Guyana Times - Thursday, December 29, 2022

Guyana’s non-oil sector’s economic growth revised upwards by IDB

…growth expected to exceed budget projections

The non-oil economy, in which certain sectors had shown contractions in the first half of the year, is expected to rebound even stronger than previously anticipated in February, when the 2022 Budget was read. This is according to the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB).

In its recent report, “Headwinds Facing PostPandemic Recovery in the Caribbean”, the IDB predicted that Guyana’s overall Gross Domestic Product (GDP), would grow by a total of 56 per cent in 2022.

The non-oil sector is expected to rebound stronger than anticipated, with the IDB projecting growth figures of 9.6 per cent for 2022. This is an improvement on the 7.7 per cent that was projected in the 2022 Budget. The report also provides a sectoral breakdown.

“The main drivers of growth in the non-oil economy include agriculture, services, and construction, which are projected to grow by 11.9 per cent, 6.3 per

cent, and 19 per cent, respectively, all higher than originally estimated in the budget. All three sectors showed dynamic growth in their mid-year results.”

“In contrast, gold production and the manufacturing sector contracted in the first semester of 2022, leading to a downward revision of growth estimates for the year for those sectors to 7.4 per cent and 7.5 per cent, respectively,” the report added.

Three years after oil production began, Guyana is

currently the fastest-growing economy in the world. The projected economic growth of more than 50 per cent for 2022 is by far the highest in the Region.

It was revealed in September by the mid-year report that Guyana’s real GDP grew by 36.4 per cent for the first half of 2022, on the back of growth in a number of economic sectors such as agriculture and mining.

According to the report, in addition to Guyana’s GDP growth, non-oil economic growth was 8.3 per

cent. This, according to the Finance Ministry, reflects the Government’s supportive policy. In addition, the outlook for the rest of the year will continue to be favourable.

“For the full year, real GDP growth in 2022 is now projected at 56 per cent overall, and non-oil GDP growth at 9.6 per cent, maintaining Guyana’s position of global leader in economic growth,” the Finance Ministry said.

The report noted that the agriculture, forestry

and fishing sectors are estimated to have expanded by 10.9 per cent in the first six months of 2022. These figures were driven by higher production from other crops, forestry and livestock in spite of weaker performances in sugar, rice, and fishing. The sector is now expected to grow by 11.9 per cent.

With respect to the mining and quarrying sectors, these are estimated to have grown by 64.6 per cent in the first half of the year, with a revised 2022 forecast of 99.9 per cent driven by growth in the petroleum and other mining industries.

Last month, Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh had outlined Government’s plans to utilise oil revenues to diversify the non-oil economy into a globally competitive one, and to invest in citizens to create a suitably equipped and skilled workforce in line with the current and future demand for new sets of skills.

The Finance Minister had explained that

Government planned to ensure that revenues earned from oil currently being extracted would be used to lay the foundation for the future as he listed as areas of attention agriculture, transport infrastructure (for improved access to productive land and to improve access to continuous markets); energy infrastructure (to provide reliable and affordable energy as this would be important especially to facilitate a competitive manufacturing sector); physical infrastructure such as roads, bridges, schools and hospitals; and investing in people to ensure they are adequately equipped with the skills to meet new demands.

Dr Singh also noted that Government intended to fully capitalise on its Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and would continue to manage Guyana’s tropical rainforest in a sustainable manner in order to be compensated by the world for its forest conservation and clean air contribution. (G3)

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BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Thursday, December 29 –10:00h-11:30h and 22:30h-00:00h and Friday, December 30 –11:00h-12:30h and 23:30h-01:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Thursday, December 29 –09:00h-10:30h and Friday, December 30 – 10:10h-11:40h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

Construction permits

$202M contract signed to develop IT solution for single-window system

ready. So, in other words, we are building a system that caters for add-ons as time goes [and] as we are able to implement other aspects to ensure that we have a fully automated system.

Winds: Northerly to South-Easterly between 1.78 metres and 3.57 metres.

High

Low

Doing business in Guyana will soon be made much easier with the signing of a contract to develop and implement an Information Technology (IT) platform for the much-touted single-window system for construction permits.

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

This single-window system is expected to be fully implemented and operational by June 2023.

Housing Minister Collin Croal explained that this initiative was not only transformative for the way in which business was done in Guyana but also allowed for transparency and accountability in the process of issuing these permits.

“Throughout the process, at every stage, we have accountability in terms of responding [to applications]… no longer will we be required to sit and wait forever for some officer at some agency to provide that feedback [on an application],” he noted.

The single-window system will feature five key elements including: one-window access to allow the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) to be the point of entry for planning and building applications; as

well as a dashboard to show the status of individual applications and generate progress reports, which can also be accessed by applicants.

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

Moreover, the scope of the development of the IT platform also includes the single-window system being built in such a way that allows for the accommodation of certain changes including add-ons in the future.

“While we may not have the capacity when this system is launched – for example, the electronic payments… that capacity will exist in the solution and can be turned on once we are

“Similarly, as we identify and remove redundant steps and make other changes in the planning process and development applications, the system will have the capacity to accommodate these changes… If there are additional changes, we don’t have to go out back and build another system or spend additional resources,” Minister Croal stated.

On the other hand, Minister within the Housing Ministry, Susan Rodrigues, said this single-window system was a demonstration of Government’s commitment to make doing business in Guyana easier by reducing the bureaucracy and red tape in the process.

She noted that this new system would also remove subjectivity from the process.

“No Guyanese or no investor does not have to fear any form of subjectivity, or do not have to fear that any public official will deny their application simply, because the public official doesn’t like them or any of that. So, it removes any bias from the system, it removes all subjectivity… It also removes any form of corruption from the system… So this tremendously eases that process of doing business,” Rodrigues posited.

CH&PA CEO Sherwyn Greaves and Global Services representative George Melville sharing a light moment after signing the $202 million contract in the presence of Housing Ministers Collin Croal and Susan Rodrigues along with other officials

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Epidemic Preparedness

The first observance of the International Day of the Epidemic Preparedness was on December 27. The day saw policymakers and international development partners underscoring the need for countries to be better prepared to deal with future epidemics.

The International Day of Epidemic Preparedness was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly to advocate the importance of the prevention of, preparedness for, and partnership against, epidemics. The International Day falls on the birthdate of Louis Pasteur, the French chemist and microbiologist responsible for ground-breaking work on vaccinations.

The General Assembly also recognised the role of the UN system, in particular WHO, in coordinating responses to epidemics, and supporting efforts to prevent, mitigate and address the impacts of infectious diseases.

The observance is timely, as it sought to remind Governments and international health partners of the need to place more efforts and invest more resources in better preparing themselves for future epidemics. 2022 is speedily coming to an end, but it will always be remembered by generations to come, as people’s lives have changed like never before. Between 2020 and 2022, one could have never imagined that so much of the things we take for granted could have been disrupted, not necessarily in a bad way, but in a manner that is for our own good.

COVID-19 had really caught the world by surprise, and its massive economic and social impacts on countries will no doubt be felt in years to come, as China now faces rising cases. At the moment, the deadly disease has a foothold across the globe, and had reached countries that were already facing humanitarian crises because of conflict, natural disasters and climate change.

Secretary-General António Guterres, in his 2022 message, said that three years ago this month, the virus that causes COVID-19 was first detected.

“The costs have been catastrophic. Millions of lives have been lost, and hundreds of millions of people have fallen ill. Economies were shattered, health systems were stretched, and trillions of dollars were lost. Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals has been thrown off track. And developing countries were often left to fend for themselves, shamefully denied the vaccines, tests or treatments they needed to protect their people.”

We agree COVID-19 will not be the last epidemic or pandemic humanity faces, and we also agree that, as a global community, the world must heed the harsh lessons of COVID-19 and make bold investments in pandemic preparedness, prevention and response.

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged countries’ public health systems to their maximum, as many of them were very weak and did not have adequate mechanisms in place to detect or contain the virus. Hence, most countries, including Guyana, would need massive financial and other forms of support to be fully prepared to tackle such a health crisis.

In a message to mark the Day, Guterres also warned that as Governments and health partners strive to control and recover from the current pandemic, “We need better surveillance to detect and monitor viruses with epidemic potential. We need more resilient health systems, supported by universal health coverage. And we need a health workforce that is well-trained, well-equipped and well-paid. We also need equitable access to vaccines, treatments, diagnostics, and life-saving technology for all countries.”

It is also necessary for countries to strengthen their prevention capacities so that they are ready when the world faces the next outbreak.

We therefore support the call for countries to invest in preparedness capacity to prevent, detect and mitigate emergencies, and to build strong primary healthcare systems as the foundation of universal health coverage.

As Secretary-General António Guterres said: “A pandemic cannot be fought country by country. The world must come together. COVID-19 was a wake-up call. On this International Day of Epidemic Preparedness, I urge all countries to stand with our efforts to ensure the world is equipped and ready to take on the health challenges to come.”

As the World Cup turns…

By Lance neita

It turned and stopped at Argentina. That's the way the World Cup turned last Sunday, December 18.

It was a desert storm in Qatar that kept 3 billion people around the world on their feet or on the edges of their seats for an incredible, sustained, and nerve-racking two hours.

It was a drama that seemed to have no end, as scene after scene followed each other in the style of that favourite soap opera “As the world turns”.

Imagine, Argentina had their way with two goals in the bag when suddenly, 30 minutes into the second half, France unleashed Kylian Mbappe, and the game was never the same again.

Onlookers were taken for a wild ride of see-saws from one side to the other, with questions asked and unanswered right down to the final chapter.

For those who love their soap operas, they got everything — drama, cut-throat, dismissals, tears, anguish, smiles, triumphs, and a ball that showed no allegiance to either side, but moved like an unfaithful husband racing from love nest to love nest between the lines.

This 2022 World Cup final has gone down as the greatest and most sensational match of all kinds and all times. It beats "the hand of God" of 2008, the USA upset of England in 1950, the West Germany vs Netherlands thriller of 1974, Pele's last match in 1970, the emergence of the Brazilian Ronaldo on the World Cup stage in 1994,

and the still unbelievable and unforgivable wipeout of Brazil in 2014.

The 10:00am timing was perfect for many church-goers, as it gave the opportunity to watch either half, or tune in silently in the back pew. And even pastors cocked their ears during sermons to exchange a note or a whispered hallelujah with the deacon on watch, whose job it was to pass on the score.

Those who missed this epic will ruefully recall William Shakespeare's Henry V's chastisement of his soldiers who hid from the Battle of Agincourt, fought between our still two modern-day rivals, England and France.

"And gentlemen in England now a-bed Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here, And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day."

There was one element prevalent in the run-ups to the match that was evident — pardon if I wax poetic — and that is, destiny.

The French coach Didier Deschamps gave it away on Saturday when he said he knew that most neutral fans wanted Argentina to win the final to give Messi "the perfect send-off from football's biggest tournament".

In fact, he even believed that some people in France wished the same. And, in a preview of the World Cup published in this newspaper on November 21, 2022 I said, "But watch what happens when Lionel Messi takes the field for his final match against his rivals. As one fan puts it, what an end it would be to a dazzling in-

ternational career

Messi if he takes home the gold. I am sure few would begrudge the Argentinian such a farewell."

I was led to think this by friends who challenged my assertion that Messi would prove to be the greatest. In response, they would raise the ghost of Maradona and his 1986 lifting of the World Cup.

In 2014, and again in 2018, Argentinians marked him out for not bringing home any major trophy to Argentina and, worse, playing all his record-breaking matches away from home. In this World Cup, he started off warily with a backslide and a startling loss against Saudi Arabia. Millions wept as the demise of Argentina and Messi was written in the skies above Buenos Aires and Qatar.

Many back home rolled their fists in their eyes in the traditional 'tump you down' warning to the master that some big licks were awaiting him back home.

But the world fell in love with him again as we watched how he weaved his magic across the field to chain his rivals spellbound in the quarter-finals and in the semi-final.

Suddenly the headlines were 'Messi Magic' and the French fans fell silent.

On Sunday, Argentina came out and stamped their authority on the game. The 11 followed instructions, including a clear directive to control Mbappe, which they did until he came out like a rushing wind to score a historic hat-trick and claim the Golden Boot title over Messi. Now he is no longer the pretender to the throne, he is the successor to Messi,

Ronaldo, Neymar, and Pele all wrapped up in one.

Like good soap opera fans, we gasped at breaking news on the field, gazed in disbelief at the changing fortunes so rapidly unfolding, stunned by the rapid pace of the game, and thrilled to the exquisite passes and breakouts that kept the game flowing for some 145 minutes without let-up.

Argentina would be aware of the stories that flooded the online platforms recently describing their alleged skin colour discrimination policies, which to many observers have kept black people out of their football teams. This turned many Jamaican fans away from Argentina's side, and it certainly added to the list of intrigue and behind-thedoor whispering that make a good soap opera love story.

But the truth is that, in this world of realism, Argentina is not the only football power that has messed with colour and racial suppression.

France has put theirs behind them with the inclusion of a host of black players, none greater than the greatest to be, the young Mbappe. One thing we have come to live with is that the Argentinians look like footballers and play the ball without reckoning who is black or white.

The World Cup turned on Sunday and came to rest in Buenos Aires. Not even France will grudge it the honour done to Messi. They know their time will come when the prince comes into his own. (Jamaica Observer)

(Lance Neita is a writer and communications strategist.)

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A fisherman cracks a whip as horses wheel a device linked to a fishing net during the annual Chagan Lake Winter Fishing Festival in Songyuan, in northeastern China's Jilin province (AFP photo)

A Govt which never sleeps

Dear Editor,

This Government has delivered to the Guyanese people, and it has delivered beyond anyone’s expectations, even those highly critical of the PPP/C will have to zealously admit that fact.

