Guyana Times - Thursday, December 1, 2022

BRIDGE

Govt seeks $47B in supplementary funding to absorb Linden, other electricity costs ...$1B for GuySuCo’s operational expenses

FERRY SCHEDULE

The Guyana Government is seek ing approval from the National Assembly for a whopping $47 billion in supplementary funding to finance the cost being foot ed by the state to absorb the increase in electricity rates, as well as to do urgent in frastructural projects such as drainage works.

Senior Minister with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, has ta bled Financial Papers Two and Three of 2022, total ling $47.3 billion, in the National Assembly on Wednesday to address a number of urgent inter ventions across several key sectors, including Energy, Agriculture, Infrastructure and Amerindian Affairs.

The first Financial Paper is for $2.9 billion, and ca ters for Contingency Fund advances covering the peri od August 15 to November 29, 2022. It provides for a number of interventions, including provision of ad ditional resources to sup port the Linden Electricity Company and provision of additional resources to conduct urgent drainage works, including rehabil itation of drainage chan nels, access bridges, revet ments and dams, along with the installation of stain less-steel sluice doors in Regions Two to Seven, in cluding Georgetown.

Meanwhile, for the sec ond Financial Paper, an other $44.4 billion is being sought, and this includes supplementary funding of almost $1.4 billion un der the Office of the Prime Minister, for provision of additional resources to support electricity compa

nies in Linden, Lethem, Mabaruma, Kwakwani, Port Kaituma, Mahdia, and Matthew’s Ridge.

Additionally, $6.6 bil lion is being sought for the provision of additional re sources for the payment of electricity arrears to the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL).

Back in March, President Dr Irfaan had announced that Government would be absorbing the impact of ris ing fuel prices on cost of ser vices provided by electricity companies, to ensure that it does not translate into high electricity bills for the Guyanese people.

Further, the National Assembly’s approval is be ing sought for another $1 billion for the provision of additional resources for op erational expenses of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). This is in ad dition to the billions of dol lars already injected into the sugar corporation by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration to revitalise the company and bring it to a state of financial viability.

There is also a re quest for $2 billion for the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA). Moreover, $18.2 billion is also being sought under the Public Works Ministry for the provision of additional resources to facilitate the upgrading of roads and drains in various communities, $938.2 mil lion for the provision of ad ditional inflows under the Caribbean Development Bank’s (CDB’s) programme to facilitate advancement of civil works on the Linden to Mabura Road Project,

$275.9 million for the pro vision of additional resourc es to facilitate completion of water supply interventions in hinterland areas and the procurement of a new drill ing rig, and another $371.1 million for the provision of additional resources to pro cure vehicles to boost the operational effectiveness of the Guyana Police Force under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

These two financial pa pers will be considered by the National Assembly at the next sitting on December 5.

Last July, Government obtained parliamentary ap proval for $44.794 billion in supplementary funding for a number of programmes, including support to hin terland communities and several infrastructural works across the country. Those funds were for var ious Ministries and other state agencies, including $3.116 billion to “support Amerindian and Hinterland Communities.”

Another $1.296 billion was for new infrastructur al development initiatives and to support regional eco nomic transformation pro

grammes; $1.908 billion for the Black Belly Sheep Project, and another $300 million to support fisher folks, and $1.4 billion to support the Sugar Industry – all capital estimates.

On the current side, another $2 billion for op erational expenses of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) was approved. Another $4.439 billion went to rehabilitative works on 28 pontoons of the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB), for the acquisition of spares and the completion of reha bilitation of ferry vessels, and for upgrading of roads and drains in several com munities, for which some $3 billion was requested.

Some $525 million was also approved to facilitate the advancement of pre liminary works to sup port the East Coast-East Bank Road Linkage proj ect. In addition, funds to the tune of $21 billion went to the Housing and Water Ministry as requested, and of that amount, $15.9 bil lion is to facilitate infra structural works in new and existing housing areas, as well as to promote the housing programme. (G8)

Senior Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh

Editor: Tusika Martin

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16 Days of Activism against GBV Empowerment

The vulnerability of women without formal education, which severely constrains their income generation/ wealth-creation capabilities, has been the primary causative factor of women remaining in abusive relationships, especially where providing requisite necessities of offspring is of major consideration.

Successive PPP/C Governments have tried to ameliorate the social dislocations of families caused by such dysfunctional family constructs in multiple ways. The Women of Worth economic initiative, launched by then Social Services Minister Priya Manickchand, was established as a loan programme that provided low-interest and collateral-free loans to singleparent women from lower-income brackets who wished to start up or expand their businesses.

As former and current Minister of Education, Minister Priya Manickchand formulated systems in the academic arena that levelled the educational playing field and fructified in top students at all levels emerging from not only the elite schools, but in schools countrywide.

On September 5, 2020, she launched the Workforce Recovery Initiative programme in Guyana that offered 4000 free online courses from reputable universities through Coursera, and the number of Guyanese that have registered for the Workforce Recovery Initiative offered by the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) and Coursera to pursue free online courses on the Coursera platform continues to increase steadily, with over 53,371 Guyanese registered to pursue courses in various areas, and 43,305 certificates have been issued to 9473 persons. She has, unsurprisingly, been selected as a mentor on the Commonwealth Wise Woman Mentoring Project.

Her continuous activism in formulating programmes and advocating for girls and women to recognise their value and achieve their full potential has the full support of her colleagues in Cabinet.

She first became a Member of Parliament in 2006, serving initially as Minister of Human Services and Social Security, and she had used the platform presented by that portfolio to address the disadvantages of the vulnerable in society, primarily the scourge of violence against women and children. She published a National Policy on Domestic Violence, and piloted legislation that provide for protective and developmental landscapes for children to thrive and grow in safe environments.

For her proactive initiatives in educating/empowering the vulnerable in society, then Education Minister Manickchand was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate from the Lesley University in Boston, Massachusetts, USA in 2014.

Women have natural skills that could generate income to enable comfortable if not luxurious lifestyles for themselves and families. However, most women are incapable of translating these inherent skills into profitable business ventures, so they are often exploited because many female school drop-outs are often constrained, as a result of impoverished circumstances, to work as maids in households where they are most often exploited.

Kitchen gardens, properly landscaped and nurtured, could drastically cut food bills and even provide extra produce for sale. Stores would sell end materials cheaply, so if women in communities, either individually or in groups, purchase these end materials in bulk and sew pillow cases, hand towels, etcetera and sell these, and even prepare foods on market days; also bring-and-buy sales on designated days, where hand-crafted items such as crocheted and other handicraft could be sold, it could fructify in sustained sources that provide income and simultaneously allow mothers to be stay-at-homes parents.

To foster empowerment and build skill sets for women and girls, especially school drop-outs, the Human Services Ministry launched a women empowerment programme on May 7, 2021.

The Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN), which seeks to help women and girls become financially independent, will be piloted in Baramita, Region One (Barima-Waini). However, the programme, which offers free training in information and communication technology, décor and design, graphics, beauty and wellness, professional care, garment and hospitality, and administration et al, to be delivered both in-person and online, is open to women from all across Guyana.

Human Services and Social Security Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud said, “She (recipient) will be empowered and able to provide for herself and children.” She iterated that a woman in an abusive relationship can be enabled through WIIN to choose either to remain in or to leave the relationship.

“If she does make such a choice, she would then be in a better position to care for her needs.”

Our Indigenous communities would be given special consideration, with plans to come on-stream as a long-term goal, for the Ministry to arrange to translate the modules into the dialects of the Indigenous communities.

WIIN is an offshoot of WE LIFT, an empowerment exercise for women that was held at the Guyana Conference Centre.

According to Minister Persaud, “People have to be able to see, seize and create opportunities in preparation of where our country is going, and be very creative so that they have a competitive edge in promoting their skills.” Plans are also afoot for a series of technical vocational training programmes to be rolled out across the country. People can access these through online applications, hard copy applications at Ministry locations, and through community outreaches that have already commenced. Education/skills training and development are primary factors in cultivating economic independence for vulnerable persons, and to further this, the Ministry is in the process of setting up a female-centric business incubator at the Guyana Women’s Leadership Institute, where WIIN and other programmes would be activated through primarily the Guyana Women’s Leadership Institute, with correlating centres throughout the country.

Mental health issues mainly stem from depression, primarily caused by helplessness and hopelessness. The empowerment /educational/skills training programmes may catalyse a surge of hope in lives long existing in physical subjugation, emotional despair and mental bondage.

How the EU can help save Indigenous lives and the Amazon

By KuaimBú indigenous communicator and activist

In the rainforest, where

I live, we often see red flames burning bright into the night. When we wake up, there are clouds of smoke from the forest fires still smouldering. Every day, we live in fear of land grabbers starting yet anoth er fire or worse – attacking and killing us.

I am a member of the Juma and Uru-eu-wau-wau Indigenous community in Brazil. My two communities have lived in the rainforest for centuries, passing down ancient knowledge and tra ditions from generation to generation that allow us to live in harmony with na ture. I was taught that we do not own the forest, but depend on it, and that our role is to protect it.

To us, the forest is life. But when corporations look at the forest, our home, they see it as profit. They illegal ly take our land and destroy it to grow cattle and soya for animal fodder, much of which is exported to Europe, where people do not know these products come from Indigenous lands.

From the beef burgers eaten in restaurants to the milk poured into trendy cof fee drinks, European con

sumption contributes to the destruction of our for ests and is a part of the vi olence committed against Indigenous people.

Rainforests and their Indigenous communi ties face the same men ace around the world. Deforestation, mining, and oil extraction, among oth ers, in rainforests not only devastate nature but also end lives.

The rise in demand for products that feed into European markets is breed ing more and more violence against Indigenous peo ple, most of which does not make it to the news. My un cle Ari was killed for pro tecting our land. His mur der is still unresolved, but we continue to tell his story. The people in my communi ty who speak out against deforestation have all been threatened, but they have not been silenced.

The recent election of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva as Brazil’s next president offers us hope for a differ ent future, where our rights are not trampled in favour of ruthless business inter ests and economic growth. Where my family, friends and I do not need to pro tect our home from land in vaders or face death threats and intimidation each and every day.

But let us not forget that

Lula beat Jair Bolsonaro, the incumbent who has openly shown his hostil ity to Indigenous rights and environmental protec tion, only narrowly. That is why we still do not feel safe in our community and ex pect that conservative forc es will push back against progressive environmental measures Lula tries to in troduce.

Our future is hanging by a thread and depends not just on the actions of the new government in Brazil. As I am writing this, policy makers in Brussels are ne gotiating the final text for a law to tackle EU-driven de forestation.

This is an incredible op portunity to support and defend Indigenous people and to protect forests and other lands, such as savan nahs, which are our homes and the source of our liveli hoods. The outcome of these negotiations will have im mediate implications world wide and set a precedent for other countries to follow.

EU states can show they stand with us at this criti cal moment. The regulation they are negotiating should include provisions prevent ing products linked to vio lence and displacement of Indigenous communities from entering the European market. This will require strong enforcement mecha

nisms with robust controls and checks for imported commodities.

This legislation must build on existing interna tional human rights stan dards, which are instrumen tal for us in our struggle to achieve justice and save our lands. This law would pro tect not only nature but also our home.

Lula’s government can make a difference, but with out action from the EU and other large markets for Brazilian products, the sit uation in the Amazon rain forest will likely continue to deteriorate. We will con tinue to see the red flames burning at night and the vi olence against Indigenous people will keep escalating. This will be devastating for me and my community, and for the whole planet.

I am calling on European politicians to stand on our side and help save Indigenous lives. Be our ally in this fight and protect the world’s forests and sa vannahs. (Al Jazeera)

(Kuaimbú is a 20-yearold Indigenous commu nicator and activist from the Brazilian Amazon. He's the son of Puruá, who was a great leader of the Uru-eu-wau-wau people, and also a member of the Jupaú Surveillance Team, a group organised to protect Indigenous territory)

Police ranks from the Sparendaam Police Station on Wednesday visited the teachers and children of the Plaisance Nursery School to share the meaning of Christmas (GPF photos)

Mon Repos man jailed for 9 months for assaulting cop

Samuel Paraj, a 27-year-old unem ployed male resident of Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD), is the fifth person to have been charged in November for assaulting a member of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

While Police Headquarters did not re lease any details about this incident, the Police have said that Paraj was arraigned be fore Sparendaam Magistrate Rochelle Liverpool on these charges: assault of a peace officer, resisting arrest, and disorderly behaviour.

Paraj has pleaded guilty to all the charges, laid under the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act, and has con sequently been sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment on Tuesday.

During November, sever al traffic Police ranks were assaulted by motorists in in cidents that are detailed be low:

Vreed-en-Hoop

Last Thursday, a 28-yearold tailor of Lot 108 Best Road, West Bank Demerara pleaded guilty to three charges stemming from his assault of a Policeman, which was captured on vid eo.

Brought before Wales Magistrate

Mc

Nicholas Balkishun plead ed guilty to behaving disor derly, assaulting a peace of ficer, and driving under the influence (DUI), and was fined a total of $27,500. He was fined $10,000 for the disorderly behaviour charge, $10,000 for assaulting the Police officer, and $7,500 on the DUI charge.

According to reports, Balkishun was arrested by traffic officers for DUI on November 23, and taken to the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station. While there, he be came involved in an alter cation with approximately three Policemen, and was caught on video slapping one of the Policemen in the face.

“I would cuff yuh in yuh f$#%ing face!” Balkishun was heard telling another Policeman.

