Guyana Times - Thursday, November 23, 2023.pdf

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Issue No. 5562

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023

Defence Meeting in Brazil

Venezuela’s aggression not only threatens Guyana’s sovereignty, but also stability of Region – PM Phillips Page 3

...says Guyana has always adopted a peaceful approach

WHAT'S INSIDE:

1400 small businesses to receive $300M in grants by year end P13 …$680M in grants issued for last 3 years

Appeal Court to rule on election petition case on Monday P11 Mahdia woman charged with attempted murder of husband P8

“Violent recidivist” Fmr Colombian President rallies gets life sentence for killing int’l support for Guyana against childhood friend – says Maduro regime manipulating Venezuelan aggression Venezuelan citizens with “false nationalism” Improvised Page 7

P14

P10

Duo charged for Single mother brutally murdered in Mahaica home guns, ammo found

weapons, other contraband items found during prison raid

– found with knife stuck to throat, mouth stuffed with cloth – 5-year-old son locked in room

Parika housewife chopped by husband after refusing to P2 reconcile

Page 2

in barrel shipped from Atlanta, Georgia Page 10

2 NEWS

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Single mother brutally murdered in Mahaica home – found with knife stuck to throat, mouth stuffed with cloth – 5-year-old son locked in room

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n accountant of the CAMEX Restaurants Inc was on Wednesday morning found stabbed to death in the lower flat of her home at Lot 26 Unity, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara.

The dead woman has been identified as 38-yearold Chooromanie Tulsi, a mother of one. Guyana Times understands that the woman had resided at the family house with her 5-year-old son. Her mother and brother are residing overseas.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the woman had last been seen alive at about 19:30h, when she collected her son from a family member in the same village.

The gruesome discovery was made at about 8:00h on Wednesday in the lower flat of the house. She was found lying on the ground with a piece of cloth stuffed inside her mouth and a knife stuck to the centre of her throat. She was clad in a multi-coloured 'night dress' which was reportedly pulled up to reveal her body.

When contacted a sister, Chandrowatie Persaud, explained that Tulsi and her son used to stay in the upper flat of the house, but the woman would normally wake up between 4:00h and 4:30h

Murdered: Chooromanie Tulsi

to prepare her son’s snacks and lunch for school. The kitchen is in the lower flat of the house.

“After she was finished preparing his snacks, she would go back upstairs and wake him up…prepare him for school, and they would leave together at about 6:30h… She would then drop him off by her sister-in-law, and she would make her way to work… When she returns (in) the evening, she would collect him and they would go home together…

That was the last time her sister-in-law saw her,” Persaud noted.

This sister further stated that after time had elapsed on Wednesday and the child had not been dropped off, the sister-inlaw went to the house to

check on them, since it was an unusual occurrence.

“When her sister-inlaw reached the house, the door was locked from the outside, but the car was still parked in the yard; which means that she did not leave the house…the sister-in-law called several times but no answer…”

Thinking that something was amiss, the sisterin-law contacted the Police at the Mahaica Police Station and explained the situation. Upon arriving at the house, the Police reportedly ordered that the locks be broken to get access.

“When they break the lock and go in the house, she was lying on the ground next to the kitchen sink with a piece of red cloth stuck in her mouth and her face was partially covered… I see a knife, probably one of her kitchen knives, stuck to her neck in the throat area… her nightgown was pulled up,” the aggrieved sister added.

Persaud noted that the place was ransacked, but said she believes that her sister might have put up a fight against the perpetrator.

“Things scattered all over the place, but it had to be like when she was fighting off the persons, whatever her hand could have grabbed, she pulled…

the only thing missing was the black handbag that she used for work… in this had her money, bank cards, ID cards and other documents… So, from that alone, we are convinced that it was not a robbery.”

The five-year-old son was subsequently found locked in his room.

The sister added that Tulsi would hardly be at home, and her neighbours are far apart. The neighbours stated that they did not see any unusual movement in the morning, and as such, the family believes that the woman might have been murdered in the wee hours.

Tulsi was described as a loving mother who took care of her child's every need. The child’s father and Tulsi have separated for years. He now resides overseas.

Meanwhile, this publication understands that only recently a female security officer was attacked

Tulsi's sister pointing to the spot where the body was found

after leaving work one evening. After being attacked, she reportedly raised an alarm and the perpetrator made good his escape. At

the time, the suspect was carrying a knife.

The matter was later reported to the Police.

Parika housewife chopped by husband after refusing to reconcile

A

farmer has been arrested after he reportedly attacked and chopped his wife on Wednesday at Parika Backdam, East Bank Essequibo (EBE).

The injured woman has

been identified as 48-yearold Cherriel Fredricks, whose four fingers have been severed during the cutlass attack. She remains hospitalized.

Police have said that the woman and her common-law partner had had a misunderstanding about three weeks ago, and that had led to her moving out of the home they had shared and reportedly going to stay with her sister, also in Parika Backdam.

On Wednesday, at about 06:00h, the husband was working in the area, and he went over to where his wife was staying and pleaded with her to return home. Fredricks was, however, reluctant to return home, but the suspect insisted by holding on to her hand and trying to pull her out of her sister’s yard. In retaliation, she grabbed a rolling pin and dealt him a blow to his head.

Upon seeing what was happening, the victim’s daughter went to her mother’s rescue with a cutlass in her hands, but the suspect managed to take it away, and he then turned his attention to his wife and chopped her several times to her left hand.

After committing the act, he attempted to escape, but was cornered by residents, who tied him up and handed him over to the Police at Parika.

The cutlass which he had disposed of was retrieved and was also handed over to the Police.

The injured woman was taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, where she was treated before later being transferred to West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH). The suspect remains in custody, pending charges.

NEWS

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

BRIDGE The Demerara OPENINGS Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, November 23 – 01:30h-03:00h and Friday, November 24 – 02:30h-04:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Thursday, November 23 – 13:20h-14:50h and Friday, November 24 – 14:00h-15:30h .

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunshine and thundery showers are expected during the day. Clear skies followed by light rain showers are expected at night. Temperatures should range between 24 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to East North-Easterly between 2.68 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 13:32h reaching a maximum height of 2.50 metres.

Low Tide: 07:02h and 19:32h reaching minimum heights of 0.78 metre and 0.69 metre.

Defence Meeting in Brazil

Venezuela’s aggression not only threatens Guyana’s sovereignty, but also stability of Region – PM Phillips ...says Guyana has always adopted a peaceful approach

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egional peace and border security were among topics discussed during a Defense and Foreign Affairs Meeting in Brazil, where Guyana was represented by a delegation led by Prime Minister Brigadier (retired) Mark Phillips, who informed the forum of the threat posed by Venezuela to Guyana and the region at large.

Delivering an address at the inaugural South American Dialogue Meeting between Defense and Foreign Ministers in Brasilia, Brazil, Phillips spoke extensively about the rising tension between Guyana and Venezuela, the military buildup on the border, and the December 3 referendum planned by the Spanish-speaking country.

"Besides posing an existential threat to Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, in violation of International Law, it represents a threat to the peace and stability of the region as a whole,” Phillips told the fo-

PM Brigadier (Retired) Mark Phillips led Guyana’s delegation to the meeting. To the far left is acting Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken

Ukraine's sovereignty, and he expressed alarm over the crisis in Gaza.

Further, he expressed Guyana’s solidarity with Haiti as he spoke about the deteriorating situation, which he described as “deeply concerning”. According to the Prime Minister, there is a need for inter-state collaboration that will go towards regional safety and security.

According to Phillips, the UN Charter and international law must serve as a “guarantee for peace”. He also reaffirmed Guyana’s commitment “to the Charter of the UN, to the purposes and principles of the organization, including the peaceful settlement of disputes."

And with Guyana slated to be a non-permanent member of the UN Security

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2023

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Prime Minister Phillips and other members of the Guyana delegation during the meeting

rum.

According to Phillips, Guyana has always adopted a peaceful approach, even approaching the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for a final, binding and peaceful solution. By turning to the ICJ, Phillips noted, Guyana is seeking provisional measures to prevent Venezuela’s threats from escalating.

On the other hand, he pointed out that Venezuela’s referendum is a threat to stability in the region, and by challenging Guyana’s territorial integrity, the referendum and the inflammatory rhetoric of the Venezuelan politicians are an “existential threat” to Guyana.

In his address to the forum, the Prime Minister further stressed that “no effort should be spared” to avoid conflict and ensure that the South American region remains a “zone of peace and cooperation”.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister also spoke about other geopolitical conflicts, including the Russian/ Ukraine conflict. Guyana, he said, continues to condemn Russia's violation of

Council from next year, Phillips also emphasized Guyana’s readiness to play its role in confronting existing and emerging threats to international peace and security “in a principled manner.”

The first South American meeting on political-military dialogue was convened by the Government of Brazil in keeping with the mandate of the Brasilia Consensus dated May 30, 2023. The consensus had been agreed upon by the Presidents of the South American Region, and was aimed at the resumption of regular dialogues on strategic regional issues.

Phillips has lauded the initiative. "This defence forum offers a valuable platform for reinforcing our collective aspirations for a safe and secure region. We are inherently connected by geography, unified by culture, and interdependent in trade.

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guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023

Views

Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Industrial Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

Noise nuisance I

n Guyana, the law on “noise nuisance” to individuals is contained in Sub-section 1 of Section 174A of the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act, as amended by Act No. 1 of 1989: “No person shall, in any road, street, public place or land, or in building or premises, by operating or causing or suffering to be operated any stereo set, jukebox, radio, wireless loudspeaker, gramophone, amplifier, automatic piano or similar instrument of music, or by any other means whatsoever, make, or cause or suffer to be made, any noise which shall be so loud and so continuous or repetitive as to cause a nuisance to occupants of any premises in the neighbourhood.”

A “nuisance” is basically something that causes some level of inconvenience or annoyance to a person. Few Guyanese today would dispute that the law, having been enacted over one-quarter of a century ago, does not cater for the wonders of electronic creation, projection, and amplification of noise that today bombards the unwary citizen.

Over the last decade, the complaints to the press by citizens from all across the country have become more frequent; and, more pertinently, increasingly desperate. It is clear that the law has not served as a deterrent to the offence, much less to its eradication; and there have been calls, all the way up to a committee in the last Parliament, for amendments to encompass the present circumstance.

In fact, back in 2022, the Guyana Police Force signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to tackle noise nuisance. Due to the collaboration with the EPA, the Police Force has implemented heftier fines. “The fine for the first conviction is very small – $7500 to $10,000 and to $15,000. For the second offence, $10,000 to $20,000. Under the EPA Act, it is much heftier. It starts at $80,000 to $750,000,” the new fine structure stated.

But even when the law is applied by the Police against offenders in front of the magistracy, which is more done in the breach, a slap-on-the-wrist nominal fine might be pronounced. This is for an offence which, while described as a “nuisance”, can actually cause severe pain to victims and what is described as “noise-induced hearing loss” (NIHL), which can even be permanent.

The “loudness” of sounds, which actually describes the vibrational energy it transmits via air to the human ear, is described in “decibels”, abbreviated “db”. But the ear is sensitive to such a large range of vibrations that if a soft whisper is considered “0”, it would take 3000 miles on a linear scale to place the latter. Decibels are a logarithmic scale to which ordinary conversations at 60 are acceptable, but sustained sounds above 90 decibels – like revving motorcycles – can cause NIHL. A car or home stereo can deliver 120 decibels – most of it in the bass range – which can vibrate the walls of the home and certainly lead not just to loss of sleep to fretful neighbours, but NIHL, if it is sustained for hours. The damage to some sensitive hairs in the inner ear is incremental.

The aborted efforts to amend the laws on “noise nuisance” must recommence forthwith, and must begin with a renaming of the offence to signal its new dangers posed by the new and ubiquitous arsenal of mass noiseinduced hearing loss (NIHL). “Noise Violence and Assault” is respectfully submitted, since it is no different from other physical assaults, except that sound is not visible, while fists are.

The Music and Dancing Licensing Act, Chapter 23:03, must also be coordinated with the proposed “Noise Violence and Assault Act”, to move beyond the 2:00h curfew and encompass stricter guidelines to cater for residential peace.

NIHL can also be precipitated by sudden intense noise surges.

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Wednesday accepted the Letters of Credence of the new Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Guyana, Walter Oostelbos, at the Office of the President on Shiv Chanderpaul Drive in Georgetown

Dr Henry Jeffrey’s hollow claims, and what he did not say about the fact-finding group Dear Editor, Dr. Henry Jeffrey’s diatribe-laden article, “Factfinding in Guyana’s ethnic context,” is an insult to Guyanese of every political and ethnic persuasion.

Seldom have I read such hollow, unsubstantiated claims written by an educated Guyanese.

Let us examine why I arrive at such a conclusion.

First, Dr. Jeffery welcomed the self-anointed fact-finding delegation from the U.S, and then stated, “It is the democratic and constitutional right of Guyanese to complain to whomever they believe is best located to help their cause if they believe they are being discriminated against.”

First, Dr. Jeffrey’s sentence cries out for answers to the following questions: (a) Who are these Guyanese whose democratic and constitutional rights are being denied? (b) Are they Afro, Indo and all other ethnic groups in Guyana; or are they just Afro-Guyanese? (c) If they are Afro-Guyanese, what proportion of this population of Guyanese were the complainants? (d) What proportion of the complainants believe they are discriminated against? And (e) To whom did they complain?

Second, Dr. Jeffrey’s sentence clearly reveals the ‘subjectivity’ and ‘predetermined bias’ of the “fact-finding group.” This becomes quite evident when we examine the part where Dr. Jeffrey states, “…Guyanese [can] complain to whomever

they believe is best located to help their cause.” Focusing on the phrases, (a) “whomever they believe,” and (b) “to help their cause,” we see that neither of these phrases makes claim of neutrality, objectivity, or impartiality on the part of the fact-finding group. Hence, the people who sponsored these African-American factfinders “believe” that this group of politicians will “help their cause,” and not that of Indo-Guyanese or the rest of Guyana’s six races. This then begs the questions, (i) Who are the Guyanese that selected this group of factfinders? (ii) Why is such information hidden?

Third, Dr. Jeffrey skirted an examination of the qualifications and investigative competencies of the members of the group. So, let us look at who they are, and their statuses as objective investigators/ observers.

