Guyana Times - Thursday, March 14, 2024

Education Minister questions GTU’s unreasonable demand for teachers’ pay hike during

Education Minister Priya Manickchand has called for good sense to prevail as she questioned the fairness of teachers getting salary increases for the 2020 to 2022 period when they were at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking for the first time on the ongoing dispute between the Education Ministry and the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), Minister Manickchand told reporters that her Ministry has been negotiating with the Union in good faith, but questions the unreasonable demands being made for salary increases during the years when teachers were home.

“The Union is asking for significant percentage increases for year 2020, for year 2021, for year 2022. So, let’s forget the negotiations so far. Schools were closed in March 2020 and opened in April 2022, because of COVID… Different countries in this world reduced the pay of teachers in their country or stopped it completely because teachers were home.

“I know my teachers in this country were home and either 1) concerned or 2) still trying to deliver education. And this government – the PPP/C Government – refused to even entertain docking teachers’ pay; refused to cut it, stop it, dock it and we continued to pay teachers during that period… Do you think it is reasonable to get a 20 per cent increase for year 2020, year 2021, year 2022 or any increase at all?” the Education Minister asked.

The Guyana Government has said the 2024 budget does not have the fiscal space to accommodate the retroactive payment of salaries for teachers for the period 2019 to 2023.

In fact, during his weekly programme – Issues in the News, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC, contended that Government was willing to discuss salary increases with the GTU but it has to be from 2024 going forward. He explained that the budgetary cycle did not allow for salary increases dating back several years.

“The reason is more commonsensical than anything else. The Government operates in a budgetary cycle. What is past is past. The Government has no budgetary resources to increase wages for years that are bygone. The Government can negotiate in good faith in relation to future increases.

“How can you ask a Government in 2024 to negotiate wage increases for years prior to 2024, and more importantly, when the teachers have already benefited from [public servants’] salary increases for those years which they have already accepted unreservedly,” the Attorney General posited.

Following more than four weeks of strike action and the High Court’s intervention, the Education Ministry and the GTU agreed last week to recommence talks on the union’s proposed multi-year agreement covering the period 2019 to 2023.

However, GTU President

so far for another meeting,” Manickchand stated.

The agreement, according to the Minister, was to discuss the matter and this was done. Nevertheless, the Education Minister said she hoped that good sense would prevail in the best interest of the country’s children.

“I was very careful not to get involved in the back and forth, and not to be baited into irresponsible answers… I expect and I hope good sense can prevail in all of this, and at the end of the day, we remember that our paramount duty is to these children who are before us… Anyone who’s staying true to their duty must consider, even in the face of requests and demands for more, how those requests and demands and the actions to express those are affecting our children. We must pay

on strike since February 5 and ceasing deducting the union fees. High Court judge, Justice Sandil Kissoon, had granted Conservatory Orders for the Government to continue paying teachers and deducting the union fees until the legal proceedings were determined.

The court also appointed two mediators to engage the Education Ministry and the GTU, which led to the resumption of negotiations last week.

Following Tuesday’s meeting – the second engagement since the resumption of talks – the Education Ministry said in a statement that GTU abandoned the collective bargaining process earlier that day. This was after the Permanent Secretary conveyed Government’s position that discussions surround-

Mark Lyte said the talks on Tuesday collapsed after the Ministry refused to discuss salaries for 2019 to 2023 and only wanted to talk about increases for 2024. At a subsequent press conference, Lyte explained that last week it was agreed by Government’s chief negotiator, Chief Education Officer (CEO) Saddam Hussain, that the discussions would be premised on negotiations for 2019 to 2023.

But Education Ministry Permanent Secretary Shannielle Hoosein-Outar joined the negotiations on Tuesday and asked the Union to put together a multi-year proposal for 2024 and beyond. As a result, the Union staged a walkout of the meeting and has further hinted that there could be a resumption of strike and court actions.

Good sense

Manickchand, however, told reporters on Wednesday that there was no breakdown in the talks between the two sides.

“I don’t know that the talks broke down. What I know is that the Union had put forward their proposal for discussion, the Ministry put forward theirs, the parties went off and came back, and one of the proposals was answered and the Union left. And so, no date was set

attention to that,” Minister Manickchand stated.

Last month, the GTU led strike action that went on for nearly five weeks, demanding better pay for teachers. With the Education Ministry maintaining that negotiations were still ongoing mere days before the industrial action was held, the strike was deemed as illegal and Government had announced a salary cut for those teachers who did not show up to work. The Ministry also stopped its service of deducting union fees from teachers’ salaries on behalf of the GTU.

This resulted in the Union moving to the courts to reverse the Ministry’s decisions – both cutting the salaries of teachers who had been

ing salary increases should be from 2024 onwards.

“Hoosein-Outar asked the Union’s representatives to submit to the Ministry a proposal which would capture their request for a multi-year agreement commencing 2024. Today’s (Tuesday) meeting reached an impasse after the GTU indicated that they are only interested in discussing salaries, particularly between the period of 2019-2023 and nothing else,” the statement detailed.

Nevertheless, the Ministry reiterated its commitment to continuing dialogue with the GTU that has been ongoing and has produced several noteworthy results that will benefit teachers, children, and the system. (G8)

Education Minister Priya Manickchand

Representatives from the Education Ministry and the GTU at Tuesday’s meeting

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Confronting formulation of gangs in schools

Gangs’ formation in schools, President of Guyana, Dr Irfaan

Ali has said, is giving him sleepless nights. The problem of gangs in schools has a long history. In the 1980s and 1990s, school gangs became epidemic and today continue to be a concern in schools around the world. In our region, gang affiliation is not something that students leave behind when they arrive at school. Thus, its proliferations in our school systems. While here in Guyana, it may be a small percentage that often engage in intimidation; physical and cyber bullying; fighting, the use of improvised weapons, assault and vandalism, the issue of violence in schools here has multiplied.

In some schools in the USA, metal detectors are common, as sometimes is the presence of a Police patrol on the outskirts. Some may be tempted to ask why this is so in a country that is rich and is the bastion of freedom and democracy. Others may counter that exactly because of what the country represents, it can afford to have such mechanisms in place. The answer basically lies in trying to curb violence in schools.

While the measures may appear to some as extreme, given what unfortunately happened in the past, when lives were senselessly lost to bullets, they may be deemed inadequate. After all, it has not stopped. Other menaces include bullying. These are the harsh realities in some institutions of learning there, with an obvious negative impact on the student population involved.

It is not confined there, and is prevalent in many other places. In Guyana, we have seen a collaboration between the Guyana Police Force and the Education Ministry, where random searches are being conducted at schools for potential weapons. Surprisingly, screwdrivers, knives, scissors and toy guns were found during some of these random searches.

An important aspect of the Education Ministry’s collaboration with the Police is that the partnership involves discussion on topics of violence, crimes committed at schools, gang fighting, offensive weapons, and significantly, consequences.

Who would have thought that in the process of getting an education here in Guyana, safety in schools is becoming a primary concern? With the threats in question, it seems rightfully so.

In Guyana, we have seen several teachers being beaten by parents, and also, in the past, there were several cases wherein students fought their teachers. Over time, there were other reports of students being stabbed by others, or hurt by other means. Bullying, which is just another form of abuse, and even violence, were reported to be highly prevalent in many schools. In several instances, fights among our secondary school students, which went viral on social media, is a good example of violence in schools.

Those represent reported cases, as the understanding is that many cases are unreported out of fear of repercussion.

Many have argued that parents and guardians need to be more involved and aware of what their children are doing, keeping an eye on any possible worrying signs. While that could still be effective in many ways, there is a challenge as the child approaches adulthood. At that stage, one’s space and privacy could present barriers. There are also social factors that contribute to disallowing such necessary intervention to some extent. That further complicates an already-complicated situation.

We agree with President Ali when he said on Wednesday at an event at the University of Guyana, that tackling this serious challenge of formulation of gangs in schools requires confronting it at the early stages in the school system.

In speaking about a way of addressing the challenges now being faced by the school system, the Head of State said: “How do we now develop a training programme for our teachers from the time you enter the secondary level to deal with this? So that now we have a specific training that would address the building of the capacity and capability of our teachers to address this issue and to build an ecosystem to fight back what is already in the society.”

He has since challenged the University of Guyana and the Guyana Defence Force to work with the William J Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies on the issue.

We look forward to seeing the fruits of this collaboration.

Ramadan and the power of faith and unity

By Shaykh M a kholwadia

Government authorities and institutions try to influence society through whatever means available to them, be it through coercion or the media, education or popular culture. This is often met with an anti-establishment reaction from the general population.

In recent times, there has been a trend on college campuses and among activist groups in the United States which may be described as anti-authoritarian. College students now often look askance at educators and university administrations and challenge what they see as an unjust exercise of power and authority. They are becoming increasingly sceptical about any kind of didactic teaching.

In society at large, influencing others from a position of authority and expertise has also become much more difficult than it has ever been. The anti-vaccination movement is an example of this resistance to expertise; it is largely based on distrust of traditional institutions and structures of knowledge.

Many people in the US are also turning away from organised religion and are now more agnostic and even atheistic than ever before. Many do not like the idea of a referee in their life – not even through established institutions and “norms”.

Against the backdrop of agnosticism, it is difficult to believe that religion can have any influence on a large group of people. Religion or faith in the Unseen is considered by many an impo-

tent and archaic artifact; it is jettisoned in favour of material success and progress. Moral anarchy and liberalism are what many people celebrate.

But what if religion can encourage a billion people to give up their most basic human needs, such as food and water, throughout the day for a whole month?

What if belief in the Unseen can motivate a billion people to worship Him religiously for a whole month as if that is the only thing on their minds – especially at night?

What if faith can influence a billion people and inspire them to feed the hungry after fasting the whole day?

What if religious conviction can cause a community to become more altruistic and give to welfare and charity for a month?

What if the practice of faith can inspire a billion people to become forgiving of each other’s mistakes?

What if a noble civilisation of over a billion people can dispel the myth that human beings cannot live without violence, looting, robbing and killing? What if organised religion can advocate unity among a billion

people to the degree that they all perform deeds in unison and find no reason to fight over differences?

Yes. What if indeed!

Muslims reading this would know they are the beneficiaries and witnesses of this great phenomenon during the month of Ramadan. They unite in the worship of their Creator. They all seek Allah’s forgiveness and blessings.

The month of Ramadan is a time in which the Holy Quran is revealed as guidance for all. If others could observe this spectacle in the Muslim community, they would certainly see guidance toward communal unity in worship.

Muslims engaged in political and social activism must appreciate this wonder and use it as a platform to build more trust among each other, more cooperation, more respect, more optimism and a better outlook for each other. Ramadan provides a framework for the Muslim that is predicated on the idea of voluntary change, absent the force of the state and institutions.

If a Muslim can give up the most basic of human necessities and maintain that abstinence entirely with-

out coercion, then engaging in activism in the service of justice is a minor effort in comparison.

Islam does not preach anti-authoritarian anarchism; rather it encourages the believer to recognise his own potential within a larger cosmological framework of self-discipline and understanding of ultimate Divine sovereignty. Ramadan shows that true power extends not from the long arm of temporal governmental authority, but from the voluntary acquiescence of the individual to Allah’s ultimate dominion over Creation.

Muslims who observe Ramadan must thus extend their unity and trust in the Divine to all other months of the year. Ramadan is a living month. It is alive and it gives life to an otherwise “sleepy” community. The Quran is a living book. It is alive and Muslims should see it as life-giving.

Governmental power and institutional authority over others now have competition. But it is not any form of human competition. It is a competitor who proves every year that religion and faith in the Real Power is still very much alive – despite the claims and disdain of its adversaries. (Al Jazeera)

(Shaykh M A Kholwadia is the founder and director of Darul Qasim College, an Islamic higher learning institute based in Chicago, Illinois. He is an internationally-renowned theologian, Muslim community leader and teacher. He is also widely considered an authority in the field of Islamic philosophy.)

A newly-married couple offer prayers as Hindu devotees take a dip at the Sangam, the meeting point of the Ganges and the Yamuna rivers, during Shivaratri festival in Prayagraj, India (VOA)

Protect, Provide, and Invest

Dear Editor,

Recent reports on: (1) the murder of popular gold miner Mr. Zaheer Mohammed Sheriff and his worker Mr. Donavan Washington at Arimu Backdam in Region 7 while they were transporting gold; (2) the brutal killing (chopping) of Mr David Gomes and his mother Elizabeth Gomes allegedly over a land dispute at Saxacalli, Region 7; and (3) the killing of security guard Paul Waterman in a supermarket at Vreed-enHoop, West Coast Demerara during a robbery attack on March 11th have all provided another opportunity for the Ministry of Home Affairs to elevate crime to the centre of the political radar.

