Guyana Times - Thursday, November 3, 2022

Body of NYPD Officer found at Orinduik Falls

Some three days af ter going missing while on a tour at the Orinduik Falls in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) to celebrate his wife’s birth day, the body of 43-yearold Gladstone Haynes was found on Wednesday morn

ing.

Haynes, whose address was given as Lot 164 Fourth Street, Alexander Village, Greater Georgetown, was an overseas-based Guyanese and an officer attached to the New York Police Department (NYPD)

in Brooklyn, United States.

The man drowned some time around 15:00h on Sunday while he and other tourists were at the popu lar waterfalls located in the North Pakaraimas, Region Eight.

According to the Guyana

Police Force, Haynes and the mother of his children, Vanessa Alicia Vassell – a 34-year-old US citi zen, along with other tour ists, boarded a plane from the Eugene F Correia International Airport to do a tour of Kaieteur Falls and Orinduik Falls.

“Enquiries disclosed that [Haynes] was swimming below the Orinduik Falls in the water, which was

high and streaming heavi ly at the time. He reported ly went under the surface of the water and disappeared,” police revealed.

Police ranks from the Orinduik Police Station were then informed and a search party comprising of ficers from both the Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force, along with other persons, began look ing for the missing man.

However, his body was not found immediately.

The search continued over the following days and was eventually found about 06:30h on Wednesday at the Orinduik Falls, where Haynes and his partner had gone to celebrate her birth day.

According to an arti cle in the NY Daily News, Haynes joined the NYPD in 2005 and spent most of his career in the 70th Precinct. “He loved his job… He was a 17-year veteran. He al ways wanted to be a Police Officer, because his father was a Police Officer [in the Guyana Police Force],” a rel ative told the NY news en tity.

Haynes lived in Brooklyn with his partner and three children, according to the article. On Tuesday, a NYPD spokesperson con firmed Haynes’ disappear ance to the Daily News.

“We are assisting the State Department and local authorities with their inves tigation,” the spokesman in dicated to the news agency.

Dead: Officer Gladstone Haynes [NY Daily News photo]

FERRY SCHEDULE

Korean company pitches 7-year plan to develop Silica City

SouthKorean compa ny Yeachon Architect and Urban Planners, whose representatives are in Guyana along with US-based companies exploring opportu nities for partnership and in vestment, on Wednesday pre sented a seven-year plan for Silica City.

The presentation on Silica City was made before President Dr Irfaan Ali at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC). The President was accompanied by sever al Cabinet members, includ ing Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo; Prime Minister, Brigadier (Retired) Mark Phillips; Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh and Public Works Minister Juan Edghill.

The South Korean com pany made a video presenta tion, laying out how it would develop Silica City, which is the brainchild of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and is being built by the Government up the Linden-Soesdyke Highway.

According to the propos al, the city will be carbon-free, complete with housing, ener gy, transportation, healthcare, education and recreational fa cilities. Mention was made of smart farms, a hypermarket, and a commercial centre. The company’s proposed date for completion of Silica City was 2030.

Other Korean and US companies also made video presentations on what value they could provide. President Ali stressed during the pro ceedings that the local Private Sector should take up the op portunity for partnership, es pecially in areas such as agri culture.

“These guys are here, the Private Sector, the leaders of these organisations. They are ready, they have the financ es… this can be done on a massive scale,” President Ali informed the members of the Private Sector that were pres ent.

“The next 10 years is to build a foundation for a Guyana that…is way ahead of our time, that is futuristic, that is 2030 and beyond…This is about positioning Guyana, 2030 and beyond, and the Private Sector has to be part of (it),” the President added.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Singh expressed hope that the companies would set up shop locally. He

also echoed sentiments simi lar to the President’s, noting the important opportunity that the presence of the com panies represented in Guyana. And according to Singh, with Guyana in the middle of a growth surge, the time is right for them to invest.

“Underlining that growth is an incredibly exciting im pact and an unprecedented story about strong growth in the oil and gas sector, but in addition very strong growth in the non-oil economy. This is not by accident. This, in fact, is the direct result of a delib erate policy position taken by a Government to ensure that we set the foundation for… sustainable economic growth into the long term.

“So exciting opportunities abound in literally every pro ductive sector of the econo my, whether it is agriculture, infrastructure, tourism, so cial services including things like healthcare, education –across the entire spectrum,” the Finance Minister said.

Silica City has generat ed much interest. It was only in September that another group, Dar Consultants, made a presentation on the city. The

master plan was presented by the company’s team at State House.

During the presentation, it was explained what the Innovation Village concept within Silica City would ac complish. For one, it will con nect start-ups and business incubators to established com panies, maximising their op portunities.

“According to the group, the Innovation Village will be a geographic area, locat ed within Silica City, where digital and innovative lead ing-edge anchor institutions and companies cluster and connect with start-ups, busi ness incubators, and acceler ators.

“It will be physically com pact, transit-accessible, tech nically-wired and will offer a mixed use of housing, office and retail spaces,” a state ment from the Office of the President had explained.

The first phase of devel opment of Silica City, within the vicinity of Kuru Kururu along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway, will feature 400 young professional homes, as well as a number of commer cial and industrial develop

ments and hospitals. While these plans are in motion, land acquisition for phase two is also in progress through collaborative efforts with the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC).

The establishment of Silica City was proposed in 2013 by Dr Ali during his ten ure as Housing and Water Minister. It is in keeping with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the New Urban Agenda, the Housing Act 36:20, and other guidelines.

In his first year in office in 2020, President Ali had revealed that Government had begun discussions on Silica City as a secondary city. He had explained that the Government was look ing at an area on the LindenSoesdyke Highway that would be connected to the new fourlane bypass road.

It had previously been ex plained that the city would initially cater to just over 3000 households in the first five years and eventually grow to house more than 12,500 households.

– will be carbon-free, feature smart agriculture, energy and transport – President Ali urges Private Sector to take advantage of opportunities

A section of the presentation, showing the hotel and convention capacities envisioned for Silica City

President Dr Irfaan Ali

Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh

Views

Traffic violations

There is always an element of risk whenever someone uses the roadways, be they a motorist, passenger, cyclist or pedestrian. This is somewhat inherent, since it is believed that accidents will happen. Often, the fault is not with the one being cautious.

The risks may manifest in various forms, such as a lack of street lighting while driving at nights; potholes which, when swerved from, could place a vehicle in the direct path of another; absence or non-functioning of traffic lights, which can create uncertainty among drivers; roaming animals; speeding; drinking and driving; narrow streets, and lack of traffic signage. In addition, disregard of basic traffic etiquette and other rules exacerbate the risks.

Seemingly common now is the disrespect for designated major roads. Many drivers, including some within the public transportation system, refuse to adhere to what is mandatory. As a result, a number of accidents occur frequently at some of these points. Similarly, the practice of running red lights and the green signal that allows pedestrians to cross continues unabated, predominantly by minibus drivers. The danger that poses needs no explanation.

While a plethora of traffic violations are committed on a daily basis, some appear more prominent. Undertaking and cutting in front of a vehicle, and the sticking out of a minibus conductor’s arm to do likewise from the other side, seem to be the new norm of driving. Aside from the obvious danger, especially to young and inexperienced drivers, and apart from being an irritant, it is blatant bullyism and a potent source for road rage.

It appears that those who engage in such practices do not see themselves as being errant, or what they do as a traffic violation. Lanes that allow for turning-on-red are abused, and used as if they are the right-of-way. In the city, many roads other than what are authorised for minibus routes are used as thoroughfares. Speeding is foremost, causing areas that are supposed to be free of minibuses to become dangerous.

In addition, some drivers seemingly take pride in having an alcoholic beverage in their possession while transporting passengers. Adding to the woes of those who abide by traffic rules, they are verbally abused when trying to stave off a potential transgressor. These practices are not unknown to the Police, and while the Police cannot be at all points where violations occur, there is the expectation for more and sustained intervention in the interest of safety for all road users.

This does not take away from the valiant efforts of a few dedicated traffic officers, who do their best to curb the situation – one which has reached alarming proportions.

What is desperately needed is a sustained campaign to reduce traffic violations, and let the law take its course on the errant ones, regardless of who they are. The carelessness exhibited puts all road users at risk. This is where the National Road Safety Council would need to be supported, and probably empowered, to have a more visible presence and increased influence all year round.

It must be noted that drivers are not the only violators of traffic rules, for some pedestrians are equally guilty. Aside from the common jaywalking, they cross busy intersections when not authorised, and refuse to use the overhead pedestrian walkways, thereby bringing danger to themselves and others. Like errant drivers, they seem empowered to not observe basic traffic rules. This will change only when there is a constant stream of violators ascending the stairs of the courts across the country.

Guyana’s public debt remains sustainable with low to moderate risk

Dear Editor,

In a recent press statement, the Chairperson of the Alliance for Change (AFC) Opposition party, Cathy Hughes, argued that the projected increase in public debt by the end of 2022, as re ported in the Mid-Year Economic Report 2022, will chain future genera tions to debt, which may leave Guyana impoverished.

This article seeks to weigh in on the debate put forth by the AFC offi cial by comparing and contrasting the level of public debt increases relative to total expenditure under their ten ure in Government during the peri od 2015–2019 versus the incumbent Government.

Having examined the composition of public expenditure under the previ ous Government, relative to the level of increase in the public debt in compari son to the same indicators under the in cumbent Government, hereunder men tioned are the findings, put simply:

The level of increase in current/re current expenditure under the previ ous Government represented 74% of the level of increase in total public debt. Conversely, the level of increase in cur rent expenditure represents 37% of the level of increase in the total public debt under the incumbent Government. This means that the previous Government borrowed two times more than the cur rent Government to finance recurrent expenditures, which is unsustainable and a recipe for bankruptcy.

The total (projected) increase in pub lic debt by the end of 2022 from its 2019 position is an estimated $291 billion, or 285%. However, it should be noted that the overdraft balance of $147 billion which was racked up by the previous Government, and never reported on, ac counts for 51% of the total level of in crease in public debt.

The debt-to-GDP ratio stood at an estimated 29% for the first half of FY 2022 and the non-oil debt-to-GDP ra tio was an estimated 63% for the peri od. Both of these ratios indicate that the

level of public debt is relatively low to moderate in terms of the risk of default. This is despite the massive increase in public expenditure, especially towards capital expenditure, which is partly due to about 23% of the 2022 budget being financed through the first drawdown from the Natural Resource Fund (NRF).

Moreover, it is worthwhile to exam ine the debt-to-GDP ratio from another perspective, where another adjustment is perhaps imperative.

During the period 2015–2020, the previous Administration racked up an overdraft of some $147 billion in the Government deposit accounts at the Bank of Guyana. This practice, as was flagged by the Auditor General Report, was in contravention of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act.

In this regard, section 60 of the Act speaks to “overdraft facility” where it states that “the Minister shall repay in full all advances in the form of an over draft on all official bank account on or before the end of the fiscal year during which that overdraft was drawn”.

Further to note, the overdraft bal ances were never reported as part of the public stock of debt during the period 2015–2020. Hence, should this overdraft amount be excluded from the stock of debt of $147 billion, the non-oil debt-toGDP ratio would have been around 54% and the overall debt-to-GDP ratio below 29%. This partly explains the reason why the Senior Minister with responsi bility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, had to seek the National Assembly’s approv al to raise the public debt ceiling so as to now regularize the Government Deposit Accounts by clearing the overdraft bal ances and adding same onto the official stock of public debt.

Notwithstanding, the expansive de velopment trajectory of the economy and the relatively low debt-to-GDP ra tio suggests that the level of public debt is quite sustainable, with a low to mod erate default risk, and the Government of the day must be commended for this type of prudent public debt manage

Concluding remarks

The key difference in the composi tion of the public expenditure and the debt financing employed by the incum bent Government versus the previous Government is such that the previous Government borrowed heavily to fi nance recurrent expenditure (non-pro ductive spending), while the incumbent Government borrows to finance capital projects, which in turn creates value for the economy in more ways than one.

Contrary to the views of the Opposition party the AFC, with no sup porting analysis, the Government is not on an excessive borrowing spree, as was the case evidently by their predeces sor, inter alia, the unlawful overdraft balances on the deposit accounts. It can be safely concluded, therefore, that Guyana’s current debt level is sustain able, which is substantiated by a rela tively low debt-to-GDP ratio of 30%.

Moreover, the Government is bor rowing to finance capital projects which will add value to the economy over the long run and support the enabling en vironment for the creation of new in dustries and businesses to prosper, thus generating more organic tax rev enues for the State. This is contrary to the previous Government’s borrowing spree, which was used to finance pre dominantly recurrent expenditure that does not help in any way to create value for the economy, but is more a recipe for bankruptcy, if continued.

(PS: Attached herewith is a report containing a more detailed analysis on the captioned subject, which the media may wish to use as deemed appropri ate).

Yours faithfully, Joel Bhagwandin Director

Police Commissioner (ag) Clifton Hicken and other senior ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) visited one of the booths on Wednesday at the launch of the National Road Safety Month of Activities and Exhibition on the State House lawns in New Amsterdam, Berbice

ment by restricting the temptation to borrow excessively against future oil revenues.