There is a new wind of progressive change blowing all across Guyana. In every nook and cranny in every community, the socio-economic transformation is unbelievably taking place with great alacrity. This Government has already delivered on more that its

2020 campaign promises. In every media, there are daily reports of progress being made in all the sectors; there seems to be a great competition among the Ministries to outdo each other. The President and all his Ministers are all over the country, addressing issues and providing resolutions, in some cases instantaneously. Can you imagine that, even on Christmas Day, the President and his Team were delivering homes to the homeless?

This Government: the President and Vice-

President, as well as the Prime Minister and Ministers, has vowed to listen to the people, and govern on behalf of all Guyanese, and that has been manifested in the most tangible manner. This is not the empty rhetoric spewed by the Coalition, who delivered the ‘good life’ only for themselves, friends and families. It is by listening to the cries of the people that this Government has been able to drastically transform the lives of all Guyanese.

This is a Government

which never sleeps. The “ONE GUYANA” mission is no hoax, and the President’s Men On Mission programme have targeted some major social issues which have been neglected for a long time. Both men and women have been empowered to make their lives better. The sceptics and the pessimists alike are convinced.

We are blessed with a President who understands, empathises, and walks with the people, with not an iota of pretensions, but humbly seeks out the

issues which affect their daily lives. He speaks the language of the people, and embraces everyone. He had vowed this at his inauguration, and he has kept that vow; this is seldom done in the political arena. He is not a man of words alone, but a man of deeds.

President Irfaan Ali has proven his worth.

Guyanese all over the world are proud of their President, and a new era of progress and prosperity has dawned in Guyana. No doubt, the year 2023 and those ahead will see

many more transformational projects being delivered as the standard of living of Guyanese continues to progressively climb, and the country becomes a wonder to behold. I wish everyone the best for 2023, especially our hard-working President, Vice-President, and their august Team. This Government is a defender of freedom and democracy, and Guyanese will do well to never forget this.

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

Propagating several outlandish claims

Dear Editor,

Reference is made to an article carried under the caption “Oil sector plagued with gross mismanagement”. The article reported on the viewpoints of Ms Melinda Janki, who is described as an international lawyer and transparency advocate.

Since the outset of the oil discovery, Ms. Janki has been propagating several outlandish claims on the oil sector, to the extreme end where she has been advocating, for instance, for the cessation of oil production. She claims that the Government allows the oil companies to disrespect the laws, but failed to explain which laws were broken or disrespected.

In her more recent ramblings, cited by the Kaieteur News, she is contending that there is a lack of transparency in the rate of recovery of the oil companies’ capital investment. However, there is no lack of transparency, as Ms. Janki claims in this regard. The rate of recovery of capital investment is public knowledge; that is, all of the elements and variables one would require to calculate the rate of recovery are publicly available, and anyone with

basic arithmetic skills can calculate it.

So, what are the elements one would require to so do? For ease of reference, these are:

First, the pre-exploration cost and capital investment for each project, which is publicly available. For example, the development cost for Liza Phase One is US$4.3 billion, Liza 2: US$6 billion, Payara: US$9 billion, and Yellowtail: US$10 billion.

Second, you need to know when each project will commence production, and the rate of production (daily rate and yearly rate).

Third, the prevailing market price of crude, and

The fiscal terms and the application thereto, where the cost recovery ceiling is 75%.

With these variables, one can calculate the rate of recovery for each project, because all of the above information is publicly available and accessible. The Bank of Guyana publishes monthly, quarterly, and yearly reports on the deposits and withdrawals to the Natural Resource Fund (NRF).

Then Ms. Janki went on to speak of governance of the oil sector. As a professional of her

calibre, she ought to at least be objective, to acknowledge and include in her assessment the progress the Government has made on these fronts. For example, she has ignored the Local Content Act; the setting up of the Local Content Secretariat; the consortium that was formed by local firms with an international firm to conduct the audit of cost oil; capacity building which is ongoing at the Guyana Revenue Authority; she has also ignored the Natural Resource Fund Act (NRF) and the operationalisation of the Act.

All of the foregoing elements are part of the governance framework of the sector, which Ms. Janki has deliberately omitted from her assessment to suit her per-

sonal anti-development agenda and narrative.

Ms Janki and others alike often make references in a ranting fashion to other petroleum producing countries that have failed economically, such as Venezuela, Nigeria, Indonesia etc. But they have all failed to perform an objective comparative analysis of those countries to Guyana. The reality is such that the political, geopolitical, social, and economic contexts of those countries are different from Guyana. In most cases, those countries failed owing to economic mismanagement. In Guyana, the current Government is managing the fiscal framework in a prudent manner. All of the macroeconomic indicators are the

strongest in the region, such as the lowest debt-to-GDP ratio, and the Government is also careful not to excessively increase the recurrent expenditure.

Finally, to her point on the breakneck speed at which Guyana is moving to approve projects, she has ignored the fact that if the Government were to slow down the rate of approval, these projects will take longer to start producing, considering the lifecycle of these projects: from exploration, which lasts about 10 to 15 years; development, another 5 years; and production of about 20 years. This would not be beneficial to Guyana if the objective is to sustain the momentum in the economy. Sustaining the momen-

tum simply means that investments need to continue growing, which in turn creates employment for our people and translates ultimately into more tax revenues for the State.

Editor, Ms. Janki cannot be serious, and no one should take her seriously when she argues that the Government is acting in the best interests of the oil companies, and not the people. Contrary to this view, the Government is in fact acting in the best interest of the people, while safeguarding the mutual interests of the investors in the sector.

faithfully, Joel

Bhagwandin

Yours

Have you ever played with dominoes? One way to play is to stand up the little rectangles in a long line, then knock over the first domino to set off a chain reaction. Well, it turns out you can play dominoes with cereal boxes. This elementary school just set a world record for the “most cereal boxes knocked down in a domino run.” The teachers and students set up more than 6000

boxes, and 3730 of those fell! It took 4 tries to get that many boxes to fall. After that last attempt, all the cereal was given to a food bank. Domi-no way to beat that!

Wee ones: A rectangle has 4 sides. Can you name a shape that has 3 sides?

Little kids: If the domino pattern has a box of Cheerios, then a box of Fruit Loops, then a box of Rice Krispies, and

then repeats, what type of cereal is the 8th box? Bonus: What about the 14th box?

Big kids: If the school set up exactly 6000 cereal boxes and knocked over 3730, did more than half the boxes get knocked over? Bonus: If every one of those 6000 boxes held 10 bowls of cereal, how many bowls of cereal were in the domino chain?

(bedtimemath.org)

Clever Gretel

By The BroThers Grimm

There was a cook whose name was Gretel. She wore shoes with red heels, and whenever she went out wearing them she would turn this way and that way, and she was very cheerful, thinking, “You are a beautiful girl!”

Then after returning home, because she was so happy, she would drink a swallow of wine, and the wine would give her an appetite, so she would taste the best of what she had cooked, until she was quite full, and then she would say, “The cook has to know how the food tastes.”

One day her master said to her, “Gretel, this evening a guest is coming. Prepare two chickens for me, the best way that you can.”

“Yes indeed, sir,” answered Gretel. She killed the chickens, scalded them, plucked them, stuck them on the spit, and then, as evening approached, put them over the fire to roast. The chickens began to brown, and were nearly done,

but the guest had not yet arrived.

Gretel called to her master, “If the guest doesn’t come, I’ll have to take the chickens from the fire. And it will be a crying shame if they’re not eaten soon, because they’re at their juicy best right now.”

The master answered, “You’re right. I’ll run and fetch the guest myself.”

As soon as the master had turned his back, Gretel set the spit and the chickens aside and thought, “Standing here by the fire has made me sweaty and thirsty. Who knows when they will be back? Meanwhile I’ll just run down into the cellar and take a swallow.”

So she ran down, lifted a jug to her lips, saying, “God bless it for you, Gretel!” and took a healthy drink. “Wine belongs together,” she said further. “It’s not good to keep it apart,” and took another healthy drink.

TO BE CONTINUED

A farmer plants two crops, potatoes and corn, on a ten-hectare piece of land. The number of hectares of corn planted, c, must be at least twice the number of hectares of potatoes, p.

Write down inequalities to represent the scenario above.

Court ruled against failure to publish reasons for Schlumberger EIA waiver – EPA

…Agency acknowledges error, pledges to abide by court ruling

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has pledged to abide by a recent court ruling on its waiver of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for Schlumberger Guyana Inc (SGI), though the Agency is maintaining that the ruling focused on its failure to publish reasons for the waiver – not the waiver itself.

The case of Radzik and others versus the EPA and Schlumberger Guyana was a battle over the oilfield services company building a storage facility for radioactive chemicals in Houston, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

The EPA had waived the requirement for the company to submit an EIA – as it can under the Environmental Protection Act. However, High Court Judge Nareshwar Harnanan ruled that the EPA breached its statutory duty to provide adequate reasons for the waiver.

In a statement, the EPA acknowledged that it did indeed err by not providing said reasons. But the Agency was adamant that the ruling was not against its decision to waive the requirement for the EIA. In fact, the EPA pointed out that the Judge reinforced the Agency’s mandate for deciding if a project needs an EIA or not.

“The EPA wishes to make it clear that the judgement was not against the Agency’s decision to waive the requirement for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), but rather our failure to publish in our statutory

notice reasons/adequate reasons for the decision not requiring an EIA,” the Agency said.

“The Hon Justice Nareshwar Harnanan in his judgement stated, “That the EPA’s decision to waive the requirement of an Environmental Impact Assessment with respect to SGI’s application for environmental authorisation for the construction of the said facility is in breach of the EPA’s statutory duty FOR FAILURE TO PROVIDE REASONS for the wavier as mandated under Section 11 (2) of the Environmental Protection Act, Cap.20:05.”

According to the EPA, Justice Harnanan further stipulated in paragraph 56 of his judgement

that “the EPA by Section 11(2) is mandated to determine whether the project requires an EIA or not”, as the regulatory body.

The applicants in the case were Danuta and Vanda Radzik and Raphael Singh, who are residents of Houston, where the project is located. They had argued that the EPA has a statutory duty to require an EIA for any activity which may negatively affect the environment.

The applicants had said that in late April 2021, they discovered that Schlumberger was proposing to construct a storage facility for radioactive substances at its current location, and that the EPA had waived the need for the company to do an EIA for the proposed

project.

Contending that the project put their health and the community at significant risk, as the permit contains no provisions that regulate how Schlumberger is to ensure that the facility is safe for storage and use of radioactive substances, they asked the court to declare that the EPA’s decision to waive the requirement for an EIA was in breach of its statutory duty; contrary to natural justice; arbitrary, ultra vires, and without any legal foundation; and should, therefore, be quashed.

Given that Houston and its immediate environs include residential areas where hundreds of people live, and the area for the fa-

$202M contract signed to develop IT...

Wednesday’s contract for the IT solution for the single-window system was signed by CH&PA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sherwyn Greaves and a representative of Global Services, George Melville, in the boardroom of the Housing Ministry.

Global Services along

with its consortium partners have experience in similar IT development, working with the US Government and the cities of Los Angeles, Washington, and DetroitWindsor – at the federal and provisional government levels as well as municipal; and in the Middle East with countries such as the United Arab

Emirates (UAE) and Qatar.

“So, this is a team that we felt was the right team for this project,” Melville declared.

He went on to say that while his company was excited by the rapid technological change Guyana was undergoing, it was similarly encouraged by efforts of the

Government to move this project along.

“We are very encouraged by all the steps that have been taken in terms of ensuring that the [process] is followed in a very transparent way, ensuring that the legal framework is in place by the passing of the relevant legislation in Parliament, ensur-

FROM PAGE 3

cility is close to schools and places of worship, the applicants were contending that the EPA should have consulted with residents before waiving an EIA for a project of this nature.

The applicants have said that it was not until April 11, 2021 that the EPA had issued a public notice, via the press, which stated that Schlumberger had applied for an environmental authorisation.

The notice, which was published in the Guyana Chronicle, they added, further stated: “It has been determined that the proposed project will not significantly affect the environment or human health, and is, therefore, exempt from the requirement for an Environmental Impact Assessment.”

The notice also said the public could appeal against the EPA’s decision within 30 days.

“The notice was vague and deficient in detail, and omitted significant relevant details about the nature and scope of the proposed facility. The project summary was effectively concealed from the public, and not made readily available to persons who may have concerns,” the applicants deposed.

On December 16, Justice Harnanan quashed Schlumberger’s permit to possess, use, and store radioactive materials at its main location at Lot 1, Area X Houston, EBD, finding that the EPA breached its statutory duties when it issued the licence to the company in January of this year. (G3)

ing that the right engineers are part of the project and ensuring that the local partner is involved throughout all the steps,” the company representative stated.

Earlier this month, Minister Croal presented the Planning and Development Single Window System Bill to the National Assembly, on

December 5. The Bill is expected to come up for debate at the next sitting after which it is slated to be passed.

Meanwhile, a Steering Committee has been established to monitor the development of this single-window system to ensure that it is implemented by the June 2023 deadline. (G8)

Schlumberger Guyana’s facility at Houston, EBD

1 witness testifies in Keron Bruce’s cybercrime trial

cybercrime offence over the social media cartoon character “Mudwata”, is currently ongoing, and the prosecution has so far called one witness, the virtual complainant Leroy Smith, a journalist by profession.

Bruce, 35, a father of two and resident of 295 Soesdyke Back Road, East Bank Demerara, is on trial before Diamond/Golden Grove Magistrate Sunil Scarce on accusation of being the person behind the social media cartoon character “Mudwata”, who, according to the Police, has made slanderous publications about several persons, contrary to the Cybercrime Act.

a computer to disseminate information about Smith, knowing same to be false. Police are alleging that the information subjected Smith to public ridicule, contempt, hatred, and embarrassment.

The charge was filed earlier this year, and Bruce, being represented by Attorneyat-Law Bernard Da Silva, was released on $100,000 bail.

The trial continues on February 7, 2023 before Magistrate Sunil Scarce.

