible intent behind the Ashwin promotion was to delay Shimron Hetmyer’s entry, and he came in at roughly his preferred time, with five overs remaining. He did his bit at the finish, smacking an unbeaten 30 off 18, but there was little support from the other end during his time in the middle, as Royals only managed 40 in their last five overs.

Fall of wickets: 1-11

(Yashasvi Jaiswal, 1.4 ov), 2-88

(Devdutt Padikkal, 8.3 ov), 3-88

(Sanju Samson, 8.5 ov), 4-135

(Ravichandran Ashwin, 14.6 ov), 5-142 (Jos Buttler, 16.2 ov), 6-167 (Dhruv Jurel, 18.6 ov), 7-174 (Jason Holder, 19.5 ov), 8-175 (Adam Zampa, 19.6 ov) •

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Akash Singh 4-0-40-2

Tushar Deshpande 4-0-37-2

Maheesh Theekshana 4-0-42-0

Ravindra Jadeja 4-0-21-2

Moeen Ali 2-0-21-1

Sisanda Magala 2-0-14-0

Chennai Super Kings (T: 176 runs from 20 ovs)

BATTING R B

Ruturaj Gaikwad c Jaiswal b Sandeep Sharma 8 10

Devon Conway c Jaiswal b Chahal 50 38

Ajinkya Rahane lbw b Ashwin 31 19

Shivam Dube lbw b Ashwin 8 9

Moeen Ali c Sandeep

Sharma b Zampa 7 10

Ambati Rayudu c

Hetmyer b Chahal 1 2

Ravindra Jadeja not out 25 15

MS Dhoni (c)† not out 32 17

Extras (lb 2, w 8) 10

TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 8.60) 172/6

Did not bat: Tushar

Deshpande, Maheesh

Theekshana, Akash Singh

Fall of wickets: 1-10

(Ruturaj Gaikwad, 2.2 ov), 2-78

(Ajinkya Rahane, 9.3 ov), 3-92

(Shivam Dube, 11.4 ov), 4-102

(Moeen Ali, 13.5 ov), 5-103

(Ambati Rayudu, 14.1 ov), 6-113

(Devon Conway, 14.6 ov) •

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Sandeep Sharma 3-0-30-1

Kuldeep Sen 2-0-8-0

Jason Holder 3-0-37-0

Adam Zampa 4-0-43-1

Ravichandran Ashwin 4-0-25-2

Yuzvendra Chahal 4-0-27-2

A glimpse of what to expect when the Petra-organized Milo tournament continues this weekend

Mr, Lancelot Gordon, Operation's Manager of AMSI, presenting his company's support to Petra's representative, Mr. Mark Alleyne.

MS Dhoni acknowledging defeat after falling just short

MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja attacked in the death overs

Headley-Weekes Tri-Series…

Chanderpaul, Motie among seven Guyanese selected to play

Cricket West Indies (CWI) Senior Men’s Selection Panel today named the squads for the upcoming Headley-Weekes Tri-Series. Team Headley –named in honour of George Headley – will be captained by Joshua Da Silva, the wicketkeeper-batsman.

Team Weekes – named in honour of Sir Everton Weekes – will be led by Alick Athanaze, the lefthanded top-order batter.

The two teams have been drawn from the leading performers in the 2023 West Indies Championship and those deemed to be on the fringe of the Test team. Additionally, CWI named the teams to provide further first-class opportunities to the best performers from the West Indies Championship in a competitive and intense setting, as well as opportunities for players whom the selectors believe would benefit from playing red-ball cricket as West Indies prepare for the upcoming “A” Team tour

matches have been awarded first-class status. The West Indies Academy was unveiled last year, and played CG United Super50 tournament last November.

Team Weekes will feature Athanaze, who was the leading batter in the West Indies Championship with 647 runs, which included two centuries; left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul, the second-highest wicket-taker with 28 wickets; as well as Jahmar Hamilton, who was the joint leading keeper with 19 dismissals.

Team Headley will feature experienced lefthander Darren Bravo, who was the second highest run-scorer in the West Indies Championship with 446 runs, which included two centuries; fast bowler Akeem Jordan, who was third highest wicket-taker with 22 wickets in four matches; as well as Tevyn Walcott, who was the joint leading keeper with 19 dismissals.

tunities as we look ahead to the very important Test Series against India later in the year, as well as ‘A’ Team matches.

“We looked at everyone who was available, and we came up with teams who will be very competitive and push each other.”

All matches in the Headley-Weekes Tri-Series will be streamed LIVE on the Windies Cricket YouTube channel, with live scorecards and ball-by-ball scoring on the Windiescricket.