Indeed, the standard must be lifted

Dear Editor, Prescott Mann’s October 31 letter, “There is hope for better Super50 commentary” is most time ly. He notes that “Lots of people are hoping for some level of change, as live cricket commentary is sup posed to be educational as well as enlightening,” and this is indeed so very true.

Many times, thanks to modern technology, I keep revisiting the ar chives, bringing up the many greats such as John Arlott, Christopher Martin Jenkins, Jonathan Agnew, Tony Cozier, Brian Waddle, Henry Blofeld, Alan McGilvray, Jim Maxwell, and Brian Johnston etc. What was noteworthy for all of these, and it goes for the entire pantheon of legends, is that their com mentary of the ‘live’ action was well delineated, and on this point, I have a few things to say.

First, live cricket com

mentary is exactly what it implies, that is, it is ‘live.’ This means that the ac tion, meaning the move ment of the ball, must be so described that listeners can envisage what is actu ally taking place. I recall, on radio, Joseph ‘Reds’ Pereira, an icon himself, emphasising that com mentators must ‘follow the ball.’ This ball I may add is the centre of attrac tion. Yes, the bowler re leases it, and the batsman reacts thereafter. His re action is specific too, that is, a ‘named’ shot/stroke is played.

What I get these days is the shrieking monotony of a batsman ‘hitting’ say ‘high and hard’ or just ‘hit ting’ or ‘missing.’ I mean I want to ‘see’ as I listen, as every stroke from a bats man in cricket has a name. So, unless the ‘lesser likes’ who are covering the games know these finer points, they should not do

live cricket commentary. Now I can go on and men tion fielding positions, as these too are specific and known by exact names.

I advise that there is a cricketing jargon that must be employed. Sometimes the ‘high and hard’ is hard and impossible to en visage. I actually heard from one of our boys that the ball was hit ‘high and hard,’ but lo and behold, the batsman was bowled. Serious! Now I will not be labour this issue, but I re peat that the game of crick et is not a ‘bottom house’ or ‘backyard’ fun time. Its coverage calls for knowl edge and well-honed, spe cialised skills, something I need to comment on.

Getting back to the greats of recent times, I keep noticing the ease with which they utilise language. Their grammar was intact and their vo cabulary was rich, diverse and appropriate. These

traits were well buttressed by the ability to be true to what was unfolding. There was no ‘forced excitement’ when nothing was happen ing, and these ‘chaps of old’ had the ability to carry on a secondary, but related conversation, even as they were ‘calling the action, ball-by-ball.’

Editor, Like Mar Mann, I too am happy that Sean Devers is back. He has been around for some time and has the raw materi als to grow and get better. He should be a staple. I am pleased also that Naim Chan resurfaced during the Inter County games, and I believe that he can and should make some in puts with the likes of John Ramsingh and Inderjeet Persaud, who have been struggling along (without help) for quite some time now. Unlike Naim Chan, these two have no ‘radio upbringing’ and so they struggle in terms of find

ing the correct ‘roister’ for their coverage. They tend to talk or shout, and I am sure ‘commentating wise,’ Naim can give guidance that inheres in his decades of experience as a top-class radio and TV presenter. I still have a lot more to say on cricket, but at least with Naim and Sean back, I feel that we have a model for aspiring commentators to look up to.

For now, I iterate a mil lion times what quite a few have been saying in recent weeks. It is that crick et commentary and radio announcing on the whole must be restored to accept able standards. Cricket Commentary and Radio Announcing are ‘special ised’ professions. One writer noted that “… there are just too frequent and numerous defectively pro duced speech; socially ab horrent enunciations; and nonconformist pronuncia tions.”

So, I too call on Minister Kwame McCoy to search for and appoint ‘experts’ (as close as he can get to), in the basic ‘use of lan guage,’ to address these gross issues, so that there will be “… quality and pro fessionalism (not being far) far removed from in ternational standards and expectations. Lots of peo ple are ignoring live crick et commentary and radio on the whole. In fact, lis tening to the news (sports especially) on the Voice of Guyana is a cumbersome job. The reading is pri mary schoolish and at the end, I barely know what was the thrust. As a ca veat, and as most people know, the present batch (Heads of DPI, NCN's VOG, and Chronicle) are not journalistically sav vy enough nor adequately language-equipped).

Yours truly, Deodat Singh

Tribute to Churchill

Dear Editor, I hereby sincerely, on behalf of myself and fami ly, commensurate with the children and family of the late Krishendat Persaud known as Churchill. The loving father of the Honourable Minister Priya Manickchand, Jaya Manickchand and Anil Manickchand.

Churchill is related to us in that, his father’s sister was married to my moth er’s brother (my Mamoo) and she was known to us as Hen (our Mammy).

Uncle Manickchand, his father, as we know him, was a pioneer farmer in the Mahaicony Creek in the area of Governor Lite where he possessed about 700 acres of land on lease for cattle and rice.

There were several oth er farmers who ventured forth to the Mahaicony Creek seeking a livelihood.

Uncle Manickchand cleared the land for the cul tivation of rice and grazing of cattle.

The means of transpor tation at that time were by river, by boats, and by launch. This was during the period in the 1950s. The government at that time purchased the milk of the farmers which was brought down by milk wagons to the milk plant located at Kingston, Georgetown.

Uncle Manickchand will wake up at 3am to com mence milking his cows to reach the launch at 5:30am. Several farmers followed suit. He would then return home after taking his riv er bath and breakfast to re

turn to his pen to release his cows to graze and then to the rice field to plough.

Some farmers had trac tors and ploughs. He com menced with oxen and plough and as he devel oped, later purchased a tractor.

Mr. Manickchand will herd his cattle by means of his horse that he loves to ride. He progressed to that state successfully where he had the means to buy his motor car, the one I re member; a Holden Motor Car from Sanbach Parker, Water Street, Georgetown, the same commercial in stitution from which he purchased his plough and Ferguson tractor.

Mr. Manickchand was conscious that his children must take an education so one of his children who became Dr. Manickchand had to travel from the Mahaicony Railway Station at 5:30am to Georgetown to attend secondary school, together with children of the Beni family that also nurtured the doctor.

As Uncle Manickchand advanced in age Churchill took over the management of the estate and success fully did so in its expansion and intensive farming, but he realized that his chil dren must attend high school, but not suffering as his brother did. So after marriage, he thought it fit that his children may find residence in Georgetown in order to attend school and pursue higher education and the children with their darling mother who nur tured them and did fulfill

their ambition in becoming Attorneys-at-Law and the son, the manager of his es tate.

It is little known to the people of the city and else where of the struggles, the pain and suffering of farm ers in this land, muddy en vironment, slushy dams, early morning toil and fre quent loss of crops.

With little aid, patience and contentment, togeth er with energy and enthu siasm, they will never give up as they would take loans with high interest rates and take further risks in the fields in order to eke out a living.

The farmers’ family be come their club and their farming neighbours be come companions, some times enemy.

One famous farmer known to the country Mr. Karamath, now deceased,

who was a benevolent gen tleman, is well known by the Karamath school where he donated that land.

Equally, Churchill is known for his generosity, his charity, his aid to oth er farmers, his sharing of fertilizers and other inputs for the rice lands. Churchill was also known as a fine hunter as he loved to hunt.

The suffering of farm ers make them very simple and humble and they re alize that out of suffering they find God.

The name of Manickchand will con tinue to be sound along Mahaicony and elsewhere as his children are commit ted to serve the country.

May the soul of my dear friend rest in eternal peace and perpetual light.

Respectfully, Jailall Kissoon

06:00 (Sign on) Inspirational Time

06:30 Cartoons

07:00 Evening News (RB)

08:00 Stop Suffering

08:30 Stay Woke

09:00 The Final Table

10:00 Tiny House Hunters

11:00 Paternity Court

11:30 Divorce Court

12:00 Movie - Alice In Wonderland (2010)

14:00 Raven's Home S3 E8

14:30 The Haunted Hathaway S1 E9

15:00 Indian Soaps

16:00 Henry Danger S4 E4

16:30 Game Shakers S1 E14

17:00 The Young & The Restless 18:00 CNN

19:00 The Evening News

20:00 Stop Suffering

20:30 Brooklyn Nine Nine 21:00 Station 19 (New Season)

22:00 Grey's Anatomy (New Season)

23:00 Grace & Frankie S2 E4

23:30 Whose line is it anyway? S18 E4

00:00 Sign off

Thursday, November 3, 2022

Page Foundation

Profit and Loss

Profit and loss depends on the cost price and selling price of an article.

Suppose, if a person buys an article for $70 and sells it for $100. The cost price (CP) of an article is the price at which the article is bought = $70 The selling price (SP) of an article is the price at which the article is sold = $100

Since, the selling price of the article is more than its cost price; it is sold at a profit and, profit (gain) = $100 - $70 = $30

Thus, profit (gain) = selling price – cost price ie profit (gain) = SP - CP

Similarly, if a person buys an article for $100 and sells it for $90;

The cost price of the article = $100 and its selling price = $90

Since, the selling price of the article is less than the cost price; it is sold at a loss.

and, loss = $100 - $90 = $10

Thus, loss = cost price - selling price i.e. loss = CP - SP

Note: SP is the short form for selling price and CP is the short form for cost price.

Exercises:

A man bought an article for $10.50 and sold it for $12. Did he make a profit or a loss? In what amount?

2. A boy bought a second hand bicycle for $570. After one year he sold it for $350. Did he make a profit or a loss? In what amount?

Becomea COLLECTOR

Collecting helps to preserve objects for the future. By studying objects from the past, we can learn about the people who used them and how they lived. Historian and collector Teodoro Vidal learned about many things from studying objects, including the history of Puerto Rican carnivals! In the future, people will look at the objects that we use everyday to learn about us.

When you start your own collection, keep these questions in mind.

What kind of things do you like?What of things like? What kinds of things go together?of things together?

You can collect all kinds of things. Objects do not have to be expensive or rare to be collected. Do you enjoy sports? Do you like to read? Do you play a musical instrument?

One of the great things about collecting is learning more about your interests. If you are interested in baseball, collecting baseball cards helps you learn about your favorite players. You can collect things important to your family, and create a family history museum! The possibilities are endless!

Objects in a collection usually go together in some way. For example, you could start a “stuffed animals” collection, and collect all different types of stuffed animals. You could also start a “Stars and Stripes” collection and collect all sorts of things related to the American flag.

After you have chosen a collecting theme, think about what objects best fit into your collection. How will they be similar to each other?Different? Big? Small? As the collector, you get to decide!

AG Nandlall rejects accusation of political interference during lawyer’s arrest

al legal advisor of the Police Force, he advised SOCU to immediately release the law yer from custody, which was done.

Following his interven tion, however, there have been criticisms from some quarters saying AG Nandlall’s actions constituted interference and improper political intrusion.

But during his weekly programme – Issues in The News – the Attorney General declared, “I reject those accu sations and insinuations un reservedly…I never instruct ed or directed any Police.”

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister

Anil Nandlall, S.C., has denied allegations of po litical interference on his part after he advised the Guyana Police Force’s Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) last week to release a female attorney who was ar rested.

Last Friday morning, Attorney-at-law Tamieka Clarke was arrested and placed in custody by ranks of SOCU for advising her client to exercise his constitutional right to remain silent in an ongoing investigation.

This followed a threat that the lawyer would be ar rested if her client does not give a statement on the mat ter SOCU is probing.

Hours after her arrest, Nandlall released a video statement in which he re vealed that he was informed by the law firm Clarke was attached to that she was de tained. Consequently, the Attorney General said, in his capacity as the constitution

According to him, if he had not intervened when re quested to, then he would have been bashed; and now, even though he intervened to get the lawyer released, he is still being criticised.

Nandlall also rubbished claims that he stopped a charge from being instituted by instructing the ranks.

He explained that as Attorney General, he is the legal representative of the Guyana Police Force as well as many other state organs under different legislation and the Constitution. Part of his function, he noted, is to ensure that the Constitution is being upheld, and defend alleged violations of the law and Constitution by these agencies; and if unsuccessful, then taxpayers’ dollars will have to be used to pay com pensation.

“Part of my responsibility, therefore – professional and fiduciary and constitutional and legal – touch and concern the protection of the public purse against compensation being accorded… Having re gard to my role, must I stand

idly by and allow, without in tervention, these transgres sions to take place, and then have to be called upon to de fend them when sometimes the damage is already done and the defense is indefen sible, and also await for the public treasury to fund com pensation emanating from these excesses?” the AG ar gued.

Directions Reference the video state ment he released on Friday, Nandlall contended that he used the word “advised” sev eral times, and at no point did he mention ever giving any directions or instructions to SOCU.

As a matter of fact, the Attorney General outlined examples of “directions” that were given under the previous A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change administration on several occasions.

These, according to Nandlall, include the in stance when former Police Commissioner Seelall

Persaud was sent on leave. He reminded that it was then Home Affairs Minister Khemraj Ramjattan who wrote Persaud a letter in forming him that then President David Granger had directed him to go on pre-re tirement leave.