Balkishun has also been charged with damage to property and using abusive language.

Berbice

Earlier in that week, two teenagers from Angoy’s Avenue in New Amsterdam, Berbice were caught on video assaulting a Policeman, and

Ship-and-bridge saga continues

Dear Editor, The saga of the ship, the bridge and Government continues, and is unfolding with daily twists and turns.

First the ship rammed the bridge, causing what is alleged to be one bil lion dollars and counting in damages. The ship was detained, and its princi pals did not think the bil lion-dollar cost repair tag was appropriate. They countered with almost two hundred and fifty million dollars, and moved to the court, seeking the release of the ship.

This was granted by the court on condition of the lodging of the agreed countered sum offered with the court. But in a sudden

twist of events, it was re vealed that the ship left without the agreed sum be ing lodged with the court. Now it gets even more bi zarre with the owner of the tanker denying liability for any damages caused, and is in turn suing for two hun dred million dollars com pensation.

So, it seems a ruse was employed to agree to lodge a certain sum in order to get the ship released. It worked, and Guyana is left holding the proverbi al stick. High-stakes inter national gambit at play. To use a famous line, “this will not end well”.

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

were arrested and charged. The incident occurred just after 08:00h last Tuesday.

Quincy King, 18, and Christopher Abrams, 19, were charged with multi ple offences, including as saulting a peace officer.

On the charge which al leged that he assaulted a Policeman, Abrams pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 40 hours of community ser vice at the New Amsterdam Magistrates Courts. He was fined $5000 for behaving disorderly; $20,000, or six weeks’ in prison, for driv ing an uncertified motor ve hicle; $20,000, or six weeks’ imprisonment, for driving an unlicensed vehicle; $20,000, or six weeks’ in prison, for being an unlicensed driv er; and $7,500, or one week in jail, for driving without a helmet.

Abrams was also charged with failing to stop when re quired by a Police rank in uniform, to which he plead ed not guilty and was placed on self-bail.

Meanwhile, King has admitted to driving an un

certified motor vehicle and driving an unlicensed mo tor vehicle. On each of those charges, he has been fined $20,000, in default of which he would have to serve six weeks in jail.

For being an unlicensed driver, he has been ordered to do 40 hours of commu nity service at the New Amsterdam Magistrates Courts. And for not stopping when required by a Police rank in uniform, he has been fined $10,000; in default of which he would have to serve one week’s imprison ment.

He has pleaded not guilty to driving a motorcycle with out a safety helmet, and as saulting a peace officer. On each of these charges, he has been granted self-bail, and he and Abrams have to re turn to court on December 21.

Arraigned before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh at the New Amsterdam Magistrates Courts, the ar rest of these two defendants came shortly after a video recording of the duo jointly attacking and assaulting the

Police rank began circulat ing on social media.

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

Montrose

On Tuesday last, Okemi Omali Harry, the irate mini bus driver who assault ed two traffic ranks who were on duty at Montrose, East Coast Demerara on Saturday, appeared before Sparendaam Magistrate Rochelle Liverpool to answer 13 charges.

The 30-year-old Harry, of Lot 93 Middle Street, Ann’s Grove, ECD, has had to answer to the follow ing charges: failure to wear a seatbelt; failure to carry

a conductor; having tinted glass on his minibus; failure to behave in a civil and or derly manner; two charges of assault of a peace officer; damage to property; use of indecent language; disorder ly behaviour; careless driv ing, and failure to comply with Police directions. He has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges.

The prosecution object ed to Harry being placed on bail, but the Magistrate granted Harry bail in the sum of $150,000 and ordered him to return to court on December 19.

According to reports, Harry was stopped by two traffic ranks on Saturday af ter he was seen speeding on the roadway. He was told of the offence and was asked to produce his driver’s licence.

However, in the process of being issued with a tick et, Harry attempted to pull his driver’s licence from the Police, but was unsuccessful.

As such, Harry attacked one of the ranks, punching him about his body before choking him and throwing him to the ground. (G1)

Faith

Gusty,

Jailed: Samuel Paraj

Fined/on bail: Quincy King Fined/on bail: Christopher Abrams

Fined: Nicholas Balkishun (centre) in the process of assaulting the Police rank

On bail: Okemi Omali Harry

Materials

A bowl ½ cup of milk Dish soap Cotton swab Food Colouring, more than one colour Pepper (optional)

Instructions:

Pour the milk into the bowl. Be careful not to move the bowl, you want the milk as still as possible.

Put one drop of each colour in different places in the milk. Put just a tiny amount of soap on the end of the cotton swab, then touch it to one of the colours. WOW!

. Let the experi menting begin! To clean up, just pour the milk down the drain. (Do not drink it)

How it works: Milk has fat in it and the food colouring floats on top of the fat. The fat is all connect ed with bonds. Think of it like the little pieces of fat all holding hands with each other. Dish soaps are used on greasy or oily dishes because it breaks the bonds in fats allow ing them to separate. When you add the dish soap to the milk, the fat separates and moves

making your magical milk art!

Extra experiments: Does the temperature of the milk have any effect? Try whole milk and skim milk. Sprinkle pepper on the milk before you add the soap, what happens to the pepper? (sciencefun.org)

The Robber Bridegrooom

By The BroThers Grimm

Election CoI Commissioners hear of difficulties in serving Request for Recount

made several rounds around the corridor rapping on all the doors.

Mingo eventually emerged hours later, but was surrounded by Police Officers who were “rapidly escorting” him out the build ing through a back stairway.

The Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the events that followed the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections con tinued on Wednesday with People’s Progressive Party/ Civic’s Charles Ramson Jr taking the stand to tes tify that he was actively prevented from serving a Request for Recount to the then Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo, who had declared the results for the region without com pleting the verification pro cess.

Ramson, who served as Counting Agent for the PPP/C during the elections, explained that on March 5, 2020 after Mingo had de clared the results for Region Four – the country’s larg est voting district – he re treated to his office in one of the rooms on the first floor of Ashmins building, which was being used as the Office of the Region Four Returning Officer.

Immediately after this, Ramson said he prepared a letter detailing his Party’s

request for a recount of the District Four votes. However, he was denied ac cess to the first floor where Mingo’s office was located by Police Officers manning the stairs.

Eventually, with the as sistance of the late Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Commissioner Bibi Shadick, he was al lowed up to the first floor to serve the letter to Mingo, but never got to see him.

“When I went to serve the letter, what is very im portant that stands out as well is that all of the offic es had steel doors… but the locks on the handles were removed from the exterior of the door, so there was no way of turning a handle to get into [any of the rooms]. And so, then I rapped on ev ery single door for a good 10 minutes or so and no one an swered, no door opened,” he said.

According to Ramson, he waited for about an hour on the corridor of the first floor, but there was no sign of Mingo. During that time, he

“I ran with the letter which I still had in my pos session to serve him and then when we opened the door moving into one of the sections, but still a little way away from him, Police Officers stopped me once again and prevented me from proceeding,” Ramson recalled, disclosing that he was able to capture a few seconds of this in a video via his cellphone.

That video was played as evidence to the Commission and both Ramson and PPP/C’s Chief Scrutineer, Zulfikar Mustapha, could both be heard shouting that they had a Request for Recount to serve on Mingo.

Having been unsuccess ful in getting the Returning Officer, Ramson told the Commission that he took a photo of the letter and sent it via WhatsApp to Mingo as well as to the then Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield and the GECOM Chairperson, Retired Justice Claudette Singh. But there was no acknowledgment of receipt or any other response from any of those officials.

Ramson further testi fied that he left the Ashmins building that night and re turned the following day with the letter. However, he was met by the Police cor doning off access to the build

ing with barricades, and they refused to let him in. At the same time, there was a “mob” that had gathered and according to Ramson, he was threatened by per sons wearing A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change shirts and other party paraphernalia.

Again, a video of that en counter was played for the Commission in which per sons were heard telling Ramson that he could not go inside and there was even someone threatening to kill him.

“There was a lot of threatening happening, a lot of abusive behaviour,” Ramson stated. He said these were all done in the presence of Police Officers, who did nothing.

“In fact, there was no support from the Police in relation to calming the sit uation down [and] removing persons from there. It was unsafe entirely.”

Nevertheless, Ramson said he was eventually al lowed past the barricades, but upon approaching the Ashmins building, it was ob

served that the building ap peared closed with its shut ters down. At the time, there were other persons including a GECOM Commissioner, election observers, other PPP/C members and even representatives from other political parties that contest ed the elections all standing outside the building.

According to Ramson, he was subsequently allowed in the building to serve the Request for Recount to Mingo’s Clerk just sev en minutes before the mid day deadline. Leader of the Liberty and Justice Party, Lenox Shuman, had also submitted a request for a recount of the Region Four votes.

However, sometime lat er, Mingo responded to the PPP/C and indicated that the request was denied, cit ing the fact that Ramson was not recognised as a Counting Agent despite the two hav ing previously engaged each other on multiple occasions.

Ramson pointed out that not only did his party inform GECOM of his appointment as a Counting Agent, but he and Mingo had a discussion on the process to be used for the verification/tabula tion of the Region Four votes the day before the March 2 polls. He added too that he had another engagement on the night of the election be fore the commencement of the verification process. (G8)

Then Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo’s response to Ramson’s Request for Recount

Minister Charles Ramson Jr

DHB allision

Fuel tanker’s owner blames “unpredictable natural forces”, bridge staff

Canama Trading S De RL, the Panamanian company that owns MT Tradewind Passion, the fuel tanker that crashed into the Demerara Harbour Bridge in October, causing se vere damage to the 44-yearold floating structure, has said it is not to be blamed for the incident, which “arose as a result of irresistible and un predictable natural forces, or force majeure.”

In defence of the law suit filed by the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC) for more than $1.5B in damages, Canama Trading S De RL is, among other things, arguing limitation of liability, pursuant to an or der of court in that regard by High Court Judge Fidela Corbin-Lincoln.

The DHBC, in its claim against the fuel ship, has ar gued that the master of the vessel was negligent by not exercising the relevant inter national safety conventions for safety at sea, and by not applying the applicable speed necessary in the prevailing circumstances.

Due to this negligence, the DHBC, through its Attorneyat-Law, PPP/C Member of Parliament Sanjeev Datadin, has deposed, it has suffered, and will continue to suffer, ex tensive losses.

In its deposition, it has added that the cost to re pair the bridge stands at

was under the control and command of Captain Freddy Mendoza, who was being ad vised by Pilot Kenneth Cort, who has some two decades of experience. A Board of Inquiry (BoI) into the allision has recommended that Cort be suspended for not less than 24 months.

“Unpredictable natural forces”

According to Canama Trading S De RL’s lawyer Kamal Ramkarran, as the vessel approached the bridge, it was caught in an extraordi nary combination of circum stances.

The company has submit ted that Captain Mendonza has experience in transit

sel during its approach of the unusual effect of the current at the time, and on the night in question. Lights displayed on the bridge at the materi al time were misleading and/ or not in compliance with re quirements, regulations, or international standards for bridge navigation lights,” the company contends.

Canama Trading S De RL further contends that having realised that it was a mistake to invite the vessel to tran sit the Demerara Harbour Bridge under the particu lar prevailing conditions, the DHBC [staff] directed the ves sel to “turn around”, “demon strating a striking lack of fa miliarity for an experienced bridge operator accustomed to inviting and directing ves sels to transit the bridge.

The DHBC staff warn ing the vessel to not “come through” but to “turn around” demonstrates a striking lack of familiarity with the ma noeuverability of vessels, the company has argued, and it is demanding that the DHBC submits proof of neg ligence and loss and damages claimed.

The Panama-registered company is also refusing to acknowledge that the inci dent resulted in substan tial damage to the Demerara Harbour Bridge, as is being alleged by the DHBC. It has therefore submitted that it would aver “that the incident

Justice Corbin-Lincoln, MT Tradewind Passion was al lowed to leave the jurisdic tion after its owner set up a limitation fund of Gy$245.5 million through a Letter of Undertaking by Steamship Mutual — a leading provid er of Protection & Indemnity (P&I) Insurance, headquar tered in London, United Kingdom (UK). The Letter of Undertaking has been lodged with the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Judicature.

Ramkarran is averring that the detention of the ves sel without an application pursuant to Section 439 (1) of the Shipping Act being made constitutes a wrongful and unlawful deprivation, deten tion, interference with, tres pass upon, restraint, or im prisonment of its property and the crew of the vessel. The company is claiming loss of use of the fuel tanker at a daily rate of US$12,250.

Development...

…and its enemies

When will this confounded nonsense stop?? Your Eyewitness knows there’s a lot of “confounded nonsense” going on, but right now his hackles have been raised by the news that some PNC NDC guy from Den Amstel prevented the authorities from fixing the village’s playground!! Imagine that!! Seems like just a short while back that the President had visited Den Amstel and its neighbour Hague – it’s all Dutch to your Eyewitness!! – and had promised $10 million to bring the ground up to snuff so the youths could do sports, and not drugs!!

How dare he?? Who does he think he is?? Is this what he was elected to do?? To fix the problems identified by citizens?? Jeez…what will these PPP politicians think of next?? A President who ACUTALLY mixes with the hoi polloi – and appears to enjoy it to boot?! Soon he’ll want to hang with the boys and play dominoes!! But hold it…didn’t he actually do just that somewhere in the bush?? Where’s this country headed when its President doesn’t know he gotta keep his distance from the madding crowd while waving royally from his moving vehicle??