The trial of photographer Keron Bruce, who is charged with a

It is alleged that on January 25, 2021, at Soesdyke, EBD, Bruce used

Vendor who stole gun, ammo from guard jailed for 3 years

In January of 2022, Police arrested Bruce and several other persons on allegations of the cartoon character slandering persons. Police Headquarters have said ranks have seized several pieces of equipment from a house at DD Eccles, EBD. And several voice messages were also collected, which, when analysed, matched with the “Mudwata” commentary, the Police Headquarters have said.

The arrest of Keron Bruce came days after Smith, owner and managing editor of the online media outlet BIG SMITH News Watch, had offered a $1 million reward for reliable information that would lead to the proper identification of the cartoon

character. Smith had made this offer after a video aggressively attacking him was posted by “Mudwata” on Facebook and YouTube.

After Bruce’s arrest, Smith said, several persons had come forward with information about the cartoon character. As such, a court order was issued to search Bruce’s house for any evidence that would pin him to the character.

The Police are obliged under the provisions of the Cyber Crime Act 2018 to investigate any report made concerning cyberbullying. (G1)

2 ECD men arrested for DUI

Looking back...

…at Christmas

So here we are…another year drawing to a close as your Eyewitness taps out this reflection rather blearyeyed. Not because of any excesses over the Christmas holidays, which have reverted to being their pagan Saturnalia!! Now, that was inevitable, wasn’t it?? You don’t graft on a celebration of whatever sort – here the birth of Jesus – to a centuries-old “sport” and don’t expect some “cross- fertilisation”!! According to one account, lest you think your Eyewitness is making this up as he goes along:

“Beginning in the week leading up to the winter solstice, and continuing for a full month, Saturnalia was a hedonistic time, when food and drink were plentiful and the normal Roman social order was turned upside down. For a month, enslaved people were given temporary freedom, and (were) treated as equals. Business and schools were closed, so that everyone could participate in the holiday's festivities.” Saturn was the god of agriculture, and - as even todaygrapes were a major crop – along with its product, wine, that flowed like the river Tiberius! At this time, a jolly good time was had by one and all!

Because of this association with Bacchus - the god of wine, hence the term bacchanalian revelry!! – a lot of the early Christians didn’t accept Christmas being celebrated in December. But, as most Guyanese obviously see it, “good sense” prevailed, and here we are, back to square one. Our offices – especially Government offices - to all intents and purposes, were closed for the obligatory “Christmas party”!! There was not a town, village or hamlet in the land that didn’t indulge during this period. To not do so would’ve been practically “anti-Guyanese”!! Wine, women and song abounded inside, while outside, the usual choppings, killings, robberies and DIUs were indulged!!

Now, of recent, there’s been much chatter about “Guyanese Kulcha”. But interestingly, none of the members of the chatterati class - who fill our letters’ pages and social media with woke virtue signalling - have weighed in with their thoughts about our Christmas celebrations. Your Eyewitness felt at least some would’ve condemned the mixing of the religious spirit with the alcoholic spirits!! Do they feel that imbibing is OK, or is it a case of “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em”??

But one thing your Eyewitness knows for sure. The days when all the end-of-year bonuses were spent on sprucing up homes with curtains and chachkas are long gone. All of that money’s now poured into the Saturnalia!! Did you see the profits of Banks this year?? With all the talk about folks can’t make ends meet, they increased their sales to $39.653 billion - reflecting a rise of $3.795 billion!!

That’s a whole lotta beer quaffed!!

…at our politics

Aman who confessed to stealing a firearm from a security guard attached to Sheriff Security has been handed a threeyear prison sentence for the offence of larceny.

Appearing before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday, plantain chip vendor Mawali Clarke, 33, pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that, on December 25, at Bel Air Avenue in Georgetown, he stole a 12-gauge shotgun with three cartridges, worth $353,000, from Toussaint Williams. The items belong to Sheriff Security.

On the day in question, Williams was on duty at a location when he saw Clarke vomiting and went to his assistance. He invited Clarke into the premises he was securing, thereafter leav-

ing him behind to get water from a pipe. Clarke, however, stole the weapon and made good his escape during that time.

Williams reported the theft to the Police, and Clarke, when arrested, took ranks to Plum Park in Sophia, Greater Georgetown, where the loaded gun was recovered in a clump of bushes.

Unrepresented by legal counsel, Clarke begged the Chief Magistrate for leniency, claiming that he unlawfully took the firearm because Williams’s conduct was unprofessional and careless. He also told the Magistrate: “I know it was something of value, and I needed money at that point in time.”

In the end, a three-year jail sentence was imposed on Clarke. (G1)

Two male residents of communities along the East Coast of Demerara were arrested on Monday and Tuesday for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI).

Police have said that 26-year-old Grinand Basde of Public Road Nootenzuil and 56-year-old Lakeram Balram of Persaud Street, Annandale were arrested and charged after the alcohol levels in their blood were found to be above the legal limit of consumption. Both men will be arraigned before the Vigilance Magistrate today.

Balram was reportedly arrested on Monday at Coldingen Public Road with

in his system, while Basde was reportedly arrested on Tuesday with 124 per cent BAC of alcohol in his system.

The Police continue to remind drivers that driving while above the prescribed alcohol limit attracts a charge for the offence of driving under the influence (DUI), which carries a fine. Persons can be charged for this traffic violation if, when tested, their blood alcohol content is found to exceed the prescribed limit of .35 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, and their blood alcohol concentration exceeds 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. (G9)

All your Eyewitness can say about politics is that he’s neither surprised nor disappointed with the behaviour of the Opposition. After what they did in 2020 with their attempted rigging heist, what else could they do but try to brazen their way out. Fortunately for them, in this age of fake news, it looks like a lot of their supporters fell for their “illegally-installed cabal” spiel hook, line and sinker. People do hear what they want to hear!!

From the claimed “installation”, the Opposition segued into their discrimination spiel – starting with COVID treatment – even though they were “anti-vaxx” – and continued with every directed assistance the Government gave out. Which program the IDB just complimented the said PPP Government!! And, of course, we can’t forget the Opposition’s claims of an “emerging apartheid state”, can we? With one of the main features of apartheid being segregation, your Eyewitness always thought that’s what the PNC achieved in the 1960s – with their X-13 Plan.

This segregated every village in Demerara!!

…to the future

Does the past actually predict the future?? Well, not if we - as thinking humans - ensure we don’t repeat the mistakes of the past!!

Meaning that the Opposition gotta ensure they attract cross-over votes for a majority!!

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

Jailed: Mawali Clarke

“Mudwata”

Keron Bruce

Arrested: Grinand Basde Arrested: Lakeram Balram

Oil and gas sector

Guyana in danger of insufficient local engineers, other professionals – ILO warns

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has done a study and produced a report warning that given the current number of graduates in technical fields such as engineering, Guyana is in danger of not having enough locals to fill these fields as the oil and gas sector grows.

In its report titled: Prospective Occupational Skill Needs in the Guyanese Oil and Gas Industry, 2022-2026, the ILO warned that this danger would manifest if Guyana continued to produce tertiary education graduates in engineering at the current rate.

The Organisation noted that between 2020 and 2021, there were a total of 172 local tertiary graduates in fields directly linked to the oil and gas industry’s most in-demand jobs over the next few years.

“A somehow simplistic but possibly useful exercise consists in comparing the number of graduates to the needs of the economy. At first sight, if one limits the analysis to the sample of respondents, the number of tertiary students graduating in relevant subjects may be able – if sustained over the next years – to fulfil the estimated demand in the industry,” the ILO said.

“For example, 268 engineers expected to be hired over the next five years could be ‘supplied’ locally if 172 engineers graduate yearly from the University of Guyana. If one considers the entirety of the oil and gas value chain (our sample represents 48 per cent of the total employment therein), the graduate supply will likely be barely sufficient for its needs.”

The ILO pointed out, however, that when the

rest of the economy was considered, the current number of tertiary education graduates in technical, oil and gas and other related fields was not enough to meet Guyana’s labour market needs.

“This is, in particular, true for the category of health and safety professionals (50 of them will be needed in the next five years in the industry) which normally require a higher education degree associated with relevant work experience. From the analysis of offer of higher education, it appears that dedicated degrees are not currently offered in Guyana (in this field),” the ILO said.

TVET

When it comes to Guyana’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme, the ILO noted that there are gaps in terms of providing training and adequate local personnel for two of the most in-demand oil and gas professions in the industry –ship deck crew and ship and aircraft controllers and technicians.

“Skills associated with those occupations are perceived to be extremely scarce in Guyana. While local offer of training in

those fields is extremely limited or non-existent, it is to be noted that according to international regulations, only countries assessed by the International

Maritime Organisation (IMO) as properly implementing the STCW-95 Convention40 can certify mariners.”

“Guyana’s maritime administration is not in this list of assessed countries (known as the whitelist), in consequence, it is not possible for the country to open a maritime academy and train and certify mariners locally,” the ILO further explained in the report.

Since it first discovered oil in Guyana’s waters in 2015, ExxonMobil has spent more than $140 billion on local suppliers and is responsible for more than 4400 Guyanese being employed to support its ac-

tivities – 64 per cent of the industry’s workforce.

ExxonMobil is currently undertaking four production projects – Liza 1, Liza 2, Payara and Yellowtail in the oil-rich Stabroek Block. Production only started this year in the Liza 2 development, which is said to produce even lighter crude than Liza 1.

It is also estimated that when the Yellowtail development project comes on stream, production will climb to 810,000 barrels per day (bpd) by 2027.

The US oil major anticipates at least six Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels producing one million bpd by 2030.

The third project – the Payara development – will meanwhile target an estimated resource base of about 600 million oil-equivalent barrels, and was at one point considered to be the largest single planned investment in the history of Guyana.

Meanwhile, the Yellowtail development, which will be ExxonMobil’s fourth development in Guyana’s waters, will turn out to be the single largest development so far in terms of barrels per day of oil, with a mammoth 250,000 bpd targeted. ExxonMobil has said it anticipated at least six projects offshore Guyana would be online by 2027. (G3)

Berbice man charged over brutal murder of teen

The man who is accused of killing a teenager last week at Mount Sinai in New Amsterdam, referred to as Angoy’s Avenue, was on Wednesday arraigned before New Amsterdam Magistrate Rabindranath Singh on a charge of murder.

Lester Eion LaFleur, of Mount Sinai in New Amsterdam, had not been required to plead to the indictable charge of murder, but before the Magistrate could complete reading the charge to him, the 41-yearold accused blurted out that he is not guilty.

It is alleged that on December 21, 2022, at Timmers’ Dam in Mount Sinai, he murdered 15-yearold Carlos Leung, but after hearing the charge, LaFleur said, “No sir.” He told the court that he was in a fight with two of his partners, and that caused him to be placed in Police lock-ups.

LaFleur said he had previously been charged with dangerous driving, and admitted that he had pre-

viously been a patient at the National Psychiatric Hospital.

Police Prosecutor Corporal Colin Clark told the court that the suspect needed psychiatric evaluation.

LaFleur has been remanded, and the case will continue on January 25. In the meantime, prison au-

thorities have been ordered to make arrangements to have La Fleur undergo a psychiatric evaluation.

It has been reported that on December 21, the teen Carlos Leung was brutally killed, allegedly by LaFleur, who has been said to be suffering from a mental illness. During the attack, 26-year-old Carl Singh, also of Angoy’s Avenue, was injured.

Police have reported that the suspect went to Singh’s gate and called out to buy chicken. As Singh approached, the suspect pulled out a knife and dealt him several stabs to his back and left side abdomen. Singh was able to escape and run down the street.

Moments later, the suspect attacked and killed Leung.

The teenager, who would have celebrated his 16th birthday on Wednesday, December 28, had been sent by his mother to have his hair styled to attend his school party. He was on his bridge with his bicycle when

Charged: Lester Eion LaFleur

he was attacked.

It has also been reported that the man now before the court reportedly walked up to the teenager and stabbed him in the chest. The suspect then pushed him into a nearby trench, and held him under the water while stabbing him. Leung was stabbed five times: to the left side of the abdomen, arm, shoulder, and behind his ear.

The murder weapon, a knife, was retrieved from the trench. (G4)

2 women in custody over murderrobbery of businessman

Two women are now in Police custody, assisting Police with the investigation into the murder and robbery of well-known businessman Shimron Adams, aka Shem, which occurred in the community of Lodge, Georgetown on Boxing Night.

Guyana Times has also been informed that the women were on scene at the time 41-year-old Shimron Adams was gunned down, and they were allegedly seen removing items from the businessman’s body after he was shot.

Adams, who had operated a liquor store at Durban and Chapel Streets in Lodge, Georgetown, was killed during a daring robbery that occurred on Boxing Night at his business location. The man who hailed from Macaw Drive in Kaneville, East Bank Demerara was attacked by two male suspects who were reportedly wearing surgical face masks, one of whom was also armed with a handgun.

According to Adams’s 29-year-old fiancée, at around 21:30h on Boxing Night, she had gone to Adams’s business place, and

at that time, the businessman was wearing a gold finger ring and one gold band, and had had a small bag hanging on his shoulder.

At about 23:30h, Adams closed his business place and started to pack items into a freezer. About ten minutes later, Adams opened the shutter for them to leave from the bottom flat, and according to the woman, in the blink of an eye, the two suspects entered the building via the same shutter and ordered them to lie on the ground, and they complied.

The unarmed suspect then took off the businessman’s gold band and finger ring and ordered him to get up, which he did. She said the suspect then held onto the businessman’s shoulder bag and pulled at it, but Adams continued to hold onto the bag to prevent the suspect from taking it.

The suspect who was armed with the firearm then discharged a round at Adams, and it struck him in his right abdomen. He fell to the ground and remained unconscious, and was subsequently rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The scene was processed by ranks from CID Headquarters, and one 9mm spent shell and one warhead were recovered.

The area was canvassed for CCTV cameras which had seen and captured when the suspects went to the business place, and when they left on a black and white XR motorcycle.