“That is a direction, and that, I believe, is unlawful, and that constitutes interfer ence,” the AG asserted.

He further mentioned former Minister of State Joseph Harmon’s instruc tion on behalf of President Granger to the Police Service Commission in August 2017 to halt Police promotions was an act of improper direction.

Similarly, Nandlall add ed, former Social Protection Minister Simona Broomes’s direction to the Public Service Commission to suspend inter views to fill vacancies in the Ministry in May 2015.

The Attorney General re minded that in both these in stances, the courts had deliv ered judgements in separate cases filed, that the directions of both officials were unlawful

and unconstitutional.

“[Those are] what consti tute unlawful direction, un lawful interference, and polit ical interference – not what I did. And if I have to do it all over again, I will do it because I considered it as part of my duty,” AG Nandlall stressed.

Nevertheless, Attorney Clarke, who previous ly served in the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Chambers as a State Counsel for several years, has indicat ed her intention to take legal actions against SOCU over her detention, which has been publicly condemned, especial ly by the legal fraternity.

Both the Guyana Bar

Association and the Guyana Association of Women Lawyers (GAWL) have is sued calls for the Police Force to apologise to Clarke, and also for an investigation to be launched into the incident.

The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) had also denounced the actions of the SOCU ranks.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Police Force subsequent ly issued a statement saying that the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) has since been instructed to launch an investigation into the matter.

says only advised, did not instruct or direct SOCU

Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC

Attorney-at-law Tamieka Clarke

Freeman St man gets life sentence for killing spouse

Aman who stabbed his reputed wife of several years to death was slapped with a sentence of life imprison ment with no possibility of parole before 35 years.

Jermaine Bristol, 38, an ex-Policeman, of Freeman Street, East La Penitence, Georgetown, pleaded guilty to murdering Shanece Lawrence, 24, on August 22, 2018.

The custodial sentence was imposed on him on Tuesday by Justice Sandil Kissoon.

It was reported that after killing Lawrence, Bristol walked into the East La Penitence Police Station and confessed to the crime. He then led the Police to his dwelling where the woman’s body was dis covered with a knife stuck in the neck.

An autopsy revealed that Lawrence was stabbed 10 times about the body. It was reported that the cou ple shared a rocky relation ship spanning some seven years.

During Bristol’s sen tencing hearing, he begged the dead woman’s fami ly for forgiveness and the court, for leniency. The

weeping man, who ap peared in court virtual ly from prison, said, “I am begging the deceased fam ily for forgiveness for the pain I have caused them.

I’m not such a bad person. I am begging from my heart for forgiveness and lenien cy. I changed my ways and my attitude; I’m a child of God…”

According to him, he loved Lawrence dearly and in no way intended to kill her. A tearful Bristol claimed that his actions have left him “heartbro ken”, since he and the nowdead woman had planned

on getting married, ce menting a shared loving re lationship.

He told the court that he became enraged after he returned home from work and found his partner in a compromising position with another man in their home.

Lawrence’s mother, fa ther, and brother told the court that they were still grieving and that their family would never be the same.

In his remarks, Justice Kissoon alluded to the in stances of intimate partner murders, which, according to him, continue to escalate rapidly in Guyana.

The victims, he noted, are wives, mothers, and daughters. But what is common in each instance is that these women are viciously attacked by men they trust, Justice Kissoon said, adding that “it ap pears as if women must sacrifice their lives to raise a family”.

Directing his comments at Bristol, the Judge told him that he appeared to be lieve that he has some right to inflict this measure of pain and suffering, not only on another human but on a

woman who had spent sev en years as his partner.

“You left a knife embed ded in the right-side neck of your spouse… a help less and unarmed victim,” Justice Kissoon stated as he recounted the facts of the case. Given the degree of injuries Lawrence sus tained, the Judge said it was clear that Bristol in tended to kill her.

Given the horror of the murder, the Judge, in cit ing a plethora of case law, explained that the crime demanded the more severe end of punishment, which is an indeterminate sen tence, where no deduction is given for the accused’s plea before trial.

In the end, Bristol was sentenced to life for what Justice Kissoon described as a “calculated and brutal” act of murder in which “im measurable cruelty” was meted out to the woman. He becomes eligible for pa role after 35 years.

It was further ordered that the wife killer be credited for time spent in pre-trial detention and that he underwent all training and counselling offered by the prison to aid in his re habilitation and reintegra tion into society.

Defence counsel Everton Lammy-Singh represented Bristol while State Counsel Muntaz Ali presented the prosecution’s case. The case was heard at the High Court in Demerara. In 2016, Bristol, a then Police Special Constable, was sen tenced to 60 months in pris on and fined $30,000 after being convicted on a charge of conspiracy to traffic co caine.

He had appealed his con viction and sentence, but later withdrew the matter. It was reported that Bristol and a Woman Special Constable, who was at tached to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri, East Bank Demerara (EBD), conspired with persons unknown on November 17, 2014, to traf fic in narcotics.

Counterposing…

…Guyanese workers

Your Eyewitness is bemused at the Opposition’s ploy of counterposing the Government’s relief programmes for sections of the populace to insist there’s racial discrimination being practised. They know fully well that in our country, their tactic is cold and callous since it can certainly lead to increased suspicion and hostility among our people. Their most predictable trope is to contrapose “sugar workers” versus “public servants” – which every Guyanese knows the Opposition mean Indian versus African Guyanese. Now, right off the bat, one can see how the Opposition have absolutely no regard for facts – and would do anything to stir up racial animosity – since more than 30 per cent of sugar workers are African Guyanese. And whatever imbalance there is it’s because of historical circumstances. The point is sugar workers face the most challenging circumstances in Guyana to complete their “tasks” – which are the same going all the way back to slavery and indentureship! If sugar workers were lying on a bed of roses, your Eyewitness wonders why Public Servants aren’t lining up to fill the endemic openings in the industry!! They aren’t fools – that’s why!! They’ve never tried to exchange their air-conditioned offices for the sun, rain, and other brutal elements they’d have to overcome! Burnham tried it once when sugar workers went on strike during the seventies – and those psyches still haven’t recovered!! Ask the Sanctimonious Gangster!!

Then, the assistance to “sugar workers” was necessary for several specific negative reasons that did not impact on public servants. The first one that jumps out is the vindictive act of the APNU/AFC Government to shutter four estates and throw 7000 workers into the breadlines!! The “economic” argument are specious and disingenuous since their own $150-million CoI recommended that the entire corporation be “reconditioned” and privatised after three years!! How long did the Opposition think the “severance” pay would last?? If the Opposition were concerned about pressures on the Government’s purse, how come during that time their Government INCREASED the number of Central Government employees by FIVE THOUSAND!??!

The Opposition has to stop playing these divisive politics – if for no other reason than it’s not even helping their own cause and just increasing the bitterness in the society. The PPP appears to’ve learnt this lesson: they’re courting all groups as exemplified by Pres Ali making pointed incursions into African Guyanese villages. On Monday it was Den Amstel’s turn on West Demerara after Mocha, Buxton, Golden Grove, etc. And it’s not just “moutar” – in each of these villages, specific infrastructural and employment initiatives were unfurled!!

If the Opposition think they’re solidifying their base by their bitter denunciations of the PPP “favouring” the “other”, their erstwhile supporters’ experience would tell them differently!!

The Opposition definitely need a “whole new game”!! …tourists’ needs versus ours

If this is November, it’s gotta be “Tourism Awareness Month” and the theme is….drumroll!!… “All Sectors, One Tourism”!!! Your Eyewitness figures this means all sectors –including the new kid on the block, Oil – should get their act together to woo tourists!! Now, if the truth be told, he never did take this tourism bit very high in his esteem. Tourists come to the Caribbean with deeply-entrenched stereotypical views – what Naipaul call the “Bongo Man” syndrome. This isn’t very far from the Sambo stereotype that came out of slavery – with the obligatory steppin’, fetchin’ and grinnin’!!

Of course, your Eyewitness doesn’t consider those “returning Guyanese” – who have the right to vote under protest by the Opposition!! – as tourists. Excepting when they attempt that faux Yankee accent that makes him cringe!! But since the Government has already launched the Tourism Month, we might as well get something out of it.

He suggests we launch a “Get rid of vendors from Georgetown Streets Movement” to salve the tourists’ sensibilities!!

…villages

While we’re in this tourism frenzy – which intersects with the Government’s intermittent national and regional “clean-ups” – why don’t we bring back those “Best Village” competitions of yore??

That’ll please tourists – while earning winning villages hefty prizes!!

Wife killer Jermaine Bristol

Dead: Shanece Lawrence

“We want everybody in proper living conditions” – Pres Ali tells Tucville squatters …says MoH&W will engage residents on relocation

investment, the President assured, “We will make an assessment. The PPP has always been a party that helps people. We work with people. We want people to live positive lives. There are enough opportunities for everybody to live positive and meaningful lives in ev ery community, whether it is Tucville, Canje, or any where. We want everybody to be involved.”

Efforts by the President were lauded by villagers, as many signalled their inten tions to cooperate and re move within the shortest possible time.

squatting, as the Ministry is working on a comprehensive plan to address the issue of housing for persons engaged in squatting. He had encour aged persons to refrain from squatting and to utilise the right channel to obtain a house lot.

Around that time, he had made it clear that new squatting areas will not be recognised by the Housing and Water Ministry, as ef forts move apace to issue titles for some of the cur rent areas where the issue is prevalent. For this year, over 400 titles have already been issued, while there are

Personssquatting on the state reserves at Tucville, Georgetown were on Wednesday engaged by President Dr Irfaan Ali, who told them that his Government’s vision is for them to live better lives.

At the squatting area, a number of persons are occu pying the state reserves for many years - some initially moving to the area after the massive Tiger Bay fire. Some squatters have already re ceived house lots, and have started their new journey while others remain.

Now the Government is seeking to have these per sons relocated, or to help them to transition to their new house lots.

“We now have to discuss with you in the community how you transition. We want everybody in proper living conditions. For those who have the house lots, we can work with you now on tran sitioning, so we can clear up these areas. This was only a temporary facility. We have to first agree that this was temporary… The idea was we are back and we are working on correcting a lot of this. The whole hous ing programme went dead. That is just the truth. The idea then was a temporary location and then to move to a permanent area,” the President told residents.

He outlined that his Administration is aggres

sive in creating better lives for all Guyanese. Ali pointed out that while squatters are already investing in these lands to build homes, it does not add to their net value.

“The truth is you can’t stay here and develop. You can invest in this thing here and get nothing, because you can’t take this land to the bank and you can’t take the house to a bank. So, we have to put you in a place where you can increase your net value. That is what we want.”

Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal and other officials from the Housing Ministry are ex pected to visit the area to sort out the removal of the

squatters and their occupa tion of legitimate lands.

For those persons who were concerned about their

In September, Minister Croal reminded persons that there is no need for

about 45 illegal settlements under the radar.

Engaging squatters at Tucville

President Ali engaging residents of Tucville during the outreach

Major upgrades to hinterland water systems on the cards for 2023

new engine would be sent there to have additional pumping hours.

But, then, he pointed out that that was only half of the residents’ problem.

Concerns were also raised about the quality of water they source from the creeks. In light of this, the Housing and Water Minister disclosed that a new well would be drilled there by next month. A rig is current ly in Moruca digging several wells.

“For example, they have just completed a well at Horadia. The rig is cur

rently being relocated to Kwebanna. When it is fin ished with Kwebanna, then it will come to Manawarin and go back to Waramuri… when we are finished with Waramuri, we will be dig ging a well in Santa Rosa to cater for the source of the water they are receiving…,” he said.

He added: “We have been expending a lot of money in the hinterland expan sion, for new areas to bene fit from water. When we are finished with the Mabaruma municipality, we will then move on to other commu

nities, like the satellite for Whitewater… etcetera.”

In its quest to increase hinterland water coverage by 100 per cent by 2025, the Government has injected some $1.5 billion into its hin terland water programme since taking office.

This sum has resulted in the drilling of new well sys tems and upgrades to ex isting systems in Regions One, Seven, Eight, and Nine.

Several riverine Amerindian communities within the coastal regions are also be ing looked at for upgrades to the water systems.

Inthe wake of com plaints by residents of Mabaruma, Region One (Barima-Waini) about the present state of the water system, Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal recent ly visited the community and reassured them that the is sues would be fixed prompt ly.

“The idea is to have an as sessment of the current situ ation. I know persons within the Mabaruma central area have been complaining about recent water issues. I want to assure them that we have a plan and that we have al ready put some measures in place to correct this,” Croal told the residents.

According to him, the drilling rig which is current ly in the Matakai sub-dis trict would be used to drill

several wells in Mabaruma in the first quarter of 2023 which will be able to supply the entire Mabaruma cen tral area and its immediate environs.

“In addition to that, we are here at the Wanaina sub-station… the Wauna community currently ac cess water from this sys tem as well as the Hosororo area. We will be drilling a well within the Wauna vil lage, so Wonga will be inde pendent in terms of its water source. So, what that means is that this Wanaina system will now be able to supply a greater volume of water to the Hosororo community…,” Minister Croal explained.