A review of official reports on serious crimes (covering the decades of 1990s, 2000s and 2010s) shows a fluctuating pattern. For example, the average annual incidence of crime in the 1990s was 4,844; for 2000s, it declined by 36.3% to 3,085; and it rose by 89.9% in 2010s to 5,860. In 2022, the incidence of crime was 4,151. However, there was a significant anomaly during 2014, when there was an astronomical increase in crime which more than doubled (2.6 times) the 2013 incidents.

Larceny accounted for

most (80%) of this super steep rise in 2014. It was the first time ever that the incidence of larceny exceeded “burglary and break and enter” offences. Why this dramatic upsurge in larceny? Did it have any connection with the prevailing political instability (deemed a political crisis by VOA) that manifested itself in the Parliamentary gridlock as well as reflected in an Opposition’s No Confidence Motion that was tabled in Parliament against the Donald Ramoutar PPPC government in November 2014?

The fashionable thing that

policy makers and law enforcers say is “the level of crime in this 1st quarter is lower than the previous year’s 1st quarter.” While this statement might be accurate, that would not, however, give any comfort to victims’ families, nor does it improve the public’s confidence in the law enforcement capability to protect them.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) states that the 3 most important responsibilities of a government are to “protect, provide and invest.”

People’s nerves have been rattled when several men armed with high-pow-

ered rifles opened fire on a group of people at Mandela Avenue and Princess Street, Georgetown. And the public’s confidence was further shaken when police sergeant Alex Vaugh was shot in the pursuit of prison escapee Akeem Wong, a prime suspect in the Gomes double murder.

What is also critical to note is that the public‘s reaction to crime varies according to the modus operandi, who are the perpetrators, who are the victims, and the gravity of the offence. To put it simply, one ‘crime’ could have greater negative impact on society

than several others combined. So, any assessment on the incidence of crime must take into consideration the varying societal impacts.

The murders referred to above were in relation to the theft of property. Other murders are driven by jealousy, revenge, turf battle (drugs), anger (rage), or mental incapacity. Social adaptation has failed to tame the instinctual desires and negative emotions (generated by alienation and relative deprivation) of people who are further tempted by the growing opportunities associated with an expanding economy.

Murders and other crimes committed could be classified as either impulsive or planned. The former category (e.g., rage and jealousy), by its very nature (unplanned), has a higher rate of detection and successful prosecution. The latter category (e.g., property, revenge, turf battle) being planned, has a lower rate of detection and prosecution.

The disparity in sentencing is well known, and the Government is moving to reduce this through the implementation of sentencing guidelines. Other reforms, like ‘alternative dispute resolution’ (arbitration) and ‘plea

bargaining’, as part of the Criminal Procedures Bill, were tabled in Parliament in 2023. Apart from improving the administration of justice, would these measures also reduce the level of crime? Would the death penalty be the subject of ongoing law reform? There has been no judicial execution since August 1997. If a law exists, why not enforce it? If not, discard it! Both sides of the death penalty debate have good points.

While re-socialization or rehabilitation is a long-term solution, for the short-term, what is needed is firm enforcement. The logical question is: “would firm law enforcement conflict with the notion of restorative justice?” For now, my basic contention is that since Government alone cannot control crime, they must also reach out to various stakeholders to get their inputs. One such powerful medium is to tap into the proceedings of a National Conference on Crime and the Penal System, where opinions and facts could be disseminated and crystallized, and then incorporated into crime fighting policies/strategies.

Sincerely,

Dr Tara Singh

Agriculture remains the bedrock of Guyana's economy

Dear Editor, The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) and the Ministry of Agriculture have taken note of a letter published on March 9, 2024.

Apart from the bias and malicious statements made by the writer, it is clear that the author continues to disseminate false information.

It is appalling that the writer would insinuate that there are many scandals involving the purchase of several pumps to be installed at stations being constructed across the country.

It is important to note that newspapers and local publications can verify that these pump stations were advertised under open tendering conditions, and were later awarded by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB).

Each of the pump stations has a consultant, and each consultant plays an integral role in ensuring the smooth execution and implementation of the projects and functionality of the pump stations.

Based on a thorough assessment by our engineers in the fields, consultants are often involved in the various stages of each project.

The Agriculture Ministry, along with the management of the NDIA, also hosts regular progress meetings with contractors executing these major projects, to discuss ways in which the completion of these works can be expedited, thus allowing them to honour their

obligations.

Upon satisfactory completion, these pump stations and drainage structures would be commissioned following the conclusion of the defects’ liability period.

While the Government continues to appeal to contractors to ensure they are well equipped and spare no effort to ensure projects are completed on time, it continues to face challenges that contribute to these setbacks. While some delays may be unavoidable, the Government must ensure all of its developmental programmes and projects are implemented within the given time frame. Therefore, like other contracts, provisions are made to cater to such occurrences. As such, it should be noted that default contractors would be paying liquidated damages as set out in the conditions of their contracts, as several of these revised extension periods have elapsed.

To date, several pump stations are currently under liquidated damages. The NDIA has since informed the NPTAB of these underperforming contractors.

Meanwhile, it is unbelievable that the writer would venture to say that the Ministry was "wasting resources", and that there was "no vision."

It brings great pleasure to note that, indeed, billions are being spent, and these monies are being injected into projects that would, without doubt, transform Guyana's agricultural prospects.

The Government agrees

that farmers should benefit from the financial resources of the country. This is why, following the 2021 floods, farmers and fisherfolk were given relief grants in the form of cash to rebuild what they lost.

Farmers can have all the money to plant, but if they don't have the resourceslike farm-to-market access roads, an effective and efficient drainage and irrigation system, agricultural tools and inputs, land development and expansion, technological research and other support services - then their labour would be in vain.

The Dr. Irfaan Ali-led Administration has been working with local financial institutions to give farmers better access to financing at

significantly lower interest rates. Further, at the level of Caricom, steps are being put in place to introduce an insurance product for farmers in Guyana and across the region.

The writer used a poor example when comparing the prices of two commodities -one produced locally, and one that is imported. The imported commodity referenced is produced on a significantly larger scale, resulting in a relatively lower price, while the price of the locally-produced commodity is based on seasonal availability.

While inputs like fertilizer, pesticides, seeds, seedlings, D&I infrastructure, farming tools, machinery and implements, fuel, and extension services are either free, tax-free,

or are heavily subsidised, the global cost of production continues to skyrocket. With the gas-to-energy project soon to come on stream, production costs are projected to decrease by 50 percent.

Agriculture remains the bedrock of Guyana's economy. With Guyana leading Caricom's food security ambitions under the leadership of President Ali, Guyanese, es-

pecially farmers, can rest assured that there would continue to be investments in the sector with the ultimate goal being to reduce the region's food import bill by 25 percent by the end of 2025.

Yours sincerely,

Janell Cameron, PRO Ministry of Agriculture

Page Foundation

Volume of a solid

You have learnt the customary units for measuring liquid volume in a container. However, if you want to know how many customary units a solid figure contains, or its ***volume***, the units are called cubic inches, cubic feet or cubic yards. The metric equivalents are cubic centimetres, cubic metres or cubic kilometres.

Example:

To find the volume of a rectangular solid, multiply its length x its width x its height.

Volume = 7 x 2 x 3 = 42m3

Exercises: Convert

1) A playfield measures 105 metres long and 68 metres wide. If a construction company is told that it needs 1 metre of gravel under the field for proper drainage, how many cubic metres does it need to order?

2) A shoe box has dimensions of 30 cm by 25 cm by 18 cm. What is the volume?

3) What is the volume of a cube with sides of 15 cm?

4) A shipping box has dimensions of 12 cm by 10 cm by 8 cm. If a kilogram of candy takes up a cubic centimetre, how many kilograms of candy can you put in the box?

5) A cube with sides of 200 cm has how many cubic metres of volume?

6) What is the volume of a rectangular solid with sides of 20 cm, 86 cm and 12 cm?

Smog in a jar

In this fun and easy ecology science experiment, we’re going to create a jar of smog to explore and investigate.

Materials:

Match or lighter

Twisted-up piece of paper

Aluminium foil

Ice cubes

Large narrow mouthed jar or carafe

Instructions:

Have an adult light one end of the piece of paper and drop it in the jar.

Cover the mouth of the jar with aluminium foil.

Place ice cubes on the aluminium foil.

Smog will build up in the jar.

How it works:

The ice on the aluminium foil lid will cool the air in the jar and create condensation. The smoke from the burning piece of paper will mix with the condensation in the jar and create smog. This experiment is a great example of smog which is essentially air pollution that reduces visibility.

Make this a science project:

Try the experiment without the ice. Try sitting the jar in a dish filled with ice, but do not put an aluminium foil lid on the jar. Try the experiment without putting anything burning in the jar and observe the condensation. (sciencefun.org)

By William Cullen Bryant

The stormy March is come at last,

With wind, and cloud, and changing skies;

I hear the rushing of the blast,

That through the snowy valley flies.

Ah, passing few are they who speak, Wild stormy month! in praise of thee;

Yet, though thy winds are loud and bleak, Thou art a welcome month to me.

For thou, to northern lands again,

The glad and glorious sun dost bring, And thou hast joined the gentle train

And wear’st the gentle name of Spring.

And, in thy reign of blast and storm, Smiles many a long, bright, sunny day,

When the changed winds are soft and warm, And heaven puts on the blue of May.

Then sing aloud the gushing rills

And the full springs, from frost set free, That, brightly leaping down the hills, Are just set out to meet the sea.

The year’s departing beauty hides

Of wintry storms the sullen threat;

But, in thy sternest frown abides

A look of kindly promise yet.

Thou bring’st the hope of those calm skies,

And that soft time of sunny showers, When the wide bloom, on earth that lies, Seems of a brighter world than ours.

Memorize Poem

WORD SEARCH

UG receives 2023 Perry Award for Excellence in Security and Defense Education

…recognition not to be taken “lightly” – Pres Ali

The University of Guyana (UG) on Wednesday received the 2023 William J Perry Award for Excellence in Security and Defense Education in recognition of the tertiary institution’s work to develop and equipped future leaders to address critical security and defence challenges.

Conferred by the William J Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies, the award – named after the Center’s founder, a former United States Secretary of Defence – is given to individuals and institutions in recognition of significant contributions in the field of security and defence education in the Americas.

In 2022, UG launched a master’s degree in strategic development studies. The programme was developed as a result of a collaboration between UG; National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) of Guyana and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) – and the United States Government through the William J Perry Center, among others.

Last September, the Perry Center named UG as the recipient of the Perry Award for Excellence in Security and Defence Education during a visit to the facility by President Dr Irfaan Ali – an alumnus of the Perry Center.

During the presentation ceremony on Wednesday at UG’s Turkeyen Campus, President Ali, who had given the directive two years ago to launch the master’s programme as part of efforts to enhance Guyana’s

defence capability, underscored the importance of foreign institutions such as the Perry Center in Guyana’s efforts to build out a defence ecosystem.

“It is a tremendous honour to achieve this accolade, this award, and we must not take it lightly at all. The Perry Center is perhaps one of the most celebrated institutions globally that focuses on strategic-thinking in relation to security and defence. In this Center, you have some of the finest minds globally on security defence issues,” President Ali stated.

The Head of State pointed out that having prestigious institutions such as the Perry Center as partners augurs well for Guyana and speaks volumes to the confidence there is in the local systems.

“These institutions just do not apply their names to your programmes without being confident about where you’re going, what you’re doing and being confident about the leadership… and to be assured that the country is taking the right decisions from a democratic perspective, from a security perspective…,” he stated.

Moreover, the Guyanese Leader wants the collaboration between UG, the GDF and the Perry Center to be further expanded, and outlined a host of areas for these institutions to partner in. He also spoke about positioning the National Defence Institute in Guyana as a premier regional security institution as well as having UG as a central hub for security training and for the integration of leaders

across the Region with respect to security management and defence leadership.

“We take this [award] as one small step in the journey ahead of building out an ecosystem that would be second to none,” President Ali stated.