The suspects escaped south onto Chapel Street, west onto Princes Street, and south onto St Stephen’s Street, Charlestown, where they were last seen. (G9)

Duo remanded on attempted murder charge

Budram Lenard, 21, and Jarel Williams, 24, two residents of New Amsterdam who are accused of attempting to murder William Christopher, were on Wednesday remanded by New Amsterdam Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh.

It is alleged that on Christmas Day 2022, Christopher was walking along Main Street in New Amsterdam, Berbice when he was attacked and chopped about his right hand and body by Lenard, Williams, and another male.

Christopher was taken to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, where he was admitted as a patient.

Police Prosecutor Corporal Colin Clark, objecting to the defendants being placed on bail, noted that there is a second victim, who is currently in critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital. According to the

prosecutor, that victim has not as yet been able to give the Police a statement.

In an application for bail, defense attorney Chandra Sohan, representing both accused, told the court that the accused men are be-

fore the court for one matter, and the alleged victim is out of danger. However, Magistrate Singh ruled in favour of the prosecution and remanded the duo. The case will continue on January 10. (G4)

Dead: Shimron Adams

Dead: 15-year-old Carlos Leung

Remanded: Budram Lenard (left) and Jarel Williams

Gunmen rob Vreed-en-Hoop gas station

…2 arrested, confessed; firearm recovered

his firearm and his wallet.

He said he was further instructed to open the door to the gas station shop, and the men took him inside the shop. The suspects then instructed him to give them the keys to the safe in the business place, and he told them that the keys were outside in the guard hut.

He said one of the suspects went and retrieved the

keys, opened the safe, and took a quantity of cash, after which they tied him up.

Meanwhile, the pump attendant on duty told Police he had seen when his employer arrived, after which he had heard him screaming. He said he ran west of the gas station and was confronted by two other armed and masked males, one of whom had in his hand an ob-

ject which he believed to be a firearm.

The pump attendant told Police he was relieved of an undisclosed amount of cash along with his car keys, and was taken into the shop, where he was beaten even as he saw his boss lying on the ground.

He said the gunmen later escaped in his (pump attendant’s) car.

The matter was later reported to the Police, and the victims were taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital. Police have since arrested two suspects, both of whom have confessed to the crime. Moreover, the firearm stolen from the businessman has been recovered by the Police.

Investigations are ongoing. (G9)

Plaisance man nabbed with ganja

Two suspects have been arrested as Police continue investigations into a robbery-under-arms incident that took place at the Sridat Service Station at New Road, Vreed-enHoop, West Coast Demerara at about 22:30h on Boxing Day, December 26. The incident was allegedly committed by four masked and armed men.

Reports are that 50-yearold Ganga Deo Sridat, owner

nition, a driver’s licence, a National ID Card, and an undisclosed amount of cash - all property of Ganga Deo Sridat.

Reports are that the owner of the business had gone to his business place in a motorcar, which he had parked on the eastern side of the gas station. He told Police that while exiting his car, two armed and masked men approached him, and one of them hit him to his

of Sridat Service Station, and a 35-year-old pump attendant were at the business place when the robbery occurred.

On Wednesday, December 28, Police said the suspects stole a 9mm Smith and Wesson pistol with one magazine containing 15 live rounds of matching ammu-

head with an object which he believed to be a firearm, while demanding his firearm and cash.

He told Police that he told the men he had neither cash nor firearm, and that caused the two suspects to search him. During the search, the men took away

A27-year-old unemployed male resident of Victoria Road in Plaisance, East Coast Demerara is now in Police custody after he was found with a quantity of ganja on his person on Boxing Day.

This man was reportedly arrested at around 16:00h on Boxing Day, when a party of Police ranks were conducting surveillance in the vicinity of Victoria Road, Plaisance in a private vehicle.

The cops have said that while they were in the vicinity where the arrest was made, they saw the 27-yearold man standing on the

street taking out a Ziplock bag from a black plastic bag that was alongside him. As such, they approached the man, and he started to walk away. However, they managed to stop him and conduct a search of his person.

During that search, they found in the waist of his pants a Ziplock bag containing a number of leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis.

The black plastic bag was searched, and eight small Ziplock bags containing a number of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis were found.

The man was told of the

offence committed, and was arrested and escorted to the Sparendaam Police Station, where the cannabis, when weighed in his presence, amounted to 28 grams. The suspect has been placed in custody, pending investigation.

This is the second ganja discovery in the community of Plaisance, ECD in a matter of just a few weeks. About three weeks ago, Police from Regional Division 4C (East Coast Demerara) found 570 grams of marijuana hidden under a bucket in an abandoned yard at Plaisance.

A report from the Police Division indicated that a

party of Policemen had conducted a cordon-and-search exercise in Britton Street, Plaisance, and several persons as well as the area were searched. The ranks found a black plastic bag containing a number of leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis, which was in an abandoned property under a bucket.

The suspected cannabis was taken to the Sparendaam Police Station, where it was weighed and amounted to 570 grams. It was then sealed and lodged in the General Property Book. No one was arrested. (G9)

The firearm that was recovered after the robbery

Suspect: Dinesh George Suspect: Navindra Kunik

The ganja that was found on the 27-year-old male at Plaisance

600 GDF ranks get pre-qualified for housing loans, steel and cement assistance

The Housing Ministry on Wednesday held an exercise at Base Camp Ayanganna in Georgetown, and it resulted in some 600 ranks of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and other agencies benefitting from pre-qualified loans as well as the steel and cement assistance as part of a push to have them become homeowners.

This outreach exercise was in keeping with a promise made last week by Commander in Chief, President Dr Irfaan Ali. The housing drive saw four commercial banks –Demerara Bank, Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI), New

Building Society (NBS), and Citizens Bank – being present to pre-qualify GDF ranks for loans to build their homes.

According to the Housing Ministry, documentation for approximately 150 ranks was processed throughout the day by the various banks. Moreover,

another 500-plus ranks benefitted from the different services offered by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), including the processing of new housing applications and on-thespot interviews.

Other ranks who have already been allocated house lots were registered for steel and cement assistance during their home construction.

Among those 600 ranks who benefitted from this exercise were officers of the Guyana Fire Service.

During brief remarks, Housing Minister Collin Croal underscored the importance of home ownership as he highlight-

ed the various initiatives that were implemented by Government to guarantee that people can obtain financing to construct or pay for their homes easily.

“This is how we operate as a Government – to ensure that we work with all possible institutions so that we can encourage each

one of you to have your own home and to have your own environment. Because when you are concentrating on protecting the state, you have a secured environment for your children and family. That is what we all strive to ensure…to have betterment for ourselves and our families,” the

Housing Minister posited. Secure future Meanwhile, Chief-ofStaff of the GDF, Brigadier Godfrey Bess, has stated that the course of the lives of many ranks would be altered by Wednesday’s housing outreach, laying the foundation for them to have

Some 600 ranks benefitted from Wednesday’s housing outreach held at Base Camp Ayanganna

Sergeant Sheneeza Gordon

started working alone, because men gave

By AlvA Solomon

Being a female in the male- dominated profession of electricals can be a challenge, but for Susan Matthews Rodrigues it’s a walk in the park, mainly because of her love for the field.

Rodrigues is an electrician by profession, and she has been in the field for almost two decades. The mother of two daughters told Guyana Times in a recent interview that her interest in electricals dates back to her ancestors, including her great-grandfather, a Portuguese migrant who had come to Guyana from Cape Verde. “He helped

a hard time” – female electrician

of her father’s relatives were in the field, and as such, she was determined to follow in their footsteps.

She said although she had been in the field prior, she decided to qualify herself by enrolling in an electrical programme at the Guyana Industrial Training Centre (GITC) in 2006. She completed the training after one year of study. She said that, at the time, she was one of only two females in the class.

“Our teacher was miss Paula Fraser,” Rodrigues recalled, and she noted that she attended mainly evening classes at the time. She said too that, like most training courses, the studies entailed

Progressing in the field

Fast forward to 2022 and Rodrigues is actively pro-

wanted to do auto electrical and was told they do not teach women,” she said. But this does not stop her. She said that she continues to do her research, and every day she learns something new about the field. She also said that safety is one of her greatest assets in the field.

Toughest job yet

Over the years, Rodrigues has wired countless dwellings, and sometimes it can take a week, sometimes two, or more, depending on the size of the house. But the ambitious woman noted that her toughest challenge came

about at Linden, when an overseas-based couple wanted their house wired.

She said the clients were returning Guyanese and they wanted their entire house wired. Rodrigues was up to the task, but she didn’t expect the job to pose such a challenge. She said the clients imported all their materials, and the cables they brought were American made. “It is a stiffer type of cable,” she said. Rodrigues said the installation included configuring a whopping 35 electrical outlets at the house. But she was up to the task, although it took her a week to complete.

Tough road

Rodrigues is not your everyday woman. She said she was raised by her mom, who worked hard. “I grew up without a father or step-father,” she said.

to put down the electrical grid in Berbice,” she said.

In addition, she said some

mastering both the theoretical and practical aspects of electricity.

gressing in the field. She said her knowledge in the field progressed immensely over the years. She said she mainly undertakes domestic installation jobs which entail wiring an entire house, as well as trouble -shooting tasks whenever a problem arises with the electrical system of a client.

Rodrigues said she undertakes the job with patience, and she noted that she has completed jobs in and around Georgetown and also a few out-of-town jobs. Interestingly, she said she works alone, and there is a reason for this. “I started working alone because men gave me a hard time. They would not hire me. I even

Rodrigues also raised her daughters on her own, after separating from their father. “I am a strong woman”, she said. She said this Christmas Eve she will be a little past her mid-50s and she has much more to offer to the field.

In her spare time, she does ballroom dancing, and many may have seen her unique moves at ballroom halls in the city. She also has a love for karaoke singing, and is an ardent cricketer.

“I

me

Susan Matthews Rodrigues preparing to undertake another electrical job. She said the job can be challenging, but she is always equal to the task

Susan Matthews Rodrigues

Susan Matthews Rodrigues completing a wiring job for a client

“I started working alone because men gave me a hard time. They would not hire me. I even wanted to do auto electrical and was told they do not teach women,” - Susan Matthews Rodrigues

Family life inspiration driving Jason Mack’s eatery

rants, which include the former Nice Restaurant on Regent Street, which is now at the Status Hotel on Croal Street, may have seen Mack with the sumptuous meats which he cooked and served on giant skewers.

Mack said the Brazilian restaurants served a variety of foods and he noted that for years he worked on the meats. “I was the meat person. I know to roast the chicken, pork, beef, and fish,” Mack said. He said he roasted the meats for more than a decade and according to him, persons became familiar with him at the establishments. “So, those people would come here at my place and also they bring their friends,” he related.

A complete serving with meats (Dwight Larson photo)

a few spots to advertise his food. In September, during Indigenous Heritage Month and during the hosting of the CPL T20 League, his food became a favorite for many.

his sister and partner, who assist with the food preparation, including the cooking.

holic and non-alcoholic beverages, customers have also been asking about the poplar Caipirinha cocktails which are served at Easter.

Given that the menu comprises primarily Brazilian cuisine, Mack said every day he would see a large number of Brazilians coming to buy his food. “I would see a new face every day since I opened. Not only Brazilians but locals as well, some would eat right here or we also do the take-away,” he said.

By AlvA Solomon

When Jason Mack decided to start his own eatery several months ago, he had no idea that his food, especially his roast meats, would draw a crowd. In fact, the response has been so overwhelming that he is now considering opening his own restaurant, a dream which he said has been in the making ever since he was a child.

Jason’s eatery, which is still short of an official name, is located at the corner of Albert and Fifth Streets in Alberttown, Georgetown next door to Frenzy’s Bar. “I am really happy with what is happening here and so far everybody know the place

as Jason’s, they all say they are going by Jason,” Mack told <<<Guyana Times>>> during a recent visit.

He said he started the business several months ago when he decided that it was time to settle down.

According to the 30-year-old Mack, he had his first child last year and he credited the baby’s birth and the beginning of his family as being the main factors which pushed him towards opening the eatery.

Working with the Brazilians “I use to work with the Brazilians – on Regent Street, then in Charlotte Street and then at Status Restaurant,” Mack said.

Visitors to those restau-

Mack said earlier this year, he decided that the time was ripe to start his own food business and after working out the requisite plans, he decided to cook and offer the dishes to the public at his Alberttown location.

The menu includes a variety of roast meats, Brazilian dishes including the famous feijao, which is comprised of black beans cooked in a sauce, a complete dish of spaghetti, a choice of meat cut in squares, an option of farine and chowmein, cookup rice or fried rice.

Growth of the business Mack said his business took off around August month end when he visited

“At the Umana Yana there was an event in September and I catered and all my food was sold out,” Mack said. In addition, he said during the week of sports at the Everest Ground in October, his foods were also a favorite for visitors, especially the meats.

He said it was this response which inspired him to explore his cooking skills. He said his family supported the business, including

The food is usually ready by 11:00h and Mack said on many occasions, he would have to re-stock the bar while his support staff would have to cook additional food. “I would get orders, people would call and by time 2 o’clock, I would have to cook a new set of food,” he said.

And the dish in most demand? Mack said his roasted fish appeared to be a hit among local and foreign customers. He said the fish, which is seasoned with local herbs, is roasted whole over coals.

In addition to local alco-

On Friday evening, as Mack attended to his grill, two groups of customers arrived, making immediate orders of food and beverages. As the groups settled in, Mack and his sister and other staff busied themselves serving up plate-loads of meat, and rice and peas among other food.

Looking ahead, Mack said in the not-too-distant future, he planned to open a restaurant offering his sumptuous food and racks of meats, a memory he holds from his earlier days serving in the Brazilian restaurants in the city.

600 GDF ranks get...

“Since [President Ali] has made a commitment to modernising the Guyana Defence Force, the step in accomplishing this goal is to ensure that you and your loved ones are cared for while you selflessly serve. The opportunity to own your own homes will benefit you in many ways,” the Head of the GDF stated.