The delegates in the forefront of the so-called fact-finding mission are from the U.S Southern States: Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Mississippi. All, except for the Chair, Dr. Dee DawkinsHaigler, represent predominantly African American districts, geographic areas with wide arrays of socio-economic problems. Local State Assemblies carved out these districts to satisfy Federal Legislation that seeks to ensure “Black-minority” political representation. In the case of Dr. Dawkins, she was a representative but later lost in three elections she

subsequently contested.

In addition, it is pertinent to note that the Southern States from which the fact-finding members originate are among those that suppressed much of African-American civil liberties, including voting rights.

This, then, calls into question (a) What have these African-American fact-finder politicians done to right the wrongs in their States? and (b) To what extent are these politicians successful in addressing and alleviating the oppression and domination of African-Americans in their districts or elsewhere? Could it be that this fact-finding group is a case where the pot is calling the kettle black? You be the judge.

To substantiate the above, let us heed what Dr. Jeffries said about AfricanAmericans, and I quote, “… in the USA,… superiority racism has led to the institutionalization of myriad discriminatory actions … these minorities have suffered from persistent inequality due to centuries of racism, discrimination and long-lasting effects of slavery, which have created conditions that make it difficult for them to get ahead.”

Two crucial underpinnings can be deduced from Dr. Jeffrey’s acknowledgement of the plight of African-Americans. (1) AfroGuyanese should take pride in being spared from the atrocities African-Americans continue to suffer, and for being under the governance

of the PPP/C, an administration that does not discriminate based on race, one that provides opportunities for all Guyanese to succeed. (2) The African-American politicians on the fact-finding mission have not solved the sufferings of their [AfricanAmerican] constituents who elected them. Why then would Afro-Guyanese rely on them for representation and provision of opportunities they already enjoy?

Third, Dr. Jeffries concedes that, “The situation (in) Guyana is more complex than in the USA.” If the group of Southern politicians have difficulties in solving less-complex issues than those of Guyana, why were they invited as “factfinders?”

Fourth, Dr. Jeffrey’s article rambled on with a host of unsubstantiated claims and accusations against the PPP without providing proof, or verifiable and valid evidence. For example, he cited his own written words that “…there is not a single area in African social life that the PPP has not sought to dominate or depress.” This he did without providing a single example of domination.

Dr. Jeffrey then stumbled along, making comments on Guyana’s economy, quoting at some length an article by Ernest Halperin who spent less than two months (April and May) in Guyana in 1964, and who then wrote the article which Dr. Jeffrey cited.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023

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You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

this the best time of year The real traitors Isto host the Regional Schools

Dear Editor, The Opposition has once again embarked on its treacherous journey to destabilize the duly elected PPP/C Government by any and all means, in order to gain power at any and all cost.

In the beginning, prior to 2015, it was all about corruption, cronyism and marginalization; but since 2020, this has included the Exxon oil contract, the use of a ‘fact finding’ mission from the USA to ‘document’ and ‘validate’ the ‘corruption’, ‘cronyism’ and ‘marginalization’ suffered by Afro-Guyanese at the hands of the PPP/C Government, and lately the Venezuela and Guyana Border issue to falsely claim that the PPP/C has sold out Guyana to the Venezuelan.

Nothing is further from the truth, since it is the PPP, since the early sixties, which has categorically denounced this erroneous and despicable claim. But during this time and until now, the PNC used the border controversy to its benefit.

Let’s look at some historical facts. Despite the Protocol of Port of Spain, signed between the UK and Venezuela at Geneva in 1966, which placed a moratorium of the border controversy, Venezuela continued to push its claim for all lands west of the Essequibo River by displaying this on a map. This was taught in schools, and the Venezuelan newspapers clamoured for the return of this land ‘illegally’ occupied by Guyana.

Between 1970 and 1980, the PNC Government did little to educate the Guyanese populace; however, it was the PPP, despite limited resources, which educated the Guyanese about the unfounded claim made by Venezuela.

In the May 1981 issue of the Caribbean Contact, it was stated that, ‘The opposition PPP of Dr. Cheddi Jagan has done much in the past to expose the ‘spurious nature’ of Venezuela’s territorial claim to Guyana…’ Since that time, the PPP maintained, as it had done before 1970, that the entire matter could be solved if the Guyana Government took the issue to the United Nations Security Council and the World Court.

Eventually this was done in

2018.

It must be recalled that despite the PPP boycotting Parliament after the massively fraudulent 1973 Elections, it still gave ‘critical support’ to show its patriotic duty to stand in defence of Guyana’s territorial integrity. The PPP did not use the border controversy to score cheap political points, but the PNC did that even until today, and even used it to raise millions using the Defense Bonds and denied workers any wage increase. This Defense Bonds fundraiser was meant to ‘purchase’ arms to defend Guyana against Brazil, and not Venezuela.

Then, in his Labour Day speech in 1981, the late Forbes Burnham told workers who were demanding a minimum wage of fourteen dollars a day that “We can discuss the fourteen dollars; we can discuss twenty-one dollars; but right now we have to defend the Essequibo. Let us decide to unite so that we can defend the Essequibo.”

He then proceeded to ask the workers to choose “between the fourteen dollars a day and the Essequibo!” Recall that the Coalition attempted to siphon off the $18 million signing bonus, and later said that it would have been used as ‘legal fees’ for the border case. The PNC simply cannot change its modus operandi.

Today, the PPP/C Government is not resorting to blackmailing workers, but it ensures that everyone is given a fair and equitable share of the pie. The working class is far better off now than ever, and this trend will continue as the PPP/C continues to deliver.

It is an indelible part of our annals that the PNC committed numerous acts of treason and treachery, and can be aptly described as the worst traitors this country has ever seen. They used criminal elements in society to terrorise Indians and PPP members and supporters. Indians were beaten, robbed, raped and killed.

Since 1992, whenever the PPP won an Election, terror was unleashed on Indian men, women and children.

This was a period of ethnic cleansing which must be given the correct label.

Throughout its history,

Indians had to present the PNC card as a means of getting jobs, and the National Service was used to deter Indians from attending the University of Guyana, especially females. The Coalition went to work as soon as it got into Government - thousands of perceived PPP supporters became jobless, four estates were closed, and billions siphoned off; taxes became a huge burden on Guyanese; racial discrimination was real, and the list goes on.

Then the Coalition, for five long months, attempted to steal our whole country.

Yet the ‘fact finding mission from the USA was in deep hibernation during the entire period when numerous atrocities were committed against the Indo-Guyanese.

They need to know the true nature of the Beast called the PNC. It must be submitted that this ‘fact finding mission’ came at the wrong time, came to the wrong people, and came to only give support to the destabilization process which the APNU and AFC are embarked on.

Today, the Afro and Indo Guyanese are striving earnestly to give meaning and life to the ONE GUYANA mission of this Government, and this group from the USA should have done their homework on what transpired before and after 1992 and the period on the Coalition’s tenure from 2015 to 2020.

Moreover, getting information from staged APNU and AFC interviews will never provide any credible information on the reality of the socio-economic environment as it is. These will simply be fabrications, since the racial discrimination, marginalization, cronyism and corruption the Group wanted to investigate was done during the Coalition’s tenure in Government. They are too late.

The APNU and AFC will never succeed in their destabilization propaganda, Guyanese know the truth, and they had five years to carefully analyze the lies and deceit, the corruption, the mismanagement of the economy and the pauperization of the Guyanese people.

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

Athletics Championships?

Dear Editor, For the past few years, I have been trying to convince the Athletic Association of Guyana; the Ministry of Education; the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport; and the Guyana Teachers Union that they need to reschedule the Regional Schools Athletics Track and Field Championships to a time of the year that coincides with the Caribbean’s premier secondary schools’ athletics championships, and one that would ensure optimum performance by our student-athletes.

The situation in secondary schools’ track and field in Guyana has for many years now been extremely abysmal, at best. To the best of my knowledge, we do not have secondary schools track and field championships in Guyana, what we have is a Regional Championship, but this is not the issue that I want to highlight here, my bone of contention is that these championships are held at the wrong time of the year.

The premier secondary school track and field championships are the Junior Carifta Games, normally held over the Easter weekend, or on days leading up to the Easter weekend every year since inception of the games. Editor, permit me to list the dates that all the Caribbean countries held their secondary school championships this year (2023); Antigua and Barbuda: March 10th - 12th; Barbados: March 29th – 31st; Jamaica: March 28th – April 1st; Bermuda: March 14th – 17th; St Lucia: March 11th - 12th; Granada: March; St Kitts and Nevis: March; Cayman Islands: March 22nd; Trinidad and Tobago: March 1st - 2nd; Dominica: March 12th; Guyana: November 27th – December

Dr Henry Jeffrey’s hollow claims and...

The article, written nearly 60 years ago with an anti-Jagan political bias, bears no relevance to today’s Guyana.

Dr. Jeffrey also made reference to relations of domination in Fiji, Israel, Northern Ireland to bolster his claim that the PPP has sought to suppress AfroGuyanese. This he did while acknowledging that the Afro- and Indo-Guyanese populations are almost evenly split. One does not have to be a political expert to know that the PPP administration is multi-racial, and

that neither Fiji, Israel nor Ireland has such ethnic and racial population diversities as Guyana, hence rendering Dr. Jeffrey’s comments and comparisons futile and useless.

Finally. if Dr. Jeffrey intended to present an objective assessment of the AfroGuyanese reality, he could have done a comparative analysis by race (i) of employment - especially civil service employment, (ii) the Government’s distribution of house lots and homes, (iii) the disbursement of pensions and old-age assistance, (iv)

admissions to the University of Guyana and Teachers’ Training Colleges, (v) development initiatives such as schools, health clinics, and roads etc., in Afro- and IndoGuyanese village communities. Instead, Dr. Jeffrey chose to ramble about political domination and discrimination without providing any substantive evidence.

Finally, if Dr. Jeffrey’s intent was to comment on the legitimacy of the fact-finding mission, he would have provided information on (i) Who authorized the investigation. (ii) Who, and how fact-

FROM PAGE 4

finding group members were selected. (ii) Who financed the fact-finding group’s visit. (iii) What official/authorization letters of introduction did the group provide to authenticate its legitimacy. (iv) What were the primary objectives of the visit. (v) Methods of investigation.

Having failed to provide such information, Dr. Jeffrey simply expressed hollowed claims.

Regards, Narayan Persaud, PhD Professor Emeritus

2nd; The Junior Carifta Games were held on April 7th - 9th 2023.

The problem is obvious: our young athletes are being set up for failure, they are peaking at the end of November when they should be peaking at the same time as the rest of the Caribbean athletes, and that is March-April; a time closest to the championships. The point that I am trying to make here is that our Inter-Schools and InterRegional Track and Field Championships should be held towards the end of January or mid-March in order to coincide with the Carifta Games. This will be in keeping not only with the rest of the Caribbean countries, but also with the rest of the Western world, which start their indoor season in January and end in March;(the outdoor season starts in April and ends in June).

Only in Guyana, our track season runs from September to November.

What is wrong, as noted above, is that all the other Caribbean countries have their secondary school championships in March, which means that their athletes are in peak competitional readiness and condi-

tioning at the right time.

Sending our young athletes to these games should not only be about medals, but also about showcasing their talent for them to secure scholarships. Universities and colleges in the USA are awarding thousands of athletics scholarships every year to young athletes from around the world. These colleges send their scouts to our regional championships, like the Junior Carifta Games, scouting for new talent; and for this reason, we need to take full advantage of this golden opportunity to get our youths a free university education and exposure to the NCAA Division 1 sports.

For the reasons stated above and much more, too much to mention in this letter, I would like to advise the Ministry of Education and the Guyana Teachers Union to take a serious look at this issue and reschedule our National Championships to a time closer to the Junior Carifta Games. The current timing of these championships is wrong, and we are setting our student-athletes up for failure.

Sincerely, Donald P Archer

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023 06:00 06:30 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:30 10:00 11:30 12:00 12:05 13:35 14:00 14:30 15:00 16:00 16:30 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 20:30 21:00 22:00 23:00 23:30 00:00

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6

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023

Foundation ◄

Page

Test Questions

Scissors Paper Book Weight Airtight plastic bag Flower press Utility knife

What you’ll need

By Paul Laurence Dunbar

Thou hast, with ever watchful eye, Looked down on us with holy care, And from thy storehouse in the sky Instructions

Begin by cutting the flower stems short enough so that they’ll fit in your press.

Place the flower on a sheet of clean paper, and continue placing additional flowers to design your layout; just make sure the flowers aren’t touching one another. Leave the flowers in the press until dry, which should take three to five days, depending on the flower and the humidity levels outside.

If your flower is more complex, meaning that it has more than one row of petals, you’ll need to dissect it before pressing, cutting it in half and removing the pistols and stamen.

You can use two pieces of stiff cardboard and a non-porous weight such as a small piece of marble to press the flowers.

Set the flower between sheets of paper, and weight with a book until completely dry, about one hour. Once pressed, store your flowers in an airtight plastic bag away from direct light. (marthastewart.com)

Hast scattered plenty everywhere.

Then lift we up our songs of praise To thee, O Father, good and kind; To thee we consecrate our days; Be thine the temple of each mind.

With incense sweet our thanks ascend; Before thy works our powers pall; Though we should strive years without end, We could not thank thee for them all.

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

7

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Fmr Colombian President rallies int’l support for Guyana against Venezuelan aggression – says Maduro regime manipulating Venezuelan citizens with “false nationalism”

Former Colombian President Ivan Duque

D

enouncing the V e n e z u e l a n Government as a “dictatorship”, Colombia's former President Ivan Duque Marquez has urged the international community to support Guyana against Venezuela’s threats and aggression.

Using his Twitter account, Duque, who served as President of Colombia from 2018 to 2022, noted that the Nicolas Maduroled government is a “dictatorship” that is mobilizing troops and threatening Guyana’s democracy.

“The Dictatorship of Nicolás Maduro is mobilizing troops and threatening the Democracy of Guyana.

Their idea is to claim the territory of Essequibo in a Referendum and use this situation as a mechanism to manipulate citizens by appealing to false nationalism. The international community must support the Democracy of Guyana in the face of this threat,” Duque further said.

Guyana’s Spanishspeaking neighbour has laid claim to more than twothirds of Guyana’s landmass, in the Essequibo region, and to a portion of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in which nearly 11 billion barrels of oil have been discovered largely

by United States oil giant ExxonMobil.