Meanwhile, Perry Center Director, Paul J Angelo said this award to UG was not just to celebrate an academic achievement, but was also a recognition of a partner in peace, a leader in education and a pivotal player in resolving the most pressing regional issues.

He lauded Guyana for developing and expanding its security and defence capabilities through education and international collaboration with partners. Through its Masters of Science and Strategic Development Studies pro-

gramme, the Perry Center Director noted, UG has produced tangible benefits to the security sector especially within the GDF.

“Graduates from each cohort of students including [a GDF] officer currently enrolled in our Armed Violence Reduction and Prevention Course in Washington, DC, highlight how the master’s programme has broadened their analysis on hemispheric security and defence issues and has provided a deeper appreciation for the strategic environment in which they operate,” Angelo stated.

The University of Guyana’s Master of Science in Strategic Development Studies programme is aimed at equipping students with a comprehensive understanding of contemporary security threats, defence planning, and strategic analysis. The programme is being offered by

the University’s Institute of Human Resiliency, Strategic Security, and the Future (IHRSSF). The programme focuses on key areas such as The Strategic Environment; State Institutions and Governance; Policy Formulation for Strategic Development; Data and Information Management; Evolving Issues in Democracy and the Contemporary Environment; Strategic Leadership and Capstone Research Project.

UG’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Paloma Mohamed Martin has emphasised the institution’s commitment to advancing security and defence education. She said that the establishment of this defence studies programme was a collective effort to ensure that Guyana has “battle-ready brain”.

“Everything that we do in this university is for this

country and now with our regional and hemispheric focus, we do it in the best interest of those who are friends of this country and who supports this country. This is not a slight moment – a moment that is to be brushed aside perfunctorily. This is a highly, highly significant moment,” Professor Mohamed Martin stated.

Chief-of-Defence at the GDF, Brigadier Omar Khan; Director of NISA, Colonel Sheldon Howell; National Security Advisor, Captain Gerry Gouveia and US Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot were among those at the award presentation ceremony on Wednesday.

The Perry Center, affiliated with the National Defense University in Washington, DC, is a leading institution dedicated to fostering security cooperation throughout the Western Hemisphere.

President Dr Irfaan Ali and UG Vice Chancellor, Professor Paloma Mohamed Martin, along with other officials, holding the William J Perry Award for Excellence in Security and Defense Education that was handed over on Wednesday

A section of the gathering at Wednesday’s award presentation ceremony

Former Region 6 REO acquitted of cybercrime charge

Former Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne), Dr Veerasammy Ramayya, was on Wednesday acquitted of a cybercrime charge against a Corentyne Pandit.

Ramayya was charged in December 2022 after it was alleged that he had used a computer system to harass and humiliate Surujdyal Sahadeo, called “Pandit Dave”, who is also a councillor on the Region Six Regional Democratic Council (RDC).

Sahadeo had accused the former REO of calling him ‘Gailbaka’ and of alleging that he was using cow’s milk to wash his foot, resulting in a shortage of milk at Number 52 Village. It had also been alleged that Ramayya had claimed that Pandit Dave had stolen $1.8 million.

The court had released Ramayya on his own recognizance after he had appeared there to answer the charges.

However, during the trial, the video in question was presented to the court, and in her ruling, Magistrate Renita Singh stated that after re-

Dr Veerasammy Ramayya Former REO

viewing the evidence, she had found that no harm was brought to RDC Councillor Surujdyal Sahadeo.

In addition, she pointed out that while mention was made of the use of cow’s milk, it did not show Ramayya saying that there was a shortage of milk at Number 52 Village.

Further, she ruled that the video did not make mention of Pandit Dave stealing $1.8 million, even though it was stated that he had collected the money.

Dr Ramayya has been a controversial figure in Region Six since being appointed REO when the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for

Change (APNU+AFC) took office in 2015. During his tenure, he had allegedly undertaken projects without the approval of the RDC, and had later been asked to resign. He later left the Alliance for Change and joined the Peoples Progressive Party (PPP)

ahead of the 2020 General and Regional Elections.

Following the PPP/C’s return to office, Dr Ramayya had been asked to head the Rapid Response Task Force, but had tendered his resignation after making certain demands. (G4)

Farmer on $150,000 bail for unlawful wounding

Alex Peters, a 38-year-old farmer of Aberdeen Canal, Lower Pomeroon River, Region Two, has been charged with two counts of unlawful wounding, and has been placed on $150,000 bail after appearing before Magistrate Tomieka Clarke at the Charity Magistrate's Court on Monday.

It is alleged that, on March 8, he unlawfully wounded Fino Gouveia, 24, of Martindale, Lower Pomeroon River and Randy Yusuf, 23, of Grant Upper Pomeroon.

The charges have been laid under Section 30 (b) of

Charged: Alex Peters

the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act, chapter 8:02 and section 50 of the Criminal Law Offences Act, chapter 8:01. His next court date has been set at April 29.

Preparing…

…for Nov rumble

Well, it’s now official – this November, in the highly anticipated US Presidential elections, out of the blue corner will come “Sleepy” Joe Biden, and from the red corner will be Donald “Agent Orange” Trump!! Trump – who slapped the moniker “Sleepy Joe” on his opponent - however, has come out with a nickname for himself – “Honest Don”!! Yep!! This man who’s been convicted on 34 charges of falsifying records for years to show he was wealthier that he actually was – and was fined US$355 million for doing so!! Your Eyewitness will not go into the four CRIMINAL indictments he faces – ranging from conspiring to overthrowing the government to mishandling classified documents – since he MIGHT honestly think he’s right!!

In the meantime, Biden had his own accusations of mishandling secret documents thrown out by the Special Prosecutor - but fumed at the reason the latter offered. That he was an old man who forgot things!! With both candidates being over EIGHTY, your Eyewitness confidently predicts that memory lapses will play a big role, come November.

But the bigger question for your Eyewitness is: how the heck have the 300+ million American people decided that, out of all of them, these two doddering fogies are the best to lead them into a most treacherous period of their history? And that, of course, is the billion-dollar question, innit?? The answer is that all 300+million of them ain’t running for the presidency!! They devised a “representative system” with a two-step method of choosing those representatives. And it’s here that the winnowing out leads to the situation the Yanks find themselves in.

In step 1, each of the two major parties that have survived over the years – the Republicans and the Democrats - hold caucuses or primaries where registered members in most of the States vote for the candidates on the ballots. And that’s where story begins. Now, of course, all candidates gotta know what hot button issues to press; but ultimately, it also takes money!! Cause the candidates who’ll get to stage 2 have a chance of running the Government, which eventually controls how TRILLIONS of dollars of business – or boondoggles – are distributed!! Stage 2, of course, is the quadrennial Nov presidential election.

So, the process boils down to who can get the most campaign contributions to move from step 1 to step 2. Once in a blue moon, a relative outsider like Jimmy Carter from Arkansas can enter a fractured field and end up on top. But in general, the party mechanism winnows out outliers – for instance, like with Bernie Sanders .

So, what we’re seeing is the logical conclusion of that system: American has become a country for old men who know how to game the system!!

…for GTU round 2

After all the hope (and hoopla) following the judicial intervention that brought the striking GTU and the MoE together to hash out their differences face to face – it all fell apart, and we’re back to square one. The GTU stuck to its insistence that it wasn’t JUST the 6.5% unilaterallyimposed increase they were objecting to. They wanted a 25% salary increase going back to 2019 and 20% for each year from 2020 to 2023!!

So, if a trainee teacher were earning, say, $100,000/ monthly in 2018, she’d be bumped to $125,000/monthly in 2019; $150,000 in 2020; $180,000 in 2021; $216,000 in 2022; and $259,200 in 2023!! Not bad, eh?? And they haven’t even started talking about 2024!! The Government countered that they were going forwards, never backwards – since the GTU had already accepted the raises up to 2022. And the GTU got up and walked out.

Its General Secretary/APNU MP has resumed her vitriolic outbursts against named Govt officials on social media. Doesn’t bode well!!

…to house Housing

A five-storey building to house the Ministry of Housing is being constructed for $741.5 million, while the adjoining four-storey GWI Building will cost $562 million. If you think it’s exorbitant, it would’ve built only 170 low-income houses!!

Govt withdraws $51.9B from Natural Resource Fund …as part of $329.8B parliamentary approved oil money withdrawal for 2024

The Government has withdrawn $51.9 billion from the Natural Resource Fund (NRF), marking the first tranche of the $329.8 billion in withdrawals approved by Parliament for the year.

The announcement was made by the Finance Ministry on Wednesday, with the Ministry announcing that the $51.9 billion (US$250 million) was withdrawn from the NRF on March 5, 2024.

According to the Ministry, this is in accordance with the NRF Act 2021, as amended by the Fiscal Enactments (Amendment) Act 2024. This Act had seen parliamentary approval being granted for the total withdrawal of $329.8 billion.

This sum, which is the equivalent of US$1.5 billion, marks the highest total of approved withdrawals since oil production started in 2019 and oil funds began to be used in the national budget in 2022.

“In accordance with this approval, the Government of Guyana has made its first transfer for 2024, totalling

US$250 million (equivalent to G$51.994 billion) from the NRF on March 5, 2024, to the Consolidated Fund, within the total of US$1.586 billion (equivalent to G$329.8 billion) approved to be withdrawn in 2024,” the Ministry said in its statement.

In 2022, the use of oil funds had constituted 23 per cent of the national budget, while in 2023 oil funds had constituted 26 per cent. This year’s budget was $1.146 trillion, which means that oil money will constitute roughly 28 per cent of the 2024 budget.

Back in December 2021, Government amended the

NRF Act to bring greater transparency and accountability in the management of Guyana’s oil resources, including the requirement of Government to seek annual parliamentary approval for withdrawals from the NRF as stated in Section 19 of the NRF Act 2021.

Pursuant to that provision, as part of its consideration of the budget

process, the Parliament had approved a total of $208.9 billion (equivalent to US$1.002 billion) to be withdrawn from the NRF in 2023. But during his presentation of the $1.146 trillion 2024 Budget in January, Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh pointed to the need for an “optimal and dynamic financing mix”.

“Our Government will

be proposing… a revision to the NRF withdrawal rule which, once approved, will result in an upward revision to the NRF withdrawal amount to take effect from this fiscal year.

“The revised withdrawal rule will retain the important feature that as production and revenue ramp up further, an increasing share of the inflows into the NRF will be saved relative to the share transferred to the Consolidated Fund to finance national development priorities,” he had explained, adding that this proposal would be placed before the National Assembly for consideration and approval.

The funds in the NRF have their origins in the oil-rich Stabroek Block offshore Guyana, where US oil major ExxonMobil and its partners – Hess Corporation

and CNOOC – are producing light sweet crude using the Liza Destiny , Liza Unity , and more recently, the Prosperity Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels.

In 2022, for the first time, Guyana had used oil funds to finance a national budget. In fact, in 2022, the Government withdrew a total of $126 billion (US$607.6 million) in three tranches from the NRF which went towards financing Guyana’s national development plans.

In 2023, US$1.002 billion was withdrawn to finance national development priorities. The last of eight withdrawals for last year was made on December 27, 2023 from the NRF to the Consolidated Fund, to the tune of US$152.1 million (equivalent to $31.6 billion). (G3)

Foreign Ministry, AI agent create single-window platform for Diaspora

…to provide Govt info, 24/7 banking services

The Foreign Affairs Ministry’s Diaspora Unit is partnering with Guyana’s first indigenous company to offer Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions to create a platform that will better enable members of the Diaspora to make enquiries and conduct transactions with governmental agencies, including the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).

The announcement was made on Wednesday at the Ministry’s Ramphal House, by Head of the Diaspora Unit, Rosalinda Rasul. According to Rasul, an AI agent will be launched in approximately a week’s time, which will be able to assist members of the Diaspora, or any person, with queries about Government services.

The AI agent, which has been dubbed “Jessie”, speaks multiple languages including English and Spanish, and will be operational 24/7. It will be available on both WhatsApp and the unit’s web page. In addition to text and voice notes, a phone call interface for the AI agent is in the works. Additionally, the AI agent will even be able to help with initiating transactions.

Data pertaining to integral services such as remigration, housing, investments, documents, and the NIS will

be provided to individuals on request. In addition to NIS, persons will also be able to easily access document information from the banking sector; Guyana Elections Commission (GEC); Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA); General Registrar Office (GRO); the Immigration Support Service Agency and the Passport Office.