Moreover, the GDF ranks were grateful to have benefitted from this exercise. In fact, Sergeant Sheneeza Gordon expressed her excitement at finally being able to become a homeowner, having waited for over a decade.

“I am quite excited, because I would have applied a very long time. This comes like an opportunity for me after waiting for so long. So, I’m gonna use this opportunity today to get my land,” the single mother of two related.

Another female officer, Second Lieutenant Crystal Crawford, lauded the initiative as she cited the importance of home ownership.

“This is a great initiative of the Ministry and the Government coming to us to give us that opportunity to own your own land and homes… Kudos to the Government,” she declared.

First-time applicant, GDF Sergeant Deoraj Sooklall, related that, “It’s a good initiative for the soldiers in the Guyana Defence Force. For

me, this is my first time applying. Actually, it’s the first time I’m getting the opportunity [to apply], because since I’ve been working, I’m out of town most of the time.”

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Fire Officer (acting) Dwayne Scotland, who got his acknowledgement letter a while ago, used the opportunity to finally secure his house lot. He was there with many other ranks who shared a similar situation.

“There are a lot of them who would have received this same letter but did not get a piece of land as yet. Some of them are awaiting loans and have a difficulty with that. So, this [exercise] will definitely assist them in a positive way [in speeding up the process]”, he said.

“Now I feel that the Government is looking out for its people. So, this makes you feel welcomed and feel appreciated,” Scotland posited, while calling for a similar

initiative to target the Fire Service specifically.

During the housing outreach, several booths were established to cater for firsttime applicants, applicants already being processed, title applications, as well as persons interested in benefitting from the Government’s steel and cement distribution drive as part of its support for new home builders, as well as other relevant queries.

Wednesday’s exercise was the realisation of a promise made by President Ali to make the process of home ownership easier for members of the disciplined services. Last week, the Commander-in-Chief announced a number so measures which would make home ownership easier for ranks, these include on-thespot approval for residential mortgages, with reduced interest rates and free cement and steel for those starting home construction.

(G8)

Jason Mack at his grill

GDF Sergeant Deoraj Sooklall

Deputy Chief Fire Officer (ag) Dwayne Scotland

APNU/AFC MPs, GT Mayor face hefty fines, jail time if convicted of cybercrimes

Two A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Members of Parliament (MPs) and the Mayor of Georgetown face hefty fines and jail time if convicted of cybercrimes.

Opposition MPs Sherod Duncan and Annette Ferguson are charged under Section 19 (3)(a) of the Cyber Crime Act for comments they posted on Facebook about a Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Colonel and the Information Technology (IT) Manager at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

That section of the law states that a person commits an offence if the person uses a computer system to disseminate any information, statement, or image, knowing same to be false, that causes damage to the reputation of another person or subjects another person to public ridicule, contempt, hatred or embarrassment.

If convicted, they face

time in prison and hefty fines. In fact, a person who commits an offence under this section is liable to (a) on summary conviction a fine of $5 million and three years’ imprisonment ; and (b) on conviction on indictment to a fine of $10 million and five years’ impris-

Cop injured after irate men pelt him with beer bottles

onment.

Meanwhile, Mayor Ubraj Narine and Duncan are jointly charged with the offence of using a computer system to attempt to excite ethnic divisions on the ground of race, contrary to Section 18(2) of the Cyber Crime Act. A person who commits an offence under this section shall be liable on conviction on indictment to five years’ imprisonment.

Joint charges

On December 15, Mayor Narine and suspended APNU/AFC MP Duncan were each placed on $200,000 bail by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for allegedly attempting to excite racial hostility.

The first of the two charges allege that on December 12, at New Market Street, Georgetown, they intentionally transmitted a video attempting to excite racial division.

The second joint charge alleges that on the same day and at the same location, they attempted to incite racial hostility to the public on the ground of their race.

The charges stem from certain remarks the Mayor had made while protesting the Government’s removal of vendors from the positions they occupied in front of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) at New Market Street in Georgetown on the evening of December 12.

Backed by the vendors, Mayor Narine lay on the roadway to prevent trucks from carrying away the vendors’ food caravans and stalls. Mayor Narine descended into making a series of serious accusations against President Dr Irfaan Ali, including that the Head of State was creating an Islamic State in Guyana. Duncan had also conducted himself in a similar manner.

Narine had gone to the area after the Public Works Ministry had initiated action to remove vendors occupying spaces along New Market Street, between Thomas and East Streets, following notices that they were impeding the flow of traffic in the vicinity.

to the President of Guyana, His Excellency Dr Irfaan Ali and the Muslim community. Guyana is a country in which all religions are treated equally and allowed to practice their ideals and principles freely. Let us spread love, tolerance, and unity, instead of hate and divisiveness,” the Guyana Pandits Council has said in a statement.

Sherod Duncan

In January of this year, MP Duncan was charged over referring to GECOM’s IT Manager, Aneal Giddings as a “trench crappo” and

“jagabat”.

Duncan appeared before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman at the DiamondGolden Grove Magistrates’ Courts. The MP pleaded not guilty to the charge and was released on $200,000 bail.

The charge alleges that on January 11, 2022, without legal or lawful justification or excuse, he used a computer system to publish electronic data about Giddings with the intent to humiliate and embarrass and to cause emotional distress.

Police Headquarters said that Giddings filed a report in which he stated that Duncan who is the host of the “In the Ring” programme on Facebook, called him by name and referred to him as “jagabat”, “trench crappo”, and other names.

(The term jagabat has several meanings in the Caribbean. In Trinidad, it means a promiscuous woman, and in Guyana, it means a despicable person; while crappo is the local spelling of the French “crapaud”, meaning toad; trench crapauds are particularly large and unsightly).

Giddings also claimed that Duncan’s utterances have caused him significant emotional distress and humiliation.

Annette Ferguson

Then on June 16, 2021, MP Ferguson was granted self-bail on a similar charge.

Particulars of the charge allege that on June 15, 2021, she used a computer system to humiliate GDF Colonel Omar Khan.

The senior GDF rank is reported to have made a complaint with the Police Force’s Cyber Crime Unit after Ferguson, in a Facebook post, said he would be in charge of a killing squad.

All the cases are continuing before the courts.

Two men are now in custody after allegedly assaulting a Police Officer.

The officer had to seek medical attention and received several sutures for injuries sustained.

Injured is Constable Tariq McKalmon, who is stationed at Central Police Station in New Amsterdam, Berbice.

According to the Police, on Tuesday about 23:00h,

ranks were patrolling in East Canje when they observed a man assaulting another to his forehead with a drink case.

McKalmon, who tried to intervene, was attacked by several males, who pelted several beer bottles in his direction.

The police officer and another were injured. Police have since arrested two males.

Mayor Narine’s remarks accusing the President of creating an Islamic State were vehemently condemned by Government, the Private Sector, and Civil Society, among others. His comments were met with an immediate backlash and calls for his immediate resignation on the ground that he was unfit to hold such office.

Narine, who is a pandit, was even rebuked for his statement by the Guyana Pandits Council and its affiliates, which vehemently condemned the utterances he made.

“We believe strongly that his words were inappropriate and highly disrespectful

APNU/AFC parliamentarian Annette Ferguson

APNU/AFC parliamentarian Sherod Duncan

Georgetown Mayor Ubraj Narine

Injured Policeman Tariq McKalmon

Death toll rises to 34 in New York after winter storm

A

scene.

powerful winter storm that slammed North America has claimed more lives in the US state of New York, local officials say.

At least 34 people have died in Erie County, which includes the city of Buffalo, county executive Mark Poloncarz said on Wednesday.

Authorities are still trying to identify three of the victims.

The storm that swept across the US over the holiday weekend has killed at least 60 people in eight states.

There have now been more fatalities in Erie County in the last few days than during the infamous Buffalo blizzard of 1977. Twenty-nine people died in that storm, according to the National Weather Service.

“It’s a horrible storm with too many deaths,” Mr Poloncarz said during a press conference on Wednesday morning.

But conditions in some of the hardest-hit regions in the US - including New York - are starting to improve.

In Erie County, fewer than 1,000 households are now without power, and 95% of residents should have power restored by the end of the day, Mr Poloncarz said.

The city of Buffalo -

which got more than four feet (1.2m) of snow - has made progress clearing roads, county officials said.

At least 65% of city streets have at least one lane available for passage, though a driving ban remains in effect due to dangerous conditions, Mr Poloncarz said.

The local Buffalo Niagara International Airport reopened at 11:00 local time (16:00 GMT) after closing last Friday, though nearly all scheduled departing flights for the day were cancelled or delayed, according to the airport’s website.

Buffalo’s rail service is

running again on a limited schedule.

The US National Guard is going door-to-door in neighbourhoods in the county that lost power to conduct wellness checks as officials are “fearful” that some living alone may have perished during the storm, Mr Poloncarz said.

With temperatures rising and snow beginning to melt, the county is now preparing for the possibility of flooding, the county executive said.

Elsewhere in the US and Canada, residents are still dealing with the effects of the deadly winter storm

as well as new dangerous weather systems, which have caused several fatalities.

States in the western US and the Rocky Mountains region have experienced heavy winds and rain as a result of an “atmospheric river”, a long narrow channel of moisture in the atmosphere that can cause heavy precipitation.

A surge of heavy rain or mountain snow is expected on the west and the US south on Thursday and could continue through the end of the week, according to the Weather Prediction Center.

The system on Tuesday began flooding the western states of Washington and Oregon, where five people died in car crashes as a result of felled trees from the storm, Oregon State Police told local media outlets.

In one instance, Oregon State Police said the severe weather caused a large tree to fall onto the roof of a car on Highway 26 in Clatsop County on Tuesday, killing the 19-year-old driver Justin Nolasco Pedraza and two passengers - a fouryear-old child and 41-yearold Bonifacio Olvera Nolasco. First responders found all three dead at the

More than 70,000 customers were without power in Washington and Oregon as of Wednesday afternoon, according to outage tracker PowerOutage.us.

The storm is expected to “linger into the upcoming weekend”, the Weather Prediction Center said.

Some areas could get up to six inches (15 cm) of rainfall.

The Washington state capital of Olympia saw a record high tide of 18.4 feet (5.6 metres), which brought marine life into the city’s streets, according to officials.

A local journalist shared videos on Twitter of jellyfish in flooded city streets and of a local resident who was trying to rescue the animals.

Heavy snow is also forecast for the mountainous regions of Sierra Nevada, Cascades and the Rockies as moist air flows eastward, the Weather Prediction Center said.

Some Canadian residents, meanwhile, are still battling power cuts as a result of the storm, including about 19,000 customers in the province of Quebec, public utility provider HydroQuébec said on Wednesday.

In Ontario, more than 10,000 customers were still without power, according to power supplier Hydro One. (BBC)

3-year-old killed as metal gate falls on him

Athree year-old boy who attended a family wedding with his mother was killed on Tuesday morning when a metal gate in the family yard fell on him, at New Market Oval in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, Jamaica.

The deceased boy, Liam Williams, is said to have wandered outside the yard, when the ball with which he was playing went outside the gate.

Reports are that he and another child were attempting to slide the gate, so he could get back inside but the gate reportedly came out of its socket and fell on him.

His mother Natalie Jones

told OBSERVER ONLINE that she travelled from St Catherine with her children as she was a part of the bridal party.

Jones told OBSERVER ONLINE that she blames herself, because had she been home, her son would have been in her company.

“I was blaming myself saying that only if I was here he would be beside me because he does not leave me. Him always deh beside mi,” the distraught mother lamented.

“Mi just cyah believe seh mi baby just gone suh. Mi nuh know what kind a disaster struck, but the devil intervene and take away my child,” the grieving mother added as she wept bitterly.

Jones said she had to abandon her bridesmaids’ duty, following the death of her son.

The mother told OBSERVER ONLINE that

she asked God to save her son, moments before she saw him take his last breath.

“I was praying the whole time at the hospital and seh God, save my son,” the mother recalled.

Meanwhile, People’s National Party Councillor Candidate for the Savannala-Mar division, Julian Chang, extended condolences to the grieving family.

“It is very sad that little

Liam had to die so tragically. My heart goes out to his family, especially his parents. I want them to know that I support them in this difficult time,” Chang said.

(Jamaica Observer)

Trini in US illegally held with US$9M in cocaine

Ajudge has denied bond to a Trinidadian national accused of having $9 million worth of cocaine in his car while out on bond for a murder charge.

Deputies from the Criminal Enforcement Unit stopped Sheldon Alexander, 34, of Los Angeles, California, last Monday for speeding on the I-95 in South Carolina.

The sheriff’s office said a deputy’s K-9 alerted authorities that something else was inside Alexander’s car. During the search, deputies said they found 118 pounds (54 kilos) of cocaine, $182,000 in cash and a gun.

The investigation also revealed that Alexander was in the country illegally from T&T and that he was out on bond for a murder charge out of California.

“He was determined to be in the country illegally, and he was out on bond for a murder charge in California so needless to say, this was a very productive traffic stop,” said Maj. Mike Nunn, from the Florence County Sheriff’s Office.

“And obviously, some of that cocaine was headed to other places, some of it may have been headed here.”

Nunn said illegal drugs

drive a vast majority of violent and property crimes in Florence County, so getting that much cocaine off the streets is a win all around.

“Any time you can get drugs of this nature off the street, it is something that you want to do because those drugs are headed somewhere to some neighbourhood, if not here somewhere else,” Nunn said.

Alexander faces a list of charges, including trafficking in cocaine and possession of a firearm by an illegal alien.

Alexander will remain at the Florence County Detention Center. Nunn said there will be an opportunity for the suspect to petition a circuit court judge to make a modification to his bond, but no word if Alexander plans to do that.

(WMBF News)

The city of Buffalo has made progress in clearing the roads after heavy snowfall during the storm

Sheldon Alexander

The heavy-duty gate that fell on three-year-old Liam Williams

Liam Williams

ExxonMobil sues EU to block energy windfall tax

US energy giant

ExxonMobil is suing the European Union in a bid to force the bloc to scrap its new windfall tax on oil firms.