But we all know what’s going on here, don’t we?? After essentially the same thing happening at Mocha, Buxton, Golden Grove and Belladrum, you gotta be particularly dense not to be able to answer that question! Especially when the PNC leader has explicitly explained their stand: the PNC must be allowed to complain and moan about being “neglected” by the PPP Government!! Creating an “emerging apartheid state” no less!! It’s the only dog whistle they can blow – especially when they can throw “race” into the mix - to “keep their constituency” herded in their corral!! The PPP must not be allowed to take care of any identified problem!!

Now the PNC’s covering their dogged anti-development agenda for their “constituency” by throwing up the fig leaf that the Pres Ali central Government is “bypassing” the local government organs – which not so coincidentally might be controlled by THEIR party members!! But here it was – the contractor that was supposed to do the job was PREVENTED from doing so by the NDC guy!! Are we to expect that the next time Pres Ali and his Cabinet decide to clean up Georgetown for the umpteenth time, Mayor Narine’s gonna throw his body under the President’s rake??

more than Gy$1B — a sum Canama Trading S De RL has refused to pay, despite several oral requests for same.

Reports indicate that at around 02:00h on October 8, the vessel, which trans ports fuel for the Guyana Oil Company (Guyoil), while heading south, crashed into the Demerara Harbour Bridge, despite desperate calls to “Drop anchor!” from DHBC Shift Supervisor Andy Duke.

Duke, who was in one of the lookout towers, had tried desperately to communicate with the pilot, without suc cess. He eventually had to jump from the tower to save his own life, and in the pro cess, he fractured his leg and was hospitalised. The other men who were working at the bottom of the bridge, includ ing Mechanical Maintenance Engineer Ahmad Khan, had to run for their lives.

At the time, the vessel

ing the Demerara Harbour Bridge, while Cort is an experienced pilot on the Demerara River, having been trained and licensed in accor dance with Section 34 of the Transport and Harbours Act, and having been assigned to the vessel by the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD).

The company has said that during the period October 7 to 13, there were abnormal ly high tides, and on October 8, the tide was at a height of 3.08m, which was above the monthly average of 2.71m.

It said the high tide was at 02:43h on October 8, and that at about 01:00h, the flood tide at the Retractable Span of the Demerara Harbour Bridge was unusually strong and was not predictable to either the “highly experienced” cap tain or pilot serving on board the vessel.

“No warning was given by the bridge [staff] to the ves

occurred without fault on the part of the [captain, pilot, crew or the vessel], and arose as a result of irresistible and unpredictable natural forces, or force majeure.”

Counterclaim

Canama Trading S De RL has countersued the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), Harbour Master Glasford Archer, and the DHBC for more than Gy$100M in dam ages for the unlawful deten tion of the vessel and its crew from October 8 to November 20.

While Section 439 of the Shipping Act stipulates the power to detain a foreign ship, Ramkarran submitted, the DHBC did not seek, apply for, or obtain an order of court, whether pursuant to the said Section or otherwise, at any time prior to October 11.

Pursuant to a court or der dated November 11 by

Consequent to the court order, the vessel sailed on November 21 without notify ing the General Manager and Management of the DHBC, prompting an investigation by the Public Works Ministry. According to Public Works Minister Juan Edghill, any ocean-going vessel set to de part Guyana’s waters can not just sail into the sunset at will, but instead has to ini tiate the required processes which are done by a shipping agency.

At least three of the DHBC’s workers — the Traffic Manager and two oth er staff — have been sent on leave pending the probe. As it relates to the Letter of Undertaking, Minister Edghill explained that “there was no actual payment of monies into the court.”

The allision had caused extensive damage to critical components of the Demerara Harbour Bridge, which had not only left it inoperable for approximately 48 hours, but had resulted in thousands of passengers and tons of agricultural produce being stranded on both sides of the Demerara River. While re pairs were being carried out on the bridge, which was re opened on October 10, water taxis which normally operate for 12 hours were allowed to work for 24 hours. (G1)

How far is the PNC gonna take this “dog in the manger” attitude?? Tell their “supporters” not to accept house lots?? Or flood relief?? Are they so contemptuous of their supporters that they believe they can be swayed from voting for them at the next elections by filthy lucre??

Don’t they realise that their superlative development record during their THIRTY-THREE YEARS at the helm will keep their loyalty??

…to avoid

But your Eyewitness must confess that some “development” ain’t good. Equatorial Guinea - where Exxon just announced they’ll be pulling out - is a prime example. You must’ve heard the hype about us since 11+billion barrels of oil were discovered, haven’t you?? HIGHEST GDP increase in the world!! Next Dubai!! Richest country by per capita measure!! Etc, etc. Well, Equatorial Guinea’s been there, done that since oil was discovered by ExxonMobil in the mid-nineties!!

But, two decades, later they’re still one of the least developed countries in the world on the Human Development Index – 145th out of 189 countries!! The same President’s been ruling since 1979, and he has routinely “won” 90+% “votes”!! It has the HIGHEST INEQUALITY INDEX in the world – 65 GINI coefficient!! Our Government has committed to avoiding that downward spiral and creating real development through diversification of the economy and building physical and educational infrastructure.

We, the citizens, gotta do our part by increasing our human capital – and watching the Govt!!

…right here

News of the “largest” dredger anchoring off the Vreeden-Hoop shore base has your Eyewitness intrigued. Not for the dredging per se…but for adding 44 acres to our land mass with the sludge.

Gotta start making up for losing half of Ankoko!!

Attorney-at-Law

Sanjeev Datadin

Attorney-at-Law Kamal Ramkarran

Govt considering 2nd terminal building for CJIA

…as visitor arrivals continue to climb towards pre-pandemic levels

works. The agreement was pegged at US$9 million, and it stated that China Harbour would solely bear the costs for the new works to be exe cuted.

The CJIA Modernisation Project was supposed to have been completed on December 31, 2018, under the then A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government.

The former Administration had settled for a downsized design while paying more than the allo cated US$150 million. Some

US$138 million of the allo cated costs was funded by the EXIM (Export-Import) Bank of China, while US$12 mil lion was spent by the Guyana Government. It was not ex pected to surpass that sum, but Guyana had to stand ad ditional expenses.

The CJIA, in its down graded design expansion, had four fewer air passenger boarding bridges for arrivals and departures than the ini tial eight. There was also a 450-seat departure area, es calators, and elevators, in ad dition to an incomplete ex

tended runway.

Inspections revealed that a new apron that was sup posed to support the addi tional four air bridges was non-existent. There was also no space for sufficient du ty-free shops, restaurants, car rentals, and other facili ties.

When the current Administration entered of fice, there was a list of 71 crit ical works and a master list of 1500 works that were incom plete. As of January 2021, however, all critical works had been completed. (G3)

The Government is con sidering building a second terminal at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), which has, over the past few years, un dergone a massive expansion amid the growing interest in Guyana from investors and tourists alike.

On Tuesday, President Dr Irfaan Ali was the fea ture speaker at the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) awards dinner. During his feature address, President Ali spoke about the CJIA and the im portance of upgrading it.

“The truth is, we should have had a better airport. But we know what happened in the last Government. The entire project was messed up. As I speak to you tonight, we are already contemplating a terminal two. Because you have to get it. Those of you who travelled and come in, understand what I’m talking about. We have to do it to boost what we’re doing here,” the President said.

He noted that Guyana was slowly but surely getting back to the visitor arrival numbers that existed before 2019, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and caused air lines and ports across the world to put a screeching halt to non-essential travel.

“At the end of this year, we’ll be getting past our pre-pandemic arrival re cord rates. By 2025, with the projections, we’ll be creep ing past one million arriv

als. Imagine, British Airways coming first quarter next year. Advanced discussions going on with many other airlines,” the President said, noting that this was the real Guyana – a country on an up ward trajectory.

Back in June, China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) had com pleted extended works at CJIA that were agreed upon with Government. US$9 mil lion in works, including an extension of the Airport’s boarding corridor in order to accommodate two more pas senger boarding bridges, pro viding the Airport with a to tal of six boarding bridges capable of facilitating larger Code D and Code E aircraft.

Total Solutions was awarded a $400 million con tract for the supply of the two air bridges. Works also included a modern airport façade across the departure terminal, showcasing the Golden Arrowhead and the One Guyana logo.

After assuming of fice in 2020, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government had inspected the works that were ongoing by CHEC at CJIA, which showed a devi ation from the terms agreed upon in the initial fixed-price US$138 million contract.

In light of this, the Public Works Ministry entered into a new agreement with the company for the further ex pansion of the CJIA as well as completion of existing

The new look of the CJIA terminal

Teen killed in Buxton crash-up

Nineteen-year-old Treon Goppy, a la bourer of NABI Construction and late res ident of Enterprise, East Coast Demerara (ECD), has been killed following an acci dent that occurred along the Buxton Public Road, ECD, on Tuesday at about 12:30h.

Reports are that Goppy was the pillion rider on mo torcycle CK 7430, which was being driven by a 22-yearold resident of Friendship, ECD at the time of the acci dent.

According to the Police, motorcar PWW 6816, driv en by a 43-year-old resident of Buxton, was proceed ing east along the northern drive lane when the driver allegedly indicated an inten tion to pull north onto the parapet.

In so doing, the driver said, he felt an impact to the left-side front of his vehi cle, and thereafter observed two men lying on the north ern parapet with injuries to their bodies.

ed both these men to the Georgetown Public Hospital, but Goppy succumbed while receiving medical attention.

The motorcyclist sustained injuries to his head, and has since been admitted to the hospital.

A breathalyzer test was conducted on the motorcar driver, but no trace of alco hol was found in his system. He is, however, in Police custody assisting with the ongoing investigation. (G9)

Linden resident busted with ganja, 75 rounds ammo

A26-year-old man of 111 Miles, Wisrock, Linden is now in Police custody after ranks on patrol busted him with 156 grams of cannabis and 75 rounds of .32 ammunition at Mango Landing in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).

This incident occurred at about 17:20h on Tuesday af ter the man was observed with a bulky haversack on a Honda XR motorcycle with no front licence plate. Upon seeing the ranks, the man swiftly turned around his motorcycle and sped away, but the ranks gave chase and managed to intercept the man in the vicinity of Lookout Mountain.

The haversack was searched, and a number of leaves, seeds and stems sus pected to be cannabis were found, along with 75 live rounds of .32 ammunition. The suspect was told of the offence, cautioned, arrested,

and taken into custody at the Mahdia Police Station. He is slated to be charged, but further investigations are ongoing.

Two days ago, Police from Regional Division 4C (East Coast Demerara) found 570 grams of marijuana hidden under a bucket in an aban doned yard at Plaisance, East Coast Demerara after a party of Policemen had con ducted a cordon-and-search exercise in Britton Street, Plaisance and had searched several persons and build ings in the area. The ranks found a black plastic bag containing a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems sus

The bike the 26-year-old man was riding at the time of his arrest

pected to be cannabis un der a bucket that was on the abandoned property.

The suspected can nabis was taken to the Sparendaam Police Station, where it was weighed and amounted to 570 grams. No one was arrested. (G9)

Emergency Medical Technicians transport

Dead: Treon Goppy

The ganja that was found at Mango Landing in Region Eight

Govt provided $80B in fiscal incentives to Private Sector in 2 years – Ali

Incentivising the growth and expansion of the Private Sector, the nec essary engine of econom ic growth in Guyana, has cost the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government some $80 bil lion in fiscal incentives over the past few years, but has helped boost the economy while bringing hundreds of products to the internation al market.

During the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) awards dinner on Tuesday, President Dr Irfaan Ali spoke of his Government’s support for the manufac turing sector. He provid ed the figure of $80 Billion in total fiscal incentives the Government has provided to the sector over the past two years.

“Let me explain to you what the Government has done in the last two years to cushion and support invest ments. In fiscal incentives alone, to the local manufac turers and Private Sector, we have been able to give $80 billion in the last two years.”

According to the President, this is $80 billion that was provided through

avenues such as the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and other fiscal incentives. When it comes to the fuel in centives, which Government provided by rolling back excise taxes, this alone amounts to over $20 billion.

“In fuel, because of the removal of the taxes on fuel to support manufacturers and the local Private Sector, we have foregone $21 bil lion in revenue. In freight, the freight relief that we of fered from COVID – that re lief cost us $5 billion. That is what we’ve been doing. Support to mining, when we removed all the taxes that were placed on mining and so on, we forgone another $12 billion in revenue,” the President said.

President Ali noted that the Government’s invest ments in growing indus tries were made possible by the increased revenue from oil and gas. This reve nue, he noted, ensures that the Government can contin ue to evenly support all the sectors, making them more competitive.

Fruits of investment

The fruits of this invest ment have been the over 150 products brought from

Guyana to international markets in the last year.

The President emphasised the importance of making sure products were visible.

“One of the most import ant things for the small and medium-sized business you may think is capital. But you can have capital and the best product. But if you don’t have exposure, if your product doesn’t have expo sure, it will go nowhere. And I dare anyone in the manu facturing and services sec tor to say this Government has not spared every effort to give your product expo

sure,” the Head of State de clared.

Among the initiatives the Government has un dertaken to provide fiscal incentives for the Private Sector is the establishment of the $900 million revolv ing fund to boost the for estry sector, in collabora tion with Demerara Bank Limited (DBL) just recent ly.