“So, the Diaspora Unit has been looking at ways and means by which we can improve delivery of customer service to the Diaspora. I can tell you that over the years we’ve been operating

this unit, we continue to receive numerous calls, emails and interactions from visitors, Guyanese and even foreigners alike, using the unit. And we do our absolute best to help them,” Rasul said.

“We thought in having the AI agent doing the work for us in terms of communication with the Diaspora, that will take a lot of work and time off of my staff, who can now focus on some of the more substantive duties and responsibilities that they have. So, what we have done is we have partnered with V-75 Inc. And you’re going to hear from

Eldon Marks, the founder of V75 Inc, on the arrangement which we have with his entity to create the AI agent for the Diaspora Unit.”

Use of technology

According to Rasul, the hope is that by the Diaspora Unit making use of this technology, other Government agencies will follow suit in trying to make their service more accessible. Further, she noted that phase two of the project will be rolled out, which will add domains such as tourism and other sectors to the phase one domains.

V75 Inc founder Marks explained that the AI agent was a generative one, far beyond even the capabilities of a chat bot. He also explained that his company also expected to collaborate with other Government agencies on AI enablement.

“V75 Inc is Guyana’s first AI company… we’ve been in operation a little over five years. Primarily delivering AI-based solutions to clients abroad and we’re really happy to bring the technology home. And of late, we’ve been collaborating with IDB Lab, through our latest and greatest invention, which is an AI framework that is powered by generative AI.

“We’ve been working on this for the better part of a year. And through IDB Lab’s funding, we are able to bring the technology home, through an AI enablement

programme. So the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Diaspora Unit is one of the beneficiaries of this AI enablement push, to democratise AI technology for the benefit of our country,” Marks said.

In November of last year, Marks’ company V75 was at the centre of the “AI-4D Showcase” that was held at the Guyana Marriott Hotel under the theme “Democratising AI for Development.” The event showcased homegrown AI innovations that are propelling the nation into a significant role in the global AI arena.

The exhibition kicked off with a captivating series of endogenous AI innovations, and culminated in the grand unveiling of “TrueSelph”, a globally-applicable AI product promising to redefine the AI landscape in Guyana and beyond. (G3)

Better Hope man busted with gun, ammo & ganja

The gun, ammo and ganja that were found during the Better Hope raid

A39-year-old labourer of Better Hope, East Coast Demerara (ECD) was taken into custody following the discovery of a 9mm pistol, five live rounds of matching ammunition and 2338 grams of cannabis.

Police stated that on Wednesday about 04:30h, a search was conducted on the suspect’s home during which a black Taurus 9mm pistol with a magazine contain-

ing five matching rounds of ammunition was found concealed in a black plastic wrap under the house.

As such, the man was arrested. Subsequently, during another search in the yard, the Police unearthed some 2338 grams of cannabis in a dug-up area in the ground.

The labourer was escorted to the Sparendaam Police Station. He is assisting with investigations.

Head of the Diaspora Unit, Rosalinda Rasul V75 Inc founder Eldon Marks

Essequibo Coast man jailed, fined $12M for trafficking imported ganja

Charity Magistrate Esther Sam on Wednesday sentenced 38-year-old Naresh Ramdeen of Jacklow, Pomeroon River, Region Two to two years’ imprisonment after finding him guilty of being in possession of more than 30 pounds of imported ganja, for which he was busted back in March 2023. In addition, she imposed on him a fine of $12 million.

Ramdeen and another man had, in March 2023, been charged and remanded to prison for being in possession of 13.34 kilograms of imported ganja for the purpose of trafficking. They had been

Jailed: Naresh Ramdeen

arrested by agents of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) with the imported ganja during an

operation conducted at Charity Street in Charity, Essequibo, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

CANU has said that, on the day in question, its officers had intercepted motor vehicle HD 1880 at Charity Street in Charity, Essequibo, and at the time of interception, the vehicle had two occupants.

A search was conducted on the vehicle, and 12 brick-like parcels suspected to be cannabis were unearthed. The narcotic was tested and found to be imported ganja, weighing approximately 30 lbs. (13.34 kg) and having an estimated street value of $5 million.

The imported ganja found during the operation

Human organ transplants

GPHC receives accreditation to operationalise centre

TThe centre, which is the first of its kind, is authorised to provide transplants services for kidney, liver, intestine, multi-visceral, pancreas and pancreatic islet, heart and lung exchange to citizens.

Its establishment is provided for under the Human Organ and Tissue Transplant Bill, which provides the necessary legal framework for the retrieval of human organs, tissue, cells, and biofluids for the purposes of transplantation and blood transfusion.

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony said the cen-

tre was part of Government’s move to modernise the local healthcare sector through improved services.

On this point, Dr Anthony explained that GPHC has been conducting kidney transplant surgeries for the last 10 years; however, the accreditation will allow the hospital to expand transplant care to citizens.

“By this action, you’re setting the bar for other hospitals in our country so that whatever process we would have gone through here today that ,when other institutions would like to be certified, the same high standards would apply to all

institutions,” Dr Anthony said.

The Health Minister added that a systematic procedure will be followed to determine the eligibility of individuals as potential donors. Subsequently, an additional evaluation would be conducted to assess their suitability, followed by approaching their families.

He clarified that with the family’s consent, the donation process is initiated, followed by the subsequent transplant, with the ultimate purpose of granting hope and a chance at life to a deserving individual.

TURN TO PAGE 16

he Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) was on

Wednesday certified and accredited by Guyana’s Health Ministry and Human Organ

and Tissue Transplant Agency to operate a Human Organ and Transplant Center.

Guyana closer to achieving worldclass education - Education Minister

…new Math, Social Studies textbooks launched

Guyana is one step closer to achieving ‘world-class education’, which will see Guyanese students excelling at the regional level. This has been expressed by Education Minister Priya Manickchand during the launching of the MoE’s new primary textbook series, “Mathematics made Easy” and Social Studies text “Guyanese in the World”, at the Round House in Kingston, Georgetown.

Structured to cater to the call to create cultural-

to create culturally relevant materials and the call to continuously modernise and strengthen the education system to provide world-class education,” Grant said. Grant added that the books are teacher-friendly, with clear terms and attractive illustrations.

Meanwhile, Education Minister Priya Manickchand has posited that ensuing that learners have access to the educational materials and teachers have access to learning

ly relevant materials, the textbooks cater to students from grades One to Three and grades One to Four respectively. Both series have been crafted under the renewed curriculum in an effort to modernise the education sector, and also include global needs and trends. As a result, the content of each book is relevant and is linked to Guyana’s local context, enhancing its effectiveness in the classroom.

During her address to those gathered at Round House, Stembiso Grant, the Assistant Chief Education Officer for Literacy, disclosed that the textbooks have been structured with worksheets for learners to complete exercises after each lesson.

“These books were created in sync with a vision of the Government of Guyana to invest in education continuously and intentionally. The books were structured to cater to the call

tools is a crucial aspect of achieving ‘world- class education’. She emphasised that with each resource made available in classrooms for students, there will be more accountability placed on teachers and parents to ensure that students are actively utilising them.

“When we give better exercise books, more exercise books, we’re supporting teachers and parents, so that children can do better. When we give all our children all of the text books they need, we are again supporting teachers and students, so that the students can do better”, she explained. “We want to make sure not one single child is left behind because of geography, or ethnicity, or education level of your parents; and that’s a big undertaking.”

Students of the Montrose Primary School and the Academy of Excellence where the first

to receive copies of the textbooks, and distribution to primary schools across the country would commence soon.

The Education Ministry is working to complete the science text book and the remainder of the series by May. (G1)

Education Minister Priya Manickchand addressing the gathering at the Round House in Kingston

Assistant Chief Education Officer for Literacy, Stembiso Grant

Education Minister Priya Manickchand standing with students of Montrose Primary School and the Academy of Excellence

Teachers to be trained to tackle gang violence in schools – Pres Ali

The growing presence of gang-related violence across the hemisphere is becoming a serious problem, and President Dr Irfaan Ali has underscored the need to tackle this phenomenon at an early stage in schools.

He made these remarks while speaking at a presentation ceremony on Wednesday when the University of Guyana (UG) received the 2023 William J Perry Award for Excellence in Security and Defence Education – a recognition of the tertiary institution’s significant contributions in the field of security and defence education in the Americas.

During his feature address, President Ali said the increase in gang violence in the region is causing him sleepless nights.

President Dr Irfaan Ali

The seriousness of this issue, he noted, is evident in the fact that gangs are being formed in schools.

“In our secondary schools in the region, you have the development of gangs. What that speaks to is this issue of gangs becoming institutionalised and becoming a part of norm, part of normative action and normative be-

haviour and that is where the serious threat is,” he stated.

According to the Guyanese Leader, this threat can grow into a much serious problem for Governments.

“They may start with fighting each other with sticks [then] to knives, to guns, to grenades. That is how it goes because in

PM donates braille machines to Guyana Society for the Blind

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Retired) Mark Phillips has presented the Guyana Society for the Blind with two new braille machines.

The donation, facilitated through the Prime Minister's Office, fulfils a promise he made on World Braille Day earlier this year.

During the presentation ceremony on Tuesday at the Office of the Prime Minister on Camp Street, PM Phillips reassured of his commitment to supporting persons living with disabilities.

"This is just the beginning of the assistance from the Office of the Prime Minister to the Guyana Society for the Blind and persons living with disabilities. We will continue to stay connected with you and provide the necessary as-

any system in that world, you graduate upwards, not downwards. Everybody aspires to be in the leadership of the gangs. And that is a reality that we have to confront,” the President posited.

To this end, President Ali outlined that tackling this serious challenge required confronting it at the early stages in the school system. He spoke about designing specialised programmes that speak to changing the child development ecosystem.

The Head of State pointed out that as young as four years, children today are being exposed to video games – 90 per cent of which are of a violent nature.

“So, the problem here is that the exposure to crime and fighting and guns is becoming a normative exposure and you can’t change that, that is part of the business world, but you have to deal with it. So, how do you develop a child-friendly ecosystem…?”

“How do we now develop a training programme for our teachers from the time you enter the secondary level to deal with

this? So, that now we have a specific training that would address the building of the capacity and capability of our teachers to address this issue and to build an ecosystem to fight back what is already in the society,” the Guyanese Leader noted.

To produce this solution, President Ali challenged the University of Guyana and the Guyana Defence Force to work with the William J Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies on this regional issue, as well as a host of other matters that he outlined including port and cyber security training, Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping and incorporating other key US courses locally.

The Perry Center, affiliated with the National Defense University in Washington, DC, is a leading institution dedicated to fostering security cooperation throughout the Western Hemisphere.

In Guyana, there had been an increase in gang violence in schools in recent years. Only in March 2023, two students and a teacher were hospitalised following an incident at

the Harmony Secondary School, located in Wismar, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

A group had apparently come to the school seeking retaliation for an earlier altercation between a student and a gang member. As the gang members rampaged through the school, they kicked open doors and assaulted a teacher, leaving her bleeding – a situation that left both teachers and students afraid for their safety.

A year prior to this, teachers had staged a protest over the operations of gangs at the Lodge Secondary School in Georgetown in June 2022. They complained of being targeted and nothing being done when reports are made about the situation. In one instance, a gang member attempted to rob a teacher in a classroom.

Then in October last year, two male students – aged 15 and 16 – were attacked on the Diamond Access Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD), allegedly by five juveniles. The Guyana Police Force had said the incident was gang-related. (G8)

93-year-old man perishes in NWD wildfire

Parakies Village in the North West District of Region One (BarimaWaini) has experienced a tragic incident, as a wildfire has claimed the life 93-yearold Alexander Josephine at about 12:30h on Tuesday.

sistance to support the good work of the Society for persons who are visually impaired,” the Prime Minister is quoted as saying in a social media post by his office.

Member of the Guyana Society for the Blind, Julie Lewis expressed apprecia-

tion on behalf of the organisation, noting that the donation was timely and would benefit the visually impaired and other persons with disabilities to learn braille since there are no existing braille experts.

ally-impaired persons will benefit from learning braille,” she said.

Blind Society representatives Colin Caesar, Odessa

“Thank you for the generous donation of equipment, which was needed but financially out of reach. It will be put to good use as many visu-

Blair, and Leroy Phillips, along with Permanent Secretary of the Office of the Prime Minister, Alfred King, and Director of Public Affairs, Michael Gordon, were also present at the handing-over ceremony.