Prior to the installa tion of electrical pumps in Mabaruma, residents of the Indigenous community were

accessing water from rot ting tanks, which hampered water distribution and san itation. The tanks were all replaced with new plastic tanks.

Given that Barima-Waini is part of the Hinterland Electrification Expansion Programme, the Minister said that this would allow the Wanaina sub-station to connect to the electrical grid which will result in more pumping hours for water.

Similarly, in the first quarter of next year, the faulty engine at the Wanaina system will be replaced.

Over in the Matakai com munity, several wells are be ing drilled. In response to residents of Port Kaituma complaining about their wa ter supply, Minister Croal added that by next week, a

mmg+ partners with Massy for Christmas promotion

MobileMoney Guyana (mmg+) has partnered with Massy Stores to improve the retail experience of cus tomers and give them a chance to win big during the Christmas season.

The companies launched their collaborative promo tion in October that will see several lucky people win $50,000 each.

To win, all customers need to do is use their mmg+ wallets on their phones to pay at any Massy Stores outlet. Massy recently be came an mmg+ merchant, allowing thousands of cus tomers access to a more con venient way to pay for their groceries and pharmaceu ticals at all Massy Stores locations nationwide. The company has locations in Providence, Vreed-en-Hoop,

Montrose, Ruimveldt, and at the MovieTowne complex. Store Manager at Massy Stores Supercenter, Lasawhna Prescott ex plained that the supermar ket chain aimed to contin ue giving its customers the most innovative experience possible.

“We recently started giv ing people the chance to pay here with mmg+ and we have in-store Wi-Fi, so cus tomers do not need to wor ry about being able to access the mmg+ app if they don’t have data on their phones,” she said.

mmg+ General Manager Bobita Ram hailed the ini tiative as a transformative one, noting that soon, every one living in Guyana would have the ability to pay for al most anything through the mmg+ platform.

“Our team makes pay ments easy and secure, al lowing you to transfer mon ey from your bank account or top-up at hundreds of agents nationwide and start paying for a wide spectrum of goods and services,” Ram said.

Speaking about the joint Christmas promotion, Product Marketing Manager Diana Gittens comment ed that it was happening during a very busy shop ping period when people are used to being stuck in long lines. “Using mmg+ to pay will make things a whole lot easier, faster, and safer than carrying around lots of cash,” she noted.

The promotion runs until December 23, and all win ners will be announced on the companies’ social media pages.

Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal samples water from a pipe in a hinterland community

Pres Ali announces $275M roadworks for Hague Backdam

Some $275 million will be invested to exe cute critical road and revetment works along the main access road in Hague Backdam, West Coast Demerara (WCD), Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara).

President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, during a commu nity engagement in the area

on Tuesday, said that the contract for the project has been awarded and works would commence shortly.

The much-needed infra structural works will bring relief to hundreds of res idents who traverse the thoroughfare daily, as well as provide easier access to farms to transport produce.

“Because of the drainage

on both sides of the road we now have to put a revetment of 200 metres. That is the priority now. As I said, ev ery community in the coun try will benefit from street lights; we just need time to put these things in place,” President Ali told the resi dents.

Currently, the communi ty’s Cemetery Road is under

Guyana, UK discuss future investment opportunities

construction to the tune of approximately $34 million.

However, the residents are asking for works to be done on a dam, as well as ad ditional works on a number of internal drains. They are also asking for the 165 acres of communal pasture to be reopened.

On the issue of the dam, the President said that as a priority, the Government would be looking at the pos sibility of converting the dam to a crusher-run sur face to give farmers access to more than 500 acres of land.

The President explained that currently there were thousands of dams across the country that need atten tion to bring relief to farm ers. Outside of that, there

are massive roadworks be ing undertaken in commu nities across the country, in cluding Hague.

He noted that while some of those dams were be ing upgraded to crusher-run surfaces, the Government was investing in heavy-du ty machinery to maintain the dams, to ensure farm ers can traverse especially during the rainy season.

“We have to have a prop er maintenance plan and a monitoring plan. Once we have the maintenance and monitoring plan in place, we will be able to have the dams in better shape and better conditions more consistent ly. So, that is what we can do for now,” the Head of State said.

President Ali has as sured that the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) will work on addressing the issue with the internal drains, while the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) will return to the community to engage the cattle farmers.

Accompanying President Ali were Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha; Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd; Minister within the Public Works Ministry, Deodat Indar; Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Brigadier Godfrey Bess and other senior tech nical officers from the re spective Ministries.

As Guyana continues on its unprecedent ed development tra jectory, discussions were held with officials from the United Kingdom on fu ture investment opportuni ties by UK Export Finance (UKEF) here.

The meeting was held on Wednesday between Senior Minister with re sponsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, and British High Commissioner to Guyana, Jane Miller, along with two officials from UKEF – Regional Head for Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Americas, Rose Trigg and Business Manager (Civil, Infrastructure & Energy), Simon Bunckenburg.

Other officials from the Finance Ministry also joined the meeting.

“The meeting also al lowed for further discus sions surrounding the pos sibility of future investment opportunities by UKEF in Guyana, as the country con

tinues on its rapid develop ment trajectory in both the public and private sectors,” the Ministry said in a state ment posted on its Facebook page.

However, the missive noted that the essence of Wednesday’s engagement was a follow-up to the part nership established be tween the Government and UKEF for the construc tion of the €149 million state-of-the-art Paediatric and Maternal hospital at Ogle, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

This is the UK’s export credit agency’s first sup ported project ever done in Guyana. The facility will be constructed by VAMED, an Austria-based company that is a global provider of hospitals and other facili ties in the healthcare sec tor.

In July, President Dr Irfaan Ali, along with other officials, turned the sod for the construction of the med ical facility.

The low-rise Paediatric and Maternal Hospital will have 256 beds and will be a referral centre for women and children. It will special ise in maternal, neonatal, and paediatric care with a huge imaging suite for ser vices such as CT scans and MRIs, a modern laboratory, and surgical suites.

During his address at the sod-turning, President Ali noted that this hospital was a demonstration of the relations established be tween the two nations, add ing that Guyana intended to further strengthen and capitalise on this tie with the European country.

In fact, just last month, the Guyanese Head of State pointed out that Guyana would now seek more fi nancing from the UK for transformative infrastruc tural projects here after the British Government an nounced visa-free travel for Guyanese.

Residents of Hague at the meeting

President Dr Irfaan Ali addressing residents on Tuesday evening

Senior Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh in discussion with the visiting UKEF officials and the British High Commissioner Jane Miller on Wednesday

Trial of WBD man accused of killing ex aborted

The disclosure from a ju ror that he was related to one of the prosecu tion’s witnesses in a murder trial led to the proceedings being aborted on Tuesday by Demerara High Court Judge Simone Morris-Ramlall.

A bus driver of Westminster, West Bank Demerara (WBD), Lurick Fiffee, 43, had been on tri al before a 12-member jury for murdering his ex-girl friend, Rosemary Rudder on March 31, 2018. Upon his arraignment, he had pleaded not guilty. His trial began on Monday.

However, at a scheduled hearing on Tuesday, one of the jurors realised that he was related to the State’s witness and immediately brought it to the attention of the Judge.

In the interest of justice, the trial Judge aborted the trial and further remanded the murder accused to prison

to await another trial. Based on reports received, the nowdead Rudder, a mother of two, had gone to Fiffee’s home, and upon arriving, she saw another woman in the house.

This led to a heated argu ment between her and the ac cused, and it quickly escalat ed into a scuffle.

The minibus driver sub sequently left the 32-yearold woman lying motionless

and went to the La Grange Police Station, WBD, where he lodged a complaint.

The Police travelled to the home, only to find the woman’s lifeless body in the house. It is believed that she was strangled. The wom an’s body was picked up and taken to the West Demerara

Regional Hospital (WDRH), where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

Fiffee was immediate ly taken into custody. It was reported that after the cou ple had separated, Rosemary had wanted to rekindle the relationship, but Fiffee had refused.

Back in 2006, the wom

an’s brother Fenton Rudder, and grandmother Hannah Cameron, along with a third person, David Brummel, were shot and killed af ter gunmen invaded their home at Agricola, Greater Georgetown.

After shooting the trio to death, the gunmen set the house on fire.

Older, handwritten certificates still valid – Registrar General

Registrar General of the Guyana Register Office (GRO), Raymond Cummings said while new certificates were becoming mainstream, old er handwritten certificates could still be used.

In May 2021, the GRO commenced producing com puter-generated birth cer tificates in a bid to mod ernise its services.

Cummings told the Department of Public Information (DPI) on Tuesday that this accep tance, of course, was pre mised on the fact that these certificates would have been stored properly and kept in good condition.

“Those certificates are still valid. The GRO has never decommissioned any certificate. Over the years, as technology improved, there has been a change in the type of certificate used. All of those are still valid, and those would have been the ones that were hand written,” he said.

However, damaged cer tificates which are torn or have the seal missing would not be considered valid.

“So, there is no need for people to go into a pan ic and start worrying about having these certificates. It will take time for us to pro duce certificates for every one, and, therefore, per sons can use the copies that they have; once it’s in good order, they can use it,” the Registrar General said.

As time goes by, he as

sured, new registrants will receive their copies of the new computer-generated certificates.

He clarified that con trary to some beliefs, com puter-generated certificates were not typed but rather printed from the GRO data base. This database is cre ated from registrations that have been done over the years.

When a person applies for a certificate, that in formation is then brought up from the database and printed.

The GRO is current ly working on having all marriage and death certifi cates, as well as certificates for registration of over seas births and adoptions, be computer-generated as well.

Bartica man accused of rape released on $150,000 bail

A26-year-old Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) man has been charged with raping an underage girl and released on $150,000 bail.

Yusuf Hinds was not re quired to plead to the indict able charge which stated that he engaged in sexu al penetration with the mi nor between October 1 and October 27, 2022.

He appeared at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. The matter has been adjourned until November 21, 2022.

Registrar General, Raymond Cummings

– after juror told court he is related to a witness

Murder accused Lurick Fiffee

Dead: Rosemary Rudder

Accused child rapist Yusuf Hinds

High rainfall predicted for Nov-Jan – Hydromet Office

tenance of drainage infra structure is essential as the country progresses towards the wet season, it has been noted. Farmers were urged to take all the necessary precautions to secure crops and livestock in advance of significant rainfall events. Miners are also similarly cautioned to exercise maxi mum care on interior roads and on mining sites, while

the applicable public health protocols should be activat ed across the Regions.

“The Hydrometeorological Service will provide updates to its seasonal forecast as new information becomes available and recommends that special attention be paid to short-range forecasts provided by the National Weather Watch Centre to

plan daily activities,” the statement assured.

For short-range fore casts and weather analyses, stakeholders are advised to follow the daily weath er briefs, outlooks and ad visories produced by the National Weather Watch Centre or visit www.hy dromet.gov.gy. The forecast desk could also be reached at 261-2284 or 261-2216.

Th e Hydrometeorological Service of the Agriculture Ministry has forecast wetter-than-usu al weather conditions across the country between November 2022 and January 2023.

The secondary rainy sea son period will be boosted by persistent La Niña condi tions. Rainfall is expected to increase considerably from mid-November and continue to at least January 2023.

A notice from the Hydromet Office predicted that during the upcoming rainy season, water levels in conservancies, reservoirs, and inland rivers across Regions One to Eight and 10 are likely to increase with

a high risk of flooding. On the other hand, Region Nine would continue to be dry, but can expect more than the usual number of rain days.

“The highest amount of rainfall is projected for Regions One, Two, Three, Seven and Northern Eight with increasing concerns for Regions Four and Nine,” it advised.

Meanwhile, Regions One to Seven and 10 can expect a higher-than-usual num ber of wet days. Northern Regions can expect increases in the number of seven-day very wet spells. There is also a projection for a decrease in the number of seven-day dry spells during the forecast pe riod, with most dry days and dry spells likely to occur in

early November 2022 and late January 2023.

The temperature outlook indicates that all regions can expect cool as usual to cool er night-time and day-time temperatures.

“The possible implica tions for the upcoming sea son include more rain days than the usual amount which could be beneficial to some agriculture users. However, this is likely to cause disrup tions to infrastructure proj ects and public transport, with there being the real possibility of land slippage in hinterland areas, especial ly in mining areas, where the soil may already be saturat ed.”

Drainage

The continued main

CXC grants conditional approval for CVQ implementation in Guyana

school across Guyana. This will enable each child to exit secondary school with both a CXC certificate and a CVQ certificate.

The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has grant ed conditional approval for the implementation of the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) in secondary schools across Guyana.

This approval follows a pre-readiness audit con ducted last August in which Guyana obtained an over all compliance rating of 75 per cent. While this indi cates a strong level of com pliance with most of the re quirements, it is five per cent below the minimum compli ance level rate of 80 per cent for full approval to be grant ed.