The GMSA had hailed the Government’s landmark decision, noting that it had been calling on a measure such as this for over a de cade, to help various sectors transition to value-added production. The matter was further raised by GMSA President Rafeek Khan, at the Association’s mid-year dinner.

Khan made anoth

er request in the GMSA’s 2023 budget submis sion to the Government. The Association was still awaiting feedback when President Ali advanced the decision and announced the fund during an event last month.

According to the President when he an nounced the fund, $300 mil lion from the State’s cof fers has been set aside. This sum will be further sup plemented by $600 million more provided by Demerara Bank Limited.

The $900 million re volving fund will carry a low interest rate of four per cent. The Head of State had further explained that through a partnership with the Guyana Forestry Commission under the Natural Resources, a com mittee will be established to ensure that persons are adhering to and abiding by what is expected of them, that is, the sector itself and its various associations.

(G3)

President Dr Irfaan Ali speaking at the GMSA dinner on Tuesday evening

Killing of Charity grandmother Teacher who confessed to murder sent for psychiatric evaluation

Teacher Stephanie Gamell, 22, who al legedly killed her grandmother, Agatha Gamell, at her Charity, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) home on Sunday was sent to the psychiatric ward of the Georgetown Public Hospital.

She is under Police guard at the medical insti tution undergoing evalua tion.

The woman, whom fam ily members say is battling postpartum depression, had become frantic and brutal ly butchered her elderly grandmother.

According to reports, the elderly Gamell lived alone in a flat concrete house and would be visited occasional ly by her granddaughter.

On Saturday night around 20:00h, the suspect went to the elderly woman’s home with her one-monthold daughter to spend the night.

However, around 04:00h on Sunday morning, one of Gamell’s neighbours told in vestigators that she heard

loud screams, tramping, and the crying of a baby coming from the elderly woman’s house. These sounds lasted for about 15 minutes.

Shortly after, the sus pect went to the neighbour’s house and knocked at the door.

According to the neigh bour, when the door was opened, she saw the 22-year-old woman with her naked baby in her hands. The neighbour said the sus pect told her that the baby had just died and attempt

ed to hand the baby over to her. The neighbour refused to take the baby.

The suspect then walked out of the yard and onto the street with her baby. The Police were called in and the crime scene was visited by the Regional Commander, Superintendent Khemraj Shivbaran, along with oth er ranks.

Upon inspection of the house, the ranks discov ered Gamell’s body clad in a white night dress with suspected blood stains and black tights, lying face up on a floormat in the kitch en. Her head was reportedly shaved, and salt was found around her body.

Shortly after, the teach er was taken into custody, and when questioned by the Police, she claimed that she did not know how she re ceived her injuries.

Her baby was then taken from her and handed over to family members.

Meanwhile, Police said that a Post-Mortem Examination on Gamell’s body is slated to be conduct ed today.

Man wanted for wounding ex-girlfriend

More than a month after the crime was committed, Police have issued a wanted bulle tin for 35-year-old Matthew Ganapersaud for wound ing his ex-girlfriend, Rezana Rahaman.

The incident occurred on October 3, 2022 at Number 77 Housing Scheme, Corentyne, Berbice.

Reports are that the man had gone berserk and chopped the mother of two in the face after she ended their relationship.

Rahaman, a vendor at the Corriverton Municipal Market, had reached out to Guyana Times after she was chopped to highlight her suf fering.

She had explained to this publication that she has two children with her ex-boy friend and they were togeth er for eight years, but sepa rated some two years ago.

She said although the man has moved on and has

been living with another woman, they did not fully end things.

“It’s been two years now he has been living with some one else, but it’s been two months since I cut off from him and stopped talking to him, stop having any contact with him,” she told this pub lication in October.

The woman said since she discontinued all commu nication with the man, he began stalking her and send ing her various threats.

On the day in question, the woman said she had gone to a bar and was hang ing out with friends when the man appeared at the lo cation. She said he told her that he had left his motor cycle at her house and he wanted to collect it.

“I went home and I didn’t see the motorcycle and after I did not see the motorcycle, I got into an argument with him and I told him that his motorcycle is not there and I

don’t want him at my house; I can’t encourage him there and because of that, he start ed to pull a knife on me,” she had related.

Rahaman added that she was accused of having anoth er partner, but she did not respond to the allegation.

“I took out my phone to call the Police and he scram ble the phone from me and run away. I open the door to go to my next-door neigh bour, because my neighbour is the Police and he run in back upstairs and take a knife and push it between his two fingers and came and slashed me on my face and run to my brother’s bicy cle and get away,” she said.

Rahaman said after she was chopped, she began bleeding profusely, and per sons came to her rescue. She was taken to the Skeldon Public Hospital, where she received 28 stitches for the injuries. A report was subsequently made to the Springlands Police Station.

Pictures seen by this publication of the wound re vealed that it was close to one inch in depth almost ex posing the bones of a cheek.

Dead: Angelica Agatha Gamell

Injured: Rezana Rahaman

Matthew Ganapersaud

Excavation works cause landslide in Linden

ministration

Joint Services ranks spent hours searching for an excavator oper ator, who persons claimed had gone missing following a landslide that occurred at Poker Street, Linden, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) on Wednesday.

Reports are that the landslide was reportedly

triggered by a private con tractor who was conducting excavation works in the area to facilitate drainage works.

Two houses and electric ity poles were damaged as a result of the landslide. This has left several elderly per sons homeless.

Guyana Times under stands that the excavation

works in the area were be ing done to facilitate prop er drainage after constant flooding.

However, after hours of searching for the 34-yearold operator, officials con firmed that the man had fled the scene unhurt, leav ing the equipment behind.

Wednesday’s landslide

left a part of Poker Street, Linden blocked off as mud and sand settled across the

access road. An investigation was launched, and the regional ad

has committed to providing support to the per sons who were affected. (G9)

The aftermath of the landslide in Linden

3000 acres of rice at Crabwood Creek affected by disease

Rice farmers at Crabwood Creek, on the Corentyne Coast in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), are seeking the intervention of the Agriculture Ministry because an estimated 3000 acres of cultivation have been affected by disease. Some farmers have report ed being able to reap from the affected acreage, but the yield has been extreme ly low.

Some 4000 acres are under rice cultivation at Crabwood Creek, of which, farmers say, about 3000 acres have been affected by disease. Production from the affected area ranges be tween zero and ten bags per acre, the farmers have re ported, whereas the region had averaged over 30 bags per acre for the last crop.

The farmers met with of ficials from the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB)

at Number 56 Village on Tuesday. According to the rice farmers, numbering more than twenty, the poor yield has made it impossible for them to go back into the next crop.

Jagal Singh, who cul tivates 50 acres of rice, ex plained that the farmers were invited to meet with a representative of the GRDB on Tuesday. He said they are hoping to be able to get some form of assistance from Government, as loss es for some farmers run into millions of dollars.

Many of them are in debted to the millers, from whom they had credited fer tilizer and other chemicals, and they have contractual obligations to financing in stitutions.

“Some of us buy trac tors on terms, and we can’t meet that demand, because we didn’t make any mon ey,” he explained. He said

he reaped an average of ten bags per acre. “That is be low par. Before, we would get 25 to 30 bags per acre, so we lost a lot of money. We didn’t even clear half and half,” he said, referring to ‘half and half’ as being the brake-even point.

Farmer Jainarine Chanderdeo has said he lost about 70 acres. According to this farmer, this comes on

the heels of another disas ter that hit them all as rice farmers.

“We would like if the Government could assist us with some assistance to go back into the crop, because we owe all of the millers and we owe the bank. We owe for machinery (and) we can’t even fulfill the installment. Since the flood disaster, this is two disasters knocking me, and I didn’t get any help

on to today,” he lamented. Some of the farmers opine that the paddy is being de stroyed by Blast.

Prakash Seepersaud says he cultivated 15 acres. “I didn’t get to cut none be cause of the disease. The ex pense was nearly $2M for me, and I don’t have any money to go back into the crop, and I took a loan from the bank,” he said.

President of the Rice

Producers Association of Guyana (RPA), Leakha Rambrich, has said there have been instances of low yield even at the Burma Rice Development Research Station as well at the sta tion at Mibicuri, Black Bush Polder. He noted that those same stations also had some very good yields.

Research is currently being done to see why this may have occurred, and it has been noted that climate change could be one factor. Rambrich says the rice could have been affected by a fun gus which could have been a result of poor husbandry. He says farmers should not just leave workers to attend to their crops, but must be actively involved with the crop.

The RPA President says the Crabwood Creek rice farmers have not officially reported the situation to the Rice Producers Association. (G4)

Anna Regina man jailed for narco-trafficking …another fined, woman on bail

A58-year-old labour er of Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast has been sentenced to six months’ imprisonment and fined $30,000 after being found guilty of possessing 0.6 grammes of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

Arraigned before Charity Magistrate Esther Sam, Bhisham (only name) has pleaded guilty to the of fence of possession of nar cotics for trafficking. He was found with the drug at Anna Regina Old Market Road, Essequibo Coast, on

November 25.

In another matter, for being in possession of 6.4 grammes of cannabis sati va, Chatham Bipat, 34, a carpenter of Lot 59 Walton Hall, Essequibo Coast, has been fined $10,000, in de fault of which he would serve three weeks’ impris onment. Bipat, who also ap peared before Magistrate Esther Sam, has admitted to having the drug in his possession on November 25.

Meanwhile, 48-yearold Judy Moriah, who was arrested on November

25 at the Anna Regina Old Market Road on the Essequibo Coast with 3.6 grammes of cocaine, has been charged with the of fence of possession of nar cotics for the purpose of trafficking.

She, too, appeared before Charity Magistrate Esther Sam, but pleaded not guilty to the charge. She has been placed on $10,000 bail, and her case has been trans ferred to the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court for call ing again on December 20. (G1)

Jailed: Bhisham

Fined: Chatham Bipat On bail: Judy Moriah

Rice fields in Crabwood Creek, Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne)

Guyana’s growth prospects attracting daily visits from foreign investors …as

diplomats speak of investor interest in partnerships

pertise and innovation to gether. One thing we say to British businesses coming to Guyana is to find a local partner,” Miller said.

In her address, Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Guo Haiyan, spoke of the ways in which China has been helping Guyana achieve its economic and infrastructur al potential through vari ous concessionary financ ing. She was also optimistic that the Government would craft a future wherein all Guyanese can prosper.

Guyana’s growth prospects and the fact that investors arrive in the country every day. The Diplomat made the observation that to day, India’s status as one of the world’s largest econ omies is due to its manufac turing sector. He also noted that while Guyana’s huge economic growth will con tinue for the next couple of decades, there is a need for continued economic diversi fication.

The way the world sees Guyana and its growth prospects was highlighted during the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association’s (GMSA’s) dinner on Tuesday, when diplomats spoke about the high inter est investors in their own home countries are show ing towards investing in Guyana.

In his address to the manufacturers, Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Mark Berman, spoke of the linkages that Canadian firms have both formed and will form in the future. He pointed out that at that very moment, a trade

mission from Newfoundland and Labrador is in Guyana, exploring opportunities. In fact, he was optimistic that tangible agreements would come out of this trade mis sion’s visit.

“Over the years, we have encouraged Canadian firms to come to Guyana and assess the opportuni ties, meet the business com munity and get a tangible feel for the country. And the Canadian private sec tor is listening to the call, be it in bauxite, mining ser vice industries, oil, or other sectors. Canadian compa nies have continued to qui etly form long-lasting part nerships that benefit both

Canadians and Guyanese.

We currently have a trade delegation in Guyana…there are several companies (which) are al ready involved in Guyanese joint ventures and others seeking to form partner ships with Guyanese busi nesses for the first time. And I expect quite a few new ventures will find their genesis in this trade mis sion,” Berman said.

Meanwhile, British High Commissioner to Guyana, Jane Miller, noted the im portance of businesses be ing ambitious and seek ing opportunities to expand their operations while hir ing more people. She also

noted the importance of the country cultivating ‘Brand Guyana’.

“Guyana is really open for business. It’s an amazing and transformative time, and I have three messages. Firstly, ambition. We’ve just heard it’s the fastest grow ing economy in the world, and I want businesses to be really ambitious. I’ve trav elled around the country and seen manufacturers do ing an amazing job. Have pride in what you do,” she admonished.

“My second thing is to partner…it brings scale, it brings people together, but, much more importantly, it’s about bringing that ex

“Guyana is a beautiful country, independent and free, and transforming at a rapid pace… With a boom ing oil and gas industry, Guyana has ushered in his toric development opportu nities and become a shin ing star in the Caribbean. But I believe other sectors, such as agro-processing and manufacturing services, have great potential,” she said.

“I’m confident that all of you will achieve great development in the eco nomic boon, and I am very sure that Guyana will cre ate a brighter future for all its people with a joint effort from all parties,” Ambassador Guo said.

The Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr K J Srinivasa, mean while spoke highly of

“We’re gathered here at a golden period for Guyana, which is poised to lead the growth in the entire region, being the highest growing country in the world for the past two years. Guyana is poised to take off further in its economic growth trajec tory,” he said.

“Numerous delegations come in day in and day out to Guyana, and as my good friend the Canadian High Commissioner was mention ing, there are always some delegations floating around in some part of the country. In fact, I’m here after seeing off an Indian delegation offi cial at the airport,” he said.