Justin Greaves

Kavem Hodge

Chaim Holder

Akeem Jordan

Marquino Mindley

Shayne Moseley

Gudakesh Motie

Anderson Phillip

Kieran Powell

Tevyn Walcott

Team Weekes

Alick Athanaze (captain)

Tagenarine Chanderpaul

Keacy Carty

Dominic Drakes

Jahmar Hamilton

Ashmead Nedd

Kelvin Pitman

Keagan Simmons

Ramon Simmonds

Kevin Wickham

Nyeem Young

NOTES

Shai Hope was selected, but was given permission to represent Yorkshire in the English County Championship.

Rahkeem Cornwall and Shane Dowrich made themselves unavailable for selection.

MATCH SCHEDULE

West Indies Academy

of Bangladesh and the twoTest Series against India at home.

Team Headley and Team Weekes will play against each other and against the West Indies Academy in the three-match series running from 19 April to 6 May at the Coolidge Cricket Ground (CCG) in Antigua. All three

Lead Selector the Most Hon. Dr Desmond Haynes has said:

“Following the conclusion of the West Indies Championship, we are pleased to have more firstclass matches on the calendar. This is a great initiative, and will provide our players with more oppor-

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FULL SQUADS

Team Headley

Joshua Da Silva (captain)

Sunil Ambris

Darren Bravo

Brandon King

Jair McAllister

Zachary McCaskie

Veerasammy Permaul

Raymon Reifer

Kevin Sinclair

Nial Smith

Devon Thomas

Kevlon Anderson

Ackeem Auguste

Joshua Bishop

Teddy Bishop

McKenny Clarke

Rivaldo Clarke

Joshua James

Johann Layne

Kirk McKenzie

All matches to be played at CCG, Antigua

Match 1: 19-22 April: Team Headley v West Indies Academy

Match 2: 26-29 April: Team Weekes v West Indies Academy

Match 3: 3-6 May: Team Weekes v Team Headley

Guyana Under-15 end Regional campaign with victory over Barbados -three wins in five matches for Guyanese

Guyana Under-15 ended their Regional 50-Over campaign on a winning note, recording a seven-wicket win against Barbados at Liberta, Antigua.

Batting first, Barbados were bowled out for 69 in 20.5 overs, while the Guyanese recorded 70-3 in 23 overs. Oliver Gooding, with 23, was the lone Barbados batsman to reach double figures, as the Guyanese bowlers destroyed the Bajans.

Arun Gainda had 3-10 in four overs, while skipper Dave Mohabir had 3-13 in 5.5 overs. Jonathan Mentore also chipped in with 3-14 from six overs.

In Guyana's chase of 70, Mentore top-scored with 17 while Romario Ramdeholl contributed 14. Guyana benefited from 25 extras in their final-round win. In this tournament which was played in Antigua, Guyana recorded wins against Leewards, Jamaica and Barbados, and suffered defeats to Windwards and Trinidad and Tobago.

paign.

Brief scores of other Guyana matches in this tournament: Guyana vs Leewards: Guyana 154 all out in 36.5 overs. Razam Koobir 28, Save Mohabir 22, Shane Prince 22, Arun Gainda 18. Kunal Tilokani 4-21 (10). Leewards 53 all out in 28.2 overs. Tanez Francis 07. Arun Gainda 3-13 in seven overs. Guyana won by 101 runs.

five overs. Guyana 145 all out in 40.3 overs. Razam Koobir 39, Navin Boodwah 35. Jaden Charles 4-31. Windwards won by 29 runs.

overs. Sohail Mohamed

12. Yasir Deen 3-8, Darius Batoosingh 3-10. Trinidad 76-3 in 15.2 overs. Christian Lall 32 not out. Emmanuel Lewis 2-34. Trinidad won by seven wickets.

$5+VAT per word Call: 223-7230-1 Ext 19

The tournament was won by the dominant Trinidad and Tobago side, which looked a class above all throughout the cam-

Guyana vs Windwards: Windwards 174 all out in 50 overs. Tyler Venner 45. Dave Mohabir 3-19 in 10 overs, Adrian Hetmyer 2-36 in

Guyana vs Jamaica: Guyana 121 all out in 42.2 overs. Romario Ramdeholl 54 not out. Nicoli McKenzie 4-25 from eight overs, Demarco Scott 3-21 from 10 overs. Jamaica 96 all out from 32.1 overs. Tyson Gordon 23. Dhanesh Persaud 2-6 from five overs, Dave Mohabir 2-19 from six overs. Guyana won by 25 runs DLS method.