A windfall tax is imposed on firms that benefited from something they were not responsible for.

Energy firms are getting much more money for their oil and gas, partly owing to supply concerns as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

But Exxon accuses Brussels of exceeding its legal authority, calling the measure "counter-productive".

ExxonMobil reported a quarterly profit of almost

US$20 billion (£17.3 billion) in October.

What is the windfall tax on oil and gas companies?

In September, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen announced the plan for major oil, gas

and coal companies to pay a "crisis contribution" on their increased 2022 profits.

A 33 per cent tax on this year's profits was announced, which were more than 20 per cent higher than the average for the three previous years.

How much money have energy firms been making?

BP made US$8.2 billion worldwide between July and September, which was more than double its profit for the same period in 2021. It had made £6.9 billion in the three months to June.

Shell announced worldwide profits of £8.2 billion and £9 billion for the same three-month periods.

Energy firms are getting much more money for their oil and gas than they were last year.

This is because demand increased when COVID-19 restrictions were lifted and the Ukraine war led to con-

cerns about energy supply.

Court challenge But Exxon argues that the levy discourages investments and undermines investor confidence, in a challenge filed at the EU's Luxembourg-based General Court.

"Whether we invest here primarily depends on how attractive and globally competitive Europe will be," Exxon spokesperson Casey Norton told the Reuters news agency.

In an investor meeting earlier this month, ExxonMobil's chief financial officer estimated that the EU tax would cost the group "over $2 billion".

The European Commission said it "takes note" of Exxon's legal application and said that "it will be now up to the General Court to rule on this case", the Financial Times reported.

The EU is largely trying to wean itself off Russian energy, but that has left it scrambling for alternative, more expensive, sources.

EU Ministers estimate that they can raise €140 billion (£123 billion) from the levies on non-gas electricity producers and suppliers that are making larger-than-usual profits from the current demand. (BBC News)

Twitter suffers major outage, leaving users unable to log on Google, YouTube content providers must face US children's privacy lawsuit

Twitter has suffered a considerable outage, leaving users unable to access the popular social media platform.

Users attempting to log on to the microblogging site late on Wednesday were greeted with an error message.

Downdetector, which tracks website outages, said it had received more than 8,700 user reports of problems with the site as of 7:30am EST (12:30 pm GMT).

“User reports indicate Twitter is having problems since 7:13 EST,” Downdetector said in a tweet.

The outage comes two months after Elon Musk bought Twitter in a $44bn takeover that has polarised users of the platform.

Musk, the chief executive of Tesla and one of

the world’s richest men, has slashed the platform’s workforce, introduced a paid subscriber service and overseen controversial changes to its moderation policies that the billionaire has cast as a win for free speech.

While Musk’s ownership of the platform has been welcome by conservatives who have long complained of the platform’s alleged bias toward liberal viewpoints, many figures on the left have expressed concerns about the prolif -

eration of hate speech and misinformation under his reign.

Musk’s focus on the platform, where he regularly posts his thoughts about current events, has also raised concerns among investors in Tesla, whose share price has plummeted nearly 70 percent his year.

Earlier this month, Musk said he would step down as Twitter’s chief executive once a replacement is found after users voted for him to go in a poll he created. (Al Jazeera)

UN halts some programmes in Afghanistan after ban on women aid workers

The United Nations said on Wednesday that some "time-critical" programs in Afghanistan have temporarily stopped and warned many other activities will also likely need to be paused because of a ban by the Taliban-led administration on women aid workers.

U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths, the heads of U.N. agencies and several aid groups said in a joint statement that women's "participation in aid delivery is not negotiable and must continue," calling on the authorities to reverse the decision.

"Banning women from humanitarian work has immediate life-threatening consequences for all Afghans. Already, some time-critical programmes have had to stop temporarily due to lack of female staff," read the statement.

"We cannot ignore the operational constraints now facing us as a humanitarian community," it said. "We will endeavour to continue lifesav-

ing, time-critical activities ... But we foresee that many activities will need to be paused as we cannot deliver principled humanitarian assistance without female aid workers."

The ban on female aid workers was announced by the Islamist Taliban-led administration on Saturday. It follows a ban imposed last week on women attending universities. Girls were stopped from attending high school in March.

"No country can afford to exclude half of its population from contributing to society," said the statement, which was also signed by the heads of UNICEF, the World Food Programme, the World Health Organization, the U.N. Development Programme, and the U.N. high commissioners for refugees and human rights.

Four major global groups, whose humanitarian aid has reached millions of Afghans, said on Sunday that they were suspending operations because they were unable to run

their programs without female staff.

The U.N. statement said the ban on female aid workers "comes at a time when more than 28 million people in Afghanistan ... require assistance to survive as the country grapples with the risk of famine conditions, economic decline, entrenched poverty and a brutal winter."

The U.N. agencies and aid groups - which included World Vision International, CARE International, Save the Children U.S., Mercy Corps and InterAction - pledged to "remain resolute in our commitment to deliver independent, principled, lifesaving assistance to all the women, men and children who need it."

The Taliban seized power in August last year. They largely banned education of girls when last in power two decades ago but had said their policies had changed. The Taliban-led administration has not been recognised internationally. (Reuters)

AU.S. appeals court on Wednesday revived a lawsuit accusing Alphabet Inc's (GOOGL.O) Google and several other companies of violating the privacy of children under age 13 by tracking their YouTube activity without parental consent, in order to send them targeted advertising.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Seattle said Congress did not intend to preempt state law-based privacy claims by adopting the federal Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, or COPPA.

That law gives the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general, but not private plaintiffs, the authority to regulate the online collection of personal data about children under age 13.

The lawsuit alleged that Google's data collection violated similar state laws, and that YouTube content providers

such as Hasbro Inc (HAS.O), Mattel Inc (MAT.O), the Cartoon Network (WBD.O) and DreamWorks Animation (CMCSA.O) lured children to their channels, knowing that they would be tracked.

In July 2021, U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman in San Francisco dismissed the lawsuit, saying the federal privacy law pre-empted the plaintiffs' claims under California, Colorado, Indiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Tennessee law.

But in Wednesday's 3-0 decision, Circuit Judge Margaret McKeown said the federal law's wording made it "nonsensical" to assume Congress intended to bar the plaintiffs from invoking state laws targeting the same alleged misconduct.

The case was returned to Freeman to consider other grounds that Google and the content providers might have

to dismiss it.

Lawyers for Google and the content providers did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The children's lawyers did not immediately respond to similar requests.

In October 2019, Google agreed to pay $170 million to settle charges by the FTC and New York Attorney General Letitia James that YouTube illegally collected children's personal data without parental consent.

The plaintiffs in the San Francisco case said Google did not begin complying with COPPA until January 2020.

Their lawsuit sought damages for YouTube users age 16 and younger from July 2013 to April 2020.

The case is Jones et al v. Google LLC et al, 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 21-16281. (Reuters)

Regional

Bolivian Police detain prominent Opposition Leader as tensions flare

Bolivian Police on Wednesday detained prominent Opposition Leader Luis Fernando Camacho on charges of "terrorism" in a move that significantly escalates tensions between the national government and Camacho's Santa Cruz base.

Bolivia's state attorney's office confirmed the detention of 43-year-old Camacho, a lawyer and right-wing civic leader who unsuccessfully ran for President in 2020 and is now governor of the affluent farming hub of Santa Cruz.

The office said the arrest was connected to the toppling of former leftist President Evo Morales in 2019. An October arrest warrant accused Camacho of "terrorism" without giving more details.

Camacho, who was transferred from the city of Santa Cruz to a Police Station in La Paz, is the second high-profile political figure linked to Morales' ouster to be detained. ExPresident Jeanine Anez was jailed last year after be-

Luis Fernando Camacho

ing found guilty of orchestrating a "coup". Constitutional lawyer Israel Quino told State TV that Camacho could face 15 to 20 years in jail if convicted.

The arrest follows week of unrest in Santa Cruz, led by Camacho. Protesters blocked streets and halted trade, angered over the national government's delay in carrying out Bolivia's population census. A new census would likely result in Santa Cruz – which has long butted heads with La Paz – securing more tax revenues and seats in Congress.

As protesters gathered around Santa Cruz, long queues began building up as people stocked up on food and gas, fearing the return of road blockades. Local media footage showed security forces using tear gas.

Camacho's detention comes at a time of regional tensions, the same month that former Peruvian President Pedro Castillo was ousted, arrested and placed in pre-trial detention for 18 months for attempting to illegally dissolve Congress.(Excerpt from Reuters)

Colombia, Ecuador agree joint plan to tackle organised crime on border

The armed forces of Colombia and Ecuador on Wednesday signed an agreement to implement a plan to contain drug trafficking and organised crime on their shared border, authorities in both countries said.

Colombia and Ecuador share a porous border that stretches some 586 kilometres and where criminal gangs and illegal armed groups engage in smuggling and drug trafficking.

The border protection plan will carry out operations on an operational,

tactical and strategic level among operational units as well as decisions to be agreed by both countries' Defence Ministers, the joint command of Ecuador's armed forces said in a statement.

"Efforts currently under our responsibility to eliminate drug trafficking, environmental crimes, smuggling, and other areas will not decline," General Helder Giraldo, the general commander of Colombia's military, said in another statement.

The Government of Colombian President

Gustavo Petro in November called on countries with which it shares a border to work together on a military offensive against illegal armed groups.

As well as Ecuador, Colombia shares a border with Brazil, Venezuela, Peru, and Panama.

Colombia's border regions are home to extensive crops of coca, the main ingredient in cocaine, drug labs and illegal oil refineries, as well as illegal armed groups with connections to Mexican drug cartels, according to security sources.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Tiger cub found by Mexico Police in couple's car boot

Police in Mexico who stopped a couple on a motorway for a minor traffic offence were surprised to find a tiger cub in the car boot.

Officers said they grew suspicious when the couple reacted "aggressively" after being flagged down in the state of Querétaro.

It is not the first time a tiger has been seized in Mexico.

Drug traffickers often keep exotic animals as pets and the smuggling of big cats is a lucrative business.

Municipal Police from

the town of El Marqués described how the couple tried to escape when they were stopped by officers.

"Thanks to a quick manoeuvre, officers managed to block their way with a patrol car and arrest them immediately," they wrote in a press release.

During a search of the vehicle they came across the tiger cub wedged in between suitcases and bags in the boot.

They also found four guns and almost 100 cartridges.

Officials said the cub

was being cared for by experts who would aim to return it to "its natural habitat". They did not clarify where that would be.

It is not illegal to own an exotic animal in Mexico, as long as the owner can prove it came from a certified dealer and was born in captivity.

However, many of the animals seized in recent years were bought illegally or had been smuggled.

Mexican law also bans the walking of tigers in public.(Excerpt from BBC News)

Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley has paid tribute to late calypso legend Leroy “The Black Stalin” Calliste, who died Wednesday morning at his home in San Fernando, Trinidad.

He had recently celebrated his 81st birthday in September and was celebrated at an event in Gasparillo.

His career spanned over 50 years and included hits such as "We Can Make It", "Feeling to Party" and "Better Days".

In 1987, he was also awarded the Hummingbird Medal (Silver) for his contribution to Trinidad and Tobago culture.

“Black Stalin” became Dr Leroy Calliste on October 31, 2008, when he was conferred with an honorary doctorate from the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, for his tremendous dedication and contribution to Calypso music and culture in Trinidad and Tobago.

Mottley described Stalin as one of the Region's finest masters of calypso:

"Anyone who knows anything about me knows that I love music. It is key to all that I do. The truth is one of

those early artists who centred me and gave me context and perspective was Black Stalin. He had a way of drilling down always to the core – his message always rooted in truth, justice and solidarity.

“Black Stalin was one of our region's finest masters of calypso; both his lyrics and his melodies expertly captured the rhythm and vibe and voice of the Caribbean.

“He was acutely conscious of our shared history, culture, passions and concerns and expressed them in his songs in a way we never could ourselves. In the true tradition of calypso, Stalin

was also a griot, chronicling the issues and philosophies impacting our daily lives.

“No more so was it evident than in that iconic Caribbean Anthem that remains our Holy Grail of the Caribbean Civilisation. Who else has more poignantly reminded us that “we are one people on the same trip coming on the same ship”; “pushing one common intention for a better life for we women and we children.

That must be the ambition of the “Caribbean Man””; even more so, as we get ready to celebrate 50 years of Caricom in 2023!”

(Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Amissing fisherman who had fallen from his boat off the coast of Brazil was found clinging to a signal buoy.

David Soares, 43, was rescued by a fellow local

fisherman two days after his boat had been found adrift in the Atlantic Ocean.

He told local media he had fallen from his fishing vessel and swam for four hours before he came across

Jamaica: SoEs

reimposed in 8 parishes

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has announced the reimposition of States of Emergency (SoEs) in St James, Westmoreland, Hanover, St Ann, Clarendon, St Catherine and sections of Kingston and St Andrew.

The measures were announced at a media briefing at Jamaica House on Wednesday morning.

Holness says the crime threat level against Jamaicans remains elevated.

During Wednesday’s press conference, Commissioner of Police, Major General Antony Anderson said the country is now averaging four murders daily.

"The Government, after careful consideration and on the advice of the security chiefs, decided to notify the Governor General that

it was necessary and indeed appropriate to declare States of Public Emergency in the areas so described above," Holness said during a press conference at Jamaica House on Wednesday.

He added that "while we have had reasonable success in controlling the number of murders leading up to and during the Christmas season, the threat for ongoing gang conflicts, contract killings, organised robberies of businesses, hijacking of goods during transit, and various scams that lead ultimately to the loss of lives, the spreading of fear and depriving entire communities of their freedom to pursue their business and happiness, that threat level remain elevated and extensive in scale." (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

the buoy, which he managed to scale.

He has been treated for dehydration and has returned to fishing.

Soares had set off on his own from Atafona beach in the north of Rio de Janeiro state on December 25 to fish when he slipped off the boat.