Srinivasa noted that Indian firms are increasing ly coming to Guyana, look ing to form joint ventures. He noted that the High Commission is frequently approached by Indian firms for guidance. (G3)

NAPS call for expansion to reach poor, rural

Programme Manager of the National AIDS Programme Secretariat, Dr Tariq Jagnarine is calling for more focus on the poor, rural com munities, and least educat ed populations as it relates to education, care and treat ment for persons living with HIV/AIDS.

Dr Jagnarine in his World Aids Day message said that those are the groups that bear the brunt of these diseases.

This year World AIDS Day is being observed under the theme ‘Equalize’.

World AIDS Day brings together people from around the world to raise aware ness about HIV/AIDS and demonstrate international harmony in the face of the current pandemic.

“On this day we pay trib ute to those who have died of the disease by raising awareness of HIV/AIDS and placing emphasis on the in creased access to treatment and prevention services available in Guyana. We also recognize the efforts of

public and private partners and highlight their progress in HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care around the world,” the NAPS head said.

Since the first HIV case was identified, forty years later we still face many chal lenges that hinder the prog ress toward the elimination of HIV/AIDS.

According to Dr Jagnarine, inequalities stand at the forefront of many of those challenges to ward ending HIV/AIDS - fed largely by ignorance and ha tred.

The stigma and discrim ination he says persist and continue to have an adverse impact on people living with HIV.

“This year we celebrate world AIDS day under the theme ‘Equalize’ - an ap propriate and apt theme if we are to eliminate HIV/ AIDS by 2030. In Guyana, over 94% of the persons liv ing with HIV know their status, while only 73% are on treatment with antiret roviral and an estimated

90% are virally suppressed. This clearly indicates to us that to end HIV/AIDS we must eliminate the inequi ties contributing to stigma and discrimination, put peo ple at the center of our in terventions and ground our responses in human rights and gender-responsive ap proaches. Now even more

so there is the need to end the social injustices that put people at risk of contracting HIV and fight for the right to live healthily. Women and young girls must have their human rights fully re spected, and the criminal ization and marginalization of gay men, Trans and other gender-diverse people, sex workers, migrants, youths, and people who use drugs must stop,” Dr Jainarine said in his message.

He pointed out that this will not be a simple process and requires that the law and government policy prop erly protect against discrim ination and not perpetuate stigma.

“This must be done while changing public attitudes to end stigma. Stigma remains deeply bound up in other discriminations, with rac ism, xenophobia, transpho bia, sexism, and homopho bia all playing key roles in continued stigma and mis conceptions about people who live with HIV.”

This he notes, hampers attempts to get people to

come forward for testing and means too often those liv ing with HIV are diagnosed late and risk complications. It stops dialogue about HIV in families, health settings, and communities that could otherwise educate people about the modern realities of HIV and its treatment op tions. With the right medi cation, HIV is life-changing, not life-threatening – this is often poorly understood among healthcare profes sionals and the public alike.

Pandemics thrive on in equalities and exacerbate inequities he added, noting that we have learned this with HIV, TB, and Malaria, and we have seen it again with COVID-19.

Although great strides have been made to expand health services and preven tion efforts, we must focus more on reaching the poor, rural communities, and least educated populations who bear the brunt of these diseases Dr Jainarine says.

‘To tackle the inequities, we must go beyond simple notions of equal access or

one-size-fits-all and deliber ately create ‘compensating inequalities’ in service pro vision to focus resources on the most vulnerable.”

Our new National Strategy-HIVISION 2025 embodies this approach by placing people and the com munity front and center of the fight against HIV, TB, and Malaria, putting an even greater focus on re moving human rights-re lated barriers to health ser vices, the NAPS Programme Manager emphasizes

“This year as we join to gether to celebrate World AIDS DAY, we need to put people at the center of our focus by removing social and structural barriers that prevent people from access ing HIV services, empow ering communities to lead the way, and strengthen ing and adapting systems so they work for the people who are most acutely affected by stigma and other inequal ities and fully mobilizing the resources needed to end HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.”

Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Mark Berman

British High Commissioner to Guyana, Jane Miller

Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Guo Haiyan

Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr K J Srinivasa

Programme Manager of National AIDS Programme Secretariat, Dr Tariq Jagnarine

World AIDS Day 2022

communities, least educated population

Rose Hall Estate seeking to employ over 1000 persons GBTI 1st bank to endorse UN WEPs initiative

The Rose Hall Estate of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is seeking to em ploy in excess of 1000 per sons.

The Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Sasenarine Singh joined the newly-appointed Estate Manager, Rama Singh for a recruitment drive on Tuesday. The Estate Manager said that work ers were needed for plant ing, fertilising, spraying, and also harvesting. She ex plained that the recruitment drive hosted on Tuesday was for planters and by 11:00h, some 40 persons already had shown an interest. The Estate needs 83 planters, but only has 56. CEO Singh told Guyana Times that Rose Hall was in the final lap of its reporting strategy. The focus now is to ensure that the land is aggressive ly planted for the new crop

starting on Valentine’s Day.

“So, we are pushing hard to get more planters on the land to join with the estate in getting the cane planted. Rose Hall is ex tremely important to the corporate strategy of the or ganisation; it is a commit ment of the shareholders –the Government of Guyana to reopen this estate in 2023,” the CEO explained.

According to him, 66 per cent of the factory has al ready been refurbished. The aim is to reach 100 per cent by August 2023 which will be in time for the reopening of the Estate as the second crop for 2023 commences.

He said all steps were be ing taken to implement the work programme.

“There needs to be some tightening around, making sure that every level of the work programmes is follow ing the work programme, so some amount of train

ing while enhanced to make sure that at all levels the staff understands their re sponsibilities. What will also be enhanced is more monitoring and evaluation of the work progress by the central head office,” Singh noted.

He added that the em ployment drive would be re peated in January and con tinue on a monthly basis. The Estate is also encourag ing persons to forms groups and work as contractors.

According to the Estate Manager, there is a huge de mand for harvesters. In ex cess of 700 will be needed next year.

The CEO said GuySuCo has been intensifying its ef forts to ensure that come 2023, Rose Hall Estate would be in a state of readi ness with the full capacity of the needed labour available.

The CEO said Rose Hall was open for business.

Berbice couple arrested for using woman’s photo to extort US$1200

Police in Berbice have arrested a couple af ter they allegedly used a photograph of anoth er woman to create a fake social media profile with the aim of defrauding others.

The woman allegedly de frauded a United States cit izen of US$1200.

The man then used so cial media to publicise the incident, but was confront ed by the person whose pho tograph was falsely used by the fraudster.

In a release on Wednesday, the Police said

acting on information re ceived, a party of law en forcement ranks went to Lot 4C Persaud Street, Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, Berbice, where they ar rested a 40-year-old un employed woman and a 29-year-old poultry farmer.

The Police provided the names and photographs of both suspects and said they were acting in accordance with a Cyber Crime Report.

Charges are expected to be made under the Cyber Crime Act, Section 19 (3) (a): A person commits an

offence if the person uses a computer system to dis seminate any information, statement or image, know ing the same to be false, that causes damage to the reputation of another per son.

Two cellular phones were found in possession of the man and were confis cated. The information re trieved indicated that oth er persons sent money to the woman the Police said. Ranks are continuing their investigations as both sus pects remain in custody. (G4)

Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry on Wednesday en dorsed the United Nations Women Empowerment Principles (WEPs) at its Corporate Office in Kingston, Georgetown.

Chief Executive Officer, James Foster reiterated the bank’s commitment to ad vancing gender equality in the workplace, marketplace, and community.

“Domestic violence against women is not new; it’s an age-old occurrence. Women have for too long been considered weak, vul nerable and in a position to be exploited. Violence against them has been tol erated. Cultural norms, re ligious practices, econom ic and political conditions may set the precedence for initiating and perpetuating domestic violence, but ulti mately committing an act of violence is a choice that an individual makes out of a range of options,” the CEO said.

He added that all too of ten, the victims suffer in si lence because they either cannot speak for them selves, or because of so cial, political, and justice systems that choose not to hear, or do not know how to hear and respond to the vic tim’s plea for help. “Getting victims to come forward is challenging because of the shame they feel, or because they feel they are at fault.”

“Thanks to courageous victims who in the face of scrutiny, opposition, and po tential rejection that accom panies speaking out, for tell ing their stories. Because of their courage, the social, po litical, and judicial aware ness about the reality and impact of violence is grow ing. New laws are being

passed and old laws updat ed, attitudes and responses from support services and communities at large are more in-tune with victim’s needs. We therefore must not sit idly by,” the CEO is quoted as saying in a release from the bank.

Following engagements with Imani Duncan- Price and the UN Women’s repre sentative, GBTI endorse the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles and support the 16 Days of Activism for Violence Against Women and Girls.

“While we signed on elec tronically, it is important to host this physical event to bring increased awareness to this important initiative and to inspire our local and glob al partners to share our po sition. At GBTI, we embrace inclusivity and commit to improving the growth of all team members; this initia tive is only one such way of cementing this commitment.”

Therefore, we wel come the provisions of the Women’s Empowerment Principles – Equality Means Business, produced and disseminated by the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) and the United Nations Global Compact.

The principles of the Women’s Empowerment Principles present seven steps that business and oth er sectors can take to ad vance and empower women.

According to the CEO, the equal treatment of wom en and men is not just the right thing to do – it is also good for business. “The full participation of women in our enterprises and in the larger community makes sound business sense now and in the future. A broad

concept of sustainabili ty and corporate responsi bility that embraces wom en’s empowerment as a key goal will benefit us all. The seven steps of the Women’s Empowerment Principles will help us realize these op portunities.”

He also encouraged busi ness leaders to join GBTI and use the principles as guidance for actions that can be taken by all take in the workplace, marketplace, and community to empower women and benefit our com panies and societies. “We will strive to use sex-disag gregated data in our sus tainability reporting to com municate our progress to our own stakeholders. That be ing said, GBTI now makes its formal submission to the initiative.”

GBTI is the first com mercial bank and the larg est organization in Guyana, to date, to sign on to this ini tiative.

Attending the GBTI endorsement event were in the presence of Ambassador Rene van Nes, EU Delegation to Guyana, UN Resident Coordinator, Yeşim Oruçkaya and Arianna Beharry of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security and GBTI Leadership Team.

Ambassador van Nes congratulated the bank on its gender equity focus and commended the advance ment being taken.

Meanwhile, the UN Resident Coordinator shared her excitement to have an organisation of this caliber endorse the WEPs.

Wednesday’s event stemmed from our International Women’s Day awareness observance at the famous I love Guyana sign, in March this year.

GBTI CEO James Foster (centre) after endorsing the UN WEPs. At right is EU Ambassador Rene van Nes and left is UN Resident Coordinator Yeşim Oruçkaya

ICJ to rule on Venezuela’s objections next year – Todd

claim to more than twothirds of Guyana’s land mass in Essequibo, where most of its natural resourc es are, and a portion of the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) offshore in which some 10 billion barrels of oil have been discovered over the past seven years.

Following several days of hearings over a week ago during which it heard from both Guyana and Venezuela, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is expect ed to deliver its decision on Venezuela’s preliminary ob jections during the first half of 2023.

This was revealed by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd, while he was updating the National Assembly on the recent hearings at the World Court.

“The Court will delib erate on the issue over the coming months. Decision is

expected by Spring of 2023,” he informed the House.

Guyana has approached the ICJ, seeking a final and binding ruling that the 1899 Arbitral Award, which demarcates the boundar ies between Guyana and Venezuela, is valid.

This is after the Spanishspeaking nation had laid

Murder of WCB pensioner 7 stab wounds, asphyxia, fractured skull caused death – PME

Police have confirmed that they are on the hunt for the man, who is believed killed an 85-yearold pensioner on Monday.

On Tuesday afternoon the police released the name provided a name and pho tograph of the suspect –Mohamed Ramzan Shaheed - but stopped short of issu ing an arrest warrant.

He is a 48-year-old neigh bour of the now-dead wom an.

Meanwhile, an autop sy conducted on the body of Sumintra Sawh on Wednesday, revealed that the woman died as a re sult of a number of injuries inclusive of multiple stab wounds, Asphyxia, and a fractured skull among oth ers.

There was a total of sev en stab wounds.

The cause of death was given as 1) asphyxia and as piration of blood in the air way, 2) shock and hemor rhage and a fractured skull and 3) multiple stab wounds to the head and face.

In a release issued on Wednesday, the police con firmed that the suspect in custody in relation to the discovery of a pension er’s body on Monday morn ing at Bush lot, West Coast Berbice (WCB) has con fessed to planning the rob bery.

The release came one day after the media had pub lished details of the woman’s confession while police offi cials were reluctant to con firm the information.

Police said the woman’s 37-year-old great-niece has since confessed to planning the robbery with the suspect

and has given investigators the gruesome details of what transpired.

She remains in custody as efforts are being made to arrest the 48-year-old sus pect, the police said.

The woman’s niece from Bushlot, West Coast Berbice, reportedly detailed to plan to rob her aunt and also identified the killer.

On Monday the body of 85-year-old Sumintra Sawh was discovered lying mo tionless in a pool of blood on her bed at her Bushlot, WCB home.

Basdeo, a great-niece of the now-dead woman had initially told investigators that she was in her bed when two men entered the house, one of whom tied her to a chair while the other went into her aunt’s room. She also claimed that the men searched the house be fore escaping with a bag belonging to her aunt con taining $350,000 and docu ments.

This publication had re ported that the great-niece told investigators that she was never tied up. In fact, she witnessed her aunt be ing murdered.

She said in her confes sion statement that the kill er is a 48-year-old neighbour who would normally visit the home.