After years of failed Good Offices process via the United Nations (UN), Guyana is seeking a final and binding judgement from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to reinforce that the 1899 Arbitral Award remains valid and binding on all parties, as well as legal affirmation that Guyana’s Essequibo region, which contains much of the country’s natural resources, belongs to Guyana and not Venezuela.

The Guyana Government has declared its commitment to resolving this longstanding border controversy with Venezuela through the legal process at the World Court. This position was also reaffirmed by Guyana’s National Assembly in a unanimous vote.

Over the past few weeks, Guyana has been informing regional and international partners of a referendum planned by Venezuela for December 3, which has been criticized by the United States, Caricom, and the Organization of American States (OAS), as well as by several other nations in the Region, including Brazil, for seeking to, among other things, gain a national consensus to annex Essequibo.

In addition to its sub-

stantive case, Guyana is currently seeking an injunction from the ICJ against Venezuela’s efforts to annex Essequibo via the December 3 referendum.

Following the determination of Guyana’s application against the referendum, hearings on the merits of the case are the next stage. A final decision on the substantive case might not come for years.

In the meantime, Guyana continues to receive support from individual Caricom heads of state as well. Both Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley and St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, who is also Chairman of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), expressed support for Guyana during a joint press conference.

According to Mottley, she has been following the issue very closely, and is in full support of Guyana’s position, which she describes as a strong one. Mottley, who recently caught flak for comments made that implied Guyana had as much responsibility to maintain peace as Venezuela, even though the Spanishspeaking country has been the aggressor, also addressed the storm her comments raised.

“The fact that I said, two weeks ago at my annual conference, that in spite of that, Venezuela is a friend and therefore we would wish to see the Caribbean remain a zone of peace seems to have excited condemnation, Ralph, on you and me in some quarters.

But I have come to public life to promote peace, not division. But I’m equally conscious that in our lives, things will not always go as we would like,” the Prime Minister said.

Gonsalves also expressed his support for

Venezuela’s aggression not only...

It is through this intricate network of relationships that we strive to uphold and enhance peace and stability across our region.

Brazil's initiative to lead our region at this critical juncture is indeed commendable,” he said.

Prime Minister Phillips, who is a former Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), was accompanied by Commissioner of Police (ag), Clifton Hicken along with GDF’s, Colonel General Staff; Colonel Kenlloyd Roberts, as part of Guyana’s delegation in Brazil.

On its Twitter page,

the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs meanwhile announced that coming out of the meetings, avenues of establishing regular dialogue among South American countries in priority areas such as border security and humanitarian aid, were explored.

“The meeting allowed reflections on international and regional peace and security, as well as exchanges on cooperation in defence.

On the agenda, peacekeeping, transversality between women, peace and security, as well as the defence industrial base and Antarctic

FROM PAGE 3

and cyber cooperation,” the Ministry said.

Venezuela has laid claim to more than two-thirds of Guyana’s landmass in Essequibo, and to a portion of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) where nearly 11 billion barrels of oil have been discovered by oil giant Exxon Mobil.

It is also steamrolling ahead with a December 3 referendum seeking a mandate from the Venezuelan people to annex Essequibo, which Guyana has approached the International Court of Justice for an injunction against. (G-3)

Guyana, and warned that no one would benefit from a clash between the two countries, except imperialistic interests.

Dr Gonsalves was of the view that it is important for Guyana and Venezuela to continue to have dialogue that is not connected with the case - a position the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government

has already affirmed.

Dr Gonsalves had also emphasized the importance of neither country taking action outside of international law, such as using force or threatening to use force… something that Venezuela has been accused of doing, with Guyana having to bring to the ICJ attention the buildup of the Venezuelan army

on their side of the border with Guyana.

Meanwhile, Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, during a recent press briefing, reaffirmed Caricom’s support for Guyana in its border controversy with Venezuela while making it clear that the Region must remain a zone of peace. (G3)

8 NEWS Mahdia woman charged with attempted murder of husband T A breather…

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

hirty-seven-year-old Amanda Prince of Danjou Hill, Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro Siparuni) was on Monday charged with attempted murder committed on her husband Ashton Courtman, a 34-year-old Pump Attendant, on November 19 at Danjou Hill.

She appeared virtually before Senior Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court and was not required to plead to the indictable charge.

Police have said that,

on November 19, Prince attempted to murder her husband at Danjou Hill, Mahdia.

Prince has been remanded to prison, and will make her next court appearance on December 12.

The victim and suspect have been living together for the past four years. On the day in question, at about 22:00h, they were consuming alcohol at their home when the suspect’s son asked her to fry plantains for him.

Courtman intervened and told his wife that he did not want plantain, and or-

Charged: Amanda Prince

dered her to cook rice instead. The woman became angry, armed herself with a small knife, and dealt the victim one stab to the right side of his chest.

Police have said that on the following day, at about 10:00h, the victim went to the Mahdia District Hospital and was admitted as a patient in a stable condition, but was later referred/ Medevacked to Georgetown Public Hospital for further medical attention.

The suspect was contacted, and told of the allegation before being arrested and charged.

"Gaza" charged with gun, ammo possession

Charged: Thurston Kenrick Williams, also called "Gaza"

T

hirty-two-year-old Thurston Kenrick Williams, also called "Gaza", a miner of 7 Miles Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro Siparuni), has been charged with the illegal possession of a gun and one round of ammunition.

Arrested on November 18 for being in possession of one .38 Pistol and one live round of .32 ammunition, Williams appeared virtually before Senior Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Mahdia Magistrate's Court and pleaded not guilty to both charges. He was subsequently remanded to prison until January 16, 2024.

W

…in Gaza??

ord has it we’re about to witness a 4-day ceasefire in Gaza - which the Israelis grudgingly conceded after practically the entire world pleaded with them to show some mercy to the Palestinians they were killing like flies. Hamas, of course - which had been voted in to run the affairs of the 2 million Palestinians herded into the concentration camp imposed by the Israelis - have also reportedly accepted the gesture, so they’re also supposed to hardly be any counterfires to the Israeli onslaught.

1.7 million Palestinians have already been ousted from their homes – including those from Ramila, who’ve been displaced since 1948 when Israel was carved out from their lands. But even though the Israelis had told them to move south to escape their fire, they promptly bombed the Palestinians when they followed instructions. Killed if you do and killed if you don’t!!

So, what’s this temporary ceasefire supposed to do??

Well, give the international agencies like the UN and Red Cross – who’ve been screaming bloody murder about Palestinian babies and the sick in hospitals under bombardment - an opportunity to either get some of them out, or get medical and food supplies in. The Israelis have emphasised that as soon as the four days are up, they’ll resume their drive to exterminate Hamas – and the devil take those in their way. The only reason for the pause is that Hamas has agreed to free some of the civilians they’re holding, and the Israelis with do the same with a proportionate number of Palestinians. Captured soldiers will remain as prisoners of war (POWs) – never mind the world calling them “hostages”. If the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) can claim POWs, why can’t Hamas’s troops??

So, what does this mean in the big picture? That Hamas is winning, even though it has suffered at least 17,000 dead to the Israeli 1200. Why?? Well, for the first time since the British removed the Palestinians in ’48 to make “room” for Jews and dubbed the land “Israel”, world opinion has shifted from supporting the latter because of Hitler’s Holocaust towards the Jews!! And if you ask any Palestinian, they tell you it’s better to die immediately for their cause than to bleed slowly to death in the concentration camp called Gaza.

When all is said and done, the machinations of the great powers towards what we may see as a moral issue should be a cautionary tale for us in Guyana - who’re facing our own Netanyahu over in the west in the form of Mad Maduro. Ultimately - in the state system we’re locked into - either we Guyanese hang together to confront this threat, or we’ll all hang separately!! It doesn’t matter who runs Venezuela, they want Essequibo!! …out west??

Whatever happens over in Venezuela after their referendum on Dec 3rd, there’s gonna be no peace, “manyana” for us!! And Guyanese better start appreciating that reality right now. To your Eyewitness’s surprise, some folks are hoping that Mad Maduro – or maybe his successors - will change their stripes on the controversy they concocted out of whispers and innuendoes!! Never gonna happen!!

Wasn’t the matter raised by their dictatorship after 1949?? And raised by the “democratic” Government under Betancourt back in 1962?? He claimed he was worried about Guyana becoming independent under a “communist” Cheddi Jagan. So, when the Brits and Yanks squeezed out Cheddi and inserted Burnham, did that change anything? No siree Bob!! And here we have the sycophant of communist Chavez in Mad Maduro breathing more fire and brimstone!! So, what’s gonna change??

The day we see Venezuelans remove Article 7 in their constitution - which declares Essequibo to be theirs – MAYBE we can start relooking.

Not a blade of grass!! …not now It’s heartening to see our troops rushing over to our western border to defend our land from the rapacious Mad Maduro. Some may feel we’re outmanned and outgunned, but the Viet Congs did defeat a mightier army!!

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

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

Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com

NEWS

9

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Venezuelan border controversy

World Court has powers to enforce order on Venezuela – Attorney General – reiterates no need to panic or move into a mode of hysteria G

uyana currently awaits word from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as it seeks to block efforts by Venezuelans to annex Essequibo via a referendum planned for December 3, and one buzzing concern is whether the Spanish-speaking neighbour will abide by the edict.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall has cautioned that there is no need for hysteria, since the Court is equipped with powers to enforce orders. Appearing on his Issues in the News programme on Tuesday evening, the Legal Affairs Minister drew attention to utterances from top officials from Venezuela which have prompted concerns among the population.

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, during her presentation to the World Court, stated that Guyana is targeting the Venezuelan migrants living here in violation of international human rights, and promoting xenophobia against migrants who have escaped harsh social and economic conditions in their country.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has outrightly denounced these claims while

Attorney General Anil Nandlall

stating that the Venezuelan official was trying to score political points by making these allegations.

Nandlall assured that through the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the World Court has the authority to enforce its own judgement.

“That question has arisen with greater seriousness, having regard to the utterances that keep coming from top Government officials of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela…What we can assure is that the Court itself has the wherewithal and the legal repertoire and authority under international law to enforce its own judge-

ment. The enforcement arm of the Court is the United Nations Security Council.

Any court, even magistrate of municipal courts, has the power to enforce their orders. It is that coercive power that keeps the majesty of the court intact,” Nandlall noted.

If a court grants orders that it is incapable of enforcing, the AG noted, it will lose its respect and majesty as an important law enforcement institution. He directed, “It will become a rubber stamp. I can’t imagine that the International Court of Justice, which is the pinnacle and the very summit of the international legal structure, will be a court that is unable to enforce its own orders.”

In an attempt to further assure Guyanese that there is no need to panic or move into a mode of hysteria, Nandlall added that Guyana has its own national capabilities, compounded with the fact that it has secured the assistance and support of the entire hemisphere with the exception of Nicaragua.

“Other than Nicaragua, I have not heard of another country in this hemisphere supporting the Bolivarian

The International Court of Justice in the Hague, Netherlands

Republic of Venezuela on this matter. The entire hemisphere, with all important organisations, including the United Nations, Organization of American States, Commonwealth, Caricom, and others, have all registered their support and their condemnation of Venezuela.”

Guyana’s legal team argued before the World Court that the country was not attempting to halt Venezuela’s referendum, but was rather seeking provisional measures that would prevent its

Essequibo region from being annexed by any means.

Last weekend, President Irfaan Ali asked that citizens rely only on information from official channels of the Government, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and Foreign Affairs Ministry.

He relayed, “Exciting ourselves through sensational posting, some of it concocted to generate excitement, helps to create an environment of uneasiness. I want to assure members of the public, every Guyanese,

that the tireless work that we’re doing over the last couple of weeks is not only bearing fruit, but has enabled us to strengthen our relationships with our partners.”

Round the clock, the Head of State shared that no effort is being spared to enhance capabilities locally. First and foremost, the Administration is working on a plan to bring awareness to the population, educating about the controversy and the planned referendum. (G-12)

10 NEWS

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Duo charged for guns, ammo found in barrel shipped from Atlanta, Georgia

The guns and ammunition that were found in the barrel

T

wo men have been charged in connection with the discovery of a large cache of firearms and ammunition recently discovered in a barrel at the wharf of the Guyana National Industrial Company Incorporated (GNIC) on Lombard Street, Georgetown.

They are: Reyon Williams, a 33-year-old driver of Guyhoc Park, Georgetown; and Andrew Fraser, a 56-year-old fibre technician of La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara (WBD) and of Lot 1582 Larkspur Trail, Conyers, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Represented by legal counsel, these men appeared on Wednesday before Chief Magistrate (ag) Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and both pleaded not guilty to the joint charges of trafficking in firearms and ammunition. They were, however, remanded to prison until December 6, 2023.

Fraser’s name and address were listed as the sender of the barrel, which was addressed to the Guyhoc Park, Georgetown address of Reyon Williams.

Williams was arrested when he turned up to uplift the barrel last week.

Following the discovery, the Police had issued a

Remanded: Andrew Fraser

Remanded: Reyon Williams

wanted bulletin for Fraser.

He was later arrested, and charges were instituted.

The guns found in the barrel included a G2 Taurus 9mm pistol without serial number; a G3 Taurus 9mm pistol with serial number ADH 549002; a Glock 23 pistol with serial number BVLC 388; a Glock 40 with serial number BELW 511; a Roebuck Quad lock 9mm pistol without serial number; a Glock 19 with serial number CBFX 596; a G3 Taurus pistol with serial number ADH 547678; a

Luger 9mm pistol without serial number, and an RF15 Rifle with serial number 23065794.

In addition, 19 magazines, 17 of which are for handguns and two for the RF-15 Rifle, were found.

Further, a total of 4050 rounds of 9mm ammunition along with 1100 rounds of .40 ammunition and 450 rounds of .223 ammunition were discovered.

The weapons and ammunition were found among a quantity of clothing and foodstuff.

Improvised weapons, other contraband items found during prison raid

The contraband items found during the raid on Wednesday

A

t least two improvised weapons were among several contraband items found during a raid at the New Amsterdam Prisons on Wednesday morning.

The search, which lasted from 6:00h to 8:00h, was conducted collaboratively by members of the Guyana Police Force and Prison Service within the male and female dormitories.

The items confiscated were five cellphones, ten cigarette lighters, two improvised weapons, three cellphone chargers, and 137 grams of ganja. The items were taken to, and lodged at, the Central Police Station.