The Guyana Fire Service has said initial investigations indicate that the fire originated in an open farmland area adjacent to the Parakies Main Road, and the fire has left significant burn damage and ash residue in its wake amidst the dense vegetation.

Known for his dedication to farming, Josephine had left his residence at around 09:00 on Tuesday to go to his farm. However, at around 13:00h, his family received distressing news via cellular call that he had suffered severe burns while on his farm, and had passed away.

Ranks of the Acquero Police Station were informed of the situation, and when emergency responders arrived on the scene, Josephine was reportedly found lying motionless with burns covering his body. He was transported to the Kumaka District Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. His body has since been placed in the hospital mortuary pending

a post-mortem examination.

Following the incident, the Fire Department extended its condolences to the family and friends of Josephine. An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fire is currently ongoing.

With wildfires more common during the dry season, the Guyana Fire Service has been actively addressing several incidents, including large grass fires, over the past two months. Residents have been advised to remain vigilant and monitor their lands for any signs of potential wildfires.

The Fire Service has said that taking proactive mea-

sures such as establishing defensible spaces and having evacuation plans ready can help to reduce the risk of such incidents.

Further, residents are being urged to avoid outdoor burning of garbage or grass, as these fires can quickly escalate during dry conditions.

“Stay tuned to local news and weather updates for any wildfire warnings or advisories. Let us remain vigilant and prepared during this dry season. For further information, or to report any fires or fire hazards, please contact the Fire Service on 912”, a release from the Fire Service has said.

Wildfire at Parakies Village in the North West District of Region One (Barima-Waini)

Member of the Guyana Society for the Blind, Julie Lewis teaching Prime Minister, Brigadier (Retired) Mark Phillips how to use the braille machine

Prime Minister Phillips interacting with members of the Guyana Society for the Blind

Company operating regional ferry service incorporated in Guyana – AG

…says regional integration laws being crafted

CariCargo Incorporated, the company that will be operating the ferry between Guyana, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago in a historic attempt at regional integration, has officially been incorporated in Guyana.

During Tuesday’s edition of his programme, Issues in the News, Attorney General Anil Nandlall spoke of the work being done to give effect to decisions made at the last Caribbean Community (Caricom) Heads of Government Meeting.

Nandlall noted that his counterparts from around the Region are hard at work to bring pieces of legislation aimed at making the regional integration being championed by policy-makers, a reality.

“The Attorneys General of the Region have been tasked with the responsibility of drafting the necessary laws to create what is called a common domestic space in the Caricom region. So, we have to pass a series of legislation that will allow for free movement and hassle-free transportation across the various territories of the Caribbean,” he explained.

According to Nandlall, this means that they must go to Parliament with these laws and have them passed before June 1, which is when the West Indies T20 World Cup will be launched. This also means that work on the regional ferry must be advanced and according to

Nandlall, the company that will be operating this ferry has just been incorporated in Guyana.

“You would have heard a lot about the arrangement between Guyana and Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago, for the free movement of goods, persons, in particular food, and it was announced that a ferry has already been assigned to the exercise.

“I’m pleased to announce that the company that will carry out this undertaking has been incorporated in Guyana. The name of the company is CariCargo Inc, with its registered office in Georgetown, Guyana and it comprises of Directors from Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana,” the Attorney General said.

According to Nandlall, the regional ferry is intended to be a pilot project that will test this aspect of regional integration. Depending on the success of this pilot, he noted the possibility of the service

being extended even further.

During the recent 46th Regular Meeting of the Conference of the Heads of Government in Georgetown, Guyana, regional integration was a prominent topic of discussion, particularly when it comes to an inter-island ferry service.

In January of this year, it was reported that the Trinidad and Tobago Cabinet had approved the use of that country’s Galleons Passage vessel to operate the ferry service between the twin-island republic and Guyana.

In a Facebook post, Guyana’s President Dr Irfaan Ali had shared several photos of the Galleons Passage , which he said would be operating between Guyana and Trinidad, and later Barbados. This vessel can accommodate 400 passengers and 60 cars. Among the facilities onboard are a cafeteria, a bar, and a VIP lounge.

And on January 5, the Guyanese Leader had disclosed that Guyana, T&T and Barbados had formed a joint company that would work towards the introduction of a ferry system for passengers and cargo between the three countries.

Back in May 2022, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago had embarked on setting up a ferry service between the two countries to transport people and cargo. During a joint press conference between President Ali and T&T’s Prime Minister, Dr Keith

CCAC appoints Director

The Board of Commissioners of the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission (CCAC) has announced the appointment of Rabindra Kandhi as Director of the Commission effective March 1, 2024.

Kandhi, the CCAC said, in a statement, brings to the Commission a wealth of experience having served in both the private and public sectors for over 28 years in several management roles.

He holds a Diploma in Marketing and a Bachelor of Science Degree (BSc) in Business Management from the University of Guyana.

Kandhi is also professionally qualified at several levels of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS), and has worked as a project management professional on several InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB)-funded projects.

CCAC Chairman Dhaneshwar Deonarine said that Kandhi’s appointment

Kandhi

“reflects the Board’s confidence that the balance of his skills, experience and leadership qualities will contribute to the growth and success of the Commission”.

The newly-appointed Director said his appointment “provides an opportunity to position the

Commission in its rightful regulatory place in this, one of the world’s fastest-growing economies and commits to maintain a platform that allows consumers to access redress”.

The CCAC is an agency of the Tourism, Industry and Commerce Ministry.

Rowley in Georgetown, the two nations had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in a number of areas.

“As we speak to you now, we are already exploring the possibility of having a cargo-plus-ferry facility as an experiment between Guyana and Trinidad, moving people and goods … We cannot address any issues unless we create a platform, the vehicle that will allow us to do that, and this MoU does that,” President Ali had noted.

Regional leaders have also long recognised that affordable intra-regional travel remains one of the major bugbears to trade and movement of skilled labour within the Caribbean. Consequently, they have been working on a regional ferry network.

In 2022, the Caribbean Community (Caricom) had approached the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for funding to establish this intra-regional ferry service. At the time, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) was tasked with ironing out

a proposed roadmap study for a fast ferry service with an initial focus on trade between Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, and Barbados.

According to a communiqué at the end of the 43rd Regular Meeting of the Caricom Heads of Government, held in July 2022 in Suriname, it was noted that this initiative falls into the myriad of measures agreed to by the Region’s leaders to advance reduction of the Caribbean’s food-import bill by 25 per cent by the year 2025. (G3)

Attorney General Anil Nandlall

T&T’s Galleons Passage to operate the ferry service between Guyana and Trinidad, and later Barbados

CCAC Director Rabindra

Dead Police Sergeant

GPF confirms fellow officer’s involvement in accidental fatal shooting

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has officially confirmed that Sergeant Alex Vaughn, who was shot on Tuesday, was a victim of alleged gunfire from a fellow officer during a hunt for prison escapee Akeem Wong near Saxacalli village along the Essequibo River.

Sergeant Vaughn, of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), was part of a Joint Services operation tracking down Wong, the prime suspect in the recent double homicide of 49-yearold David Gomes, and his 75-year-old mother, Elizabeth Gomes, in Saxacalli.

Initial investigations indicate that Vaughn and a team of Joint Services personnel, deployed to the Kertie Creek Backdam in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), were pursuing sightings of Wong in the area. However, tragedy struck

when a Police Constable, arriving on the scene on a tractor as part of a backup unit, allegedly discharged his firearm accidentally upon disembarking, resulting in Vaughn being fatally shot.

Under the directive of acting Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken, an investigation into the incident has been launched by the Office

of Professional Responsibility (OPR), overseen by the Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority.

Following the incident, several members of the Police Force paid visits to the immediate family and relatives of Vaughn, offering condolences and support during this difficult time.

This incident comes in the wake of heightened efforts to capture Wong, who had escaped on February 14 from the Mazaruni Prison in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), where he was serving a 15year sentence for rape.

Wong, called “Bin Laden”, and another inmate, Gilbert Gill, were under the supervision of a prison officer, performing labour duties in a ‘wood bush’ when Wong requested permission to go defecate, and was granted same by the prison officer.

About five minutes later,

12-year-old crushed to death by lorry in East Canje

New Amsterdam Multilateral School (NAMS) student Justin Tooteram met his demise on Wednesday afternoon when a lorry attached to the Guyana Sugar Corporation at Rose Hall Estate ran over a part of his head as he was on his way to the Canje Bible Church, situated 12 houses away from his home, to play basketball.

The 12-year-old had lived at Lot 53 Reliance Abandon in East Canje Berbice, and at the time of the accident, had been carrying his basketball.

A second-form student at the NAMS, Tooteram would have celebrated his 13th birthday next month.

Reports are that the back wheels of lorry GMM 5087 rolled over the child’s head after he came into contact with the side of the vehicle.

An eyewitness has alleged that a portion of the child’s brain that had been on the road surface was picked up by a villager and buried in the parapet.

Meanwhile, the driver has been taken into custody as police probe the circumstances surrounding this accident. (G4)

a check was made for Wong, and it was discovered that he had gone missing. Law enforcement officials have been searching for him since.

Chopped

David and Elizabeth Gomes were gruesomely

chopped to death on March 8 while at their Saxacalli home.

It was reported that since the family moved to the city, they would return very often to clean their house and surroundings at Saxacalli. However, their routine visit took a sinister turn when an unexpected visitor arrived at their doorstep.

Wong reportedly approached the Gomes residence seeking food and directions. Police have said that Gomes’s six-year-old son related that about 15:00h on the day in question, the suspect visited their home and requested something to eat, while asking for directions. He was given food, and also took a few drinks with the child’s father.

“The child also stated that he later saw the suspect (arm)

himself with a cutlass and (deal) his father several chops about his body. His grandmother (Nellie) went to (her son’s) rescue, and she was also dealt several chops about her body,” the Police release has stated.

The Police have said that after committing the act, the suspect attempted to wash down the blood, but in the process, he heard a boat approaching and ran into the nearby bushes, making good his escape.

Law enforcement was also told by the child that during the ordeal, the suspect was chopped by his father. The child, the Police said, took his father’s cellular phone and sent a voice note to one of his father’s friends, who in turn contacted the Police. (G9)

GPHC receives accreditation...

Training

In preparation for the commissioning of centre, the Ministry embarked on a series of rigorous transplant training to expand the capability of health practitioners stationed at the centre.

These include transplant nurses, social workers, anaesthesiologists, and organ transplant surgeons.

Dr Anthony said the training was facilitated through various partnerships with medical institutions in Portugal, Spain, and Brazil.

“As we go forward moving from living donors to cadaveric transplants, I think the public can rest assured that we are adhering to all the best international practices, and I want to commend the agency for the work that they would have done so far,” the Health Minister said.

Cadaveric transplants involve the utilisation of organs from a donor who has been pronounced brain dead and has given consent for his/her organs to be donated to those in need.

Inspections and examinations

Speaking to the assessment and accreditation process, Member of the Human Organ and Tissue Transplant Agency, David Samaroo explained that GPHC was engaged in a series of inspections and examinations.

On this point, he disclosed that while GPHC fulfilled the criteria for the establishment of the centre, three crucial areas were flagged and the hospital has expressed its commitment to addressing those issues.

According to Samaroo, these include the expansion of human organ and transplant operating rooms, Intensive Care Units (ICU) and pre- and post-care facilities.

Additionally, the hospital is currently outsourcing tissue typing services to other medical institutions.

“The third short comings

that we have found was that should we have a complication and the patient needed a kidney biopsy, should we extract that tissue? We didn’t have the mechanism in place or did we had the personnel in place to read the slides.

“I am happy to say over the past two months while we would have identified these issues and we have brought them to the attention of the CEO at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, a number of actions were actually taken,” Samaroo explained.

Registry

The Human Organ and Tissue Transplant Agency is actively working to establish Guyana’s first National Human Organ and Transplant Registry.

The platform, which will be managed by the agency, is part of efforts to fast-track the process by which ill citizens access functioning organs.

Currently, the agency goes through a rigorous process before organs are donated, this includes consulting with multiple stakeholders from various agencies after a donor is identified and their family consents for the procedure to be executed.

With the registry in place, national donors and recipient lists will be added to the Health Ministry’s database to allow citizens to become donors following their passing and patients to receive organs once available.

The registration will include the consent, amendment, and revocation of consent from adults regarding the donation of their organs, tissue, cells, or biofluids, among other things.