She said after asking the man to run an errand for her upon his return, they plotted to rob the pensioner and worked out a plan which would not incriminate any of them. The deal would have seen him taking the wom an’s money to purchase a motorbike while Basdeo would inherit the woman’s property.

She said left the door open as planned and went to bed and after midnight the neighbour walked over. She showed him the bag which contained the mon ey and documents and the neighbour went into the bedroom and started beat ing the woman with an ob ject.

She told the investiga tors that she asked him to stop but he continued until the woman was motionless and seemingly unconscious.

The neighbour took the bag are ten scrambled re sulting in marks on her face and also cut her hand. In her account of the incident, Basdeo told investigators that the neighbour threat ened to kill her family if she ever told anyone. He then made good his escape.

Meanwhile, the po lice are waiting for advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions on the way for ward. (G4)

However, Venezuela has been seeking to block Guyana from having its sub stantive application before the World Court heard, on spurious grounds that in clude its claims that the United Kingdom should have been made a party to the case instead of Guyana since the 1899 Arbitral Award was signed between Venezuela and the then Great Britain,. Venezuela has also claimed that the 1899 ar bitral award is void due to what it claims was fraud by the UK at the time.

“Guyana argued that the United Kingdom is not in dispensable because it has no legal interests that would be affected by a judgment on the validity of the Arbitral Award of 3rd of October 1899 which fixed the bound ary between British Guiana and Venezuela or any inter ests in the boundary itself –such interests having been terminated in May of 1966 upon Guyana’s indepen dence,” Todd stated.

Nevertheless, the Foreign Affairs Minister told the National Assembly

that Guyana is confident of the ICJ ruling to proceed with the substantive case.

“Guyana is confident that its arguments will pre vail and that the court will reject Venezuela’s objections and advance the case to the merits phase,” he posited.

During the closing round of arguments at last week’s hearing at the World Court, Guyana’s Co-Agent and Advisor on Borders, Carl Greenidge, described Venezuela’s preliminary ob jections to the case as long on rhetoric but short on facts.

Greenidge said that Venezuela has absolutely failed to articulate proper grounds for its case.

“As will no doubt have been apparent to the Court throughout this hearing,

Venezuela’s arguments in support of its preliminary objections have been rather long on allegations and rhet oric and somewhat short on substance. One thing, how ever, is abundantly clear.

Venezuela really does not want this court to deter mine the merits of Guyana’s claims.

“Why, one might ask, is that the case? Is it that Venezuela is concerned that a judgement in the case will, in its very essence, involve a determination of the rights of the UK? Or is it because Venezuela recognises that the legal and factual merits of Guyana’s claims, are over whelming and a hearing will yield only one possible out come?” he questioned.

The Co-Agent went onto state that Venezuela is more interested in continuing to hold onto a falsehood, than a final and legal pronounce ment on the truth. He reaf firmed that Guyana has no interest in a negotiation con clusion of the border contro versy, but a legal one.

Guyana, among oth er things, is asking the ICJ to adjudge and declare that the 1899 Award is valid and binding upon Guyana and Venezuela and that Venezuela is international ly responsible for violations of Guyana’s sovereignty and sovereign rights, and for all injuries suffered by Guyana as a consequence. (G8)

Suspect wanted for questioning: Mohamed Ramzan Shaheed

Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd

Regional Barbados joins IOM

Barbados was unan imously admitted to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Wednesday morn ing in Geneva as its 175th member.

Representing Barbados at the 113th Session of the IOM Council is Barbados’ Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) Office and other International Organisations in Geneva, Matthew Wilson.

In his statement of ac ceptance, Permanent Representative Wilson stated: “On behalf of the Government and People of Barbados, I thank you all for the positive decision taken to admit Barbados to the membership of the International Organisation

for Migration.

“Barbados is pleased by your action today, to become the IOM’s 175th Member. That this de cision comes during the

week when Barbados is commemorating its 56th year of Independence and its first anniversary as a Republic, is not lost on us as a country.”

Established in 1951, the International Organisation for Migration is part of the United Nations System as the leading inter-govern mental organisation pro moting humane and order ly migration for the benefit of all, with offices in over 100 countries.

The IOM works to help ensure the orderly and hu mane management of mi gration; promote inter national cooperation on migration issues; assist in the search for practi cal solutions to migration problems, and provide hu manitarian assistance to migrants in need, includ ing refugees and internally displaced people. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

(Excerpt from Nation News)

US urges rejection of undersea cable connection to Cuba

AUS Government committee on Thursday urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to deny an application to connect Cuba to the United States through a new undersea ca ble landing station to han dle Internet, voice and data traffic.

The Justice Departmentled panel known as "Team

Telecom" said the propos al raised national securi ty concerns because the ca ble-landing system in Cuba would be owned and con trolled by Cuba’s Stateowned telecommunica tions monopoly, Empresa de Telecommunicaciones de Cuba SA (ETECSA) and would be the only direct, commercial undersea ca ble connection between the

United States and Cuba.

The US Government in recent years has been scru tinising undersea cable con nections especially involving China. Around 300 subsea cables form the backbone of the Internet, carrying 99 per cent of the world’s data traf fic.

Team Telecom said Cuba "could access sensitive US data traversing the new

cable segment." An FCC spokesman said the agency is reviewing the recommen dations.

The existing ARCOS-1 submarine cable system connects the United States with 14 countries in the Caribbean, Central America and South America and sought to expand to a land ing station in Cojimar, Cuba. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Trini floods: Floods maroon Mayaro villagers

Streets turned into tem porary rivers in sever al parts of Mafeking Village in Mayaro, leaving many residents stranded for the past few days.

On Wednesday, many houses were flooded inside. Others were surrounded by floodwater.

Some people used din ghies to get to and from their homes, while others were seen wading through murky water.

At Chrysostom Trace, part of the road was still im passable, although the wa ter had subsided. Residents

there said the water be gan rising on Sunday. They thanked members of the Mafeking Masjid for giving them hot meals and food items.

Annette Brown, 61, said, "They are the only ones who came and helped us. I had two eye surgeries and still owe the (private) facility. My husband is 83, and we are taking care of three chil dren, 12, four and two."

Brown said with the floodwater came snakes and caimans.

(Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

Peru bird flu: Thousands of pelicans found dead

More than 5500 pel icans have died in Peru in recent weeks due to an outbreak of bird flu.

Several beaches are lit tered with the carcasses of the dead animals and some have also been found in protected areas.

In total, more than 13,000 birds have been

killed by the H5N1 avian influenza strain, according to biologists.

Peruvian officials have declared a health alert to prevent its spread to farm poultry.

H5N1 can spread ex tremely quickly between birds through their drop pings and saliva.

The virus can also spread to humans if they are in close contact with an infected bird, but scien tists say the current strain seems to be low risk for this.

Peru's agricultural health authorities have warned people not to han dle wild birds or their car casses and to notify them

if they spot any dead ani mals.

As well as the outbreak in Peru, there is currently a wave of bird flu in Europe and in the United States.

Particularly large num bers of wild birds have been killed by bird flu this year, with sea birds espe cially hard hit. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Lula proposes pact to curb Brazilian soy linked to savanna deforestation

Brazilian President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's transition team has held meetings with the soy industry to discuss a new pact to stop deforestation in the Cerrado savanna, mod eled on an agreement for the Amazon, a Lula adviser said on Wednesday.

The Cerrado, the world's most species-rich savanna, borders the Amazon and is called an upside-down forest because of its deep carbon-rich roots. Deforestation there is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions that drive cli mate change.

In 2006, soy traders vol untarily agreed to stop buy ing soy from areas deforested in the Amazon after a certain date. Since then, soy farming has expanded rapidly in the Cerrado, where environmen tal advocates have lobbied for a similar pact.

"There are all the pacts that were done in the past –the soy moratorium, the le

gal wood pact, legal miner als. This needs to be redone, including yesterday and the day before we spoke to the soy sector about making a pact for sustainable soy in the Cerrado," said former Environment Minister Carlos Minc in a news conference alongside Lula's top environ mental advisers.

"We have had this in the Amazon and it is functioning well and should be an exam ple."

Minc did not give further details, and the transition team said it was still final ising its first report to detail Lula's likely future environ mental policy.

Brazil's farm industry and global commodities trad ers have previously resist ed attempts to forge such a Cerrado pact, although in re cent years major firms have laid out goals to eliminate deforestation in their supply chains everywhere by 2025. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Venezuelan oil exports flow using false documents, ships linked to Iran

When the super tanker Young Yong sailed to the Chinese port of Qingdao in September last year, it had quality certificates for its cargo stating it was trans porting Malaysian crude oil, according to the documents reviewed by Reuters.

But satellite images and photos show the Chineseowned ship had loaded the oil four months earlier in Venezuela, which is under US oil sanctions.

The Young Yong is one of three vessels identified by Reuters that were chartered by little-known companies to export Venezuelan oil and used false documents to conceal its origin, according to shipping documents and 11 sources with knowledge of the trade.

Two of those tankers, including the Young Yong, were designated this month by US authorities for violat ing sanctions on Iran, one of Venezuela's closest allies.

Six shipping and oil trad ing specialists told Reuters the use of false documents to conceal cargoes originat ing in sanctioned countries including Venezuela and

Iran has increased compli ance risks for oil and trad ing companies, amid a pro liferation of international sanctions.

"It's now becoming clear you cannot trust certifi cates of origin even when they come with official gov ernment documentation," said Cari Stinebower, a USbased partner with law firm Winston & Strawn, who ad vises oil and trading com panies how to comply with sanctions.

The Young Yong was one of several tankers named by the US Treasury on November 3 as part of a "smuggling network" that has used forged documenta tion to ship Iranian oil to fi nance Iran's Revolutionary Guards and Hezbollah. The Treasury designated the tanker as a frozen as set and placed its owner, Marshall Islands-registered Technology Bright, under sanctions.

The US Treasury de clined to comment on the involvement of the Young Yong or the other vessels identified by Reuters in shipping Venezuelan crude.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Barbadian Ambassador to the United Nations Matthew Wilson

An aerial view shows a dead tree near a forest on the border between Amazonia and Cerrado in Nova Xavantina, Mato Grosso state, Brazil, July 28, 2021. Picture taken July 28, 2021 with a drone (Reuters/Amanda Perobelli file photo)

Helpful citizens use a boat to assist residents marooned at home on Chrysostom Street, Mafeking Village, Mayaro due to severe flooding (Lincoln Holder photo)

Oil settles up US$2 on tighter supply; OPEC+ talks limit gains

Oil prices settled up by over US$2 per barrel on Wednesday on signs of tighter supply, a weaker dollar, and optimism over a Chinese demand recovery.

Capping gains, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies (OPEC+) decision to hold its December 4 meeting virtually signals little likelihood of a policy change, a source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Wednesday.

Brent crude futures settled up US$2.40, or 2.8 per cent to US$85.43 per barrel while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures settled up US$2.35, or 3.01 per cent, to US$80.55.

Support followed expectations of tighter crude supply.

US crude oil stocks plunged by nearly 13 million barrels, the most since 2019, in the week ended November 25, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

But heating oil demand fell for the second consecutive week heading into winter, curbing price support.

"Running all that crude oil through the refinery, you’re going to process a lot of distillate ... there is some reason for concern here," said Bob Yawger, director of energy futures at Mizuho.

Likewise, US oil output climbed 2.4 per cent to 12.27 million barrels per day (bpd) in September, Government figures showed on Wednesday, the highest since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) expects Russian crude production to be curtailed by some two million barrels of oil per day by the end of the first quarter next year, its chief, Fatih Birol told Reuters on Tuesday.

Russia would not supply oil to countries imposing a price cap, Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said.

On the demand side, further support came from optimism over a demand recovery in China, the world's largest crude buyer.

China reported fewer COVID-19 infections than on Tuesday, while the market speculated that weekend protests could prompt an easing in travel restrictions.

Guangzhou, a southern city, relaxed COVID prevention rules in several districts on Wednesday.

A fall in the US dollar was also bullish for prices. A weaker greenback makes dollar-denominated oil contracts cheaper for holders of other currencies, and boosts demand. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Around the World

Heaviest Ukraine fighting rages in east, West seeks to sustain support against Russia

Russian forces tried to advance in eastern Ukraine and trained tank, mortar and artillery fire on Kherson in the south, the Ukrainian military said, as Western allies sought to buttress Ukraine and its neighbours against Moscow.

In Washington, a US$1.2 billion contract for six National Advanced Surfaceto-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) for Ukraine was awarded to Raytheon, the Pentagon said.

On Wednesday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba had said his country needed US-made Patriot missile defence sys tems to protect its civilian infrastructure, which has been under heavy attack by Russia at the start of win ter.

US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken said Russian President Vladimir Putin had focused "his ire and his fire" on Ukraine's civilian population and warned Russia that its strategy would fail to divide Ukraine's supporters.

"Heat, water, electric ity ... these are President Putin's new targets. He's hitting them hard. This bru talisation of Ukraine's peo ple is barbaric," Blinken told a news conference in Bucharest following a twoday NATO meeting.

At the NATO Foreign Ministers meeting, allies on Wednesday pledged to help Moldova, Georgia and Bosnia-Herzegovina as they face pressure from Russia, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Ministers said.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the outcome showed NATO was "absolutely not interested in a political and diplomatic solution in Ukraine".