Back in July, a Joint Services operation at the said penitentiary had unearthed a quantity of contraband items, including nine cell phones, one GT&T SIM card, a quantity of cigarettes, 11 lighters, one smoking utensil, nine improvised weapons, one pair of scissors, four metal spoons, one bucket of fermented wine, four bottles

of processed wine, and 282 grams of cannabis.

In May 2022, the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) had introduced a stop-and-search initiative within the confines of each prison location in a bid to end the continued flow of contraband being smuggled into the prisons.

Director of Prisons, Nicklon Elliot, had warned that members of the public who are found colluding in trafficking contraband into the various prisons countrywide would be arrested and placed before the courts.

He reminded that it is an offence under Section 53 (1) of the Prison Act for persons to throw any item over the prison fence, because it attracts a fine or a period of imprisonment.

Elliot indicated that the GPS would be erecting signs at strategic points outside of the prisons, warning the public to desist, and detailing the consequences attached to such an act.

Further, he mentioned that the Prison Administration and the Guyana Police Force (GPF)

would be engaging residents living in close proximity to the various prisons on the situation. Further, he added that a built-up civilian population living in close proximity to the prisons would have contributed to the increased contraband items being smuggled into the prisons.

Meanwhile, the latest efforts from members of the public to smuggle contraband into a prison were thwarted by prison officers attached to the New Amsterdam Prison on May 16 and 17, 2023.

A bag containing 2275 grams of narcotics and 12 cartons of cigarettes was retrieved and handed over to the Police.

Back in January 2023, Sarafine Pitt of Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, Berbice, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), a female prison officer, was charged after 604 grams of marijuana was discovered in the guard hut at the New Amsterdam Prison. Bail was granted to her in the sum of $100,000 after she denied the charge.

NEWS

11

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Appeal Court to rule on election petition case on Monday T he Court of Appeal will hand down its decision on Monday, November 27, in relation to the election petition #88, which the Opposition is seeking to have reinstated after it was dismissed by acting Chief Justice Roxane George over two years ago.

The Opposition had appealed the case, Claudette Thorne and Heston Bostwick vs Keith Lowenfield, which argues that the results of the March 2, 2020 elections must be invalidated on the grounds of serious non-compliance with the Constitution of Guyana and electoral laws as they relate to the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM’s) conduct of those elections.

This petition challenges Order 60 of 2020, under which the national recount of the 2020 General and Regional Elections was done.

Attorney General Anil

Guyana’s Court of Appeal

Nandlall reminded that the Order being challenged by the Opposition is the very one crafted by its commissioners elected at GECOM. “They sat and drafted a unanimous order. None of them disagreed with it. There was no vote taken on Order 60. GECOM sat down and made a decision that GECOM would recount the ballots in accordance with an order that

they crafted, called Order 60.

When the results did not suit the PNC, they challenged Order 60,” he contended.

The AG, however, pointed out that the People’s Progressive Party and its Government have a sordid record at the Court of Appeal in political matters, and the opposite at the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

“I don’t think we have

received a single favourable ruling since 2020, and that’s the record. I am not casting any aspersions…but the statistical data will show that we have not been able to get a favourable ruling from that Court in these political matters, and we have been able to get almost 100 per cent reversal when we go to the Caribbean Court of Justice.”

The Chief Justice had made it clear in her ruling that Article 162 of the Constitution of Guyana fully empowered the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to take whatever actions were necessary to conclude the elections, including the recount.

Justice George noted that had there been no difficulties with the election, then GECOM’s creation of Order 60 would have been illegal.

However, she pointed out that even the election petition highlights the difficulties

GECOM faced in arriving at a valid election result. Among her findings was that the petitioners failed to prove their case that there were substantial irregularities.

“Ultimately, despite the reliefs sought, this petition does not rely on the second limb of Article 163 (b) and Section 30 of the National Assembly Validity of Elections Act Chapter 104, that there have been unlawful acts or omissions affecting the results. Indeed, evidence that there were unlawful acts that affected or may have affected the result of the election have not been provided in this petition,” Justice George had said.

“I hold that in order to exercise general direction, supervision over the elections, GECOM had to ensure the lawful and proper implementation of the RPA and Section 22. This was done lawfully

by GECOM via Order 60, en-

abling it to issue instructions and take action as appeared necessary to resolve the controversies, as part of its responsibility to complete the election process.”

In relation to APNU/ AFC’s second election petition #99, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) found last year that the Court of Appeal erred when it took jurisdiction to hear it, which was dismissed by Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George, SC, on the ground of improper service on former President David Granger, and has therefore quashed the decision of the local appellate court.

The ruling by the Trinidad-based court effectively meant that Justice George’s January 18, 2021 decision stood; that the CoA could no longer hear the case; and that the petitioners Monica Thomas and Brennan Nurse had exhausted all their rights to appeal. (G-12)

Man sets house on fire with woman inside after brutal beating

A

male resident of Experiment, in Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), is now on the run after he reportedly locked his wife in their home and set fire to a mattress.

Based on reports received, neighbours were forced to break the lock on the door to pull the injured woman, whose name was given as “Narisa”, from the building. Prior to setting fire to the house, the man, identified as “Raymond”, had badly beaten the woman. Guyana

The burnt mattress

and we break the padlock.

Everybody rush and get her out of the house, and we out the fire and we sent her to the Police station.”

After the beating incident on Saturday evening, the Police visited the home,

Times understands that the couple had been fighting on the streets, and the woman was reportedly cuffed, kicked and dragged through the streets, thereby sustain-

ing injuries to her body.

“This is ongoing every day. He would be beating her, insulting her, and telling her all different kinds of things. On Saturday he was beating her and dragging her on the street,” one neighbour has said.

That neighbour explained that residents had pleaded with the suspect to desist from beating the woman, but he instead dragged her into the house and locked the door before leaving.

“We see fire inside the house, and he ride away with his bicycle and gone.

He locked her in the house,

but the suspect denied assaulting his wife. The man has since been threatening neighbours whom he suspected had called the cops.

“Everybody knows that he sells drugs…strangers come in here to buy from

him. We see people coming in with bicycle, motorbike and cars, and stop and buy from him. It is a normal thing. We talk about it because we want it to stop, but nobody is listening to us,” one resident said.

12 NEWS

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Obstetrics & gynaecology professionals benefit from laparoscopy workshop

Surgeons explaining the procedure to the participants

T

he Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation has hosted a ‘Fundamentals in Laparoscopy’ workshop on November 19 and 20, 2023.

Sponsored by MEDTRONIC and KD Enterprise, this workshop was aimed to elevate the skills of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (OBGYN) specialists and trainees, build-

ing on the momentum of the impactful CASES Conference in October 2023.

With dual objectives, the workshop first focused on refining the proficiency of OBGYN specialists, trainees, and medical support staff in common gynaecological laparoscopic techniques.

The comprehensive training included didactic lectures covering essential laparoscopy principles and addressing preoperative, intraoperative,

and postoperative complications.

Complementing theoretical knowledge, simulation models and trainers were employed to hone laparoscopic skills further enhanced by hands-on experiences in the operating theatre.

Additionally, the workshop aimed to empower participants to become mentors for junior OBGYN trainees.

The training which unfolded at the GPHC OBGYN/ Peds Training Room featured esteemed trainers, including Dr. Vishwal Bahall, Gyne-Oncologist from San Fernando General Hospital, Trinidad and Tobago; Dr. Yuan Wang, OBGYN Consultant from the 19th Chinese Medical Brigade – GPHC; Dr Natasha France, OBGYN Consultant at GPHC; Dr Shivani Samlall, Senior Registrar, OBGYN, GPHC; and Nichelle Sookdeo from Medtronic.

A diverse cohort of 16 participants representing

The participants of the Fundamentals in Laparoscopy workshop

GPHC, New Amsterdam Regional Hospital, Linden Hospital, and West Demerara Regional Hospital enriched the workshop.

The healthcare providers included OB/GYN

Specialists, Residents, Midwives, Registered Nurses, and Scrub Technicians.

Beyond theoretical realms, day two of the workshop was dedicat-

ed to practical applications in the operating theatre.

The successful execution of two Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy (TLH) procedures in the Gynaecology Operating Theatre heightened the hands-on experience for all participants.

The Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at GPHC has said it remains steadfast in its commitment to advancing medical education and professional development. By fostering a culture of continuous learning, the department ensures the highest standards of care for women’s health in Guyana.

This workshop stands as a testament to their dedication and contribution to the growth of OBGYN expertise in the medical community.

"Christmas Family Bonding" at prisons commences on December 4

File photo: A prisoner with his family during the festive season

T

he Guyana Prison Service (GPS) announced on Wednesday that its "Christmas Family Bonding" visits will commence on December 04 at all prison locations.

These visits are aimed at further strengthening fami-

ly relationships while simultaneously allowing inmates to reunite with their families, even for a brief time.

Family members will have a chance to have a meal with their loved ones and at the same time share a few extra minutes with them.

Director of Prisons,

Nicklon Elliot, has said the aim of the visits is to help families to further reconnect in a positive way during the festive season.

“We have worked with prisoners and their families for years, and appreciate how daunting an experience it can be for everyone involved; so, we are always here to offer practical and emotional support”, the Director of Prisons has said.

Elliot added, “We know that prisoners’ families serve their own hidden sentences when a family member is sent to prison.

However, for this reason, we have decided to have this ingenuity annually”.

The visits will conclude on December 15, 2023.

Interested family members can contact the Officer-inCharge at each location for further information.

The New Amsterdam Prison can be contacted on telephone number 333-2897; the Lusignan Prison on 220-4289; the Camp Street Prison on 225-5390; the Timehri Prison on 261-2265, and the Mazaruni Prison on telephone number 665-4020.

NEWS

13

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

1400 small businesses to receive $300M in grants by year end …$680M in grants issued for last 3 years

U

nder the Small Business Bureau, hundreds of small businesses have benefitted from loans and grants amounting to over $500 million, enabling and empowering micro-entrepreneurs and enterprises to boost their operating capacities and target new markets.

Chief Executive Officer of the Small Business Bureau (SBB), Shazim Ibrahim, revealed during the SBB’s annual awards ceremony that a whopping 1400 small businesses will receive grants totalling $300 million for the year 2023.

The Bureau, which operates under the Tourism, Industry and Commerce Ministry, has also handed over some $284 million

CEO of the Small Business Bureau, Shazim Ibrahim

production data from our incubator is a testament to the thriving innovation within our small business community.”

During an awards ceremony, 21 small businesses received awards for their

Two of the 21 small business owners receiving awards at the ceremony

to 21 small businesses under its loan guarantee programme.

The CEO outlined, “These initiatives are a testament to the dedication of nurturing and supporting entrepreneurship by the bureau. We take immense pride in nurturing local agro-processors, and

outstanding performance in different fields of business. Ibrahim emphasised that small businesses contribute significantly to the wider economy. With assistance, some have been able to represent their products at events in Barbados, Brazil, and other regional

locations.

“We seek to empower small businesses to cultivate the next generation of entrepreneurs… With an impressive production of over 52,000 sachets of teabags and 599 litres of virgin coconut oil, our entrepreneurs are not just meeting local demand, but are also positioning themselves as competitive players in the market,” he added.

The SBB also assists small enterprises with exposure at local and international expos, which have allowed those businesses to grow their customer base, gain familiarity in the market, and expand production.

Coaching and mentorship programmes have further enhanced their capabilities, Ibrahim added.

Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond, the Ministry’s Communications Manager Cordell McClure reiterated the Government’s commitment to supporting small businesses.

“Over the last three years, the Government has issued approximately 2,500 grants valued at over $680 million. We have also guaranteed 61 loans through our partner financial institutions valued at $569 million…This support is designed to give our businesses the exposure required for expansion into international markets, and our commitment extends to comprehensive training programmes,” he explained.

Meanwhile, among the businesses that received awards are Rejuvenate Health Plus Spa, Evo Business Solutions Incorporated, Doris Products and Services, Jeveeta’s Unique Creations, Sally’s Stitch Fix, DT Craft Creation, and Laurence’s Poultry Farm, among others.

14 NEWS

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Police Division 9 launches Christmas Policing Plan rine and mounted troop patrols in the various villages, communities and business areas in Lethem and its environs. Rose also pointed out that Police booths will be placed at strategic locations within the Division to deal with criminal elements during this season.

As part of the Division’s traffic prevention strategies during the Christmas season, the Commander pointed out that rigorous traffic

P

Region 9 Commander, Senior Superintendent Raphael Rose, during his presentation

“Violent recidivist” gets life sentence for killing childhood friend

Jailed: Meignauth Premraj

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42-year-old man who killed his childhood friend has been slapped with a life sentence

by Justice Sandil Kissoon on Tuesday.

Prior to being deported to Guyana in 1999, Meignauth Premraj, called “Smokey”, had spent four years in a United States jail for committing a violent robbery. After 1999, he had served time in a Guyana jail for robbery-under-arms.

Justice Sandil Kissoon described Meignauth Premraj as a "violent recidivist" when he saw him on Tuesday at the High Court in Berbice.

Premraj, a vegetable seller and father of one, chose to enter a guilty plea to the lesser charge of manslaughter despite being initially charged with the capital crime of murder.

On January 17, 2021, Mark Griffith, aka "Rancher,"

ing the Region via land and air.

Further, he added that the Police will be working in partnership with business stakeholders, the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), as well as governmental and non-governmental agencies and security services in order to maintain law and order, thus reducing the potential for criminal activities.

GDF, Canadian Armed Forces reaffirm strong partnership

Officials at the launch on Monday

olice Division #9 has launched its Christmas Policing Plan, which allows residents and visitors to conduct their business in a safe and secure environment throughout the festive season.

The plan was last Monday presented by Region 9 Commander, Senior Superintendent Raphael Rose, during a meeting with Regional Chairman Bryan Allicock, Vice Chairman Bertie Xavier, Town Clerk Keisha Williams, Regional Health Officer Dr McWatt, and members of the disciplinary services and members of the private sector.

In his presentation, Commander Rose outlined that, during the Christmas period, there will be an increase in vehicular, foot, ma-

enforcement will be conducted on a 24-hour basis in the commercial and shopping areas, to curb dangerous driving, diagonal parking, speeding, and obstruction.

As part of the crime prevention strategy, he stated, there will be heightened security presence at the Takutu International Bridge, the Lethem trail, all Police checkpoints, and the airstrip, to monitor the movement of persons access-

a 40-year-old resident of Smithfield, New Amsterdam, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) was chopped and stabbed by Premraj. He died while receiving treatment at the New Amsterdam Public Hospital.