Assistant Chief Education Officer (Technical) Marcia Paddy has assured that the required corrective actions were being done to achieve full compliance. She noted that the implemen tation of CVQ in secondary schools was in keeping with the Education Ministry’s commitment to ensuring that all students are offered a secondary-level education that would make them ac ademically and economical

ly viable.

Paddy said that having completed a pilot of CVQ, it has become evident that the expansion of the pro gramme was the next step.

Meanwhile, the Council for Technical Vocational Education and Training ex tended congratulations to the unit for its achievement and pledged to collaborate on the areas to be addressed.

The assessment focused on evaluating the readiness of the institutions to deliv er the regional occupational standards and to implement the CXC quality assurance criteria in training candi dates pursuing programmes for CVQ certification.

In 2021, when the CVQ certification was originally introduced in eight second ary schools in Guyana, ap proximately 119 students registered in four areas: commercial food prepara tion, furniture making, fab ric decoration, and crop pro duction.

The programme was then expanded to 34 more schools with the aim to eventual ly have CVQ programmes offered in every secondary

The Doppler weather tower at Timehri

…advises citizens to secure crops, maintain drainage networks

Govt expended over $1B on primary health care for 2022 – Dr Anthony

One of the health centres that were recently commissioned

People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government has expended approximately $1 billion so far in 2022 to upgrade pri mary health-care facilities across the country.

The

This was disclosed by Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony in a re cent article published by the Department of Public Information (DPI).

“This year the Ministry has allocated close to a bil lion Guyana dollars to up grade various facilities across all the regions in Guyana. We started the pro cess [of upgrading] last year, testing it out in Region Six and we got very good re sponses [ from patients], and

this year we have spent al most $100 million per region improving various primary health-care facilities.”

In Region One, the Health Ministry executed

work on 35 health centres and health posts, spending approximately $99.3 mil lion.

For Region Two, 24 health centres and health

posts were upgraded for $99.9 million, while Region Three saw 31 health facili ties being upgraded at a cost of $99.7 million.

In Region Four, work on 30 facilities amounted to $138.9 million, while in Region Five, 14 health cen tres were identified for up grades totalling $46.9 mil lion. In Region Seven, 16 facilities, at a cost of $99.6 million, were upgraded.

In Region Eight, 22 facili ties saw upgrades valued at $99.5 million.

Meanwhile, in Regions Nine and 10, 53 and 17 fa cilities saw improvements to the value of $99.9 million and $48.4 million respec tively.

“Depending on the spe cific needs of the health cen tre, we were able to get con tractors to come in and fix what needed to be fixed,” the

Minister told the DPI. Since taking office on August 2, 2020, the PPP/C Government committed to its manifesto promise of prosperity for all Guyanese by expanding prima ry health care, upgrading health facilities across the country, including the ex pansion of diagnostic ser vices such as CT scans, ultrasound, and echocardio grams, among others.

4 young people to tour Rajasthan through KIP

Guyana, UK discuss...

“The idea of this visa waiver for visitors is not only about strengthening the relationship and build ing out the expansion of the economic opportunities be tween Guyana and the UK… These days, it is getting very complex to finance the mar ket, especially with the vola tility that exists. And we are pursuing very, very strong terms in favour of Guyana, fixed-rate financing and less than three percent, and that is how we have been push ing for financing. It is diffi cult to achieve in this mar ket but we are still pursuing this,” he stated.

President Ali emphasised the economic potential of Guyana and spoke extensive ly about opportunities in the

infrastructure, tourism, and other sectors with significant development potential. He added that visa-wavier will open up immense opportuni ties, not only for infrastruc ture and economic activities as a result of trade, but also for Guyana as a hub to serve the region.

Meanwhile, High Commissioner Miller not ed that the visa lift is a real sign of the confidence that the UK has in Guyana. In fact, she had revealed that in mid-November, a British trade mission will be coming to Guyana to explore the in vestment opportunities be ing offered here.

This will follow the vis it of a previous UK trading mission earlier this year,

scoping investment oppor tunities here. That trade mission had comprised nine British companies ranging from education, manufac turing, and infrastructure.

Back in June, it was re ported that Guyana is the UK’s United Kingdom’s largest trade partner in the Caribbean region, attract ing interest in the establish ment of a British Chamber of Commerce locally.

Last year, trade in goods and services between the UK and Guyana was £560 mil lion. This represented 21.6 per cent of trade facilitat ed between the Caribbean Region thus making Guyana the largest trade partner in the Region.

President Ali revealed last month that Guyana’s trade with the UK has in creased by over 17 per cent in the last four quarters with more and more local goods continuinssssssssssg to be exported.

“The UK’s import from and export to Guyana, for the previous four quarters, increased by 17.2 per cent. That is the UK imports in creased by 7.2 per cent and the exports, 2.7 per cent. Now this can increase great ly, with just one transac tion,” the Head of State had noted.

FourGuyanese are ex pected to leave for India shortly as part of the Know India Programme (KIP) for 2022.

The four young per sons will be travelling to Rajasthan, India for the 62nd edition of the KIP for a period of three weeks. Rajasthan is a state in northern India, known for its historical hill forts and palaces.

The selected partici pants are Karran Singh –Senior Assistant Master from Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD); Courtney Kalamadeen –Optical Salesperson/Cashier from New Amsterdam, Berbice; Yeama Singh –

Medical Technologist from La Penitence, Georgetown and Tanuja Sukhnandan –Medical Technologist with the Health Ministry from Chateau Margot, ECD.

On Friday, Indian High Commissioner , Dr KJ Srinivasa met and interact ed with the selected partic ipants. He briefed them on the programme and wished that they made full use of the initiative to connect to their roots in India – the land of their ancestors.

The participants ex pressed their appreci ation and thanked the Government of India for the chance to visit India and conveyed their excitement to know more and experience

the growing economic giant. KIP is a flagship pro gramme of the Ministry of External Affairs for en gagement with Indian ori gin youth (between 18 and 30 years) to enhance their awareness about India, its cultural heritage, art and to familiarise them with vari ous aspects of contemporary India.

This programme is open to youth of Indian or igin (excluding non-resi dent Indians) from all over the world with preference to those from Mauritius, Fiji, Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, South Africa and Jamaica. The programme has been in ex istence since 2003.

Indian High Commissioner, Dr KJ Srinivasa with the four young people and an official from the High Commission

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

Another health post that was commissioned in the interior

Skill training, jobs in pipeline for Tucville youths

PresidentDr Irfaan

Ali, during a visit to the community of Tucville on Wednesday, ig nited Government’s agen da for youth development in the country, referencing the jobs and training that young people can immediately ben efit from.

The Head of State was joined by Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd; Housing Minister Collin Croal; Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr; and Minister within the Public Works Ministry, Deodat Indar.

Attention was also paid to infrastructure, amid on going work at the football ground. A $10 million proj ect is currently ongoing to fix key elements, such as the lights, access road and pavilion.

“I’m working with sports personalities across the country to reach into com munities, to work on devel oping positive attitudes in communities. Here, we’re doing numerous works in enhancing the community infrastructure. We will do over the football ground, the fence, the access road, cre ating a hard tarmac, and

lights,” President Ali re layed.

Simultaneously, a small ICT hub would be installed in the community to fos ter connectivity, especial ly for those involved in the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) pro gramme.

“I talked with some of the young people. Many of them enrolled in the GOAL programme but they would like to have access to the in ternet and computer facili ties. We will put in a small hub in this area with some computers and internet, so they can go there as a centre to do their online and GOAL programmes.”

According to the Guyanese Leader, there is a high demand for technical personnel, which is not be ing met. With this in mind, youths in the communi ty were engaged on getting into skills training, and lat er benefit from such employ ment opportunities.

“There is enough space in the economy for everyone. One of the major complaints now is that people can’t find workers and can’t find la bourers or skilled personnel. We’re taking young people

from all these communi ties across the country, put them in accelerated techni cal training programmes, and then integrate them into the workforce,” Ali told the media.

He added, “All the con tractors are complaining now that they’re short for labour and they’re short for construction workers. So, nobody got an excuse now.”

The President said a lot of national sportspersons are reaching out to develop their communities, especial ly in areas like Tucville.

“I love what I am see ing in this community, and many other communities. There are a lot of young fac es coming up. I like the en thusiasm and the interest. These young footballers, a number of them are coming directly to us and volunteer ing their service.

Over the next week, var ious officials will also be as sessing the drainage and work networks in the com munity.

Just a few months ago, Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton called on techni cal institutions across the country to rethink their roles and functionality to

support Government’s ef fort to create a skilled work force.

He has shared numbers that, in 2021, one of the country’s most prominent technical institutions only trained eight welders and fabricators expending some $4.1 million, while over $20 million was expend ed to train 15 heavy-du ty equipment operators (HDEO). The Minister had

said that the institution’s training output was quite startling for Government, since it hopes to ensure cit izens take advantage of the emerging job opportunities.

BIT, in 2021, trained over 3000 people in the ar eas of small engine repairs, shade house farming, refrig eration and air conditioner repairs, introduction to pho tovoltaic systems solar in stallation, maintenance and

repairs, electrical installa tion and computer repairs among others.

The aim was to train 4000 young people for 2022.

In this year’s national bud get, $420.5 million was ear marked to equip 1000 peo ple with the necessary skills to be employed in the oil and gas industry. This will see the certification of welders, stevedores, heavy-duty ve hicle operators, and others.

Linden man jailed for life, another gets 9 years for separate rape charges

One man was jailed for life with parole not before 18 years, while another was sen tenced to nine years in pris on, both for child rape. In the first case, a life sentence was imposed on 33-year-old Troy Chapman of Republic Avenue, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Berbice) who raped a sleeping threeyear-old.

When he appeared be fore Sexual Offences Court Judge Sandil Kissoon ear lier this month, Chapman pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual penetration with a child under the age of 16. His sentencing hearing was adjourned to Tuesday.

He committed the of fence on June 15, 2021, at the toddler’s home.

According to the pros ecution’s facts, Chapman was known to the child’s parents and he regularly visit their home. On the day in question, the child was left in Chapman’s care and while the child slept, he car ried out the unlawful act.

A passerby caught him

in the act and alerted the child’s parents who called in the Police. The incident was also captured on the home’s Close Circuit Television (CCTV).

As he does in all rape cases, Justice Kissoon rep rimanded Chapman for vio lating the child.

According to the Judge, the increase in sexual of fences against children has become alarming, and the court needs to send a strong message to perpetrators,

that such crimes would not be condoned.

In this regard, he said the court must impose sentences that will deter like-minded persons. The Judge said that rape is one of the gravest crimes against humans, and went on to describe the sexual as sault on the toddler as “dis turbing and horrific”.

Meanwhile, in a separate matter, Andrew Blackman, 28, a construction worker, of Wismar, Linden, Region 10, was handed a nine-year jail sentence for the rape of a girl, 14. He was also sen tenced on Tuesday.

Like Chapman, Blackman also pleaded guilty to a charge for the of fence of engaging in sexual penetration with a child be low the age of 16.

Blackman, who had known the teenager’s fa ther for several years, com mitted the offence between September 10 and 11, 2021.

The prosecution’s case was that he raped the girl while they were in an abandoned building.

Justice Kissoon, in con demning Blackman’s ac tions, told the convict that he preyed on the girl when she was most vulnerable.

Justice Kissoon, in his sentencing remarks, point ed to several aggravat ing factors, including the prevalence of child rape in Guyana. He said that too often, children who he de scribed as “our most pre cious assets” are being sex ually abused by mature men.

The mitigating factors considered by the Judge were Blackman’s expres sion of “real remorse”, his unblemished criminal re cord as well as his early guilty plea.

Justice Kissoon said he believes that the convict is a good candidate for reha bilitation based on his fa vourable probation report. According to the Judge, the circumstances of this case, do not warrant a life sen tence, the maximum penal ty for this category of rape.

The High Court Judge made it clear that the courts will not turn a blind eye to the alarming rape situation in the country, and will en sure that offenders are pun ished condignly.

The victim, during an interview with a probation officer, expressed that she feels “bad” that Blackman took advantage of her while she was still a child. It was recommended by the proba tion officer that Blackman undergoes psychological treatment to help him be come a better individual.

In calculating a sen tence for the convict, the Judge commenced at a base of 15 years from which onethird, which is equivalent to five years, was deduct ed for his early guilty plea. From the 10 years remain ing, a year was deducted for mitigating factors, bring ing Blackman’s final sen tence to nine years’ impris onment.

In arriving at sentenc es for both convicts, Justice Kissoon took guidance from the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)—Guyana’s apex court—in rulings in two sexual offences cas es from Guyana, namely, Calvin Ramcharran v the DPP and Linton Pompey v the DPP.

Both Chapman and Blackman, who were rep resented by Attorney-atLaw Teriq Mohammed, were credited for time spent on remand. State Counsel Paneeta Persaud, State Counsel Caressa Henry, and State Counsel Cicelia Corbin were the prosecu tors in the two cases.