Guyana vs Trinidad: Guyana 75 all out in 32.4

Guyana Team that played in Antigua: Dave Mohabir (Captain), Romario Ramdeholl (Vice Captain), Razam Koobir, Arun Gainda, Navin Boodwah, Shane Prince, Trilok Nanan, Emmanuel Lewis, Jonathan Mentore, Arif Khan, Sohil Mohamed, Adrian Hetmyer, Zandon Rose and Dhanesh Persaud. Manager was Elroy Stephney, and Coach was Latchman Yadram. (Brandon Corlette)

The Guyanese Under-15 Team won three out of five matches in Antigua

Ashmead Nedd

Nial Smith

Veerasammy Permaul

Kevin Sinclair

Gudakesh Motie

Kevlon Anderson

“It hasn’t sunk in yet”

Noel on CARIFTA swimming heroics

Having claimed a whopping five gold medals at the recently concluded CARIFTA Aquatic Championships in Curacao over the weekend, teenage swimming sensation Raekwon Noel is still coming to terms with his success.

The young man has copped first place in the 1517 1500m Freestyle, 400m Individual Medley, 800 Freestyle, 200m Butterfly and 400M freestyle. He describes the feat as a ‘crazy’ experience.

“It has not sunk in as yet, because we’re actually still here in Curacao and noth-

ing has sunk in as yet. I’m really excited to see what’s going to happen moving forward, and probably when I go back to the US and I actually settle in and I remember and I look on this past meet, it’ll probably sink in,” Noel shared. The swimmer added, “It’s a crazy experience for me, and I’m really grateful.”

When probed about any doubts he might have had prior to his outstanding performance, Noel related that the 200M butterfly was the only race he wasn’t confident about. The swimmer divulged, “There was some doubt in the 2-fly, I didn’t

actually think I was going to medal in that event because I think I was seeded 4th or 5th, which is not a bad standing, but it’s still regarding the times and how close they were. I just thought I would never medal, and I got first in that event.

“So, it was really surprising for me. That’s the only one I had doubt in, everything else I was pretty confident in winning,” he added.

Noel, who will now return to the USA to continue perfecting his craft, also touched on one piece of advice he is taking away from the CARIFTA

GCB U-19 Inter-County tournament…

Championships.

“It’s definitely not underestimate anyone; you have a lane, you have a chance. So, that was what I took away

from this meet, and that’s what I’m looking forward to doing in the future, and I’m making sure to always keep my guard up at all times,”

Noel explained. Aside from the gold medals, Noel bettered national records in four of his five races over the weekend.

Wins for Berbice, Demerara in opening round

-Dindyal, Mohabir, Rampersaud shine

Berbice and Demerara have recorded contrasting wins in the opening round of the Guyana Cricket Board’s Under-19 InterCounty 50-over tournament sponsored by the Government of Guyana (GoG) and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (MCYS).

Berbice defeated Essequibo by six wickets at GCC Bourda after Jonathan Rampersaud claimed 5-28 in 9.1 overs. As captain, Rampersaud restricted Essequibo to 97 all out in 28.1 overs; and in reply, Berbice reached 98-4 from 23.4 overs, with Rampertab Ramnauth scoring 41.

Earlier, Essequibo won the toss and opted to bat first. The openers Shaaid Vieira (14) and Rajendra Ramballi (15) compiled 28 runs for the first wicket. Thereafter, wickets fell at regular intervals as

off-spinners Salim Khan and Jonathan Rampersaud ran through a fragile Essequibo line-up. Isai Thorne also

bowled some heat rocks in his spell of 1-21 from five overs, while Khan supported with 3-32 in his six overs. In his

5-28, Rampersaud bowled two maidens.

Berbice openers began the chase in brisk fashion. Hemendra Gurdyal and Rampertab Ramnauth produced 49 runs in 7.4 overs.

Gurdyal made 13, but was removed by Joash Charles, who

took 2-25 in six overs. Berbice made the small target look tall as they lost four wickets in pursuit. Shaazif Mohamed had 2-14 in 4.4 overs, and he accounted for Ramnauth (41) and Tomani Caesar (12). However, Zeynul Ramsammy (14 not out) and Jonathan Rampersaud (04) not out saw Berbice over the line.

Guyana gearing up for CONCACAF U20 Women’s Championship Qualifiers

Guyana’s Under-20

Women's National Team are currently in the Dominican Republic preparing for their first match against Suriname in the Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship Qualifiers.

The match will be played on Saturday, April 15 in the Felix Sanchez Stadium in Santo Domingo at 3 pm.