At a sentencing hearingonTuesday,JusticeKissoon characterised Griffith's homicide as a tragic, senseless, and seri ous crime that calls for a harsh punishment.

The judge quoted the now-deceased Justice Cecil Kennard in saying, "Life is sacred, and once taken, cannot be restored."

Given the severity of the offence, the several aggravating factors, and the frequency of violent murders, the Judge decided that the life sentence was warranted.

This prisoner is eligible for parole after serving 20 years, and his time spent on remand will be completely credited.

Justice Kissoon has also ordered him to enroll in all programmes and classes being offered by the Prison in order to arm himself with an occupation upon his release" from prison.

Premraj asserted in a probation officer interview that he acted in self-defence because Griffith was the one who had initially assaulted him with a cutlass. He also expressed his regret to the officer for ending his friend's life.

Attorney-at-Law Surihya Sabsook represented Premraj, while State Counsel

Chief-of-Staff of the GDF, Brigadier Omar Khan, along with Canadian Non-Resident Military Attaché to Guyana and Brazil, Colonel Marc-Antoine Fecteau, and other members of the GDF

T

he Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have renewed their commitment to a longstanding and fruitful partnership, marked by excellent relations and shared objectives.

Chief-of-Staff of the GDF, Brigadier Omar Khan, along with other key members of the Force's leadership team, welcomed the recently appointed

on strengthening bilateral collaboration. Colonel Fecteau expressed the Canadian Armed Forces' eagerness to see the already robust relationship with Guyana flourish further. He emphasized his commitment to fostering a strong bond, acknowledging Guyana as a valuable ally.

During his tenure, Colonel Fecteau aims to contribute to the growth of this strategic partnership

orative efforts in training, citing numerous instances where GDF officers have benefitted from training opportunities as a result of this partnership.

Brigadier Khan underscored the importance of such collaborations, and expressed confidence in the continuous strengthening of ties. He committed to actively contribute to the consolidation and enhancement of this alliance during

Justice Sandil Kissoon

Muntaz Ali was the prosecutor.

The agreed facts state that Premraj and Griffith were acquainted, since they were childhood friends and neighbours who frequently drank alcoholic beverages together.

At 16:30 hours on January 17, 2021, Premraj was observed inflicting injuries on his friend with a chopper. Residents pleaded with him to stop, but he disregarded them and kept chopping away at Griffith, who was eventually pulled from a trench.

Premraj told Police investigators after being detained and cautioned, "Officer, 'Rancher' disrespectful; he disrespected me." Griffith was stabbed in the chest, causing shock and bleeding that ultimately led to his death.

The two high-level army officials during their meeting

Canadian Non-Resident Military Attaché to Guyana and Brazil, Colonel MarcAntoine Fecteau.

The meeting was held at Defence Headquarters at Base Camp Ayanganna, where discussions were had

between the two nations.

In response to Colonel Fecteau's remarks, Brigadier Khan highlighted the longstanding history of cooperation between the GDF and CAF. Notably, he emphasized the collab-

his tenure as Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force.

Guyana and Canada enjoy a close relationship built on more than 50 years of friendship, cooperation and security partnership.

NEWS

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

CJ orders SOCU to pay Attorney $700,000 for wrongful arrest

Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George, SC

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ttorney-at-Law Tamieka Clarke has been awarded $700,000 in damages by Chief Justice Roxane George, SC, over her wrongful arrest by Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) ranks on October 28, 2022 while she was advising her client to exercise his constitutional right to remain silent.

This award was made

Force (GPF), was ordered by Justice George to declare in the apology its understanding of the right of lawyers to advise their clients to remain silent, and to engage with their clients in private, albeit they may remain in the sight of investigators.

“Upon a mature reflection and upon legal advice received, we recognize that there was a violation of both

sequential right of the client to receive and benefit from such advice”, the apology letter has said.

This letter is dated November 21, and is signed

by Assistant Commissioner Fazil Karimbaksh, who heads SOCU, and by Superintendent Krishnadat Ramana, on whose orders Clarke was taken into custody.

According to the ruling shared by Clarke's attorney Nigel Hughes, a third order has been directed to the Guyana Police Force to commit to include in its curriculum, for all officers and ranks, training on Articles 39(2) and 139 of the Guyana Constitution, the Human Rights Conventions enshrined therein, and the United Nations publication on the “Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers.” This has to be done within seven days of the Chief Justice’s order, which was entered on Monday.

Attorney-at-Law Clarke

Tamieka

in contempt of court, and its officers may face jail time.

Moreover, SOCU must pay Clarke $250,000 in costs by December 31 at the latest.

Following a brief trial, the Chief Justice ruled on June 12 that SOCU breached the fundamental right of the attorney when its agents arrested her for advising her client to remain silent.

In her ruling, Justice George declared that Attorney Clarke’s “…fundamental right to personal liberty as guaranteed and protected by Article 139 of the Constitution was breached… [by] officers of the Special Organised Crime Unit when (Clarke) was arrested and detained…for advising [her] client to remain silent when questioned by members of the Guyana Police Force.”

Background

The incident, which sparked widespread condemnation and even protest action by the legal fraternity, occurred on October 28, 2022 at the SOCU Headquarters on Camp Road, Georgetown.

At the time, Attorney Clarke last Friday, and SOCU has since issued Clarke with a court-ordered “unequivocal apology”. SOCU, an arm of the Guyana Police

Counsel’s right to advise her client to remain silent and to engage with her client in private, though in the sight of investigators, and the con-

In the event that SOCU disregards the directives, Clarke will receive an additional $300,000. In addition, the agency will be held

SOCU’s Head, Fazil Karimbaksh

had accompanied her client, who was under investigation

by SOCU, to the agency’s office, where he was asked to sign a statement. However, the man told investigators that he was advised by his lawyer not to sign anything.

This resulted in a SOCU official accusing the attorney of preventing her client from giving a statement, and he ordered that she be arrested for obstructing an officer in the conduct of his duties.

Her cell phone was taken away, and she was prevented from leaving. As such, Clarke remained detained at SOCU until her lawyer Nigel Hughes got there.

Clarke, who had previously served as a State Counsel in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), was released only after the intervention of Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, who had offered her a profound apology for the “unfortunate incident”.

Attorney Clarke subsequently filed a lawsuit against the State, naming the Attorney General as the respondent. She was seek-

ing more than $300,000 in damages for, among other things, false imprisonment and violation of her constitutional rights.

In addition to finding that Clarke’s fundamental right was breached, Justice George also made four other declarations. It was found that the detention and seizure of the attorney’s cellular phone by officers of SOCU without her permission and without lawful excuse was wrongful.

The Chief Justice also declared that an attorneyat-law admitted to practice in Guyana is entitled to advise a client to remain silent when questioned by any law enforcement agency.

Justice George further ruled that an attorney-atlaw practising at the Bar in Guyana is entitled to consult with his/her client in private without the contents of the consultation being recorded in any way, including using audio-visual recording by any law enforcement agency.

Moreover, the Chief Justice found that as an attorney-at-law admitted to practice in Guyana, Attorney Clarke is entitled to advise any person who has sought her counsel to exercise the right to remain silent when questioned by a member of any law enforcement agency in Guyana.

Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), had recommended against filing any criminal charges against SOCU officials for Clarke's arrest; and she had also discontinued the private criminal charges that Clarke’s counsel had filed against the officers.

16 NEWS

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Duo to each spend more than 10 years in prison for murder of phone card vendor

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n relation to the shooting death of a phone card dealer in front of his home in 2018, two men have been sentenced by the Demerara High Court to each serve just over ten years in jail.

At a hearing on Wednesday, High Court Judge Simone MorrisRamlall sentenced Alexander La Cruz and Mark Welch to 13 years and 14 years respectively. They have both been credited for time spent in pre-trial detention.

La Cruz, aged 31, a fa-

Murdered: Ron Mansfield

also taken in the process.

“His killing was senseless.

Jailed: Alexander La Cruz (in blue shirt) and Mark Welch (behind prison officer)

ther of two and former resident of West Meten-MeerZorg, West Coast Demerara (WCD); and Welch, a 31-yearold former resident of West La Penitence, Georgetown, had pleaded guilty to murdering Ron Mansfield, a 37-year-old father of two, on June 19, 2018.

In her sentencing remarks, Justice MorrisRamlall stated that Mansfield was not only robbed of his day's wages, which he used to maintain his family, but his life was

He was shot in front of his home.”

Way too often, the Judge said, hardworking citizens are robbed of their possessions.

When deciding on a fit punishment for the pair, she considered the fact that none of them was the shooter, and pointed out that there was no proof that they were aware a gun would be used.

She also took into account the impact the now-dead man’s death has had on his

family. The Judge commented that they both seemed to have outstanding possibilities of rehabilitation, because they are still quite young. The Judge said, too, that the words of regret the offenders had expressed to the man's relatives seemed genuine.

Every offender's sentence had a 24-year starting point.

After a one-third deduction for their early guilty plea and mitigating circumstances, La Cruz and Welch's prison terms were reduced to 13 years and 14 years respectively.

The killers were represented by Attorney-atLaw Tuanna Hardy, while Attorneys-at-Law Delon Fraser, Rbina Christmas, Caressa Henry and Madana Rampersaud prosecuted the matter.

In a victim impact statement given to the court, Mansfield’s widow, Anthea, revealed to the robbers that she finds it difficult to forget the violent way her husband was taken from her.

“We did everything together,” the emotional woman, who made her statement via Zoom, said, describing her late partner as “a people person, loving, funny and charismatic.”

Fighting to hold back tears, Anthea expressed that no amount of punishment could replace her husband’s life, while adding that “greed” prompted others to take his belongings.

Anthea revealed that Ron was killed two months shy of their seventh wedding anniversary.

Ron’s 21-year-old daughter said that, at the age of 16, she lost her father, six months after, her mother passed away. The young

Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall

woman said that following the death of their father, she and her brother had a terrible time getting by, and were even forced to live with strangers.

Ambitious, smart, loving, and kind were the words she used to describe her late father.

The now-dead man’s daughter questioned her father’s killers about whether or not killing her father was worth it, much like her stepmother Anthea did.

When asked by the Judge if he had anything to say, La Cruz, who worked as a taxi driver/tattoo artist prior to his incarceration, told Mansfield’s daughter, “I had no intention to take your fa-

ther’s life. I am very sorry.”

He confessed that he was paid $60,000 to transport his accomplices to and from the scene.

Welch, on the other hand, told the Judge, “I am just begging for mercy. I would never do it again; I didn’t do no shooting.”

Both convicts had favourable probation reports. They have never been sanctioned by the prison service for bad conduct. In fact, Welch works as an orderly in the prison, helping to share food and maintain order among his fellow inmates.

La Cruz and Welch’s attorney, Tuanna Hardy, for her part, stated that her clients are deserving of rehabilitation and are in the process of turning a new leaf.

She said Welch acted as the “lookout” man. She asked the Judge that, in calculating an appropriate sentence, to consider the men’s previous unblemished criminal record as well as their early guilty pleas. In the circumstances, Hardy begged the court to temper justice with mercy.

Meanwhile, State Prosecutors Fraser and Rampersaud asked the court to impose a sentence that re-

flects the serious nature and prevalence of the offence.

The men’s use of a deadly weapon and gratuitous brutality against an unarmed man who did not pose a threat to them were underlined by the prosecutors as aggravating elements.

The use of a gun shows that they intended to kill or cause their victim serious harm, the prosecutors submitted. Fraser and Rampersaud also asked the court to take into account the impact Ron’s death has had and continues to have on his family.

On June 19, 2018, Mansfield had just arrived home after plying his trade when he was attacked and shot by gunmen during a robbery. He succumbed to his injuries while being transported to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH). The attack had occurred at around 20:30h.

“The victim, who was discovered with a gunshot injury to the body, was reportedly returning home from selling phone cards on his motorcycle,” Police had said. His bag containing his phone cards and money was not found, according to the Police.

21 roads to be rehabilitated in central Georgetown to improve commute

H

Map showing roads to be done in Queenstown

undreds of persons residing around central Georgetown will soon witness and benefit from the infrastructural development of 21 identified thoroughfares.

The undertaking stems from a recent community consultation led by President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, wherein he addressed issues affecting residents and the business community.

The areas slated for road works include Alberttown, Queenstown, and Kingston Georgetown. The task of evaluating the condition of these roads was given to the Special Projects Unit (SPU) of the Ministry of Public Works. SPU’s technical team conducted site visits on November 4 and 5.

A technical team from

Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), led by Engineer Richard Dookie, was also part of the visits.

Those assessments highlighted that most of the asphaltic surfaces of the internal roads had deteriorated significantly, with notable ravelling due to the aging of the asphalt as a result of flooding and increased traffic flow.

In Alberttown, a total of nine roads have been identified for complete resurfacing with two-inch- thick asphaltic concrete.

This will see Albert Street from First to Sixth Street, Cummings Street, and Light Street receiving facelifts.

Similar works will be carried out in Queenstown on eight streets, being

Oronoque, Anira, Laluni, Crown, Peter Rose, New Garden, Forshaw, and Lance Gibbs Streets.

Four roads in Kingston, Georgetown will be resurfaced with two-inch-thick asphalt. Those are Barrack Street (between Camp and Parade Street), Barrack Street (between High and Water Street), Fort Street (between Battery Road and Cowan Street), and Water Street (between Guyana Stores and Cowan Street).

Road works are being executed by the SPU, and are expected to be completed in two weeks. These works will significantly improve commute in these areas, and the undertaking comes under the Government’s overall infrastructural transformation project.

17 Enhancing institutional, technical capacities in risk management addressed at FAO workshop NEWS

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Participant from GLDA presenting on DRM knowledge gaps and interventions needed Dr Roberto Sandoval, FAO DRM Specialist, interacting with participants during the exercise on seasonality mapping of hazards

W

ith the changing weather patterns and risk of disasters, early warning systems and actions to protect the agriculture sector remain a priority for Guyana.

With this in mind, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), recently conducted a twoday workshop on Early Warning Systems and Anticipatory Action for Agriculture at the Guyana School of Agriculture at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara.

The workshop was facilitated by Disaster Risk Management Specialist from FAO, Dr. Roberto Sandoval, and was attended by 31 officers from agencies under the Agriculture Ministry, including Hydrometeorological Service, GLDA, GRDB, NAREI, NDIA, GuySuCo, MoA and Hope Coconut Industries.