Child rapist: Troy Chapman

Child rapist: Andrew Blackman

The Head of State inspects works at the Tucville football ground

Guyana’s energy plans highlighted during panel discussion in Abu Dhabi

as Natural Resources Minister shares panel with Timor-Leste counterpart

Guyana’s

oil and gas produc tion, its journey towards en ergy transition, and other topical issues were among the dis cussions when Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat rep resented Guyana in a panel dis cussion at the ADIPEC 2022 Conference in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The four-day conference has been billed as the largest of its kind. It brought together policy makers, investors, oil executives, and others from around the world. Minister Bharrat is representing Guyana at the conference.

On Wednesday, he spoke on a Ministerial panel moderated by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Crystal Energy, Dr. Carole Nakhle. On the panel with him was his Timor-Leste counterpart, Dr. Victor da Soares.

The discussions centered on promoting energy efficiency to re duce carbon emissions, as well as sustainable management of explo ration and production. Also on the agenda was the energy transition and its implications for the oil sec tor.

Guyana is presently in the midst of an energy transition, with projects such as the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP) ex pected to provide 165 megawatts of

power on startup. Construction on the project was supposed to start this year, as Government contin ues to ramp up spending on renew able energy projects as well as up grades to the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) infrastructure. The expected completion date has been set at 2027.

The AFHP will be based on a build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) model, wherein the com pany would supply electricity to GPL Inc at a cost not exceeding US$0.07737 per kWh, and where the company would provide the en tire equity required by the project,

and undertake all the risks associ ated with the project.

The revival of the 165-mega watt AFHP was one of the promises made by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic in its manifesto for transitioning Guyana towards re newable energy use. Another such project is the gas-to-shore project, which will produce 250 megawatts of power.

The gas-to-shore project will have a 25-year lifespan, and is ex pected to employ up to 800 work ers during the peak construction stage, as well as some 40 full-time workers during the operations

stage, and another 50 workers during the decommissioning stage.

The project will include a pow er plant and an NGL plant, all of which will be constructed with in the Wales Development Zone (WDZ). When it comes to the con struction of a combined cycle pow er plant, this will generate up to 300 megawatts (MW) of power, with a net 250MW delivered into the Guyana Power and Light Grid at a sub-station located on the East Bank of the Demerara River.

The Guyana Government has already invited interested parties to make investments in the WDZ,

which will be heavily industri alised, and for which approximate ly 150 acres of land have been allo cated. Those lands were previously used by the Wales Sugar Estate.

The scope of the approximately US$900 million gas-to-shore proj ect also consists of the construction of 225 kilometres of pipeline from the Liza field in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana, where Exxon and its partners are currently produc ing oil.

It features approximately 220 kilometres of a subsea pipeline off shore that would run from Liza Destiny and Liza Unity floating, production, storage and offload ing (FPSO) vessels in the Stabroek Block to the shore. Upon land ing on the West Coast Demerara shore, the pipeline would continue for approximately 25 kilometres to the NGL plant at Wales, West Bank Demerara.

The pipeline would be 12 inches wide, and is expected to transport per day some 50 million standard cubic feet (mscfpd) of dry gas to the NGL plant, but it has the capaci ty to push as much as 120 mscfpd.

The pipeline’s route onshore would follow the same path as the fibre optic cables, and will termi nate at Hermitage, part of the WDZ which will house the gas-toshore project.

GPF hopes to end year with fewer than 100 road fatalities ... fines for speeding, DUI to be increased – Min Benn

enforcement methods.

“There is the question of in creasing fines,” Minister Benn said while referring to the current fines for traffic offences as being paltry.

“People don’t take any care or concerns about the number of fines they have to pay, because they think it is beer money,” he added.

He said fines in relation to speeding and driving under the in fluence of alcohol are going to be increased. “We intend to improve the number of breathalyzers which will be employed to reduce the question of drinking under the in fluence of alcohol, and also we have

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) is hoping to end the year with less than 100 road fatalities. As it stands, there are 89 deaths recorded for the year thus far.

This has been pointed out by Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn as he officially launched National Road Safety Month on Wednesday in New Amsterdam, Region Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne).

This year, Road Safety Month is being observed under the theme ‘Safe Driving Saves Lives’. Last year was the first time in 16 years that Guyana’s recorded road deaths were under 100. In 2021, 80 fatal accidents resulted in 87 deaths – a 28.8 per cent reduction when com pared to the 2020 figures.

Minister Benn believes that de spite the current road fatality fig ure standing at 89, Guyana can still finish the year with less than 100 road deaths.

“We have fallen by 28.8% be hind last year, so we are slight ly worse off, but given the fact that we are now launching the National Road Safety Month, that the Guyana National Road Safety

Council is motivated and ener gized, along with the Police and ourselves too on this question, we are hoping strongly that we would achieve again a year where the road deaths are below 100 for any year,” he said.

The long-term plan, he added is to have road fatalities drop to be low 50 for any given year. He says the plan is to achieve this with in a ten-year period. However, to achieve this, he said, several initia tives will have to be implemented. These include new legislation and

to pay attention to (the offence of) driving while under the influence of drugs.”

The towing away of vehicles that congest and prevent the free flow of traffic, and those that are parked recklessly will soon become a normal occurrence. Minister Benn said traffic ticketing will also be focused more rigidly, while ad mitting that there might be billions of dollars outstanding in unpaid traffic tickets.

“This is a matter which we have to link with maybe the suspending of licences and the impounding of vehicles. It cannot be that persons are given a ticket on the road or at the Police station, and will not pay the fine and continues to drive on the road,” he said. The automated ticketing system is also expected to be introduced soon.

During the launching event, it was announced that a Police Command Centre is soon to be set up in Region Six, and persons would be monitoring cameras in the region in that centre.

Meanwhile, Police Commissioner (ag) Clifton Hicken has said that to reduce carnage on the roadways, there must be a rig orous education campaign.

“We cannot blame ourselves if we see something is going wrong and don’t report it. We would like the children, if they see something going wrong, to tell the teacher, and the teacher can tell the Police and the Police should place the per petrator before the court. Children,

you have more than that (amount) of responsibility, if you are driving with your parent, please tell them, ‘Do not breach the rules of the road’. When children speak, it res onates, and so you can start cham pioning this cause from today,” Hicken related.

He further stated that during the month of November, all Police ranks will be zeroing in on traffic lawlessness.

“And then we are going to have a review and then we are going to put systems in place as we go for ward in terms of strategic move ment,” he explained.

The action plan, he said, would involve deployment and visibility, collaboration with all security ser vices, along with the Community Policing Groups and schools.

“Enforcement is only one strat egy, and if we can enforce with out having conflict with members of the public, we are going to do that; but you, the public, you have to support what we are doing,” the Top Cop urged.

Minister Robeson Benn, acting Top Cop Clifton Hicken, and Regional Commander Shivpersaud Bacchus at the launch of Road Safety Month in New Amsterdam

A section of the gathering at the event on Wednesday

Member of the Joint Services during the launch of Road Safety Month

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat (center) during the panel discussion

Govt to conduct feasibility study on establishment of law school in Guyana

other universities across North America and the United Kingdom.”

“As a result, you have in Guyana alone, possi bly over 200 or 300 persons who have LLB degrees, but have not been able to go to a law school. You have a few hundred if not thousands in Trinidad, you have a few thousand in Jamaica and the rest of the Caribbean,

and then you have so many other people. So, this law school [in Guyana] will be able to address the backlog of existing students,” he con tended.

The Attorney General further noted that with the Guyana law school adding to the region’s capacity to accommodate students then the intake in the universities is going to increase. This, he

noted, aligns with Guyana’s vision of becoming a premier education destination in the region.

“We are already in the process of attracting many offshore universities of in ternational standing and reputation to come and es tablish operations here. This law school will be an other extension of that ini tiative, which we are pursu

ing. When we bring people to this country, they will spend money here; they will rent; they will live here, and that brings revenue to the country and that’s another stream of revenue that we are pursuing. So, from ev ery perspective Guyana as a country and Guyanese will benefit spectacularly from this initiative,” the Nandlall had stated.

The Guyana Government will soon be undertaking a feasibility study on the es tablishment of a law school in the country.

According to Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister

Anil Nandlall, this was a recommendation by the Council for Legal Education (CLE), which administers le gal professional education in the Caribbean at law schools throughout the region under the Caricom Treaty.

Back in September, the Council agreed to receive a proposal from Guyana to set up its own law school. The CLE subsequently outlined the requirements the coun try needed to fulfil.

To this end, Nandlall dis closed that the Government has taken a decision to move ahead with meeting the con ditions of the Council.

“Last week, Cabinet ap proved a decision that the Government of Guyana will proceed to satisfy the criteria and to do a feasibility study as recommended by the Council of Legal Education in respect of the establish ment of a local law school or a law school within terri torial Guyana to be operat ed under the auspices of the Council of Legal Education,” the Legal Affairs Minister noted.

Nandlall further stated that a team will soon be as sembled to being the work.

At present, the CLEoperated law schools in the Caribbean are the Hugh Wooding Law School, St Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago; Norman Manley Law School, Kingston, Jamaica; and Eugene Dupuch Law School, Nassau, Bahamas.

For nearly three decades, Guyana has been trying to

establish a law school with in its jurisdiction as law stu dents are forced to attend the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad. However, only 25 top law students are al lowed each year into the pro gramme.

Moreover, the high cost of living in Trinidad has de terred many persons from further pursuing a legal ca reer, but, in response, the Guyana Government now offers limited, fully-fund ed scholarships to Hugh Wooding Law School.

Under the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Coalition Administration, attempts were made to es tablish the Joseph Oscar Fitzclarence Haynes Law School, but the CLE denied permission in late 2017.

But Nandlall had pre viously made it clear that Guyana will not steer away from the auspices of the Regional Council. Moreover, the Legal Affairs Minister had stated that a law school in Guyana would not only benefit the country and its students, but will also help to address overcrowding at the other institutions across the region.

He explained that, for some reason, the law schools in Trinidad and Jamaica are the most sought, thus result ing in overcrowding, with students not only from the region but beyond.

“There is serious over crowding in those two law schools. Those two law schools cannot accommo date the hundreds and hun dreds of students churned out by the University of the West Indies, University of Guyana, University of Jamaica, University of Trinidad and Tobago, University of London and

Leadership training for Amerindian village councils Amerindian leaders urged to practise financial accountability

Leaders have been called on to practise financial accountability in their re spective villages, in light of several reports of finan cial irregularities at Village Councils.

Amerindian

The call was made on Wednesday by Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai at the opening of the annual two-day leader ship training for Amerindian Village Councils, held under the theme “Accountability for Good Governance.”

Minister Sukhai ex plained that accountabili ty forms part of good gov ernance, and it is the responsibility of the village leaders to practise good gov ernance in the interest of the villagers

“If you do bad, it’s reflec tive on the Ministry… and so financial accountability is di rectly linked to us. The law itself speaks to the Village Councils submitting annu ally to the Minister finan cial statements. I would ap peal to all the leaders who are here to start to practise

that,” she told leaders at the Umana Yana.

The Amerindian Affairs Minister also urged leaders to complete capital projects funded by the Government in a timely manner. Speaking on the training programme, Minister Sukhai said as Guyana transforms, it is the responsibility of the Ministry to empower the village lead ers.

She reminded leaders that they are elected to serve

in the interest of the people, and so must fulfill their re sponsibilities.

“Again, I urge… I hope that this training will not only deal with the techni cal aspect of governance, but with the people-to-people governance aspect of train ing,” she expressed.

Legal Officer of the Ministry’s Legal Department, Miriam Andrew-Ming, said the leaders will be trained in Governance –

roles and responsibilities of Village Councils by the Amerindian Act of 2006, Financial Management and Accountability – Book/ Record Keeping, Leadership Management, and Administration.

Upon conclusion of the training, leaders will be pre sented with certificates.

National Toshao Council (NTC) Chairman Derrick John was also present at the leader ship training programme.

Attorney General & Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall

Participants at the workshop

Amerindian Affairs Minister, Pauline Sukhai

National Toshao Council (NTC) Chairman, Derrick John

Regional

Bolsonaro backers call on Brazil military to intervene after Lula victory

Supporters of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Wednesday held rallies to call for an armed forces’ in tervention following the election of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a move that mili tary experts say is out of the question.

The country's electoral authority on Sunday said Lula won almost 51 per cent of the vote. Bolsonaro has not officially acknowl edged the result, though his Cabinet has initiated a transition, with Lula set to take over the presidency on January 1.

Bolsonaro's support ers in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro led festive ral lies on Wednesday, carry ing Brazil's yellow-andgreen flag draped over their shoulders, blowing horns and chanting anti-Lula slo gans.

"We hope the army will intervene in this situation, we know that those elec tions were fraudulent," said Reinaldo da Silva, 65, a re tired Government worker at a rally at the entrance to a São Paulo army barracks.

"I came today because I want Brazil to be free, so cialism does not work with the Brazilian nation."

Similar rallies were held in 24 of Brazil's 26 states, as well as the capital Brasilia, according to Brazilian on line media portal G1.

In response to a re quest for comment, Brazil's Defence Ministry said peaceful demonstrations were part of free expression under Brazilian law, adding that "the Defence Ministry is guided by the Federal Constitution."