The establishment of a National Donor and Transplant Registry is provided for in Part Three, Section 13 of the Human Organ and Tissue Transplant Bill 2021. As a result, a prioritisation process will be implemented

FROM PAGE 12

to ensure that recipients of organs are catered for effectively.

Moreover, individuals who are in need of organ, tissue, cell, and biofluid transplantation, as well as those who have received such treatments, will be included in the registration process.

To fulfil this requirement, the Human Organ and Tissue Transplant Agency, through legislation, will assume the responsibility of managing, operating, and preserving the donor registry.

The act specifies that “The Agency shall keep proper records of all its dealings in relation to its functions under this act which shall include annotations and inventories of organs, tissues, cells, cell explants, cell lines and biofluids and other substances available and those used and how used.”

Transplant Bill

In January 2022, the transplant bill that had been introduced in the National Assembly the previous year was approved.

The bill incorporated measures to establish an agency responsible for overseeing the removal, donation, and transfer of human organs to patients requiring them.

The agency is expected to collaborate with authorised hospitals to coordinate surgeries and develop operating protocols. Additionally, the agency will be responsible for conducting public awareness campaigns regarding consent for organ donation and utilisation.

The bill also notes that transplantations are to be used in regenerative medicine including cell therapy, gene therapy, stem cell therapy, and other therapeutic purposes; for medical education and scientific research purposes, including stem cell research, cell explant research, and cell line research; and for connected matters. (G1)

The child’s body is covered by a sheet under the truck following the accident

Dead: 12-year-old Justin Tooteram

Prison escapee Akeem Wong

Dead: Alex Vaughn

Delay addressed, work on Nabaclis road resumes

Works on the Nabaclis road, located at the West Sideline Dam of this East Coast Demerara village, has been resumed, and residents have been assured that the project would be completed without further hindrance.

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill has made this commitment during a community engagement aimed at addressing the frustrations of residents and clarifying any misconceptions they may have on the ongoing rehabilitation works within their community.

A recent protest in the community was occasioned by the village council seeking to acquire a bill of quantities from the project contractor, along with a notice to inform the residents about the commencement of works. And the project was delayed after the contractor had distributed crusher-run beyond the contractual boundary, and then attempted to rectify this mistake by removing the excess crusher- run, resulting in disruption of work and objections by the community.

In an effort to ensure the project is completed, Edghill has instructed that the contractor adhere to construction protocols and continue engagements with the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) and residents.

Residents have accordingly been assured that the entire strip of road would be rehabilitated in a phased manner.

“We have another 600 metres remaining, and if you do 356 (metres) now, you have to do another phase; and then we have to do another phase if we don’t get all 600 (metres) done. That depends on money allocation…you have to do it in portions, everybody is getting development at the same time, and then we come back with a phase two and phase three and we keep moving,” the Public Works Minister has said.

As it relates to the additional layering of approximately 200 tons of crusher-run, the contractor has been advised to stand the responsibility for the oversight. Minister Edghill has also said that works must

be completed within the specified scope and timeline to allow for prompt progression to phase two.

Further, the minister explained that it is the responsibility of the ministry

not made aware of this.

“This was supposed to go to the council, and the council was supposed to know and notify the residents. So, overseer got it, my engineer in the office

told me that he did. Now I am having a singed copy to show that it was delivered… What happens at the council, I can’t take responsibility for that, but I am still apologising to

to ensure the leadership of the community is notified and presented with an unpriced bill of quantities.

On this point, it was explained that the document was delivered and signed by a village representative on February 15, 2024; however, the residents were

Teen accused of breaking into market stall on bail

Ateenager who is accused of stealing at the Anna Regina Market has been granted $50,000 bail.

Eighteen-year-old Arshaad Kowshall, of Reliance, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) appeared at the Suddie Magistrate's Court, before Magistrate Esther Sam on a simple larceny charge.

It is alleged that between November 4 and November 6, 2023, he broke into the stall of 63-year-old Sattie Narine at Anna Regina Market.

He pleaded not guilty to the offense of simple larceny. The case will continue on March 26, 2024.

the residents,” Minister Edghill added.

The first phase is being executed by Rowell Jagroop General Construction Services to the tune of $28.6 million. It spans some 365 metres in length, with another 600 metres to be rehabilitated.

The three-month road contract is part of Government’s community road programme which aims to construct and rehabilitate dilapidated structures across the country.

During the visit, the Public Works Minister disclosed that the ministry would ensure that the rehabilitation of the road is in keeping with the Government’s national build-out plan and its manifesto promise to citizens. (G1)

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill inspecting ongoing works on Nabaclis road (MoPW photo)

Strech of Nabaclis road under construction (MoPW photo)

Residents of Nabaclis West Sideline Dam, East Coast Demerara (MoPW photo)

Calm in Haitian capital extends into 2nd day as US, UN withdraw staff

Haiti's capital was calm on Wednesday, two days after the Prime Minister said he would step down, but the United States and the United Nations began to withdraw staff in a sign they fear peace might not hold.

Prime Minister Ariel Henry said on Monday he would resign once a transitional council takes over, following escalating violence by powerful gangs that has caused thousands to flee their homes.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who met with regional Caribbean leaders and representatives from Haiti's Government and Opposition in Jamaica this week, told reporters on Wednesday that he expected the transition council to come together in the next couple of days.

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM), a regional intergovernmental organisation, has detailed the sectors, political parties and alliances to make up the nine-member council, but has not yet said who will be appointed.

However, Haiti's most powerful gang leader, Jimmy "Barbeque"

Cherizier, who had threatened to overthrow Henry, "dismissed" the transitional council, the Miami Herald reported on Wednesday. Reuters was not able to independently confirm Cherizier's position.

A day earlier, several dozen protested against the transition plan, burning tyres in downtown Port-au-

Prince, but the city was for the most part calm.

Henry travelled to Kenya last month to secure Nairobi's leadership of a long-delayed security mission to fight the gangs, which the UN believes control most of the capital. Violence escalated in his absence and he remained stranded in Puerto Rico

Brazil court suspends criminal lawsuits against former Vale CEO

over dam collapse

ABrazilian court on Wednesday suspended multiple criminal lawsuits against Vale's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Fabio Schvartsman over the deadly 2019 collapse of a tailings dam at a mine owned by the company.

A Minas Gerais state court said in a statement to press that public prosecutors had not pre -

sented enough evidence of criminal conduct by Schvartsman. The court said it had not discussed the former Vale CEO's innocence or culpability.

The court did not respond to a Reuters inquiry on the number of lawsuits dismissed.

Vale said it was not involved in Schvartsman's appeal for the lawsuits' suspension. His defence

said in a statement that the decision recognises the non-existence of any act or omission by him with any causal link with the dam collapse.

A tailings dam at a Vale iron ore mine in the city of Brumadinho, located in Minas Gerais, collapsed in early 2019, killing 270 persons, while also damaging homes, forests, and rivers.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Bird flu strain raises alarm as H5N1 virus kills South American wildlife

The deadly H5N1 bird flu virus has spread more aggressively than ever before in wild birds and marine mammals since arriving in South America in 2022, raising the risk of it evolving into a bigger threat to humans, according to interviews with eight scientists.

Of more immediate concern is evidence the disease, once largely confined to bird species, appears

to be spreading between mammals. This strain has already killed a handful of dolphins in Chile and Peru, some 50,000 seals and sea lions along the coasts, and at least half a million birds regionwide.

To confirm mammal-to-mammal transmission, scientists would likely need to test infections in live animals.

"It's almost certainly happened," said Richard Webby, a virologist at

St Jude's Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. "It's pretty hard to explain some of these large infections and die off without having mammal-to-mammal spread."

The strain has shown up in dozens of bird species, including some migrating species, which can spread it beyond the region, scientists told Reuters. (Excerpt from Reuters)

where he resigned.

Blinken said on Wednesday he had received assurances from Kenyan President William Ruto that the African nation was prepared to lead the mission "as soon as this new council is stood up" and an interim Prime Minister is picked.

Many details on the security force, such as its size, who will contribute troops, its funding, and how it will operate on the ground, have not been decided. Countries have been wary of involvement after abuses in past interventions.

Although progress continues to lag, in Canada, like Haiti a former French colony, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised his country would remain "very, very active" without specifying commitments.

Meanwhile, US Southern Command – a military branch encompassing Latin America and the Caribbean – said it was deploying a team of anti-terrorism Marines to bolster Embassy security and help "non-emergency" personnel leave Haiti.

Non-essential United

Nations staff are also set to start leaving Haiti because of the volatile security, according to a UN spokesperson, who did not say how many were considered non-essential. The body employs 267 international staff and 1220 locals in Haiti.

Neither body commented on the reason for the specific timing of their departures.

In the US state of Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis, an anti-immigration hardliner, said state law enforcement would deploy more than 250 additional officers and soldiers and more than a dozen air and sea vessels to the southern coast "to protect our state".

“You cannot go anywhere”

Although many residents of Port-au-Prince resumed their business on Wednesday, buying produce from street vendors and collecting water in containers, people remain blocked from large parts of the capital that remain under gang control.

There was little sign of visible gang activity, however, and no new attacks reported on key infrastructure or Government offices.

MSC said it had suspended all shipping calls at Haiti's main cargo port terminal, which it said remained "not fully operational" after containers were looted. Shipments will be diverted to Caucedo in the Dominican Republic, it said.

"Things have gotten stranger. You cannot function. You cannot go around. You cannot go anywhere," said Louis Jean Ezechiel, 31, from the hillside PetionVille district. "All other places in the country are inaccessible."

American author Mitch Albom said he, his wife and eight others working at an orphanage in Haiti were evacuated overnight on Monday by helicopter with help from Republican lawmakers.

Haiti has long been im-

poverished and politically volatile, but has become increasingly lawless since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, with the country's outgunned police struggling to maintain security against increasingly powerful and brutal gangs and with protests against the unelected Henry.

James Boyard, a security expert at the State University of Haiti, said calls from some sectors in Haiti for an amnesty for gang leaders constituted "a deliberate strategy to make this idea more morally acceptable".

If such an amnesty were issued, he said, this could see gangs' alleged financial backers, who have been subjected to international sanctions, let off the hook.

Haitian immigrants in New York voiced wariness of more international intervention and worry about family members facing insecurity back home, children who cannot go to school and a growing exodus of educated young people moving abroad.

Radio Soleil station director Ricot Dupuy said people were "cautiously optimistic" on the plan brokered with Caricom in Jamaica, but feared if the gangs remained uncontrollable, more people would flee the country.

The UN estimates more than 360,000 persons have been internally displaced and thousands killed amid food shortages and widespread reports of rape, torture, arson, and ransom kidnappings by gang members.

"Haiti has been transformed into hell and the international community contributed significantly to that," Dupuy said. "When a house is on fire, you can put all the Police, all the guns you want, but I'm not going to stay in a house that is burning. I'm going to run. And when I run, I won't care where I go."

(Reuters)

Peru Police arrest 18 in crackdown on arms trafficking, probing candidate's murder

Hundreds of Peruvian Police Officers raided dozens of properties around the country on Wednesday, arresting 18 persons as part of an investigation into illegal arms trafficking and its role in the murder of an Ecuadorean presidential candidate last year.

In the "mega-operation," some 700 officers raid-

ed houses and offices in four districts of the capital Lima and in the Tumbes, Cajamarca and Piura regions on Peru's border with Ecuador, said Jorge Chavez, who heads the Peru prosecutor's office against organised crime.

Chavez said the operation, with support from the US Embassy, targeted companies that allegedly import-

ed weapons, mainly from the US and Turkey, and later paid low-income individuals to acquire licences and purchase the guns.

The weapons later ended up in the hands of criminal gangs, Chavez said, including those responsible for the murder of Ecuadorean presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Street vendors carry goods for sale as they walk near the Presidential Palace after Haiti's Prime Minister Ariel Henry pledged to step down following months of escalating gang violence, in Port-auPrince, Haiti, March 12, 2024 (Reuters/Ralph Tedy Erol photo)

Around the World

OIL NEWS

Oil prices up 3% to 4-month high on US crude stock drop, Russian refinery attacks

Oil prices rose about three per cent to a four-month high on Wednesday on a surprise withdrawal in US crude inventories, a bigger-than-expected drop in US gasoline stocks and potential supply disruptions after Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries.