Russia invaded Ukraine nine months ago in what it calls a "special military operation" to rid Ukraine of nationalists it consid ers dangerous. Ukraine and Western allies accuse Russia of an unprovoked, imperialist land grab. (Excerpt from Reuters)

ISIL armed group announces death of its leader

ISIL (ISIS) leader Abu Hasan al-Hashimi al-Qurashi has been killed, the armed group’s spokesman said in an au dio message.

Abu Omar al-Muhajer did not elaborate on the date or circumstances of al-Qurashi’s death other than to say on Wednesday that the Iraqi had “died in battle”.

He announced that Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini alQurashi will be the group’s new leader.

In a statement is sued on Wednesday, US CENTCOM spokesman Colonel Joe Buccino said al-Quraishi was killed in mid-October.

“This operation was conducted by The Free Syrian Army in Dar’a prov ince in Syria. ISIS remains a threat to the region. CENTCOM and our part ners remain focused on the

enduring defeat of ISIS,” he said in the statement.

Little had been known about Abu Hasan alQurashi, who took over the group’s leadership fol lowing the death of Abu Ibrahim al-Qurashi, his predecessor, in a US raid in February in northwest Syria’s Idlib province.

Al-Qurashi is believed to be a nom de guerre that various ISIL leaders have adopted.

The deaths of succes sive leaders mark a blow to the armed group, which a US-led coalition said it had defeated in Iraq in 2017 and in Syria two years later.

The ISIL group de clared its so-called “caliph ate” in 2014 after conquer ing vast swaths of territory in Iraq and Syria.

A US-led military coali tion launched an operation dubbed “Inherent Resolve” in 2014 to get ISIL out of the areas it controlled.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

COVID hit HIV detection in Europe, threatens eradication progress

The number of people in Europe with un diagnosed HIV has risen as testing rates fell during the COVID-19 pan demic, threatening a global goal of ending the disease by 2030, a report said.

The joint World Health Organisation (WHO) and European Centre for

Indiana Prosecutor seeks to punish doctor in 10-year-old's abortion case

Indiana's Attorney General on Wednesday asked the State's med ical board to discipline an Indiana doctor who per formed an abortion on a 10-year-old rape victim from Ohio in a case that became a flashpoint in the debate over access to the procedure.

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, a Republican, accused Dr Caitlin Bernard of "violating a patient’s privacy rights" and the obligation to imme diately report child abuse to Indiana authorities.

Rokita has been investi gating whether Dr Bernard followed state law requiring doctors to report abortions, even though public records showed Dr Bernard prompt ly reported the abortion as

required.

His office asked the state's medical licensing board to determine the ap propriate penalty for Dr

Bernard.

Kathleen DeLaney, Dr Bernard's lawyer, said in a statement on Wednesday that her client had complied

with all reporting require ments and had discussed the girl's case "within the bounds of applicable privacy laws."

"The Administrative Action filed today by Mr Rokita is clearly a lastditch effort to intimidate Dr Bernard and other providers of abortion care," DeLaney said.

The doctor has said the child was referred to her for an abortion just three days after the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, the 1973 case that had guaran teed federal abortion rights.

Ohio was among the states that quickly enforced strict limits on abortion in the wake of the June ruling, sometimes without excep tions for cases of rape or in cest. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) report said that in 2021 a quarter few er HIV diagnoses were re corded compared to pre-pan demic levels in the WHO's European region.

This region includes Russia and Ukraine, which have the area's highest rates of HIV infection.

ECDC HIV expert Anastasia Pharris told a news briefing on Wednesday.

The report used model ling to predict the number of estimated infections and compared that to testing data provided by 46 of the 53 countries in the WHO's European region.

An estimated one in

This setback was like ly because services relat ed to HIV, including test ing, were side-lined in many European countries during the two years of the pan demic, the report found.

"It's likely that reduced testing and extra demands due to the COVID-19 pan demic on clinical sectors and also on public health insti tutes did impact case detec tion in 2020 and 2021 and we do believe that this is still continuing even today,"

eight people living with HIV in that region remains undi agnosed, it found.

Disruptions to HIV test ing during the pandemic matter because the longer the period of time between HIV infection and diagno sis, the higher the chances of severe illness or death, and the higher the likeli hood that individuals un knowingly pass the virus to sexual partners, the report found.

Ukrainian servicemen fire with a Bureviy multiple launch rocket system at a position in Donetsk region, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, Ukraine, November 29, 2022 (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty/Serhii Nuzhnenko via Reuters)

A general view of the Indiana Statehouse

DAILY HOROSCOPES

Visit someone who feeds your mind with possibilities and prepares you to strive to achieve your dreams. Changing your surroundings will spark your imag ination and connect you with like-mind ed people.

(March 21-April 19)

(April 20-May 20)

Take care of financial, medical or con tractual matters yourself. Don’t share sensitive information or secrets. Finish what you start. Avoid a risky situation.

Do what most appeals to you. Put your energy into personal gain. Use in telligence and facts to keep others from taking charge or making you look incom petent. Don’t trust others.

(May 21-June 20)

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

Use your intuition, skills and talents to get ahead. Don’t expect everyone to be on your side. Prepare to teach anyone who steps out of line a lesson. Stay in the forefront and command attention.

You can take part, but don’t say yes to something you cannot afford. Make your position clear. Set standards, live by them and make an impression. It’s up to you to determine your boundaries.

You’ll have to be on guard if you want to outmaneuver the competition. Problems will surface at home if you make changes without getting approval first. Don’t leave anything to chance.

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22) (Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

Put your time and energy into some thing exciting and challenging. You will rise to the occasion and surpass your expectations. Your gut instinct will be right on the money.

Take the most inviting path. Explore new ways to use your skills and knowl edge to keep up with the times and stay on top of your game. Embrace change, but don’t disrupt meaningful relation ships.

“Hurry up and wait” will be how your day unfolds. Too many variables and people are interfering to give you a clear vision of what’s coming. Make health a priority.

Leave nothing to chance. If you ar en’t specific about your needs or desires, you aren’t likely to have them fulfilled. Don’t be coy; share your thoughts.

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

A change that causes uncertainty is best dealt with quickly. Use your charm and innovative mind to win favors and ensure that no one takes advantage of your generosity.

Back down and rethink your strate gy, and you’ll find a way to remain on ev eryone’s good side. How you handle mat ters at home and work will determine your popularity.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

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CALVIN AND HOBBES

DILBERT

FIFA WORLD CUP: QATAR 2022… Australia stun Denmark to reach last 16

Australia have reached the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time in 16 years, after shocking Denmark.

Needing victory to prog ress, the Danes dominat ed possession, but were caught out on the break when Australia scored the winner on the hour mark. Denmark lost the ball in the Australian box, and Mathew Leckie finished a brilliant counter-attack with a low shot past Kasper Schmeichel.

Australia finish in sec ond place in Group D on six points, only behind world champions France on goal difference. Denmark, mean while, exit Qatar 2022 in disappointing fashion, with just one point from three games, and sitting bottom of the group.

Australia will now play the winners of Group C on Saturday at 19:00 GMT. Poland, Argentina and Saudi Arabia are all in with a chance of topping the ta ble.

Denmark came into the World Cup tipped by many fans and pundits as 'dark horses', after their impres sive run to the semi-finals of Euro 2020 and a strong UEFA Nations League cam paign in which they beat France home and away.

However, they failed to impress in Qatar, and go home having scored only

once in three Group D games. Their attacking strug gles were acknowledged by manager Kasper Hjulmand, who made three changes from the defeat to France, all in attacking posi tions. Martin Braithwaite, Brentford midfield er Mathias Jensen and Andreas Skov Olsen came in, as Mikkel Damsgaard,

Victor Nelsson and striker Andreas Cornelius dropped to the bench - but the chang es made little difference.

The Danes' best chance came through Jensen in the first half, who forced Australia captain Mat Ryan into an impressive acrobat ic save after being played through by a Braithwaite flick. However, it was telling that Denmark's most threatening attack ing outlet was left-back Joakim Maehle, who test ed Australia with his prob ing runs, but was not ade quately supported by those further forward.

They demanded a penal ty in the second half when Kasper Dolberg was hauled down in the area; however, he was narrowly offside as the Danish campaign pe tered out.

Denmark continue their longest winless World Cup run, having failed to earn a victory in any of their past six games in the competi tion, with four of them be ing draws. (BBC)

Argentina top group as Poland go through on goal difference

Argentina complet ed the turnaround from the shock open ing World Cup loss to Saudi Arabia by qualifying for the last 16 in impressive style against Poland - who went through on goal difference, having finished level on points with Mexico.

Lionel Messi was the catalyst for the crucial win against Mexico, which got Argentina's campaign back on track after their open ing defeat to Saudi Arabia, and he was instrumental again as they illustrated why they are regarded as one of the tournament’s fa vourites.

Argentina ran out com fortable winners with second-half goals from Brighton's Alexis Mac Allister and Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez, but the game still held real drama and jeopardy in the closing stages, as Poland knew another goal con ceded, or another goal for Mexico against the Saudis, would send them out on goal difference.

Argentina dominat ed throughout, but had to wait until after the break to make the breakthrough, after Messi saw a first-half penalty saved by Poland keeper Wojciech Szczesny after the pair had collided in

an aerial challenge, a harsh award after a video assis tant referee consultation.

Mac Allister gave Argentina the lead they de served when he swept home Nahuel Molina's cross a minute after the break, and Alvarez sealed victory with a fine finish into the top cor ner in the 67th minute.

Poland survived - and were set to progress on the FIFA Fair Play rule for hav ing fewer yellow cards than Mexico - until Saudi Arabia pulled one back deep into stoppage time in their 2-1 loss to the CONCACAF side. (BBC)

Mexico out, despite victory over Saudi Arabia

Henry Martín and Luis Chávez scored as Mexico earned an electric 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia at Lusail Stadium, but it wasn’t enough, as El Tri were eliminated from the World Cup in heartbreaking fashion — ending a streak of seven straight tournaments in which they advanced out of the group stage.

Mexico’s victory, paired with Poland’s concurrent 2-0 loss to Argentina, left Mexico and Poland tied for second in Group C on four points with 1-1-1 records. But Poland joined first-place

Argentina in the round of 16, thanks to their even goal differential, which bested Mexico’s minus-one.

Poland edged Mexico on that tiebreaker only because of a late consolation goal by Saudi Arabia’s Salem al-Dawsari. Before that strike, Poland were braced to advance thanks to their superior fair play points, a scarcely used tiebreaker in which teams are judged by the number of yellow and red cards accumulated during the tournament.

For long stretches of the second half, it only seemed

like a matter of time before Mexico got the third goal they needed. Martín bun dled home a corner kick in the 47th minute to give El Tri the lead, and Chávez curled home an exquisite, long-range free kick in the 52nd to push the momen tum further in Mexico’s fa vour, but El Tri squan dered numerous chances in the game’s dying mo ments, and substitute Uriel Antuna’s would-be clinch er was waved off for offside after momentarily sending the stadium into a frenzy.

(Washington post)

Tunisia upset France, but fail to qualify

France had a goal ruled out by VAR for offside in the final minute of stoppage time, as Tunisia held on to register a shock victory.

However, despite vic tory, they failed to qualify for the last 16 of the World Cup.

Substitute Antoine Griezmann volleyed in a dramatic equaliser at the Education City Stadium, but the VAR decision meant Tunisia captain Wahbi Khazi's brilliant first-half goal proved to be the win ner.

However, with Australia recording a 1-0 victory over Denmark in the other match in Group D, Tunisia's hopes of progressing had been dashed before Griezmann's goal was ruled out.

"It's mixed feelings, be cause we're happy to beat a team like France," said Tunisia manager Jalel Kadri. "We can be proud and leave with our head high, but it is a bitter vic tory. It would have been beautiful to beat France and reach the last 16. It is our fault for not doing what we needed to do before."

France are through to the last 16 as group win ners, having already se cured qualification with vic tory over Denmark in the last game.

Despite their failure to progress, Tunisia captain Khazi produced the mo ment fans had been wait

ing for - a goal at this World Cup - when he drove to the edge of the box and cool ly rolled it into the bottom right corner.

There was an outpour ing of emotion from a large following of Tunisia fans at the stadium, while Tunisian substitutes sprinted onto the pitch in a moment of pure elation. But their cel ebrations were short-lived when news of Australia's lead began to ripple through the stadium, with support ers checking their phones for updates from the other match in Group D.

France, who were muchchanged from their 2-1 win over Denmark, having al ready qualified as group winners, lacked quality in a disappointing performance.

Paris St-Germain for ward Kylian Mbappe and Atletico Madrid's Griezmann were brought on later in the second half to try and find a way back into the game. They had an impact, despite loud jeers and whistling from Tunisia fans who were keen to put them off, and Griezmann al most provided the goal they craved.

Didier Deschamps' side are set to face the run ners-up of Group C, cur rently Argentina, in the last 16 on Sunday, 4 December.

Tunisia's wait to reach the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time continues as they exit the competition. (BBC)

Argentina beat Poland 2-0

Australia will now advance to the last 16

Tunisia defeated France 1-0, but failed to qualify

WI vs Australia: 1st Test, Day One…

Labuschagne's big hundred puts Australia in command

Marnus Labuschagne

weathered an early assault on a greentinged Optus Stadium pitch to compile a brilliant un beaten century as Australia dominated an increasing ly ragged West Indies on the opening day of the first Test.