By developing anticipatory actions based on early warnings, farmers and fishers can take precautionary and preventative measures once a warning is issued by the relevant agencies to prepare for any impending disaster. By taking such actions, they would be able to limit the impact on their livelihoods by securing

their incomes by harvesting crops early, storing seeds, and relocating animals to safer grounds; and fishers can secure their boats and gear, to name a few benefits.

At an agency level, developing and implementing protocols for early actions (early warnings and anticipatory actions) ensures that we have the resources and tools ready to prepare for disasters before they happen. This strengthens us as a country working together to minimize agriculture loss and protecting our livelihoods.

At the end of the second day, the 31 agency participants were able to review early warning systems for Guyana’s main agricultural sectors, develop a crisis timeline, and identify anticipatory actions that can be taken to reduce the impact of floods and drought on the livelihoods of farmers and fishers in Guyana.

The main goal of the workshop was to facilitate a review of early warning systems for priority hazards/risks, and identify anticipatory actions, including those that could enhance preparedness and response. Early warning systems are the cornerstone of any anticipatory action system. They enable countries and institutions to monitor and clearly communicate early

signs of a growing hazard, and predict when shocks will happen and where.

Anticipatory Action is increasingly being recognized as an important approach in disaster risk management. By complementing investments in disaster risk reduction and resilience building, it can help address vulnerability to disaster risks and protect development gains.

It can protect livelihoods from the immediate effects of hazards, enhance the effectiveness of assistance, reduce the cost of emergency response, and improve the resilience of vulnerable communities over time.

This workshop addressed the second target specifically – enhancing the institutional and technical capacities – as it relates to early warning systems and anticipatory actions. These are two key areas of DRM that are important as we contend with the challenges posed by climate change. These activities contribute to our efforts to achieve #better production, #better nutrition # better environment and better life, leaving no one behind.

FAO has been working with the MoA to implement the “Building resilience to multiple shocks and stresses in the response and recovery from COVID-19 impacts in

the Caribbean (Grenada, Guyana and St. Vincent and the Grenadines).”

In Guyana, the project targets livestock farmers with climate-resilient

practices and technologies to increase their resilience to future flood events and shocks, and enhance the technical and institutional capacities of the Ministry

of Agriculture to better mitigate the impacts of flood/drought, and manage systemic multi-hazard risks to provide emergency and recovery assistance.

18

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023

guyanatimesgy.com

Regional

Brazil’s Senate votes Cuban Ministers reveal to limit decisions by details of food, fuel shortages Supreme Court Justices amid economic crisis

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razil's Senate took the lead on Wednesday to curb what lawmakers see as judicial overreach by the country's Supreme Court and passed a constitutional amendment that limits the ability of Justices to rule on issues individually.

The bill, that still needs lower chamber approval, stipulates that laws or measures decided by Brazil's Congress can only be overruled by the full plenary of the top court or a chamber of justices and not by just one of them.

The amendment also sets deadlines for deciding cases when Judges ask for more time to study the issues and requires that such requests be collectively and not individually made.

The bill passed by a wide margin of 52-18 votes in two rounds of voting required for constitutional amendments.

The legislation is part of a backlash by a conservative-led Congress against a Judiciary that played a decisive role in containing attacks on Brazil's democrat-

S

Brazil's Federal Senate during a session in Brasilia, Brazil, November 8, 2023 (Reuters/Adriano Machado photo)

ic voting system by former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro.

Lawmakers have accused the Supreme Court of usurping the legislative function of Congress with rulings on social issues such as the court's decision to facilitate gay marriage.

The last straw for Congress was the court's rejection of a restriction on Indigenous land claims sought for years by Brazil's powerful farm lobby which has led the charge against the Judiciary.

New battles are looming over moves by the court to decriminalise abortion and marijuana possession.

Chief Justice Roberto Barroso criticised the movement in Congress against the judiciary.

"Attacking the Supreme Court, changing the way Ministers are appointed, shortening their tenure in office, interfering with their internal functioning are political options that are not good for democracy," he told local media.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

enior Cuban officials have over several weeks provided an increasingly dire snapshot of a deepening economic crisis in a series of televised primetime appearances, revealing the extent of the downturn in unprecedented detail.

Minister after Minister have delivered the bad news as the import-dependent Communist-run country weathers a fourth year of crisis, scraping by with a minimum of foreign exchange as output plummets.

Food production, the supply of pharmaceuticals and transportation are down by at least 50 per cent since 2018, the top officials said, and continued to decline this year in large part due to chronic fuel shortages and power outages.

Cuba imports most of the food and fuel it consumes, but revenues have plunged following the pandemic, hampered by stiff US sanctions and floundering tourism, once a mainstay of the Caribbean island economy.

"The Ministers provided new information revealing

People walk on the street in downtown Havana, Cuba, November 21, 2023 (Reuters/Alexandre Meneghini photo)

just how serious the crisis is and that growth this year is very doubtful," Cuban economist Omar Everleny said.

Production of pork, rice and beans – all staples on the Cuban dinner plate – are down by more than 80 per cent this year over pre-crisis levels and eggs 50 per cent, Agriculture Minister Ydael Jesus Perez said.

"It has only been possible to acquire 40 per cent of the fuel, four per cent of the fertiliser and 20 per cent of the animal feed required," the minister explained.

Hospitals, short on basic

supplies such as sutures, cotton and gauze, have done 30 per cent fewer surgical procedures compared with 2019, according to data shared on State-run TV during a presentation by First Deputy Health Minister Tania Margarita Cruz. Nearly 68 per cent of basic pharmaceuticals are not available or in short supply.

Public transportation, vital in a country where few have vehicles, has also been hobbled by fuel shortages and difficulties in obtaining spare parts.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

“There's no money”: Argentina's Queen’s image to be Milei doubles down on removed from EC currency economic shock therapy

A

rgentina's libertarian President-elect Javier Milei is sticking by his plans for economic "shock" therapy to fix the country's myriad crises from triple-digit inflation to rising poverty and a dearth of foreign currency reserves.

In an interview late on Tuesday, Milei said that his Government, which will take office on December 10, would have to make deep spending cuts, something he pledged in the campaign as part of a "chainsaw" plan to trim state spending.

"There's no money.

There's no money," Milei told local outlet Neura Media. "If we don't make a fiscal adjustment, we're headed for hyperinflation. We'll have hyperinflation and we are going to have 95 per cent poverty and 70 per cent or 80 per cent homeless."

Argentina, South America's second largest economy, is battling against inflation at 143 per cent and net central bank reserves estimated at negative US$10 billion. Over two-fifths of the population is in poverty and a recession in looming.

Milei beat Peronist

Economy Minister Sergio Massa in a run-off election on Sunday, a rebuke from voters to the centre-left Government that many blame for stoking the crisis with high spending, which supports millions, but has proved unsustainable.

Self-described anarcho-capitalist Milei, who has sharply divided opinion in Argentina and beyond with plans to dollarise the economy and shut the central bank, said he would limit the size of the state and have a fiscal balance by the end of 2024. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Jamaica: 89 taxi operators charged for price gouging customers

J

amaican Minister of Science, Energy, and Technology, Daryl Vaz has revealed that approximately 89 taxi operators have so far been charged after being accused of overcharging passengers.

This aligns with the Transport Authority’s efforts to enhance measures addressing the overcharging of fares by public passenger vehicle (PPV) operators, following a 19 per cent increase in PPV fares in October.

Speaking at Wednesday’s post-Cabinet press briefing, the Minister stated that these arrests were part of

the Government’s plan to take back the roads “from the rogues”.

“There has been an increase and it is going to be sustained, both in terms of the overcharging – which obviously has been an issue – and of course, the discipline on the roads. So, Operation Transport Streamline continues, which is a collaboration between the Transport Authority and the traffic Police, and it’s all-island,” Vaz said.

“I think the last update I got was 89 persons that have been charged for overcharging. And of course, traffic tickets are on the increase,

especially among the public passenger transport operators,” he went on to say.

In October, over 60 people were charged for overcharging passengers, with the Authority revealing that it has executed more than 90 operations since the fare increase took effect.

Transport Authority Managing Director, Ralston Smith had revealed at that time 165 complaints were submitted to the Transport Authority’s newly-established database and 145 have been resolved while the remaining complaints are under investigation.

(Jamaica Observer)

T

he St Kitts-based Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) says its Monetary Council has approved the replacement of the Queen’s image on the Eastern Caribbean (EC) currency.

“The proposed replacement is an emblem which depicts the flags of ECCB member countries,” the

ECCB said in an advertisement, adding “this image provides more holistic reflection of the ECCU (Eastern Caribbean

Currency Union)”.

Eastern Caribbean currency, the successor to the British West Indies dollar, has existed since 1965.

The ECCB serves as the central bank for the islands of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Kitts-Nevis, Montserrat and Anguilla. (CMC)

T&T MP tells PM: Finalise Dragon gas deal after referendum

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ointe-a-Pierre Member of Parliament (MP) David Lee is calling on the Trinidad Government not to enter into any gas arrangement with Venezuela until after the December 3 referendum.

He said Government must take a stand in the escalating border controversy between neighbouring Venezuela and Caricom member Guyana.

Referring to a Reuters report which suggested Venezuela is close to approving an offshore gas licence with TT, Lee is asking if this is a wise decision, given the ongoing saga with Guyana.

“We ask the Government, is it prudent, is this a wise decision or even a diplomatically sound decision to enter such an agreement while our Caricom sister Guyana tries to defend almost two thirds of her land, the Essequibo

region, from being taken away?” Lee said.

He spoke at the Couva South cottage meeting of the United National Congress (UNC) on Monday night.

“As a Caricom country, shouldn’t we be assessing and even waiting to see the outcome and subsequent action after the Venezuelan referendum on December 3 before we sign any final agreements?”

He said every Caricom country, including T&T, has called on Venezuela to respect international law, as well as the US. “Guyana has even gone to the International Court of Justice for help. The Guyanese President has officially informed the global community that in the event of military action from Venezuela, their regional allies will not stand back and see anyone take advantage

of Guyana."

Declaring the Opposition’s support of Caricom’s view that the Region must remain a zone of peace, Lee questioned, "So what message are we sending by entering into this relationship at this time with Venezuela before this dispute is even settled?

“This goes beyond the Dragon gas deal. It will call on us as a country to stand with Guyana in more ways than one if this escalates.”

The Prime Minister, reminding T&T of his government’s principled stand on the issue, said he was hoping for a peaceful resolution of Venezuela’s claim to Guyana’s Essequibo territory. He also said he hoped this conflict did not interfere with TT’s relationship with either of the two countries.

(Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023

19

Around The World

Israel pounds Gaza OILNEWS OIL NEWS ahead of expected truce

I Oil edges lower in choppy trade as OPEC+ delays meeting

O

il prices fell nearly one per cent in a volatile session on Wednesday as Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies (OPEC+) producers unexpectedly delayed a meeting on production cuts, raising questions about global crude supplies.

Brent futures settled 49 cents lower to US$81.96 a barrel, after falling more than four per cent to a low of US$78.41 earlier in the session. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude settled 67 cents lower at US$77.10, after declining more than five per cent to a session low of US$73.79 earlier in the day.

OPEC+ postponed the meeting, originally scheduled for November 26, to November 30, it said in a statement, a surprise development that drove prices sharply lower in early trading. The group was expected to discuss whether to expand oil output cuts.

Prices bounced back after news that the disagreement was related to African countries, which are among the smaller producers in the group, rather than the top oil exporters.

Some traders also pointed to low liquidity ahead of the US Thanksgiving holiday.

The OPEC+ meeting, which includes major producers Saudi Arabia, Russia and other allies and members, had been expected to consider further changes to a deal that already limits supply into 2024, according to analysts and OPEC+ sources.

The delay stoked concerns that more production could come online from oil producers in the coming months, said Dennis Kissler, Senior Vice President of trading at BOK Financial.

A rise in inventories also pressured prices lower on Wednesday morning, he said.

US crude oil inventories rose by 8.7 million barrels last week on higher imports, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said.

The US dollar bounced back from a 2-1/2-month low after economic data showed lower unemployment claims.

A rise in the greenback makes dollar-denominated oil more expensive for buyers in other currencies.

Both crude benchmarks have fallen for four straight weeks.

To support prices, OPEC and its allies will need to not only extend, but increase cuts, said John Evans of oil broker PVM in a note.

Earlier this week, an OPEC technical panel invited a top financial market dealer to give a presentation, seen by Reuters, which painted a bearish outlook for the oil market.

Even if the OPEC+ nations extend their cuts into next year, the global oil market will see a slight supply surplus in 2024, the head of the International Energy Agency's oil markets and industry division said on Tuesday. (Reuters)

srael continues deadly air attacks and heavy shelling across Gaza as it remains unclear when a temporary truce mediated by Qatar will come into effect.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu renewed his warning that war would continue after the expected pause in fighting, promising to bring all Israeli captives home.

US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken said he thanked Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani for the country’s efforts to broker the agreement.

The pair also “discussed next steps to expand humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza and bring the remaining hostages home”, Blinken said.

Meanwhile, the Palestine Red Crescent has confirmed to Al Jazeera that 17-year-old Izz alDin Mustafa al-Hafi was shot and killed by Israeli forces during a raid in the Balata refugee camp east of Nablus.

Ahmed Jibril, the direc-

R

dry food and water through a pipeline that was laid for supplying water to the tunnel for construction work.

Officials have been giving regular updates and have indicated they are making good progress.

But family and friends of the workers have been increasingly anxious – and angry, wondering why it is taking so long to get the men out.

On Monday, anxious relatives who had crowded around the tunnel experienced some relief when an endoscopic camera – slipped inside through a new pipe – captured foot-

tor of PRCS’s ambulance and emergency centre in Nablus, told the Palestinian news agency Wafa that Hafi was shot in the head.

Another young man was also shot in the back during the raid.

Both victims were taken to Rafidia Hospital, where doctors later pronounced Hafi dead due to his serious

injuries. The identity and the condition of the second man were not immediately known.

Israeli forces also detained Red Crescent rescue workers attempting to reach the victims, confiscating their keys and phones, a Red Crescent official told Al Jazeera.

In fighting in Lebanon,

five Hezbollah members, including the son of a Member of Parliament (MP) was killed in an Israeli strike.