The local team along with Guyana Football Federation (GFF) officials departed Guyana on Saturday, April 10 and 11.

A record 32 teams are in six groups - two groups have six teams and four groups have five teams each - competing between April 14 and 23. Guyana is in Group C with the Dominican Republic, Suriname and Dominica.

Head Coach Paul DeAbreu said the locally-based and overseas players are focusing on game strategies in training sessions.

“We are very thrilled to be competing in this tournament and to have the entire group together. The team had its first two training sessions yesterday, with the first session mainly focusing on skills through game

scenarios practice, and the second session focusing on game specific drills with moderate intensity. These sessions have proven to get the best out of the girls, and have helped them to mesh as a group. The coaching staff

will continue to work with the group in preparation for our first match on Saturday.” He added: “We have a very young and talented group, and we believe a lot of good is to be expected. We encourage our fans to cheer us

In the other match, Demerara beat GCB Select XI by 150 runs at Everest. Demerara posted 241 all out in 49 overs, Mavindra Dindyal top-scoring with 83 while Alvin Mohabir scored 56. The national duo added 94 runs for the third wicket, to take Demerara into a strong position. Berbician Matthew Pottoya was the pick of the bowlers with 2-35 from 10 overs.

In reply, GCB Select XI managed only 91 all out in 30.5 overs. Chanderpaul Ramraj made 25 in a poor

batting display. Krisna Singh took 3-10 in 10 overs, Rudranauth Kissoon took 3-10 in five overs, and Alvin Mohabir took 3-23 in 6.5 overs to clean up the Select XI. The tournament resumes on Friday, April 14, 2023, when Demerara will play Berbice at GCC while GCB Select XI will face Essequibo at Everest.

The third and final round will be played on Sunday, April 16 with Demerara versus Essequibo at Everest and Berbice playing the GCB Select XI at Enmore.

‘One Guyana’ National Futsal Tournament… Stabroek Ballers, Gold is Money among latest winners

on wherever they may be.”

Women’s Football Association (WFA) president Andrea Johnson has said she is confident the national team will perform exceedingly well in the qualifiers and advance to the next round.

“Congratulations to our players and staff on being selected to represent our beautiful country at the Concacaf U-20. I am confident that our team will perform exceedingly well, as we have been drafted into a group that I’m certain we’ll advance out of. Over the past few years, our Lady Jags have been performing magnificently, and this time will be no different.”

She also encouraged Guyana to support the junior squad on their journey to the championship.

“As our team competes over the next few days. I want to encourage the entire Guyana and Guyanese in the diaspora to support them, because Women’s Football is the Future,” Johnson added.

The winner of each group will advance to the May 2023 Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship in the Dominican Republic, joining top-ranked teams United States and Mexico.

The renowned Gold is Money enjoyed a 4-1 victory

Gold is Money, BV and Stabroek Ballers have found themselves in the winners’ circle at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue, Georgetown on Tuesday night, as the Kashif and Shanghai-organized ‘One Guyana’ National Futsal Tournament continued.

Stabroek Ballers had the biggest win of the night, defeating Bagotstown 8-1. For the winners, Mark Bevney led with a hattrick in the 9th, 10th and 13th minutes, while Mark Jhallu contributed a brace in the 2nd and 26th. Adding one goal each to the Stabroek Ballers’ tally were Omar Jones (29th) and Seon Taylor (3rd).

Joel McGarron netted the consolation for Bagotstown in the 4th minute. Gold is Money eased past Footsteppers 4-1. A Michael Oie brace in the 16th and 30th minutes, along with one goal

each from Jumal Pedro (25th) and Randolph Wagner (30th), got Gold is Money their 4 goals. Shawn Cudjoe was the only man to find the back to the net for Footsteppers in the 9th minute.

A solitary goal was all it took for BV to overcome Melanie. Steveden Miller was the man who scored that goal, striking in the 12th minute for BV.

The other game of the night was a drawn 3-3 affair between Timehri Ballers and Wismar All Stars. For Timehri, Mark Correia (18th) and Timothy Thomas (17th, 35th) found the back of the net, while Jonah Simon (7th), Felix Innis (9th) and Alan Halley (20th) did the same for Wismar.

32 teams are vying for a $1M grand prize in the ‘One Guyana’ National Futsal Championships, organized by Kashif and Shanghai and set to conclude on May 20, 2023.

Raekwon Noel displaying the Golden Arrowhead and his spoils from the CARIFTA Swimming Championships

Mavindra Dindyal top-scored with 83 for Demerara

Jonathan Rampersaud claimed five wickets for Berbice

Alvin Mohabir scored a half-century and claimed three wickets for Demerara