Brent futures rose US$2.11, or 2.6 per cent, to settle at US$84.03 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose US$2.16, or 2.8 per cent, to settle at US$79.72.

That was the highest close for Brent since November 6.

The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) said energy firms pulled a surprise 1.5 million barrels of crude from stockpiles during the week ending March 8.

That compares with the 1.3 million barrel build analysts forecast in a Reuters poll and the 5.5 million barrel withdrawal shown in data from the American Petroleum Institute (API), an industry group.

US gasoline futures , meanwhile, showed the biggest price increase across the energy complex, rising about 2.9 per cent to their highest since September 2023 after EIA said energy firms pulled a much larger-than-expected 5.7 million barrels of gasoline from stockpiles last week.

That compares with the 1.9 million-barrel withdrawal from gasoline stocks that analysts forecast in a Reuters poll.

"Gasoline is driving us today. There is growing concerns about growing tightness with a combination of seasonal maintenance and other outages," said Phil Flynn, an analyst at Price Futures Group.

That increase in gasoline prices boosted the gasoline – and 321— crack spreads, which measure refining profit margins, to their highest since August and September 2023, respectively.

In Russia, Ukraine struck oil refineries in a second day of heavy drone attacks, causing a fire at Rosneft's biggest refinery in what Russian President Vladimir Putin said was an attempt to disrupt his country's presidential election this week.

“As Russian refining capacity is damaged by Ukrainian drone strikes, this can result in Russia exporting less diesel fuel with a potential for Russia to start importing gasoline and that, of course, will affect prices around the world," said Andrew Lipow, President of Lipow Oil Associates in Houston.

Putin told the West that Russia was technically ready for nuclear war and that if the US sent troops to Ukraine, it would be considered a significant escalation of the conflict. Putin, however, also said he saw no need for the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

Oil and the wider financial markets also found support from sentiment that the latest data on US inflation will not derail interest rate cuts by midyear.

Lower rates can boost economic growth and support oil demand.

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), meanwhile, stuck to its forecast for oil demand growth of 2.25 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2024, higher than many other forecasts.

The International Energy Agency (IEA), which expects demand growth to be much lower, updates its forecasts today. (Reuters)

Putin warns the West: Russia is ready for nuclear war

President Vladimir Putin told the West on Wednesday that Russia was technically ready for nuclear war and that if the US sent troops to Ukraine, it would be considered a significant escalation of the conflict.

Putin, speaking ahead of a March 15-17 election which is certain to give him another six years in power, added that the nuclear war scenario was not "rushing" up and he saw no need for the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

"From a military-technical point of view, we are, of course, ready," Putin, 71, told Rossiya-1 television and news agency RIA when asked whether Russia was really ready for a nuclear war.

Putin said the US understood that if it deployed American troops on Russian territory – or to Ukraine –Russia would treat the move as an intervention. Moscow claims to have annexed four regions of Ukraine and says

they are now fully part of Russia.

"(In the US) there are enough specialists in the field of Russian-American relations and in the field of strategic restraint," said Putin.

"Therefore, I don't think that here everything is rushing to it (nuclear confrontation), but we are ready for this."

The Biden Administration has said it has no plans to send troops to Ukraine, but has stressed the need to approve a stalled security aid bill that would ensure Ukrainian troops got the weapons they need to continue the war, now in its third year.

It did not immediately respond on Wednesday to a request for a comment on Putin's remarks, but the White House has said in the past it has seen no sign that Russia is preparing to use nuclear weapons despite what it calls Putin's "nuclear sabre-rattling". (Excerpt from Reuters)

Israel says it will 'flood' Gaza with aid as pressure mounts to do more; aid centre hit

Israel will try to "flood" the Gaza Strip with humanitarian aid from a variety of entry points, the main military spokesman said on Wednesday as international pressure mounted to address the growing problem of hunger in the besieged enclave.

After more than five months of war in Gaza, aid agencies have warned that the area's 2.3 million population face a growing risk of famine unless food supplies are stepped up sharply and they have accused Israel of not doing enough to ensure sufficient aid gets through.

Israel says it has placed no limits on the amount of aid that it will allow in to Gaza, and blames failures by the aid agencies for delays, but it has faced mounting demands even from its closest allies to do more.

"We are trying to flood the area, to flood it with humanitarian aid," military spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari told a group of foreign reporters.

Earlier on Wednesday, the military announced that six aid trucks with supplies from the World Food

Organisation had entered the northern part of the Gaza Strip, where the hunger crisis has been especially acute, through a crossing in the security fence known as the 96th gate.

More such convoys would follow as well as deliveries from other entry points, complemented by air drops and seaborne aid cargoes, Hagari said.

Hagari acknowledged, however, that getting supplies into the enclave was only one part of the problem and more needed to be done to solve the problem of how

to distribute it fairly and efficiently to desperately needy people.

Meanwhile, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees says a member of staff was killed and 22 others were injured when Israeli forces hit a food distribution centre in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip.

UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said attacks on its facilities had "become commonplace in blatant disregard to international humanitarian law".

(Excerpts from Reuters and BBC News)

Nigerian kidnappers demand US$620,000 for release of school hostages

Gunmen who kidnapped 286 students and staff from a school in northern Nigeria last week have demanded a total of one billion naira (US$620,432) for their release, a spokesman for the families of the hostages and a local councillor told Reuters.

The school children, some older students and members of the school staff were abducted on March 7 in the town of Kuriga, in Nigeria's northwestern Kaduna State, in the first mass kidnapping in the country since 2021.

Jubril Aminu, a community leader who acts as a spokesman for the families of the hostages, said he had received a call on his phone from the kidnappers on Tuesday.

"They made a total of a one-billion (naira) ransom

demand for all the pupils, students and staff of the school," Aminu said.

"They gave an ultimatum to pay the ransom within 20 days, effective

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Idris

from the date of the kidnap. They said they will kill all the students and the staff if the ransom demand is not met."

Ibrahim, an elect -

ed official from the Kuriga Ward municipal council, confirmed the ransom demand and the amount.

President Vladimir Putin speaks during an interview in Moscow, March 12, 2024 (Sputnik/Gavriil Grigorov/Pool via Reuters)

A boy holds a sign to protest against the kidnapping of hundreds of pupils by gunmen after the Friday prayer in Kaduna, Nigeria, March 8, 2024 (Reuters/Stringer)

DAILY HOROSCOPES

(March 21-April 19)

(April 20-May 20)

(May 21-June 20)

PEANUTS

(June 21-July 22)

(July 23-Aug. 22)

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

Don't underestimate someone's persistence. Temptation will cost you. Think through situations and put your energy where it will do you good. It's time to make better decisions.

A change will be rejuvenating. Shake off what's old and worn out and embrace new ideas. Build your confidence and take part in an adventure. Romance is favored.

Put your energy into learning and preparing for what you want to do next. Don't take risks. Say no to anyone who wants to speak on your behalf. Someone will get the wrong impression if you aren't specific.

If you don't like what you hear, remove yourself from the conversation. Focus on what you can achieve and make substitutes wherever necessary. Plan something special with a loved one.

Fly under the radar today. The less conspicuous you are, the more you will achieve. Put a little muscle and money into your goal. Say no to temptation and don't let others make choices for you.

Don't give someone the chance to take control. Push your way to the front line and take responsibility for what happens next. Don't downplay your skills and experience.

Say what's on your mind. Discussions will help clear a path to new beginnings. Rethink how you want to address joint ventures, shared expenses or fundamental beliefs.

Don't let what others do upset you or slow you down. Follow your instincts and take the path that offers you the highest return. It's OK to do things differently.

Keep an open mind, verify what you hear and be reluctant to follow someone else when you can do things for yourself. Make a lifestyle or financial change that promotes long-term benefits.

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Pay attention to domestic and financial issues, and keep everything running smoothly. Don't count on someone who talks big to come through for you. Take the initiative.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

Look at the big picture. What you learn through observation will help you stop anyone who tries to slow you down. Your persistence and intelligence will enable you to reach your goal.

Put your best foot forward and use your persuasive powers to draw attention to your mission. Don't be afraid to step outside your comfort zone and engage in something that intrigues you.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

PICKLES

ARCHIE

Nrently in Cuba to compete in the Cuba

14, 2024.

The duo will compete in the singles, doubles and mixed doubles events.

GFIFA

The seminar is scheduled for April 10 to 12 in Montego Bay, Jamaica; and Lewis will join other referees selected by FIFA from across the region, including representatives from Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Belize, Curacao, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States.

The course, which is being facilitated by FIFA technical instructors, will cover theoretical and practical sessions designed to “develop and improve top referee instructors using FIFA materials and concepts.”

GFF 3rd Vice President and former referee Dion Inniss has shared that the comprehensive workshop is

a “high-level training programme, which from all accounts is well merited”. He added, “I have no doubts you will represent Guyana with distinction and, more impor-

cess to premier-level programmes facilitated by FIFA and CONCACAF.

GFF President Wayne Forde has reiterated that officials are “key to shaping the

tantly, return well-equipped to impart the knowledge gained.”

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) continues to make significant strides in elevating the standard of football in Guyana through continuous investment in providing players, coaches and officials with consistent ac-

quality of the game, to upholding the highest principles and standards, therefore it is a must that they, too, receive the same level of attention and investment as players, coaches and administrative staff, in order to foster a culture of professionalism and competence across all facets of the sport.”

Guyana currently has

In a recent missive, the Guyana Badminton Association (GBA extended them best wishes and expressed hope that they would emulate their winning streak as they did in the Trinidad & Tobago International, when they copped three silver medals.

This tournament falls at the end of the Olympic qualifying period, and athletes from around the world are competing therein. Among them are athletes from Ireland, Guatemala, Indonesia, India, Kenya, Malta, Canada, Peru, Brazil, Jamaica and Trinidad.

The GBA has also expressed gratitude to the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) and the National Sports Commission (NSC) for making Guyana’s participation at this lucrative tournament possible.

P&P Insurance Brokers & Consultants Limited on Wednesday made a donation to the Demerara Cricket Club for its awards ceremony, which would be held shortly. The donation, made at the company’s corporate headquarters in Lamaha Street, consists of 2 bats, a pair of bowling boots, and a pair of wicketkeeping gloves.

The presentation was done by Executive Director of P&P, Mr. Vikash Panday, to former Guyana and West Indies all-rounder Mr. Roger Harper, President of the club. In brief remarks, Mr. Bish Panday, Chief Executive Officer of P&P Insurance, said P&P has a

Thenational under-15 male cricketers will from today, Thursday March 14, commence a oneweek camp ahead of their participation in the Cricket West Indies Rising Stars Under-15 tournament in Antigua later this month.

The Adrian Hetmyerled squad will be taken through their paces by coach Latchman Yadram, and training sessions would he held from March 14-21 at the Malteenoes Sports Club ground at Thomas Lands in Georgetown. The Guyana contingent will depart on March 24 for the 50-over tournament.

Hetmyer, the nephew of Guyana and West Indies batsman Shimron Hetmyer, will have prolific opener Emmanuel Lewis as his deputy in the 14-man squad, which reads:

Parmeshwar Ram, Justin Dowlin, Danvir Seegobin, Emmanuel Lewis, Adrian Hetmyer, Rovaldo Pereira, Richard Ramdehol, Khush Seegobin, Sohail Mohammed (WK), Shamar Apple, Brandon Henry,

long history of supporting not only cricket, but sports in general. That support has been consistent year after year since the inception of P&P.

Mr. Panday also said the Demerara Cricket Club is one of the most outstanding clubs in Guyana and the Caribbean, and it has produced many iconic players, too numerous to mention.

He congratulated Mr. Harper on arranging the awards function, as it certainly provides motivation and encouragement to the players; and in response, Mr. Harper thanked Mr. Panday for the contribution, and extended best wishes to the company.

Gilbert Griffith, Jathniel Nurse and Arif Khan.

Coach: Latchman Yadram

Manager: Yogeshwar

Lall Reserves: Trilok Nanan, Reyaz Latif, Bhomesh Lall, Feeaz Baksh, Kumulchan Ramnarace, Eron Benjamin and Mickle Sharma.