He told Brazil’s G1 news site that “for me the first 10 minutes were the most difficult because I wanted to get back to the boat at all costs”, but that the current was too strong and he could not reach it.

Once he realised he would not be able to get back to his boat, he took off his shirt and trousers as they were weighing him down and let himself drift.

“The water was choppy and it was windy… so I decided to let myself be carried along by the current in order to use less energy,” he said.

After four hours, he reached a signal buoy near the port of Açu, which he climbed. “I thought I would die of cold before any help would arrive,” he recalled.

It took two days for him to be spotted by one of his fellow fishermen who had set out to search for him after his family had sounded the alarm.(Excerpt from Nation News)

“Black Stalin” dies at 81, hailed by Mottley as one of Region's finest calypsonians

Fisherman survives by clinging to ocean buoy for 2 days

Calypso legend Leroy “The Black Stalin” Calliste

Oil settles lower in light trading on China demand concerns

Oil prices settled lower on Wednesday as traders weighed concerns over a surge in COVID-19 cases in China, the world's top oil importer, against the chances easing pandemic restrictions in the country will boost fuel demand.

Brent crude futures fell US$1.07, or 1.3 per cent, to settle at US$83.26 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures settled at US$78.96 per barrel, down 57 cents, or 0.7 per cent.

China has said it will stop requiring inbound travellers to quarantine from January 8, a major step towards relaxing stringent curbs on its borders. However, Chinese hospitals have been under intense pressure due to a surge in COVID infections.

Oil markets were also buffeted by expectations of another interest rate hike in the United States, as the US Federal Reserve tries to limit price rises in a tight labour market.

Market participants noted that trading volumes this week are expected to be lighter than usual as the end of the year approaches, creating more volatility in oil prices.

"My sense is the general risk-off mood has weighed on the oil prices, in a market with thin liquidity," said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo.

Wednesday's declines also followed three straight sessions of higher settlements on both crude benchmarks. Prices were at their highest in three weeks on Tuesday, as a cold snap across the US forced shutdowns at major production sites and refineries at the weekend.

"We have seen a strong rebound over the last few weeks and that's being pared a little today, but the narrative remains unchanged," said Craig Erlam, senior market analyst at OANDA.

"Next year brings immense uncertainty and plenty of potential upside risk for prices from the China reopening to lower Russian output and further OPEC+ [Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies) cuts," Erlam said.

Russia said it aims to ban oil sales from February 1 to countries that abide by a G7 price cap imposed on December 5, although details of how the ban would work were unclear.

US crude oil inventories fell last week while gasoline and distillate stocks rose surprisingly, according to market sources citing American Petroleum Institute (API) figures on Wednesday.

The US Government will release weekly inventory figures at 10:30H EST Today. (Reuters)

Turkey, Syria, Russia Defence Ministers hold talks in Moscow

Defence Ministers of Russia, Turkey, and Syria have held talks in Moscow in a clear sign of normalisation between Ankara and Damascus in the decade-long Syrian war.

Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar and the head of its National Intelligence Organisation (MIT), Hakan Fidan, met Syrian Defence Minister Ali Mahmoud Abbas and Syrian intelligence chief Ali Mamlouk in Moscow along with Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, the Turkish Defence Ministry said on Wednesday.

“Ways of resolving the Syrian crisis and the problem of refugees as well as joint efforts to combat extremist groups in Syria have been discussed,” RIA news agency said, citing the Russian Defence Ministry.

“Syrian crisis, refugee issue and efforts of joint fight against all terror organisations on Syrian soil were discussed in the constructive meeting,” the Ministry’s statement said on Wednesday.

“Turkish, Russian and Syrian Defence Ministers as well as intelligence chiefs in Moscow have agreed to continue tripartite meetings to ensure stability in Syria and in the region as a whole,” it added.

Al Jazeera’s Sinem Koseoglu said the meeting was important, because the Turkish and Syrian Ministers held talks for the first time in 11 years.

“We hear Turkish officials saying that it is time for normalisation of ties with Syria,” she said, adding that the two countries were already holding talks at the intelligence levels.

Koseoglu said there were still major differences between Ankara and Damascus over the Syrian issue.

“We know that Damascus wants the Turkish military presence out of their borders,” she said.

“We are also hearing that the Turkish Defence Minister asked for safe and honorary return of Syrian refugees,” she added.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Around the World

Kremlin says any Ukraine peace plan must include annexed regions

The Kremlin on Wednesday dismissed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's 10-point peace plan, saying that proposals to end the conflict in Ukraine must take into account what it calls "today's realities" of four Ukrainian regions having joined Russia.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "There can be no peace plan for Ukraine that does not take into account today's realities regarding Russian territory, with the entry of four regions into Russia. Plans that do not take these realities into account cannot be peaceful."

Russia declared Ukraine's Donetsk,

Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions as part of its territory in September after referendums con-

demned by Ukraine and Western countries. Russia does not fully control any of the four regions.

President Zelenskiy has been promoting his 10-point peace plan, which he first announced in November, discussing it with US President Joe Biden among others, and urging world leaders to hold a Global Peace Summit based on it.

The plan envisions the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine's internationally-recognised territory, which would mean Russia giving up both the four regions it claims to have annexed, and Crimea, which it seized in 2014.

The Kremlin has repeatedly said it is open to peace talks with Ukraine, but sees no willingness to negotiate on the part of Kyiv.

(Reuters)

US to impose mandatory COVID-19 tests for travellers from China

The United States will impose mandatory COVID-19 tests on travellers from China, U.S. health officials said on Wednesday, joining India, Italy, Japan and Taiwan in taking new measures after Beijing's decision to lift stringent zero-COVID policies.

The officials told reporters that beginning on January 5, all air passengers two years old and older will require a negative result from a test no more than two days before departure from China, Hong Kong or Macao.

Passengers who test positive more than 10 days before a flight can provide docu-

South

mentation of recovery in lieu of the negative test result, the federal officials said.

They attributed the change in policy to the lack of information on variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and concerns that the increased number of COVID cases in China could result in the development of new variants of the virus.

The United States also is expanding its voluntary genomic sequencing program at airports, adding Seattle and Los Angeles to the programme. That brings the total number of airports gathering information from positive tests to seven.

In an abrupt change of

policy, China this month began dismantling the world's strictest COVID regime of lockdowns and extensive testing, putting its battered economy on course for a complete re-opening next year.

The lifting of restrictions,

following widespread protests against them, means COVID is spreading largely unchecked and likely infecting millions of people a day, according to some international health experts.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Southwest Airlines cancels thousands more flights following winter storm

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said on Wednesday that any provocation by North Korea must be met with retaliation without hesitation despite its nuclear weapons, his office said, after an intrusion by North Korean drones.

Five North Korean drones crossed into South Korea on Monday, prompting South Korea's military to scramble fighter jets and attack helicopters to try to shoot them down, in the first such intrusion since 2017.

"We must punish and retaliate against any provocation by North Korea. That is the most powerful means to deter provocations," Yoon said in a meeting with his aides, according to his press secretary Kim Eun-hye.

"We must not fear or hesi-

tate because North Korea has nuclear weapons," he said.

Monday's intrusion triggered criticism in South Korea of its air defences. Yoon chided the military, in particular its failure to bring down the drones while they flew over South Korea for hours.

South Korea responded on Monday by sending drones over North Korea for three hours.

Defence Minister Lee Jong-sup told Parliament on Wednesday that Yoon had ordered him to send drones into North Korea in response to any incursion "even if that means risking escalation".

South Korea's military has apologised for its response and said it could not shoot down the drones because they were too small.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Thousands of travellers are stranded at US airports as flight cancellations and delays continue to wreak havoc following a deadly winter storm.

By Wednesday afternoon, over 2800 flights had been cancelled and nearly 3200 delayed.

Most of the cancellations were from hard-hit Southwest Airlines, which called off over 2500 flights.

The chaos has left thousands of exasperated passengers sleeping in terminals as they search for solutions.

More than 2300 flights scheduled to leave today have already been cancelled, according to flight tracking service FlightAware.

Southwest Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Bob Jordan said in a video apology late on Tuesday that the company was "truly sorry" to everyone who was unable to get where they needed to go because of the cancellations.

Jordan said the airline –which says it is the largest carrier in the US – cancelled the flights in order to catch

up after "record bitter cold brought challenges for all airlines".

he said. "I

The airline has blamed the cancellations on the bad weather across the US and its aftermath, as well as challenges in getting crews access to updated schedules.

Unions and analysts have pointed at a host of factors causing the problems, including staffing shortfalls and outdated computer systems that did not connect crews with flights when cancellations started to pile up.

Southwest's CEO said Tuesday that he had reached out to US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to discuss the matter.

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) said it was concerned by Southwest's "unacceptable rate of cancellations and delays", and Buttigieg pledged on Tuesday to hold the airline accountable.

(Excerpt

from BBC News)

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov attends an annual end-of-year news conference of Russian President Vladimir Putin, in Moscow, Russia, December 23, 2021 (Reuters/Evgenia Hobohemian file photo)

Korea must respond to N Korea despite its nuclear arms – President Yoon

"We have some real work to do in making this right,"

want you to know that we're committed to that."

Most of the cancellations were from hard-hit Southwest Airlines, which called off over 2500 flights.

DAILY HOROSCOPES

Do your thing and finish what you start. It’s what you accomplish that will make an impression. Rely on facts, and don’t promise more than you can deliver. Flaunt what you have to offer with pride.

(March 21-April 19)

Make up your mind and head down the appropriate path. You’ve got more going for you than you realize. Your confidence will make a difference; speak up and share your concerns.

(April 20-May 20)

(May 21-June 20)

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

Avoid letting others impose on you. Dedicate your time to something that makes you feel good about yourself and what you have to offer. Delivering what you promise will put you in a comfortable position.

Stick to a plan and budget. Back away from people trying to take your cash or talk you into situations risky to your health or financial well-being. Choose peace and love over discord.

Letting uncertainty spark your imagination will encourage you to use your skills to help others. It’s up to you to devise a strategy combining what’s trending with what you can contribute.

Buying things you don’t need will leave you short of cash. Pay more attention to loved ones, and bring your family unit or community closer together. Romance is in the stars.

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

A race against time will require energy, intelligence and discipline if you plan to reach the finish line. Don’t let someone’s indulgence cause you to lose sight of what’s at stake.

Make every moment count. Personal growth, educational pursuits and mental stimulation will affect your plans for next year. Nurture meaningful relationships.

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

Respond quickly. High energy, an optimistic attitude and an innovative approach to what you want to achieve will raise interest. Review your relationships. You may be called upon to save the day.

Address unresolved issues. Stick to affordable solutions that won’t compromise your reputation or relationships with others. Change is likely, but it doesn’t have to be drastic.

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

(Feb. 20-March 20)

Contact someone who can offer clarity and vision regarding a change in your life. The suggestions you receive will require discipline and common sense to implement wisely.

Take a step back and rethink your next move. Overreacting will set you back. Make plans to do something that will keep you active and less likely to get into a heated discussion.

ARCHIE PEANUTS

CALVIN AND HOBBES

DILBERT

AUSTRALIA BURY SOUTH AFRICA

Alex Carey scored his maiden Test hundred as Australia piled on the runs at the MCG, then removed South Africa captain Dean Elgar in the second over before rain brought

an early end to the third day.

Australia piled on 189 runs in 54 overs on an overcast day, with Carey and Cameron Green, who defied a fractured finger, adding 117 for the eighth wicket against

an increasingly exhausted attack. South Africa were kept in the field for more than five sessions, bowled 145 overs in total, and were unable to bowl Australia out on a surface that remained good for batting.

Elgar was unable to take advantage of the good batting surface, as he gloved Pat Cummins down the leg side off the third ball he faced. The edge died on Carey, but replays showed he took a clean catch low down to send Elgar back for a duck. It was the second time in the series that Elgar had been dismissed in this fashion, after also being caught down leg in the first innings in Brisbane.

Australia could have done further damage when Cummins found Theunis de Bruyn's edge in his next over, but it swerved away from David Warner at first slip, and he could not hold on. Mitchell Starc, who bowled despite suffering tendon damage to his finger in the field on the first day, just missed Sarel Erwee's edge, and had two appeals for lbw against de Bruyn, which were missing.

Starc was expected to continue bowling despite his wound, which opened up as he bowled, and necessitates him mopping up the blood after almost every delivery. Starc was not the only one

who battled through pain. Green also had a broken finger after being hit while batting, but returned to the crease to score an unbeaten half-century, and provide solid defence while Carey counterattacked. The pair ground South Africa's attack down after a bright start.

Despite bowling in 40-degree heat throughout the second day, South Africa came out with good intent, and, helped by cooler conditions, struck early. They took three wickets in six balls as Anrich Nortje turned up the heat. After Travis Head reached a 54-ball 50 with a pull off a short ball, Nortje went full and straight, and took out

his off stump. The dismissal brought Warner, who retired hurt with cramp after reaching 200 on day two, back for more. He danced to the crease but was met by a Nortje ball that zoned in on leg stump, beat the flick and bowled him. Warner, having walked back in to a standing ovation, left to another.

Marcus Rashford was the inspiration as Manchester United beat Nottingham Forest 3-0 at Old Trafford on Tuesday, in their first Premier League game since the World Cup break.

Rashford played a starring role in the EFL Cup defeat of Burnley last week, and was again United’s standout performer as they moved to within a point of fourth-placed Tottenham. The England forward opened the scoring for a dominant United with a goal straight off the training ground, before setting up Anthony Martial.

Forest had a goal wiped out just before the break, but it was not a precursor to United coming under greater scrutiny in the second period, as they coasted before adding a late third through substitute Fred.