Abbas Mohammad Raad, who has been identified as the son of Lebanese MP Mohammad Raad, was killed on Wednesday in southern Lebanon, Hezbollah confirmed.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Putin says we must think Fiery car crash at UShow to stop 'the tragedy' Canada border kills 2; terrorism ruled out of war in Ukraine

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ussian President Vladimir Putin told the leaders of the Group of Twenty (G20) on Wednesday that it was necessary to think about how to stop "the tragedy" of the war in Ukraine, some of his most placatory remarks to date about the conflict.

Putin's decision to send troops into Ukraine in February 2022 triggered Europe's deadliest conflict since World War Two and the gravest confrontation between Russia and the West

Rescuers close in on trapped Indian workers escue workers drilling to free 41 workers trapped in a tunnel in India's Uttarakhand state are close to breaking through to them, officials say.

On Wednesday evening, officials said they were confident the workers could be rescued by this afternoon.

The workers were building the tunnel when a part of it caved it on November 12 due to a landslide.

Authorities established contact with the trapped men hours later and were supplying them with provisions.

These included oxygen,

The Gazan city of Rafah on Wednesday

age of the workers. Officials asked them to identify themselves in front of the camera and assured them that they would be rescued soon.

The new pipe is wider and authorities say they can now supply more oxygen, food and other essentials such as medicines, mobile phones and chargers.

It was also used on Tuesday to give the workers their first hot meal in 10 days, with rescuers packing khichdi (a rice and lentil dish) in bottles and sending them inside.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

since the depths of the Cold War. Addressing G20 leaders for the first time since the start of the war, the Kremlin chief said some leaders had said in their speeches that they were shocked by the ongoing "aggression" of Russia in Ukraine.

"Yes, of course, military actions are always a tragedy," Putin told the virtual G20 meeting called by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"And of course, we should think about how to stop this tragedy," Putin said. "By the way, Russia has never refused peace talks with Ukraine."

The remark, although clearly intended for international consumption, is one of Putin's most dovish on the war for months and contrasts with his sometimes long diatribes about the failings and arrogance of the United States.

Fighting in Ukraine since February 2022 has killed or wounded hundreds of thousands, displaced millions more and devastated swathes of the country's south and east.

Putin used the word "war" to describe the conflict instead of the current Kremlin term of "special military operation".

"I understand that this war, and the death of people, cannot but shock," Putin said.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

The vehicle burns at the Rainbow Bridge US border crossing with Canada, in Niagara Falls, New York, US, November 22, 2023 in a still image from video (Courtesy Saleman Alwishah via Reuters)

A

speeding car crashed in flames on the bridge linking New York state and Ontario at Niagara Falls on Wednesday, killing two people in the vehicle and sparking a security scare that closed four USCanadian border crossings and Buffalo International Airport.

Hours later federal and state authorities said investigators had found no evidence of an act of terror, though circumstances surrounding the episode on the Rainbow Bridge remained murky, leaving it yet to be determined whether the crash was accidental or intentional.

"At this time, there is no indication of a terrorist attack," New York Governor Kathy Hochul told reporters Wednesday evening.

Her comments were echoed a short time later by federal law enforcement officials at a separate news conference.

Video of the crash caught on security camera and post-

ed to the social media platform X by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency showed the car travelling at high speed, then hitting an object and flying into the air before it crashed to the ground and exploded in flames.

The driver and a passenger perished in the wreck, and a CBP officer suffered minor injuries. He was treated at a nearby hospital and released, an agency official said later.

Authorities did not give names of the two people believed to have been killed.

CNN reported the driver was a 56-year-old man who had been on his way to a rock concert in a luxury Bentley automobile with his wife.

The incident unfolded at a time of heightened security concerns around the world stemming from the conflict in the Middle East and at the peak of US holiday travel on the eve of Thanksgiving celebrations. (Excerpt from Reuters)

20

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023

guyanatimesgy.com

DAILY HOROSCOPES

ARCHIE

Be open about how you feel, and avoid a situation that can stifle your plans.

A trip, educational pursuit or meeting will create something new and exciting.

Don’t hesitate to reunite with someone.

(March 21-April 19) Don’t share secrets or participate in joint ventures. Handle matters yourself and take a pass on offers that you have no control over. Put in the time, and you’ll get the desired results.

PICKLES

(April 20-May 20)

(May 21-June 20)

PEANUTS (June 21-July 22)

You’ll gravitate toward misleading people; when in doubt, ask questions. Keep an open mind, but stay focused on your best interests. Use your charm to outmaneuver someone trying to manipulate you.

Don’t let what you cannot change get you down. Concentrate on being innovative and following creative ideas.

What you do will have an impact on your outlook and how others perceive you. Don’t let emotions lead you astray or stop you from reaching your goal.

Mix business with pleasure, have fun and enjoy what life has to offer.

Freewheeling discussions will lead to valuable information regarding something you thought was out of reach. Think big.

(July 23-Aug. 22) Live and learn. Take advantage of information or opportunities. Actions speak louder than words, so don’t waste time contemplating what to do when movement will be what’s needed.

CALVIN AND HOBBES (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Make things happen. Size up situations and create an opportunity to talk to someone in the know who can add value to something you want to pursue. Don’t hold back or fear rejection or failure.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

An energetic approach to life, love and happiness will change how others treat you. A positive outlook will take you far. An updated image or look will boost your morale.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Push to achieve the momentum you require to reach your destination. Don’t be afraid to let your emotions lead the way. Honesty and integrity will be necessary.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Stay calm, regardless of what others say. Remove yourself from chaotic situations and head toward personal change that makes you feel good about yourself and your station in life.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Consider how to expand your options.

Advocate on your behalf if you want to get things done your way and head in a direction that motivates you. Romance and personal improvement are favored.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Don’t set yourself up for failure or let someone lead you astray. Stay focused on what matters to you and make changes that will lead to positive financial gains.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023

21

ICC shifts Men’s Under-19 World Cup from Sri Lanka to South Africa T he International Cricket Council (ICC) Board on Tuesday decided to shift the 2024 Men’s Under-19 World Cup from Sri Lanka to South Africa.

The move, a unanimous decision by the Board, was taken as a consequence of the ICC recently provisionally suspending Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) due to extensive Government interference in the board’s administration.

The development will have no immediate implication on the daily running of cricket. ESPNcricinfo has learnt that the ICC Board agreed that cricket at all levels, including any bilateral and domestic series and tournaments, will not be disrupted by the suspension. As for the ICC annual funding, that would be controlled until the suspension is lifted.

In a media release, the ICC confirmed moving the tournament to South Africa having heard the SLC. “After hearing representation from SLC, the ICC Board decided that Sri Lanka can continue to compete internationally both in bilateral cricket and ICC events after being suspend-

South Africa hosted the 2023 Women’s U-19 event and the 2020 Men’s U-19 event (file photo)

ed recently for breaching its obligations as a member in particular the requirement to manage its affairs autonomously and without Government interference.”

SLC President Shammi Silva had recently warned that the biennial tournament, scheduled in January 2024 was in danger of being moved out of the country unless the ICC was satisfied that the Sri Lanka Government was not meddling in the board’s working, which goes against the ICC constitution. The SLC and the country’s

Sport Minister, Roshan Ranasinghe have been in conflict over the past year, with Ranasinghe making accusations of corruption and mismanagement in the cricket board, while Silva and SLC accuse him of meddling with cricket.

Silva also notified the ICC in November 2022 of Government interference which forced the ICC Board to ask its Deputy Chairman, Imran Khawaja to travel to Sri Lanka to establish the facts.

Four cities shortlisted

James becomes 1st player to 39,000 points

L

eBron James became the first player to score 39,000 points in the NBA as the LA Lakers beat the Utah Jazz in the in-season tournament.

Needing five points, he scored 17 in a 131-99 victory in Los Angeles that secured a quarter-final place.

James, 38, surpassed Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s tally of 38,387 points in February to become the leading scorer of all time.

“I haven’t really had chance to wrap my head around what it means,” James said.

“There’s been so many great players in this league since the beginning of time, and so many great scorers.

“To be able to be the first of anything is always pretty cool. A wild moment, for sure.”

The four-time NBA Most Valuable Player

LeBron James made his NBA debut in 2003

(MVP) saluted the crowd at the Crypto.com Arena when his achievement was announced.

James recorded nine assists and seven rebounds and team-mate Anthony Davis scored 26 points and made 16 rebounds.

The Indiana Pacers reached the last eight with an away 157-152 win over the Atlanta Hawks.

Tyrese Haliburton, who said this week the tournament gave “more juice” to

early season games, scored 37 points as the Pacers overturned a 20-point firsthalf deficit.

Darius Garland’s 32 points led the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 122-119 overtime victory over the Philadelphia 76ers that kept their qualifying hopes alive.

The quarter-finals take place on December 4 and 5, with the semis on December 7 and the final on December 9 in Las Vegas. (BBC Sport)

South Africa has been a favourite for hosting U-19 World Cup events recently. The country hosted the

inaugural edition of the Women’s U-19 World Cup in 2023 and the Men’s U-19 World Cup in 2020 too.

The 16-team tournament, originally scheduled for January 13-February 4 in Sri Lanka, is likely to be played close to the same window.

The venues for the 2024 edition are likely to be Benoni, Potchefstroom, Kimberley, and Bloemfontein. It is understood that South Africa and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were among the shortlist of venues the ICC had pencilled in as contingencies in case the tournament had to be moved out of Sri Lanka. The UAE, though, had to be ruled out with the ILT20 clashing with the World Cup. The top 11 Full Member sides from the 2022 edition

have qualified directly, and five teams – Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Scotland, and USA – have earned their spots through regional qualification events. The 2024 edition will also be played in a fresh format – with the ‘Super Sixes’, a new segment during the second stage of the event.

India, with five titles, are the most successful team in the competition’s history, followed by Australia with three. Pakistan have won twice and England, Bangladesh, South Africa, and West Indies have each lifted the crown once. For fans in South Africa, the tournament now clashes with the SA20 franchise competition that runs from January 10 to February 10.

(ESPNcricinfo)

“Top 2 moment in Reggae Boyz career”

Lowe describes Nations League triumph over Canada

R

eggae Boyz central defender Damion Lowe has described defeating Canada to advance to the 2024 Copa America and the CONCACAF Nations League semi-finals as a top two moment of his national team career along with their 1-0 win over Mexico at the Rose Bowl in the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Lowe was instrumental in helping the Boyz defeat their rivals 3-2 at the BMO Field in Toronto on Tuesday to secure a spot in the semis as well as next year’s Copa America.

The final score over the two legs was 4-4 with Jamaica advancing based on the away goals rule.

“It’s up there. I think top two. I think beating Mexico 1-0 at the Rose Bowl is still the best moment of my national team career, but this one is up there for sure, especially with all the talking that has been going on from the Canadian team, but the guys showed real heart today,” Lowe said in an interview after the game.

In what can only be described as a masterstroke

by Head Coach Heimir Hallgrimsson, Lowe, who started the game at his preferred centre-back position, was moved into the midfield in the second half, a move that completely changed the game in Jamaica’s favour.

The first of Shamar

Damien Lowe in action

Nicholson’s two goals on the night came after an excellent assist from Lowe after winning the ball in the final third.

“Nothing too hard for me to think about, because I’ve played there and have experience there,” said Lowe about the move to midfield.

“I just tried to analyse the spots that I should be in and just try to help the team as much as possible.

I didn’t really think about it at all. Coach just told me I’m playing central midfield and I said okay then, just went in and gave my all,” he added.

A national team member for over seven years, the 30-year-old hopes that this is the first step of Jamaica consistently getting over the line and qualifying for big tournaments.

“It’s big! As I said to the guys, it’s no more almost.

Every year, every two years it’s almost getting to the finals; almost getting to the semi-final; almost getting to the world cup. Now it’s time to get over the line and we’ve achieved one goal in getting to the Copa America.

We’re in the semi-finals of the Nations League, so I’m grateful,” he said.

Lowe will now turn his attention to an MLS Cup Conference Semi-final for his Philadelphia Union as they are set to take on FC Cincinnati on Saturday.

“That’s the focus right now. We’re going back into camp tomorrow to prepare for that and get some recovery done and Saturday we have a big semi-final against Cincinnati,” he said.

(Sportsmax)

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023

Chess team bag silver at IGG T

he Inter-Guiana Chess Competition held over the weekend in Paramaribo, Suriname, came to an exuberant conclusion as the Guyanese team won the silver medal after losing to Suriname.

Guyana's junior players faced off against their Guianas counterparts, and the result was nothing short of spectacular – our boys and girls did not disappoint.

The Guyana male team consisting of Ricardo Narine, Kyle Couchman, Alexander Zhang and Nicholas Zhang scored five points in the three-round tourney, with 1.5 points against Suriname in round two and 3.5 points against French Guiana in round three. The team played their first game on November 18 against Suriname in round two. In the battle between the two countries, Suriname came out victorious.

Starting with board one for the male team, young Couchman impressed even the Suriname Coaches with his brilliant strategic plays in the complicated positions against

The boys’ team with Guyana Ambassador to Suriname, Virjanand Depoo

Jason Yeung, who has an Elo rating of 1951. Couchman, with absolute will, fought to make his team proud and bring home the win for his country, but fell short after making a critical error on the kingside, causing him to make some poor exchanges and creating pawn weakness for himself. However, with resilience beyond his years, he used his knowledge to create count-

GFF TD Joseph confirms preparations on track for U-17 girls’ friendly

A glimpse of the planning process between Guyanese and Surinamese officials

G

uyana Football Federation (GFF) Technical Director (TD) Bryan Joseph has confirmed that preparations for the highly-awaited Under-17 Girls' international friendly series between Guyana and Suriname were on track, for the games to kick off on November 25.

Joseph said that all arrangements were in place to host Suriname for two home games on November 25 and November 26 at venues in and around Georgetown, since the GFF National Training Centre pitch was still under maintenance.

“We are delighted to count down the days to the kick-off of this bilateral series with Suriname. This is part of a greater initiative between the countries to collaborate on several activities around the development of youth football. Over the coming years, we will have several youth male and female series aimed at boosting the exposure to international football for our youth players.

“The girls of both countries would have missed out on the CONCACAF U-17 Qualifiers earlier in the year, so this series provides the opportunity for them to have four international games under their belt before the conclusion of the year.

“Not very often, the Guyanese fans get to see the youth national teams play on home soil, so we are encouraging everyone to come out and support the players and staff

over the two matches.”