The U15 national team was selected following the Inter-County 50-over competition, which Demerara won in early February. The team is being sponsored by OES Guyana Inc., whose sponsorship will assist in

preparing and outfitting the players for the regional tournament, set to bowl off on March 26. See Guyana’s Fixtures

below: March 26 - vs Barbados at Liberta March 28 - vs Trinidad and Tobago at Coolidge

Cricket Ground March 30 - vs Jamaica at Bethesda April 1 - vs Windward Islands at Bethesda April 3 - vs Leeward Islands at Liberta

All matches will bowl off at 09:30hrs.

uyana Football Federation (GFF) Referee Instructor/ Assessor Natasha Lewis is slated to attend a

Instructors Seminar in Jamaica next month.

ational Badminton players Akili Haynes and Priyanna Ramdhani are cur-

International Tournament which serves off today, Thursday, March

Priyanna Ramdhani and Akili Hayes are seasoned mixed doubles partners

Referee

CG United Women’s Super50 tournament…

The St. Paul’s Sports Complex in Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis, was treated to a thrilling comeback performance from the Guyana Women’s Senior Team, who thumped Jamaica to pick up a 5-wicket victory in the fifth and final round of the CG United Women’s Super50 Cup on Wednesday.

However, the last laugh was enjoyed by the Jamaicans, who claimed another Women’s Super50 title by pipping the Guyanese on points, even while winning the same number of games; 4 in 5 rounds.

On Wednesday morning, the Jamaican Women won the toss and opted to bat first. After an early stumble, wherein Keneshia Ferron fell for a duck to Cyanna Retemiah’s bowling, Rashada Williams and Chedean Nation built a solid partnership until the heavens opened.

At the time of the rain delay, the Jamaica Women were 42-1, but the Guyanese seemed to be reinvigorat-

ed during the break, as they returned to reduce Jamaica to 72 all out in 27.1 overs. Williams scored 31 off 55 balls, and Nation scored 20 off 32 deliveries; those were the only two respectable scores, as the next highest was just six runs.

Ashmini Munisar again had a great outing with the ball, claiming 3-11 in 6 overs; and both Niya Latchman and Shanetta Grimmond picked up 2 wickets, for 1 run in 1.1 overs and 20 runs in 7 overs respectively.

In reply, Guyana looked anxious to get the chase over with. They reached their target in 17.4 overs, but lost 5 wickets along the way.

Mandy Mangru stood out with 24 from 38 balls, while Captain Shemaine Campbell contributed 21 runs in 29 deliveries.

For Jamaica, Jaunel Deers claimed 2-4 in 1.4 overs, while Neisha-Ann Waisome had another 2 for 23 in 4 overs.

Although Guyana and Jamaica

Guyana trash Jamaica, but miss out on championship

have won the same number of matches in the tour nament, Jamaica’s bonus points have granted them the edge, and thus the ti tle victory, de throning 2023 double champi ons Barbados Women. The Women’s teams will now turn their atten tion to the T20 Blaze tournament, set to bowl off this Sunday. Guyana will take on Trinidad and Tobago in their opening match from 14:30hrs.

CWI pledges in-country ticket sales for T20 World Cup

Following discussions during the 46th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), Dr. Kishore Shallow, President of Cricket West Indies, has affirmed the organization’s commitment to ensuring accessible ticket sales for the up - coming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

Acknowledging the region’s reliance on cash transactions and the importance of inclusive access to sporting events, Dr. Shallow emphasized Cricket West Indies’ lead ership in facilitating wide spread participation in the tournament.

“At Cricket West Indies, we prioritise the inclusion of all cricket en thusiasts in experiencing the excitement of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup,” he

declared. “In alignment with discussions during the Caricom meeting, we are committed to making tickets available at retail outlets across the Caribbean, ensuring that our fans across the region can engage with the tournament directly.”

The decision aligns with Cricket West Indies’ ethos of promoting acces -

the cricketing fraternity. With the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup poised to showcase the best of cricketing talent and camaraderie, Dr. Shallow expressed confidence in delivering a memorable experience for fans across the region.

“As we prepare for what promises to be an exceptional tournament, we recognize the significance of making tickets readily accessible to all,” he remarked “We are dedicated to leading efforts to ensure that the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is enjoyed by every cricket fan, reflecting the inclusive spirit of our beloved sport.”

The initiative reflects Cricket West Indies’ proactive approach to meeting the needs of its diverse audience, embodying a commitment to fostering unity and inclusivity through cricket.

Assuria backs Kares CrossFit Caribbean Championship

ration at the Kares CrossFit Caribbean Championship. With participants hailing from across the Caribbean, United States and Europe, the championship promises to be a truly international affair, showcasing the best in fitness and athleticism.

Those requiring further information about the Kares CrossFit Caribbean Championship, and those wishing to join the excitement are invited to visit the Kares CrossFit Caribbean Championship Facebook and Instagram pages.

Kares CrossFit Caribbean Championship is thrilled to announce its continued partnership with Assuria Insurance as a proud sponsor for the upcoming event on April 6th and 7th.

With the steadfast support of Assuria Insurance for this third consecutive event, the competition will take place at the Aquatic Center and the National Park Tarmac, and participants from United States, Europe, Suriname, French Guiana, Trinidad, Barbados, Bahamas, Netherlands and Guyana would be hosted.

The Kares CrossFit Caribbean Championship has become a beacon for fitness enthusiasts, drawing competitors from diverse backgrounds to showcase their skills and determination. This year’s event prom-

ises to be the most exciting yet, with athletes converging from various regions to compete in this exhilarating CrossFit competition.

“We are immensely grateful for Assuria Insurance’s continued support of the Kares CrossFit Caribbean Championship,” said Jordana Ramsay-Gonsalves, Event Organizer of the championship. “As a leading insurance provider in the Caribbean region, their commitment to our event speaks volumes about their dedication to promoting health, fitness, and community engagement. Together, we aim to inspire athletes from all corners of the globe to push their limits and celebrate the spirit of competition.”

Athletes and spectators can look forward to an electrifying weekend of competition, camaraderie, and inspi-

Fiona Sooklall (left) of Assuria Insurance making the presentation to organizer of the Kares CrossFit Caribbean Championship, Jordana Ramsay-Gonsalves

CWI has vowed to make in-country ticket sales happen

Ashmini Munisar had another good outing, taking 3-11

West Indies Championships…

Anderson, Imlach stand tall on Day 1

The Guyana Harpy Eagles (GHE) came with a point to prove on Wednesday, producing a solid batting performance as the West Indies 4-Day Championships resumed in Round 4.

The Barbados Pride won the toss and obligated the GHE to bat first; and the GHE saw out the day’s play

to remain unbeaten on 2315 in 89.2 overs by close of play. The Guyanese top order worked hard, but things began to come undone in the latter overs of Day 1.

Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Matthew Nandu got things going for the Harpy Eagles, and their partnership lasted for 25 overs. Nandu departed for 28 in

72 delivers, having been run out by Jason Holder, and Chanderpaul, who has not quite been in touch this tournament, pressed on but missed out on what would have been a welcome half- century. Instead, the Guyanese batter hit 40, consisting of 4 boundaries, in 145 deliveries.

The partnership be-

Western, Police stay unbeaten

Round

3 of the KFC Elite League continued on

Tuesday evening at the Guyana Football Federation’s National Training Center at Providence, East Bank Demerara with Western Tigers surging back to the top of the points table and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) FC maintaining their place in the top three.

However, their respective opponents on Tuesday night, Monedderlust FC and Buxton United, were not as fortunate, registering their third consecutive loss in as many rounds.

The first game saw Police getting past Buxton 3-1, after the former led on the scoresheet for much of the second half. In the 41st minute, Buxton’s Tehaw Gordon received a high pass, and was able to outrun the Police defence. Well out of his box, the Police keeper was unable to get a touch on Gordon’s shot, resulting in Buxton’s consolation goal.

In the second half, a vengeful Police played a more aggressive game and

were finally rewarded with a penalty opportunity in the 74th. Although Nicholas McArthur’s penalty shot was saved by the Buxton keeper, Anthony Benfield was able to tap in the equalizer in the 75th. Adrian Aaron then handed Police the lead in the 80th minute, after which Junio Redmon made it a 3-1 affair in the 86th minute.

The game following was a one-sided affair, as Western Tigers secured another clean sheet. Monedderlust were able to hold off their opponents, but ran out of juice after half an hour of play.

Andrew Murray netted the first of his hat trick in the 32nd minute, and then extended Western’s tally in the 39th. Trayon Bobb found favour in the 45th+2, to make it a 3-0 game by intermission. Monedderlust again did well to stifle Western for much of the second stanza, but it fell away in stoppage time when Murray completed his triple in the 90th+2. Samuel Garnett then pushed the score to 5-0 with a goal of his own in the 90th+4.

tween Vice Captain Kevlon Anderson and Captain Tevin Imlach saw Guyana through to a handful of overs short of the day’s play. Imlach was already 20 runs into his innings before Anderson joined him at the crease, but Anderson came with a plan in mind, and got to his half century in proverbially no time. Anderson brought up his second firstclass half century in 77 balls, and went on to hit 87, consisting of 16 fours in 129 deliveries, before becoming Kemar Roach’s only victim of the day.

Imlach completed his half century in 139 balls, but was out soon after hitting 55 in 162 balls. Jason Holder struck twice late in the day, picking up Imlach and Kemol Savory’s wickets to slow the Harpy Eagles down. Savory didn’t spend much time at the crease; he perished for 7 runs in 18 balls. As such, Kevin Sinclair was left at the crease at close of play, on 5* from 12 deliveries thus far.

Returning to the Barbados pride squad, Holder claimed 2-29 in 15.2 overs, while Kemar Roach took 1-35 in 20 overs. Jomel Warrican was responsible for the other Guyanese

While the League was scheduled to continue with the final round 3 clash between the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) FC and Ann’s Grove United FC today, Thursday, March 14, that game has been postponed owing to a number of GDF players being in the national team training currently.

According to an Elite League rule, ‘If 4 players from a club’s current GFF register are summoned for national duties, that club may request the postponement of match(es) during which said players are called.’ It is assumed that the GDF Club leadership made the requisite request to the GFF Secretariat.

As such, the Women’s Developmental League 1 Round 2 will kick off in place of the Elite League fixture tonight at the same venue.

Prior to that, at 18:30hrs, there will be an exhibition match of national team players, after which GDF’s Women and Pakuri Jaguars will battle from 20:30hrs.

Caricom national security, law enforcement ministers prepare for T20 World Cup

The First Special Meeting of the Council for National Security and Law Enforcement (CONSLE) and Attorneys-General of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Host Countries was held on 8-9 March 2024 at the Hyatt Regency in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, under the Chairmanship of the Honourable Dale Marshall, SC, AttorneyGeneral and Minister of Legal Affairs of Barbados.

This follows an agreement at the Forty-Sixth Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), which was held in Georgetown, Guyana, to establish a Committee of Ministers with responsibility for Home Affairs, National Security, and AttorneysGeneral of the Caricom host nations for the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

The ICC Men’s T20 World

Cup 2024 will take place from 4–30 June 2024. Forty-one matches will be played in six (6) member states - Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago.

Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago will play host to two semi-final matches, with the title decider being played in Barbados on 29 June. Three locations in North America would also host matches.

High on the meeting’s agenda was the establishment of a permanent single domestic space (SDS), which requires a review of operational requirements, proposed Caricom visa regime, supporting infrastructural and security requirements, and legislation.

Meeting participants also reviewed the ICC and Cricket West Indies (CWI) requirements for the T20 Men’s Cricket Tournament, including completing assessments of

the current security landscape and public health concerns.

The Special Meeting formalised the work already being done by naturally occurring clusters of institutions of Caricom, comprising Caricom Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS), Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), Regional Security System (RSS), and legal networks.

The action plan for hosting the event continues to be strengthened by the identification and mitigation of gaps for the efficient delivery of the games. It was decided that the necessary requirements for mutual recognition of visas would be considered at the Special Meeting of Chiefs of Immigration and Comptrollers of Customs (CICC) in St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, from 11-12 March 2024.

The Guyana Harpy Eagles were sent in to bat first

Imlach hit a Captain’s knock of 55 from 162

The Honourable Dale Marshal, SC, Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs of Barbados (second from right), is flanked by Alison Drayton, Assistant Secretary-General, Human and Social Development, Caricom Secretariat, and Lt Col Michael Jones, Executive Director, Caricom IMPACS. Sherwin Toyne-Stephenson, Programme Manager, Crime and Security, Caricom Secretariat, is to the extreme left

wicket, with figures of 1-31 from 16 overs. Play will resume at the

Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua from 10:00hrs today.

A look at the one-sided affair between Western Tigers (yellow) and Monedderlust FC