Erik ten Hag was forced to pick a somewhat unfamiliar backline due to illness, with Luke Shaw at centre-back. But there was no sign of that inhibiting United, and they were deservedly ahead before long, with Rashford providing a wonderfully deft finish from Christian Eriksen’s smart cor-

key again as United made it 2-0 three minutes later. He latched on to Bruno Fernandes’s clever pass, and teed up Martial to beat the unconvincing Wayne Hennessey at the end of a counter-attack that stemmed from Casemiro’s brilliant recovery.

Willy Boly deflected Ryan Yates’s header in on the stroke of half-time, only for the goal to be disallowed for offside. United should have taken advantage of that let-off early in the second half, when Antony spurned a glorious opportunity with only Hennessey to beat.

Rashford also wasted a good chance when scuff-

ing substitute Donny van de Beek’s cut-back, but United

They should have scored more than they did on Tuesday, but there was always a sense they could have cranked things up a notch if needed – that ultimately was not a necessity, as they comfortably saw off a mediocre Forest side.

Casemiro shows his class

Cummins found the boundary when he steered a wide Nortje ball through point, and then nicked off against Kagiso Rabada. South Africa were convinced of the edge, but needed to confirm it on review. South Africa had created an opening, but Carey and Green soon closed it with a stand that shut out the attack. Carey was strong on the drive, and drilled Lungi Ngidi for three successive fours, including the one that brought up his fifty, while Green was content with biding his time as he tried to protect his finger from any further blows.

Carey brought up the Australian 500 with a top-

edge off a hook shot from a Rabada bouncer, and his own hundred when he ran three off Jansen. He was the first Australian wicketkeeper to score a century in nine years, since Brad Haddin in 2013. His innings ended when a popped short delivery from Jansen straightened up in the air. By then Green had faced 164 balls, and if there was any pain, he wasn't showing it. He had also started to play some shots, and took on the short ball. He reached fifty off 170 balls with a cut over point. To add insult to injury, Starc also tucked into the bouncer and top-edged Nortje over square leg for six. In the next over, Starc was hit on the helmet and was undergoing his concussions check when Cummins called the batters in.

Australia will operate with a four-man attack for the rest of the match, with Green unable to bowl. Head and Marnus Labuschagne are expected to provide back-up, if required. (ESPNCricinfo)

put the game beyond Forest late on as Casemiro won the ball back, surged into the final third, and found Fred for an easy finish.

Red Devils looking free without Cristiano Ronaldo

The mid-World Cup announcement of Ronaldo’s exit was generally greeted favourably by United fans, with the Portugal striker resembling a square peg in a round hole in the first part of the season.

While Burnley and Forest may not be the greatest of opponents, United have looked fluid and unshackled going forward, with Ronaldo not there to hold them back.

Rashford will dominate the headlines, but this was a masterclass from Casemiro. He played a crucial role in United’s second when winning the ball back near his own corner flag; then he did similar and provided the assist for their third. He was imperious.

Antony a source of frustration

Although he has chipped in with a few goals, United fans are still waiting for Antony to really explode. That certainly did not occur here.

His decision-making was largely poor. He failed to tally a single key pass, and wasted a tremendous chance in the second half before being withdrawn.

What’s next?

United go to Wolves on Saturday, while Forest are home to Chelsea the following day. (Sportsmax)

2.14)

Temba Bavuma, Khaya Zondo, Kyle Verreynne †, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Dean Elgar, 1.3 ov)

BOWLING O-M-R-W Mitchell Starc 4-1-13-0

Pat Cummins 3-3-0-1

Pat Cummins was ecstatic after sending back his opposite number, Dean Elgar, for a duck

The stroke that took Cameron Green to his half-century

Alex Carey celebrating his maiden Test century

Waramadong Coach focuses on longevity after win in major KFC tournament

By Jemima Holmes

Last Friday evening, an 82nd minute goal handed D.C. Caesar Fox Secondary, out of Waramadong in Region 7, their first-ever KFC Goodwill International Schools Football Championship and their first-ever victory in a major tournament.

The taste of victory has left this Region 7 team thirsting for continued success; and not only do the members of this team intend to bask in the glory of their achievement, but Team Waramadong will be looking to maintain their dominance going forward. This is according to Coach Artherley Elliman, who has been with the team for several years.

In an exclusive chat with Guyana Times Sport following their championship win, the Coach explained that the victory is of great significance to this hinterland team. “This victory means

much to me because, from the past, we’ve been playing in this tournament and we’ve come this far for a while now. And to win this tournament now, I have this strong feel-

coming years,” a beaming Elliman told Guyana Times Sport.

He continued, “This team had to train hard from the start, and we did it!”

to time, explained how he utilised his knowledge of the Georgetown conditions to best tailor a training regimen for the victorious team. He began by explaining, “For my history, I’ve been playing football. I’ve played at this ground, I’ve played at the bigger tournaments with the Heritage Games, so I have a knowledge of what to expect when I come out here. So that is what I’ve been training them on.”

Detailing some of the team’s training, he said, “The passes that everybody see was perfect, that is what I put in. We had to wake up every morning, 5 o’clock to 6:30. In the afternoons, we had to run every afternoon to build up the stamina to play. So far, my work has paid off, and I’m very thankful.”

but when they thumped Christianburg Wismar in the semifinal, that’s when he became convinced that his team would emerge victors.

“Yes, I had the confidence, because, since the beginning of the tournament, we didn’t concede no goals. So, I had this confidence that we would go through till to the finals and win this tournament,” he said.

Now with a reputation to uphold, the Coach is not only focused on ensuring that his team performs well in future, but that younger players are prepared to join the troops.

Sri Lanka have announced a 20-man squad for their limited-overs tour of India next month, where they will square off in three T20Is and three ODIs.

Of those players, Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Nuwan Thushara will play only in the T20Is, while Jeffrey Vandersay and Nuwanidu Fernando - in line to make his debut - will take part in just the ODI leg of the series. Dasun Shanaka will captain both sides, with Wanindu Hasaranga and Kusal Mendis being his deputies in the T20Is and ODIs respectively.

Three playersDhananjaya Lakshan, Asitha Fernando and Dinesh Chandimal - have been excluded from the squad that hosted Afghanistan last month. Chandimal, though, may count himself unlucky, having been one of the better performers in the recently concluded Lanka Premier League. He was the third-highest run-scorer in the tournament, averaging 31.88 at a strike rate of 126.99, and had played a key role in the Colombo Stars' run to the final.

By contrast, Rajapaksa can file his inclusion under fortunate, following a series of uninspiring displays. His retention in the T20I squad follows an LPL in which he scored just 95 runs across seven innings at a strike rate of 105.55 - far below his career strike rate of 135.09 - while his T20 World Cup form was only slightly better, as he hit 125 runs across seven innings at 119.04.

The rest of the inclusions, however, have earned their keep. Chamika

ing that we will always win this tournament for the

Elliman, who also suits up for his Region from time

Elliman said he could have sensed victory for his team in the KFC Goodwill tournament since the beginning of the tournament,

“The team now, most of them will be leaving to go back to their villages, and some will be over 18 now; so, starting January, my plan is to start working harder on the younger team, to build them up to be more stiff, so that at least they could play like 3 more years in the tournament, and they will get the knowledge and understand-

ing to win this tournament,” Elliman related to this publication.

Waramadong Secondary opposed St. Benedict’s College of Trinidad and Tobago in the KFC Goodwill 2022 final, and Bevon Jones hit the winning goal.

Karunaratne, who was dropped for the Afghanistan series following a lean stretch both on and off the field, rediscovered his groove in the LPL; the 26-year-old allrounder picked up seven wickets in the tournament, and while he scored just 109 runs, he struck them at an impressive strike rate of 162.68 - a significant uptick from his career strike rate of 104.27 - providing glimpses of a finisher many envision he could be.

Avishka Fernando, who returned to action this month following nearly a year out with a knee injury, hasn't skipped a beat, it seems. He top-scored in the LPL with 339 runs, and

Nuwanidu was another batter that caught the eye in the LPL - even if he is a little rough around the edges. While his Galle Gladiators side struggled for inconsistency, the 23-year-old managed to stand out, striking 211 runs at a 131.05 strike rate - and most importantly showing an ability to clear the ropes, especially against spinners.

Nuwan Thushara was another standout Galle star hamstrung by his side's erraticism. He picked up 14 wickets - the second-highest in this year's LPL - at an economy rate of 7.44. His low-slinging action has unsurprisingly brought about comparisons to

Thushara will undoubtedly face stern competition for the starting XI, though his unique skillset could bode in his favour.

In the ODIs, Madushanka's left-arm swing provides a key differential. In the spin department, it'll be Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana as the first-choice pairing, though in Vandersay lies an able 50-over deputy. Dunith Wellalage has, meanwhile, showcased - during the LPL - his ability to hold down one end with his slow left-arm spin.

Where most of Sri Lanka's decision-making will therefore boil down to is in the batting. Shanaka, who hasn't had the most encouraging time with the bat lately, will lead a unit brimming with potential.

In Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis and Avishka, Sri Lanka have three inform players vying for two spots at the top of the order. If Avishka is pushed down to #3 to accommodate the former two, a pair that has built a good understanding over the past few months, then that would bring about a middle-order headache.

first T20I at the Wankhede Stadium on January 3.

T20I Squad: Dasun Shanaka (capt.), Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama. Kusal Mendis, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga (Vice Captain), Ashen Bandara, Maheesh Theekshana, Chamika Karunaratne, Dilshan Madushanka, Kasun Rajitha, Dunith Wellalage, Pramod Madushan, Lahiru Kumara, Nuwan Thushara

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spearheaded yet another Jaffna Kings title charge.

The same could be said for his Jaffna team-mate Sadeera Samarawickrama, who was named player of the tournament for his 294 runs - second only to Fernandoand was a lynchpin of their middle order.

Like Samarawickrama,

Lasith Malinga, but while Thushara lacks the latter's pace, he has now begun incorporating an impressive amount of control and variety to his repertoire.

With Kasun Rajitha, Pramod Madushan, Dilshan Madushanka and Lahiru Kumara being the other seamers in the squad,

Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Ashen Bandara, Samarawickrama, Shanaka and Rajapaksa/ Nuwanidu will all be fighting for three to four positions, with allrounders such as Karunaratne, Wellalage and Hasaranga filling out the lower-middle order slots. With planning for the 2023 World Cup starting now, selectors will no doubt see this India tour as a marker for how the team would look, come October.

Sri Lanka will kickstart their tour of India in the

ODI Squad: Dasun Shanaka (capt.), Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama. Kusal Mendis (Vice Captain), Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ashen Bandara, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Chamika Karunaratne, Dilshan Madushanka, Kasun Rajitha, Nuwanidu Fernando, Dunith Wellalage, Pramod Madushan, Lahiru Kumara. (ESPNCricinfo)

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Waramadong Coach Artherley Elliman

Waramadong in action in the KFC final

Lakshan, Chandimal, Asitha excluded from SL squad

Dinesh Chandimal may count himself unlucky to miss out, having recently finished as the third highest run-scorer in the LPL

Dasun Shanaka will lead both T20I and ODI sides

Sri Lanka’s tour to India 2023…

Jumbo Jet Racing Stables dominate feature event at Kennard's Memorial horse meet

Story and PhotoS by brandon Corlette

Early Bird and Regal Intention, top horses of the Jumbo Jet Racing Stables, dominated the feature event of the Kennard's Memorial Boxing Day horse meet on Tuesday at Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne in Region Six.

As the sun set at the packed Kennard's Memorial Turf Club, jockey Colin Ross sealed a successful year with a crushing win to claim the F & Lower feature race, which was sponsored by Metro Office Supplies. Jumbo Jet Racing Stables won the top prizes, claiming the first prize of $800,000 and $400,000.

American Traveller, pi loted by champion jockey of the day, Ramnarine, fin ished in third position in that feature race.

Despite the rain post poning the race for the following day, turfites from home and away came out in their numbers to support horse racing.

The first of six races was the J3 & Lower (Lifetime non-winners & non-earners) event, which saw Sarkar claiming the top prize. Quiet Warrior came in second position, while Glamorous Star and Cash and Carry rounded out the top four finishers.

The second race of the day, which was the K & Lower & two-year-old Guyana Bred Open, was won by the evergreen Not this time, piloted by Jockey Richmond. Perfect Storm settled for second, while Plus Return and Wartime were the other top finishers in that order.

Race three was a oneman show dominated by Malgline, who won from gate to pole in the L Class Open. Malgline was piolted by Jockey Ramnarine, who went on to record back-toback wins in the day.

Awesome Bandit rode in second, followed by Awesome Banner and Princess Sasha.

Rough Tide took the twoyear old Guyana Bred Open race, showing dominance over Princess Samira, Rags to Riches and Storm Town. That race showed a glimpse of the future jockeys in Guyana.

In the J1 and Lower and two-year-old West Indian Maiden, Cash Return registered the biggest upset of the day by defeating the two favourite horses from Big G Racing Stables.

Cash Return finished ahead of the big horses Pocoyo and Dance Star to cause the fans to erupt in joy, although there were those who were stunned at the upset. Foreign Link finished fourth in that race, which was the penultimate

race of the day.

After the day's races had been concluded, Jumbo Jet Racing Stables then placed for sale both of the top horses that claimed first and second in the feature event.

The Boxing Day race was sponsored by Rohan Auto Sales, M&B Contractors, Ann House of Beauty, Ganesh Parts and General Store, Joe

Mattai's - The Food Market, P&P Insurance Brokers, Mike Pharmacy, Seanauth

Rampersaud of Queen's New York; Dave B, Balgobin, Demerara Distillers Limited,

Jagmohan, New Building Society, Metro/Kharag

Family, Hemraj Kissoon/ Modern Industries, Republic Bank, R Singh and Son,

Kissondyal-Rice Millers, KSM Investment, and R Sunich-Tropy Stall.

Jumbo Jet duo of Early Bird and Regal Intention leading the way

Jockey Ramnarine was the best jockey on the day, with two wins and a third

Cash Return upset the Big G Racing Stables

Jockey Ross piloted Sarkar to a close win against Quiet Warrior

Early Bird won the feature event as Jockey Ross again showed his skill