The Junior Lady Jags will be fine-tuning training with the aim to deliver impressive performances and prevent Suriname from securing a victory on their home turf on Saturday and Sunday.

The series will wrap up in December, with Guyana competing in Suriname on December 16 and December 17.

Suriname Football Association (SFA) TD Biswajeet Kali said his team was ready to journey to Guyana this week, and also confirmed that all arrangements have been finalised for the matches on December 16 and December 17 in Suriname.

Kali noted: “We are pleased with this agreement with Guyana, to enable our young female players to gain international experiences and knowledge from an early age.

“Our girls are a mix of our academy, and it is, therefore, important to measure where we are and what the areas for improvement are.

“We as technical directors of both countries have been instructed by our respective presidents to expand this in the different categories. But also, to include French Guiana in the process next year.”

These highly-anticipated matches will also mark the conclusion of the 2023 competitive season for both teams.

GFF urges all fans to unite in support of the junior Lady Jags as they once again proudly represent Guyana.

er play on the queenside with a passed pawn and take the game by force. Unfortunately, it was not enough, as the damage to his kingside was too extensive, and he eventually lost to his Surinamese counterpart.

Narine on board two anchored the male team by destroying his Surinamese opponent to quickly bring home the win – by probing his opponent's defences across the board, looking for weaknesses and then reaching the endgame with a rook against two pawns. Narine also played brilliantly against his French Guiana opponent to claim a draw at will.

Alexander Zhang on board three showed massive growth in these games after dominating his Surinamese opponent in the opening, but the game eventually settled down to a draw in the endgame after Alexander made a fatal blunder when he sacrificed his extra bishop. In round three, he completely crushed his French Guiana opponent with ease.

On board four, the younger Nicholas Zhang lost to his Surinamese opponent in a seemingly drawn endgame.

Nicolas fought valiantly – a battle of strategy in the French opening – but the inexperienced young player could not hold on to the drawn position and eventually collapsed at the end, giving the win to the Surinamese player.

Suriname finally won round two – 2.5-1.5, and Guyana defeated French Guiana in round three – 3.5-0.5.

The tourney ended with Suriname winning the gold; Guyana, silver and French

On board one, Ton-Chung defended Guyana's honour by fighting courageously to score a point against Suriname's top female player, Women Candidate Master (WCM) Victoria Kaslan.

Kaslan was victorious in both games, as experience proved to be the deciding factor.

On board two, 13-year-old Joshi played a perfect game to crush her opponent with style and brilliance, giving the impression that she would be one of those unstoppable forces to look out for in future. In the second game, however, Joshi found herself in a losing position after miscalculating her tactics,

The girls’ team with Elodie Harass, DOS, French Guiana Guiana, bronze.

The Guyana female team consisting of Aniyah Couchman, Italy Ton-Chung, Aditi Joshi, and Maliha Rajkumar had an impressive showing, putting the Surinamese team to the test in the double round-robin match.

which led to a devastating loss.

Board three, played by Couchman, who completely dominated her opponent in game one with tactics and sacrifices, lost her grip on her opponent – allowing her an easy defence against Couchman's

Anderson targets improvement during PanAm Squash Board tenure

crushing blows which she eventually converted to a winning endgame after winning a pawn.

Couchman played a strategic battle of Knights vs Knights in Game Two. She fought to the bitter end as the endgame approached and her time dwindled, but her opponent managed to gain material and win the game.

Playing on board four, Rajkumar impressed by completely demolishing her opponent in both games, showing the true spirit of Guyanese chess. Her will and determination shone through, anchoring the female team and proving that even after only a few weeks of training by Coach Anthony Drayton and well-thought-out preparation, hard work pays off.

The girls scored three points to Suriname's five, with Suriname taking the gold and Guyana, the silver.

The team were coached by FIDE Master Drayton, whose tireless work with the young players, before and during the tournament, led to such a favourable result. Drayton's knowledge and experience in international team events catalysed team building and collaboration.

The Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) related that it was proud of the young, talented players and hoped that competitions of this nature continued in the future. The players were exposed to international competition and friendly rivalry, which will boost their confidence and encourage play.

Thanks were extended to the coach, Preya Rajkumar and Joshi. The GCF also wished to thank the National Sports Commission and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport for organising a well-turned-out event.

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Jamaica's Karen Anderson (second left) shares a photo opportunity with other members of the Caribbean PanAm Squash Board

J

amaica Squash Association President Karen Anderson says her tenure as Regional Vice President of the Caribbean for the Federation of PanAmerican Squash Board, will be used to forge new partnerships, as well as to strengthen the Federation's governance structure to drive growth and improve the Region's competitiveness in the sport.

Anderson, who is currently serving a second term at the helm of the Jamaica Squash Association, was recently appointed second in command of the Caribbean for the Federation of Pan-American Squash Board during an election in Santiago, Chile.

Her four-year term began earlier this November.

She welcomes the new position and is ready to stamp her ideas on the association for the betterment of the sport locally and regionally.

"It is a true honour to serve the Caribbean on the

Federation of Pan-American Squash Board. We shall be directing policy for squash in the Region over the next four years which is a great opportunity and great time as Olympics is in that fiveyear window, so it really will shape and determine the policy for squash in the Region," Anderson said.

Anderson is an accomplished squash player, who represented Jamaica up until recently. As a professional player, she attained a career-high world ranking of number 94 in 2005. She joined the Women's Squash Players Association in the same year.

She is a squash coach locally and has guided many players to national and regional representation.

She is currently leading the charge for the Jamaica Squash Association to attain full charitable status and be known as Jamaica Squash, along with an aggressive governance transformation with

the expectation of a more robust organisation financially and competitively in the Region and beyond, to include qualifying players for the 2028 Olympics where squash will feature as a new sport on the schedule.

"It will factor and feature in a number of things such as referring (and) coaching, so we are very excited and looking forward to see how we can forge some partnerships with our other counterparts in the Region to really grow and strengthen our governance structure and our competitiveness in the Region but on an international scale as well.

I am really looking forward to the next four years as Regional VP for the Caribbean on the Federation of Pan-American Squash Board," Anderson noted.

The only other Jamaican to serve on the Federation of Pan-American Squash Board is Douglas Beckford.

(Sportsmax)

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GUYANATIMESGY.COM

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023

23

Golden Jaguars seal promotion after scintillating 6-0 victory G

uyana’s senior men’s national football team will, next year, compete among the best teams in CONCACAF, as a result of their promotion to League A. Six unanswered goals from the Golden Jaguars against Antigua and Barbuda at the Estadio Panamericano de San Cristobal, Dominican Republic were just the icing on the cake of the team’s emphatic run in the CONCACAF Nations League 2023/2024.

The Golden Jaguars, unbeaten in four games prior to Tuesday night’s, kept their sheet clean to ensure they would finish at the top of Group D in League B, thus securing the promotion.

Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz opted for a starting XI that read: Goalkeeper Quillan Roberts, Captain Daniel Wilson, Jonathan Grant, Jalen Jones, Colin Nelson, Curtez Kellman, Liam Gordon, Omari Glasgow, Nathan MoriahWelsh, Stephen DukeMckenna, and Kelsey Benjamin.

The Golden Jaguars’ party began as early as the seventh minute when Benjamin capitalised on a cross from Gordon, to tuck in Guyana’s first goal.

Benjamin and Glasgow continued to work in tandem, but two shots went awry to ensure Guyana would wait for their second strike.

In the 36th minute, how-

ever, Benjamin fed Glasgow another promising cross and while the Antiguan keeper, Zaieem Scott came off his line, Glasgow sunk the shot to make it a 2-0 affair.

Nine minutes later, it was a comedy of errors for Antigua as Guyana’s third strike caught all of their opponents off guard.

From a set piece beyond the halfway mark, MoriahWelsh chipped the ball over the head of the keeper to take the score to 3-0 at the half.

In the second segment, the substitutions began, but Guyana continued to maintain their intensity. In fact, it was three substitutes that took Guyana’s tally up to 6-0.

Tage, Hodge smash half-centuries on Day 2

The Golden Jaguars have secured a spot in League A after an unbeaten run in the CNL 2023/2024 group stage

Coming in for Glasgow, Osaze De Rosario made no mistake in his debut for the Golden Jaguars when he curved the ball around the keeper, into the corner of the net in the 67th minute.

Another substitute, Leo Lovell, also made the most of his time on the pitch as he beat the keeper in the 90th minute for Guyana’s fifth goal.

Before added time could expire, Deon Moore capitalised on an assist from Lovell for Guyana’s sixth and final goal in the 90th+3.

The Golden Jaguars finish the group stage of

the CONCACAF Nations League 2023/2024 with 15 points from five games. The next best team in Group D were Puerto Rico with 12 points from six games.

In a congratulatory message to the Golden Jaguars, Guyana Football Federation (GFF) President Wayne Forde shared, “Today our beloved Golden Jaguars hoisted the Golden Arrowhead with pride and distinction as they celebrated their historic qualification to League A of the CONCACAF Nations League.”

“In this proud moment of our nation's football journey,

I join with all of Guyana in congratulating Coach Jamaal Shabazz, his technical staff, our hard-working team at the Secretariat and our courageous players on their historic performance. You are the pride of our nation.”

Meanwhile, President Dr Irfaan Ali also extended well wishes to the Golden Jaguars, writing, “Congratulations to the Guyana Golden Jaguars who were promoted to League A of the Concacaf Nations League after defeating Antigua and Barbuda 6-0 this evening in the Dominican Republic.”

Guyanese female team gearing up for Road to Recovery tourney

Kavem Hodge

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est Indies A in their first Four-day Test against South Africa A were resolute in their batting as they spent almost the entire day on Tuesday wielding the bat to get past their target, albeit not by much.

Openers Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Zachary McCaskie resumed the second day’s proceedings on 46

Tagenarine Chanderpaul without loss, as the more experienced of the two, Chanderpaul went on to hit a half-century.

The Guyanese batsman notched 78 from 150 balls, including 12 fours, before falling to Hardus Viljoen’s bowling. At the other end, McCaskie went for 31 from 58, while the next batter in, Kirk McKenzie, failed to trou-

SCOREBOARD West Indies A BATTING R B Tagenarine Chanderpaul LHB lbw GC Viljoen 78 150 Zachary McCaskie RHB c MZ Hamza b TL Moreki 31 58 Kirk McKenzie LHB c C Fortuin b TL Moreki 0 4 Kavem Hodge RHB c C Fortuin b MC Mpongwana 73 151 Tevin Imlach RHB c DG Bedingham b GC Viljoen 16 21 Joshua Da Silva RHB st C Fortuin b N Brand 20 55 Kevin Sinclair RHB lbw TL Moreki 39 47 Akeem Jordan RHB st C Fortuin b DL Piedt 40 50 Jayden Seales LHB lbw DL Piedt 7 24 Shermon Lewis RHB not out 0 8 Jair McAllister RHB

Extras – 10 b: 1 lb: 0 wd: 1 nb: 8 Total 314/9 declared (93.2 overs) BOWLING O-M-R-W 21.0-1-92-2 Hardus Viljoen PACE Duanne Olivier PACE 12.0-0-44-0 Dane Piedt SPIN 23.2-7-60-2 Tshepo Moreki PACE 19.0-4-56-3 Mihlali Mpongwana PACE 9.0-1-35-1 Neil Brand SPIN 9.0-2-26-1 South Africa A (Second Innings) BATTING R B Neil Brand LHB not out 3 9 Tony de Zorzi LHB not out 0 9 Yet to bat: Zubayr Hamza, Keegan Petersen, David Bedingham, Clyde Fortuin, Mihlali Mpongwana, Hardus Viljoen, Dane Piedt, Duanne Olivier, Tshepo Moreki BOWLING O-M-R-W Jayden Seales PACE 2.0-0-3-0 Kevin Sinclair SPIN 1.0-1-0-0

ble the score.

His successor, Kavem Hodge, however, followed in Chanderpaul’s footsteps with 73 off 151 deliveries, highlighted by nine boundaries.

While Tevin Imlach and Joshua Da Silva contributed 16 from 21 and 20 from 55 respectively, the duo of Kevin Sinclair and Akeem Jordan spent a little more time at the crease.

Sinclair’s innings included five boundaries for 39 runs off 47 deliveries, while Jordan’s 50-ball 40 encompassed six fours and one six.

Jayden Seales hit the ball around for a few overs before the ‘A’ Team got to 314-9 and declared.

Tshepo Moreki was the pick of the South Africa A bowlers, taking three wickets for 56 runs in 19 overs. Dane Piedt took 2-60 from 23.2 overs, while Viljoen also took two wickets for 92 in 21 overs.

The WI A team managed to get three overs in before close of play, in which South Africa got to 3 without loss.

The Four-day Test resumes today from 04:00h.

The female team for the Road 2 Recovery tournament

G

uyana's female volleyball team are set to make waves at the upcoming "Road 2 Recovery International" tournament, showcasing the nation's talent on the regional stage.

The tournament, scheduled to take place from November 24-26 at the National Gymnasium , will witness fierce competition as teams from Trinidad, French Guiana, Suriname, and Brazil gather to vie for victory.

The squad, representing Guyana with pride, boasts a line-up of skilled athletes ready to leave their mark on the tournament. The following athletes have been selected to proudly represent Guyana: 1. Odile Broomes 2. Mercedes Matheson 3. Kim Chan Bagot 4. Irie Cadogan

5. Hannah Hicks 6. Alianna Charles 7. Iambie Jones 8. Abigail Humphrey 9. Kimberly Sam 10.Shamari Cyprus 11. Victoria Wong The team, under the expert guidance of their coaches and supported by passionate fans, are gearing up for intense battles on the volleyball court. With a mix of seasoned players and emerging talents, Team Guyana are poised to make a significant impact during the tournament.

In a statement, the team captain expressed her enthusiasm, stating, "We are honoured to represent Guyana in the Road 2 Recovery International tournament. This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our athletes, coaches, and support staff.

We look forward to competing at our best and showcasing the spirit of sportsmanship that defines our nation."

The "Road 2 Recovery International" tournament kicks off at 16:00h on November 24 at the National Gymnasium promising thrilling matches, camaraderie, and an opportunity for the participating teams to foster international relations through the shared love of volleyball.

Guyanese fans are encouraged to come out in full support, both in person and virtually, as the nation rallies behind its exceptional female athletes. The tournament is not only a showcase of athletic prowess but a celebration of unity and friendship among nations through the universal language of sports.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023

Sport is no longer our game, it’s our business

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