The Brazilian President on Tuesday did not con cede defeat in his first pub lic remarks, since losing Sunday's election, saying protests by his supporters were the fruit of "indigna tion and a sense of injus tice" over the vote.

However, he stopped short of contesting the election result and autho rised his chief of staff, Ciro Nogueira, to begin the tran sition process with represen tatives of leftist Presidentelect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. (Excerpt from Reuters)

No court for T&T Prime Minister, National Security Council members

Neither the Prime Minister nor any of his Ministers who sit on the National Security Council will ap pear in court next week for the hearing of an injunc tion application from for mer Police Commissioner Gary Griffith to prevent the publication of the con troversial Firearm User's Licence (FUL) audit report in Parliament.

The order for TT PM Dr Keith Rowley; former Attorney General Faris AlRawi; Ministers Fitzgerald Hinds, Colm Imbert, Stuart Young, and Marvin Gonzales to appear in court was made by Justice Devindra Rampersad on Friday.

However, on Saturday, the Judge issued a new or der which did not include the summons for the Prime Minister and his ministers.

On Tuesday, Attorney General Reginald Armour, SC, chastised the media for not reporting on the correct ed order, taking issue with media reports which ap

TT PM Dr Keith Rowley

peared on Saturday on the Friday order.

Armour said although the order was corrected by the Judge, “this error” was not corrected by the media, “and still has not been cor rected by the media.”

The second order issued by Rampersad and signed by the assistant registrar of the High Court Savita Birbal – who also signed the first – carried a note, writ ten in red, that said it was being corrected “by reason of the court inadvertent

ly forwarding the incorrect version of the amended or der for perfection”. The AG said, “Accordingly, the mem bers of the National Security Council are not summoned to appear before the judge on November 9 or at all, as originally reported."

Griffith’s application, however, will still come up on that date and the AG said legal representations will be made on behalf of the coun cil and all interested parties to the claim. (Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

Venezuelan Government, Opposition to resume talks soon – sources

Venezuela's Government and the country's Opposition plan to resume dialogue in Mexico as soon as this month after a long delay, and are expected to focus on negotiating conditions for a presidential election, four sources close to the talks said.

Last year, delegations representing President Nicolás Maduro and the Opposition led by Juan Guaidó made no progress on resolving the nation's deep political crisis, which has stoked a sometimes-chaotic migration wave of over sev en million people.

"We are working on re suming the dialogue pro cess in November," said one of the people familiar with the arrangements.

Maduro and Colombian President Gustavo Petro said in a joint statement on Tuesday they hoped for "a successful return" to the di alogue.

The renewed talks, again facilitated by the Norwegian Government, would cover the election, status of hundreds of polit ical prisoners, US sanctions on Venezuela and a "social agreement" that would en able distribution of US$3 billion in goods and invest

ment for humanitarian aid from a UN-administered fund.

Resumption of the dia logue has repeatedly been delayed by disagreements on terms, especially elec tions, a topic that may again force last-minute changes, including possibly postponing discussion to a second meeting, one of the sources said.

Venezuela's Information Ministry, Opposition en voy Gerardo Blyde, the Norwegian Government and Mexico's Foreign Affairs Ministry did not immediate ly reply to requests for com ment. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Ecuador gang violence: Crackdown in 2 states after Police killings

while two Police Officers were killed in an attack on a patrol car in the suburbs.

Three others were shot dead in the city and nearby later in the day, they added.

Three blasts were report ed in Esmeraldas province, where seven prison officers were taken hostage by in mates. They were later re leased after negotiations, of ficials said.

Astate

of emergen

cy and curfews have been declared in two Ecuador provinces after a series of attacks that killed five Police Officers.

President Guillermo Lasso said the attacks by increasingly powerful drug gangs were a declaration of war.

They had threat ened to retaliate after the Government introduced tougher measures to curb

their power inside prisons.

More than 400 people have died in gang violence in prisons since 2020.

Officials said nine sepa rate attacks were launched in the coastal provinces of Guayas and Esmeraldas on Tuesday, apparently in re sponse to transfers of pris oners from overcrowded and violent jails.

Six explosions were re ported in the western city of Guayaquil, Police said,

President Lasso intro duced the emergency mea sures in the two states for 45 days, restricting freedom of assembly and movement. Similar measures were tak en in several provinces last year and in April this year.

Violence in Ecuador has grown sharply in recent years, including decapita tions and prison riots, simi lar to scenes previously as sociated with Mexico.

It is thought this is be cause Mexican cartels have been recruiting local gangs to smuggle cocaine.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Jamaica: Man charged with MP’s killing disappears

SimeonSutherland, the man accused of mur dering former People’s National Party Member of Parliament Dr Lynvale Bloomfield, whose trial was set to begin in the Home Circuit Court in downtown Kingston on Wednesday, has disappeared.

Sutherland, who is rep resented by Attorney Peter Champagnie, reported ly met with the lawyer along with his parents on Wednesday morning at his

offices.

However, when the matter was called up be fore Supreme Court Judge, Justice Leighton Pusey, Sutherland, who was said to be on his way, did not show despite the court taking a break to allow him time.

The defendant’s parents reportedly said they dropped him off at the entrance of the court on King Street in downtown Kingston.

In a dramatic turn of events, Sutherland's moth

er, who stood surety for her son's $800,000 bail, was or dered taken into custody by the court.

The Police, meanwhile, have been ordered to arrest Sutherland on sight while officials at the sea and air ports have been instructed to be on high alert.

In the meantime, Champagnie told the court he was “beyond surprised” by the actions of his client.

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Man shot and killed in Dominica hospital

Police are investi gating the murder of a patient at the Dominica China Friendship

Hospital on Monday eve ning.

Lawmen said two masked men went to

Ronald Desiree’s bedside on the Alford Ward and shot him several times.

Police Chief Daniel

Carbon has vowed to find the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

Desiree had been at

the hospital being treated for gunshot injuries to his thigh, which he sustained over the weekend when two

people in a vehicle opened fire on him as he driving his vehicle on the Giraudel public road. (CMC)

Supporters of Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro hold a protest against President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva who won a third term following the presidential election run-off, at Urban Military Sector in Brasilia, Brazil, November 2, 2022 (Reuters/Diego Vara)

Ecuador's second city Guayaquil has seen some of the worst violence

Oil prices gain by tight supply; other risk assets swoon on Fed rate hike

Oil prices rose on Wednesday, gaining ground even as other risk assets dropped following the Federal Reserve's fourth interest rate hike of the year.

The market was supported by another decline in US oil inventories as refineries picked up activity ahead of the winter heating season.

The oil market held its rally even as stocks fell and the dollar rallied after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said it was premature to think about pausing rate increases.

Brent crude settled up US$1.51, or 1.6 per cent, to US$96.16 while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude settled up US$1.63, or 1.8 per cent, to US$90 on the nose. The gains did ebb after settlement.

The US Federal Reserve boosted interest rates by 75 basis points to bring down consumer inflation that has reached a four-decade high, though the central bank signalled future increases may be in smaller increments.

So far, the Fed's moves have not affected the strong labour market, though its actions operate with a lagged effect.

Powell suggested it was premature to think about ending the interest-rate increases. Wall Street quickly gave back its gains, while the Treasury market also fell, boosting yields.

Oil held firm, a signal of worries about global energy supply. US crude oil stocks fell about 3.1 million barrels on the week, according to federal data.Distillate stocks rose only marginally ahead of the key heating season, when demand is expected to pick up.

"There's definitely a lot of focus on supply/demand fundamentals and inventories which we saw on the (EIA) release today, and about when the Russia sanctions kick in," said Rebecca Babin, senior energy trader at CIBC Private Wealth US.

The European Union's embargo on Russian oil is set to start on December 5. The ban, a reaction to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, will be followed by a halt on oil product imports in February. It is expected to limit Russia's ability to ship crude and products worldwide, and therefore could tighten the market.

Output from the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) fell in October for the first time since June, in addition to pumping 1.36 million barrels per day below its targets.

US inventories remain low across most products, worrying analysts who believe that the impending end of releases from US strategic reserves will remove a source of supply that will further tighten markets.

"Every week that goes by, the US is drawing hydrocarbon inventories, and that leads to the question of where does the industry turn when there are no more supplies from strategic petroleum reserve releases," said Andrew Lipow, President of Lipow Oil Associates in Houston. (Reuters)

does not start to slow.

The Federal Reserve raised interest rates by three-quarters of a percentage point again on Wednesday and said its battle against inflation will require borrowing costs to rise further, yet signalled it may be nearing an inflec tion point in what has be come the swiftest tighten ing of US monetary policy in 40 years.

The double-sided mes sage left open the possibili ty the US central bank may raise rates in smaller incre ments in the future, ending its sequence of three-quar ters-of-a-percentage-point hikes as soon as December in favour of more tempered increases of perhaps half a percentage point, while also leaving policymak ers room to continue push ing rates higher if inflation

Fed Chair Jerome Powell, speaking in a news conference after the end of the central bank's lat est policy meeting, said he wanted no confusion on that point: Even if policy makers do scale back fu ture increases, he said, they were still undecided about just how high rates would need to rise to curb inflation, and were deter mined to "stay the course until the job's done".

Regardless of how fast the Fed moves, "there's some ground to cover" for the target federal funds rate to reach a "sufficient ly restrictive" level that will slow inflation, Powell said. The final destination is "very uncertain ... We're going to find it over time."

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Around the World

Russia: West must stop “encouraging provocations” to avoid nuclear disaster

Russia said on Wednesday that avoiding a nuclear clash between the world's nuclear powers was its first priority, but accused the West of "encouraging prov ocations with weapons of mass destruction".

Western capitals have said Moscow is behind a ramping-up of nuclear rhet oric since Russia invad ed Ukraine in February –most recently by repeatedly accusing Kyiv of planning to use a radioactive "dirty bomb" without offering evi dence. Kyiv has denied hav ing any such plan.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said it feared the five declared nuclear powers were teetering "on the brink of a direct armed conflict" and that the West must stop "encouraging provocations with weapons of mass de

A still image from video, released by the Russian Defence Ministry, shows what it said to be Russia's Yars intercontinental ballistic missile launched during exercises held by the country's strategic nuclear forces at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia, in this image taken from handout footage released October 26, 2022 (Russian Defence Ministry/Handout via Reuters)

struction, which can lead to catastrophic consequences".

"We are strongly con vinced that in the current complicated and turbulent situation, caused by irrespon

sible and impudent actions aimed at undermining our national security, the most immediate task is to avoid any military clash of nuclear powers," the Ministry said in

a statement.

Moscow said it stood by a joint declaration issued together with the United States, China, Britain and France in January affirming their joint responsibility for avoiding a nuclear war.

"We fully reaffirm our commitment to the joint statement of the five nucle ar-weapon states' leaders on the prevention of nucle ar war and the avoidance of an arms race from January 3, 2022," the Ministry said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ap peared on several occasions to threaten a nuclear strike in connection with the war in Ukraine, and Moscow has repeatedly said its military doctrine permits the use of nuclear weapons if Russia's territorial integrity is un der threat. (Excerpt from Reuters)

North Korea fires 23 missiles, 1 landing off South Korean coast for 1st time

North Korea fired at least 23 missiles into the sea on Wednesday, including one that landed less than 60 kilometres (40 miles) off South Korea's coast, which South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol described as "ter ritorial encroachment" and Washington denounced as "reckless".

It was the first time a bal listic missile had landed near the South's waters since the peninsula was divided in 1945, and the most missiles fired by the North in a sin gle day. South Korea issued rare air raid warnings and launched its own missiles in response.

The launches came just

hours after Pyongyang de manded that the United States and South Korea stop large-scale military exercises, saying such "military rash ness and provocation can be no longer tolerated".

In Washington, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby called the North Korean launches "reckless" and said the United States would make sure it had the military

capabilities in place to defend its treaty allies South Korea and Japan.

The missile landed out side South Korea's territo rial waters, but south of the Northern Limit Line (NLL), a disputed inter-Korean mar itime border.

South Korean warplanes fired three air-to-ground mis siles into the sea north across the NLL in response, the South's military said. An of ficial said the weapons used included an AGM-84H/K SLAM-ER, which is a USmade "stand-off" precision at tack weapon that can fly for up to 270km (170 miles) with a 360-kg (800-lb) warhead. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Israel elections: Netanyahu election win propels far right to power

The Ethiopian Government and re gional forces from Tigray agreed on Wednesday to cease hostilities, a dramat ic diplomatic breakthrough two years into a war that has killed thousands, displaced millions, and left hundreds of thousands facing famine.

Just over a week after for mal peace talks mediated by the African Union (AU) began in the South African capital Pretoria, delegates from both sides signed an agreement on a "permanent cessation of hostilities".

"The two parties in the Ethiopian conflict have for mally agreed to the cessation of hostilities as well as to sys tematic, orderly, smooth and coordinated disarmament," said Olusegun Obasanjo, head of the AU mediation team, at a ceremony.