Coming to the crease in the fourth over after the wicket of opener David Warner, Labuschagne was confronted by a pumpedup attack on a surface with 10mm of grass left on it. But through century partnerships with Usman Khawaja and an irresistible Steve Smith, he gained a stranglehold on the contest and crushed the hopes of West Indies, whose chanc es of ending a 25-year Test drought in Australia look

Labuschagne has clearly enjoyed returning to Optus Stadium, where he scored 143 and 50 against New Zealand three years ago in the last Test match played at the 60,000-seat ground.

Khawaja also looked in sparkling touch from the get-go to continue his Test resurgence as an opener with an average of 95 for the calendar year. It was almost a shock when he fell before tea to a cracker of a delivery from seamer Kyle Mayers, but Australia soon regained control in a one-sided final session.

Perhaps sensing their opposition wilting, Labuschagne and Smith put the foot down after tea to score freely as West Indies went through the motions, and their quicks were un

Kemar Roach, and had two moments of fortune during a lively over from Jayden Seales in which he topedged a short ball and then nicked through the cordon.

He capitalised on an increasingly weary West Indies effort, hooking a six off Alzarri Joseph into the sparse grandstands late in the day.

Smith's strong form from the ODI series against England continued, under lining his increasing con fidence with his new tech nique, which he recently refined by abandoning shuf fling across the crease.

Even though his trade mark exaggeration after leaving deliveries was still eye-catching, Smith was well balanced at the crease as he continually drove sweetly through the covers.

West Indies had few answers as they slumped during a subpar final session marred by wayward bowling and sloppy fielding. When Labuschagne was 136, he al most found deep point with an upper cut against Seales, but debutant Tagenarine Chanderpaul couldn't quite get there.

onto the stumps. But in roads failed to materalise as Labuschagne and Khawaja dug in before gaining control in the afternoon amid cool er weather and a flagging attack on a surface playing fewer tricks than expected.

There were fears of a frosty reception from fans after the fallout over excoach Justin Langer's re cent inflammatory inter

haps a sign of a truce. There was no apparent ill feeling throughout the day from fans, who also applauded both teams for taking the knee before play in a stand against racism.

But a crowd of just 10,929 underlined the gen eral apathy in Perth for the match, which received lit tle fanfare in the lead up. A full-strength Australia

already forlorn after the opening day of the twomatch series.

While most of their teammates have lacked playing red ball cricket amid a slew of limited-overs interna tionals, Labuschagne and Khawaja showed the ben efit of a lengthy prepara tion through four Sheffield Shield matches with Queensland this season.

convincing with the second new ball. Labuschagne cel ebrated reaching his cen tury with gusto, taking his helmet off and raising his bat aloft after receiving a firm hug from Smith. He was in strong form through out his innings, although he received some luck be fore tea when he edged through the slips during a menacing burst from quick

It was a disappoint ing back end of the day for West Indies, whose hopes of an upset were seeming ly raised when Australia captain Pat Cummins gam bled and batted first. They bowled a good line and length, backed up by ag gressive captaincy from skipper Kraigg Brathwaite, who implemented attack ing fields complete with five slips reminiscent of the nearby WACA's heyday.

West Indies were re warded with the early wick et of Warner, whose lean run in Test cricket continued when he chopped a full and wide delivery from Seales

view, which overshadowed the opening Test of the Australian summer. But Langer, a favourite son in his hometown of Perth, was on the ground before play, chatting with sever al Australia players in per

went in as expected, while West Indies named Tagenarine Chanderpaul, the son of legendary batter Shivnarine, for his Test de but, and he received his ma roon cap from Brian Lara before play. (Cricinfo)

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Five Guyanese selected in West Indies Women's squad for England series

The Cricket West Indies (CWI) Selection Panel today named a 14-member squad for the first and second matches in the CG United One Day International (ODI) se ries against England Women, starting on 4 December at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.

Uncapped 25-year-old Guyanese left-arm spinner Kaysia Schultz is among the five Guyanese that are included in the 14-mem ber squad. The other Guyanese are Shemaine Campbelle, Cherry-Ann Fraser, Shenata Grimmond and Shabika Gajnabi.

West Indies and England will contest three day/night CG United ODIs starting at 2pm local time/1pm Jamaica time. The three CG United ODIs in the series will be played at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium (SVRS) in Antigua on 4, 6 and 9 December as part of the ICC Women's Championship.

Lead Selector Ann Browne-John has said: “The return of Shemaine Campbelle and Kycia Knight to the ODI squad, after missing the last series due to injury, will bolster the team in the absence of the experienced Stafanie Taylor, who is still recuperating from injury sustained during September’s series against New Zealand. The CG United ODI matches are vital, as points earned will take us a step closer towards automatic qualification for the next ICC Women’s World Cup in 2025.”

She added: “This series against England comes on the heels of the New Zealand tour to the West Indies, and continues our import ant preparation for the upcoming Tri-Series against India and South Africa and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup to follow. It gives the players a great opportunity to develop and

push for final selection for the Tri-Series and World Cup.”

The CG United ODI Series is the second op portunity for the West Indies to gain points in the ICC Women’s Championship (IWC). The top five teams in the IWC will automatical ly book a berth for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in 2025. The remaining five teams in the IWC will have to go through the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier.

The T20I Series which follows provides both teams with important preparation for the 2023 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa, which begins on 10 February 2023 with West Indies and England drawn to play each other in Group 2 of the tournament.

Tickets are available in advance for the first two CG United ODIs and the first T20I in Antigua from the Windies Tickets service presented by Mastercard - tickets.windies tickets.com. Tickets are just US$9/EC$25.

The third CG United ODI in Antigua will be free for local and visiting fans, as it falls on V.C. Bird Day, a national holiday in Antigua, and is being supported by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda. Fans who purchase tickets will receive their tickets securely into their online Windies Tickets account, to save to their mobile device or print out for presen tation at the stadium, avoiding the need to queue at or travel to the stadium’s ticket of fices.

Ticket offices at each venue will be open on the day of each match. All matches will be available to view in the West Indies live on the Windies Cricket YouTube channel as well as on the ESPN Play app. Fans in the UK will be able to view on BT Sport, with fans based

in the USA able to watch live on ESPN+.

FULL SQUAD (1st and 2nd CG United ODIs): Hayley Matthews (Captain), Shakera Selman (Vice Captain), Aaliyah Alleyne, Shemaine Campbelle, Afy Fletcher, CherryAnn Fraser, Shabika Gajnabi, Sheneta Grimmond, Chinelle Henry, Kycia Knight, Chedean Nation, Karishma Ramharack, Kaysia Schultz and Rashada Williams.

FULL MATCH SCHEDULE

CG United ODI Series

Sunday, 4 December: 1st CG United ODI at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua –2pm Eastern Caribbean/1pm Jamaica Tuesday, 6 December: 2nd CG United ODI at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua – 2pm Eastern Caribbean/1pm Jamaica Friday, 9 December: 3rd CG United ODI at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua –2pm Eastern Caribbean/1pm Jamaica

T20I Series

Sunday, 11 December: 1st T20I, Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua, 6pm Eastern Caribbean/5pm Jamaica Wednesday, 14 December: 2nd T20I, Kensington Oval, Barbados, 6pm Eastern Caribbean/5pm Jamaica Saturday, 17 December: 3rd T20I, Kensington Oval, Barbados, 6pm Eastern Caribbean/5pm Jamaica Sunday, 18 December: 4th T20I, Kensington Oval, Barbados, 6pm Eastern Caribbean/5pm Jamaica Thursday, 22 December: 5th T20I, Kensington Oval, Barbados, 6pm Eastern Caribbean/5pm Jamaica.

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Jayden Seales picked up the wicket of David Warner

Steve Smith remains at the crease on 59*

Marnus Labuschagne remained unbeaten on 154

Guyanese Indigenous group to perform in art of dance

Story and photoS by timothy Jaikarran

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Hon. Charles Ramson Jr, yesterday hand ed over airline tickets to the Guyanese Indigenous group that would be performing for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar in the art of dance.

The group will be de parting Guyana on Friday December 2, 2022 and will end their journey on December 13, 2022.

In a small ceremony held at the Headquarters of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Minister Ramson said, “This is a very special day. It is a very im portant day; it is a day of success because this group behind me have been ac cepted to go and perform at the World Cup in Qatar. It is a programme that the Government of Qatar was running, and it was an offer that was extended to us, and we had to submit a number

Cup.”

Ramson explained that this opportunity gives the

The 16th staging of the Diamond Mineral Water International Indoor Hockey Festival com mences today, Thursday, December 1st, at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Homestretch Avenue in Georgetown from 18:00 hrs. However, the action begins from 15:00hrs on December 2nd, 13:00hrs on December 3rd, and 11:00 hrs on the fi nal day of December 4th.

This tournament is the brainchild of Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira, who, upon visiting Guyana in 2003, met with the Guyana Hockey Board and encouraged them to stage an annual interna tional hockey festival. Being a huge proponent of sports tourism, Reds thought the

and secured the volunteer services of former nation al hockey player Troy Hugh Peters to be the tourna

hockey events in the re gion, and attracts top-club teams and players from the Pan-American region. Over the years, the festival has had its challenges, and has not been staged when ren ovations were ongoing at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall in 2012, and then again during the restrictive COVID-19 times.

This year, the mighty Queen’s Park men’s contin gent return to compete in the men’s Veterans over-35 and the Guinness Masters over-45 divisions. The over35s will be the first foreign side on show as they take on the Antonio Hikers at 19:30hrs on the opening night.

Bounty GCC.

The Police ladies would likewise face local nation al champs the GBTI GCC Tigers in the TLC ladies’ di vision at 20:10hrs.

This tournament will feature 18 teams, of which 6 foreign teams are includ ed. Besides, four players from Canada and two from the USA would be on show as guest players among the local sides, adding to the in ternational flare of the fes tival.

He also said that the group’s performance at the World Cup is being fully funded by the Government of Qatar. “So, we are very happy to go through that process that lasted for a number of months, which we kept quiet, hoping that we would be able to secure it. And now that we are able to, they leave on Friday. So, they will be able to stay there for the entire period. they get paid, and then they also get to show Qatar and

the world that’s visiting for the World Cup what Guyana is all about, and what our culture is all about,” he shared.

Members of this group have also said they are excit ed to perform in the culture programme in Qatar. They described the opportunity as a dream come true for them, and said they grew up watch ing football as children, and going to the FIFA World Cup would be an amazing experi ence for them.

President Ali hopeful of Guyana’s presence at Football World Cup 2026

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Tuesday expressed hope that Guyana would be able to partici pate in Football World Cup 2026.

Speaking during the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association’s (GMSA’s) 27th Annual Awards Ceremony, the President said, “A few days ago, I sat down with the Football Federation and I said to them, ‘I’m going to invest my time and ener gy in football, but you guys have to at least share my vision and at least give me something that I can say to the Guyanese people that we are going to work with every ounce of energy we have to make it to World Cup 2026,” he stated.

President Ali had pre viously announced for sport in general and foot ball in particular a number of developmental initia tives that would transform the landscape of sports in the country, especially in Indigenous communities.

make them competitive, so that we can get the right environment in which they can develop this great skill in football.”

President Ali also mused on implementing a stipend programme for na tional players that would afford them the opportuni ty to be part of the devel opment process for the next generation of players.

“Let us identify national players that we have in all these areas across the coun try. Let us bring the na tional players to one pool, and let us then put them on a stipend programme which the Government will support. And we will assign them to schools, we will as sign them to regions, so they will work to develop more talent,” President Ali had stated.

Guyanese sporting bodies needed to do more to at tract foreign athletes to our shores. The Guyana Hockey Board took up the challenge

ment’s coordinator.

Eighteen years later, this Festival has grown into one of the premier indoor

The Trinidad Police make their debut this year with large male and female contingents. The TT Police men will be on show for the final match of the eve ning on Thursday, when they take on the recent GTT National Indoor Champions

Demerara Distillers Limited, through their Diamond Mineral Water brand, have been the main stay of the festival, and have been the title spon sors since inception of the festival in 2004. Local freight-forwarding compa ny TLC Guyana Inc, spon sors of the women’s divi sion, are new to the sport locally; while Guinness, more popular with football, are welcome sponsors of the Masters division.

High on the agenda was the ‘One Guyana’ Football Cup, which kicked off on November 13.

Moreover, the President had expressed his intention to curate a developmental programme for 50 footbal lers by saying, “We will de velop a pool of at least 50 players, and that 50 play ers will go in a special de velopment programme that the Government will work with our local football asso ciation, so that we could de velop them, so that we can

It has been disclosed that the venue for the Upper Mazaruni Games would be the first of sever al grounds to be upgraded to FIFA standards by the Government. The President explained, “You will see in next year’s budget that we are going to upgrade the Kamarang Centre into a FIFA-standard facility with the lights and everything, as a central place in which football will develop. And not only for football, (we are going) to develop the entire area with the facilities that will support other sport disciplines,” the President added, as he expressed in tention to have one such fa cility in every administra tive region in Guyana.

of groups, and they did ex tensive checks and examina tions of what they wanted to have in Qatar during the World

country

a chance to show case its talent to the world, and he divulged that he is proud of the young women of the group, who have had a lot of engagement with the Ministry of Culture through

a number of cultural pro grammes that have been hosted. He explained that through those cultural pro grammes, the Ministry of Culture has been able to identify the young talents.

2026 FIFA World Cup Trophy on display before a press conference at Rockefeller Plaza

Minister Ramson sharing a light moment with the group