Obasanjo, a former Nigerian President, said the agreement also included "res toration of law and order, res

toration of services, unhin dered access to humanitarian supplies, protection of civil ians".

An agreement had not been expected so soon. Earlier on Wednesday, the AU had invited media to what it described as a brief ing by Obasanjo. It was only when the event began, about three hours behind schedule, that it became clear a truce was about to be signed.

"This moment is not the end of the peace process. Implementation of the peace agreement signed today is critical for its success," said Obasanjo, adding that this would be supervised and monitored by a high-level AU panel.

Obasanjo, who stepped down as Nigeria's President in 2007 and has since medi ated conflicts across Africa, praised the process as an African solution to an African problem. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Speaking to his Likud party faithful, Benjamin Netanyahu smiled widely as he foresaw his comeback a year after he was dramatically ousted as Prime Minister by a broad co alition of his opponents.

The people want a gov ernment which projects "pow er, not weakness", he said, his voice hoarse from days of campaigning. He was an swered with shouts of "King Bibi" – his fans using his nickname.

If, as expected, final elec tion results confirm that the veteran leader can now build a stable majority government with his ultra-nationalist and ultra-Orthodox Jewish allies, this will also end nearly four years of an unprecedented po litical stalemate.

With some young reli gious voters literally jumping for joy, the stand-out story of Israel's latest election was the big surge in popularity of the far-right.

"Things will be better now. When he's the public securi

ty minister, they'll be better still," Julian, an enthusiastic backer of firebrand politician Itamar Ben-Gvir told me at his campaign headquarters. "He wants the best for Israel. He wants the terror ists out," said Noam from a settlement in the occupied West Bank. "We don't want the Arabs, they throw rocks at us and take our spots in Israel," he went on, before be ing hushed by a party activist.

While Ben-Gvir – previ ously convicted as a racist in Israel – is now attempt ing to rebrand himself as a more conventional politician, he has not changed all his an ti-Arab rhetoric.

"It's time to be the land lords of this country again," he said after exit polls were published on Tuesday night.

His cheering crowd in Jerusalem mostly kept to their new chant of "death to terrorists", adjusted from the one we often previously heard from his supporters – "death to Arabs".(Excerpt from BBC News)

Combatants in Ethiopia's Tigray war agree to stop fightingFed jacks up interest rates again, hints at smaller increases ahead

People watch a TV broadcasting a news report on North Korea firing a ballistic missile off its east coast, in Seoul, South Korea, November 2, 2022 (Reuters/Kim Hong-Ji)

PEANUTS

DAILY HOROSCOPES

Take a back seat and observe. You will discover who is on your side and who isn't. Doing something physical will ease stress and encourage you to revis it old ideas.

(March 21-April 19)

Recognize your capabilities and how to use what you know to get ahead. Choose your course of action based on your needs, not on outside pressure. Be cool!

(April 20-May 20)

(May 21-June 20)

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

You can't please everyone, so aim to do what makes you happy. Question what others ask you to do, information shared with you or a situation that could change your feelings about an acquain tance.

Your ideas will be spot-on. Speak up and work alongside those who share your enthusiasm. Turn whatever you do into something enjoyable for you and ev eryone who cares to help.

Do whatever it takes to keep the peace. Be a good listener, offer sugges tions and put your energy where it will do the most good. Don't let the decisions others make stress you out.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

SUDOKU

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

Get together with friends, colleagues or relatives and discuss your plans. You'll come up with a way to please ev eryone while still handling your prime concerns. Pay attention to how you pres ent yourself.

Spend more time learning, teaching and working as a team player. Express your feelings, what you are trying to achieve and what you need others to do to help you reach your goal. Give your all.

Get involved in something unique. Try applying your skills and experiences to something that makes you feel good. Doing your best to make a difference will motivate others to help you.

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

Take a breather and revisit your op tions. Listen to an expert, not to some one using emotional tactics to take ad vantage of you. Put your energy into learning and living in the moment.

Take the road less traveled and see where it goes. Those you encounter will enrich your life and outlook. Expand your mind and interests. Romance will enhance your life.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

Keep moving forward, regardless of what others do or say. Don't let outside influences interfere with your plans. Pay attention to what's important to you.

Leave nothing to chance regarding your financial status. Put your papers in order and map out an investment plan to lower your debt. A promise you make to someone will bring you closer togeth er.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

DILBERT

2022 ICC T20 World Cup…

Netherlands’ seamers, O'Dowd all but knock Zimbabwe out

led to Ervine top-edg ing an attempted flick and Scott Edwards complet ing a well-judged catch. In his next over, Glover saw Regis Chakabva survive two chances - one when Bas de Leede failed to cling on to a cut at backward point, and the other on the very next ball, when Edwards grassed a regulation diving catch.

But, much like Madhevere, Chakabva lost the mind game against Glover, as he was stuck to his crease expecting another one outside off, only to be trapped in front by a full and straight one in line with the stumps. Zimbabwe were reduced to 20 for 3 inside the power play, as a result.

Raza, again

Firsts are often mem orable occasions, and Netherlands ensured that they would only have fond memories of their maid en T20I at the Adelaide Oval. Their batting mainstay, Max O'Dowd, exuded calmness to help them through a small run chase against Zimbabwe with a steady 52-run knock to all but end Zimbabwe’s hopes of making the semi-finals. This was after a fine seam-bowling performance from Netherlands, led by Paul van Meekeren's three-for, had helped skit tle Zimbabwe for 117. Only Sikandar Raza stood tall yet again for Zimbabwe, as their batters failed to counter accurate fast bowl ing, and fell prey to clev er changes of pace that the

Netherlands bowled.

In response, O'Dowd and Tom Cooper stitched together a 73-run partnership which ensured Netherlands did not lose early wickets in clusters. While Zimbabwe math ematically still cling on, any result in the IndiaBangladesh contest would knock them out.

Seam, swing and all that The two colours that gen erally make for good view ing were on display at the Adelaide Oval - blue, sun ny skies after a rainy buildup, and an even covering of green grass on the surface. But Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine had little hesitation in batting first, even as his opposite number seemed con tent with what they had to

do. You could see why.

A left-arm bowler swung it into the right-hander (away from the left-hander). Then a right-arm seamer did the opposite. After Fred Klaassen came perilous ly close to nicking Ervine off in the opening over, van Meekeren drew first blood in the next. He began with a misdirected inswinger to the left-handed Ervine, before castling Madhevere with a peach. Madhevere was root ed to the crease, expecting an outswinger, but instead received a full and straight ball on middle, off of which he missed a belated flick and was bowled.

It was then time for Brandon Glover to come to the party. He began with five straight dots, which

It was yet again up to Raza to rescue Zimbabwe, for the umpteenth time in re cent games. He was starved of strike for two overs upon his entry, before he got go ing with a 14-run over off Glover. He targeted the short, square region on the leg side to pepper his pull strokes, and used his might to smoke generally unhit table length balls over the bowler's head.

He found an ally in Sean Williams, who played a steady hand in their 48-run partnership. And even af ter Williams fell, Raza did not slow down. He smoked two more sixes - the second off Glover (again) made a sound you'd want to use for one of your phone alerts. In all, Raza scored 26 off the 11 balls he faced from Glover, after the bowl er had two wickets, includ ing a wicket-maiden, and had conceded just two runs

from his first two overs.

But once Raza fell trying to take on the longer long-on boundary off Bas de Leedeback after he was replaced in the match against Pakistan due to concussion - Zimbabwe lost their last five wickets for 25, and folded for 117.

O'Dowd denies Zimbabwe O'Dowd enhanced his batting credentials in this men's T20 World Cup with his second half-century in the competition. It was not all smooth-flowing for him, though. Even though he man aged to hit a four in each of Tendai Chatara's three overs in the pow erplay, he could only score 14 off the 18 balls

outside edge, courtesy of Chatara's outswingers, and it was almost like the phase was being played on repeat.

It was only when he picked up a Richard Ngarava slower delivery early after the powerplay, and then fol lowed it with a gorgeous in side-out six over extra cover off Sean Williams, that he had truly announced him self. By that time Cooper, who perhaps knows the Adelaide Oval conditions like the back of his hand, thanks to his stints in Australian domestic circuit, had got into a roll, and his alliance with O'Dowd had all but sealed the deal for Netherlands. Even though Zimbabwe managed to pick up four wickets for 26 with Cooper's fall, a total of just 117

he faced in the phase. He was regularly beaten on the

Netherlands

Roelof van der Merwe not out 0 Extras(lb 5, nb 1, w 4) 10

TOTAL 18 Ov (RR: 6.66) 120/5

Did not bat: Logan van Beek, Fred Klaassen, Paul van Meekeren, Brandon Glover Fall of wickets: 1-17 (Stephan Myburgh, 3.2 ov), 2-90 (Tom Cooper, 12.5 ov), 3-91 (Colin Ackermann, 13.4 ov), 4-109 (Max O’Dowd, 15.1 ov), 5-116 (Scott Edwards, 16.3 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W Tendai Chatara 4-0-22-0 Richard Ngarava 4-0-18-2 Blessing Muzarabani 4-0-23-2 Sean Williams 3-0-21-0 Sikandar Raza 1-0-6-0 Luke Jongwe 2-0-25-1

was never really going to be enough. (Cricinfo)

Max O'Dowd and Tom Cooper shared a crucial partnership

Sikandar Raza top-scored with

Captain Mickel Sharma

Captain Kyle Gibson

India survive Litton Das scare to beat Bangladesh

Bangladesh lost their way after that, even if they rallied slightly towards the end to keep the last over in teresting. They lost six wickets for 40 runs in 33 deliveries. Nurul Hasan did his best to perform a miracle, but his 25 off 14 was not enough.

Arshdeep Singh de livered excel lent yorkers at the death, and India secured a hard-fought five-run victo ry, which took them to the top of Group 2.

Litton's hope-giving barrage

break. Litton by then had 59 off 26.

But then, second ball after resumption, he ran a second upon his partner Shanto's insistence, and he slipped on the damp sur face, causing him to lose valuable metres.

The direct hit from Rahul caught him a metre short. This was when the chase turned.

Rahul's resurgence

Al Hasan b Hasan Mahmud 7 Ravichandran Ashwin not out 13 Extras (lb 1, nb 3, w 2) 6

TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 9.20) 184/6

Did not bat: Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh Fall of wickets: 1-11 (Rohit Sharma, 3.2 ov), 2-78 (KL Rahul, 9.2 ov), 3-116 (Suryakumar Yadav, 13.3 ov), 4-130 (Hardik Pandya, 15.1 ov), 5-150 (Dinesh Karthik, 16.6 ov), 6-157 (Axar Patel, 18.1 ov)

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Taskin Ahmed 4-0-15-0

Shoriful Islam 4-0-57-0 Hasan Mahmud 4-0-47-3

Mustafizur Rahman 4-0-31-0 Shakib Al Hasan 4-0-33-2

Bangladesh (T: 151 runs from 16 ovs) Najmul Hossain Shanto c Yadav b Mohammed Shami 21 Litton Das run out (Rahul)

in Virat Kohli's spectacular form, as he made 66 not out off 44. Suryakumar Yadav's 30 off 16 helped too.

(Litton Das,

But when Litton blasted seven fours and three sixes inside the first seven overs, Bangladesh had an excel lent foundation. They were 66 for no loss when rains in terrupted and curtailed the match. At that time, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Litton's opening partner, was sev en off 16. They should have been confident of scoring the 85 needed off the last nine overs (54 balls) upon resumption, particularly as the field was likely to be greasy following the down pour.

But, when Shanto called for a tight second two balls into resumption, Litton's spikes failed to adequate ly grip the damp surface he was running on, and he was out by about a metre to an outstanding Rahul direct hit from just beyond mid wicket.

The man really set Bangladesh up, then got out in an incredibly frustrating manner, for which he bore little blame. The game was on when he hit Arshdeep for three fours in the sec ond over; the first past backward point, the second down the ground, the third crashing through extra-cov er. He kept nailing them.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar got swivel-pulled into the stand beyond deep squareleg. Then the best shot of the game, perhaps, came when Litton got low and scooped Bhuvneshwar over the shoulder for six in the bowler's next over. By the time the Powerplay ended, he had completed a 21-ball fifty, and Bangladesh were flying.

After seven overs, Bangladesh were 66 for 0, 17 runs ahead of the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern par score when the rains came down and forced a long

He'd made three sin gle-figure scores in a row, but given his half-centuries in the warm-ups, could you really call this a dip? Either way, Rahul smote two spec tacular sixes in the power play to suggest he was nev er out of touch. The first was a languid pick-up shot over deep square leg off Shoriful Islam. The second - the best of them all - was a supremely timed squarecut off Hasan Mahmud that

over, Kohli was 32 off 28 - not a particularly impressive score. But then where other anchor-role players frequentlyw34 fail to kick on from here, Kohli excels at surging through the late overs. This time, he struck four fours and a six through the last six overs, to end up a strike rate of 145.45. This tournament, he has 220 runs at a strike rate of 144.73 and has been dismissed just once in four innings.

Bangladesh's post-Litton fade Before Litton was runout, Bangladesh struck 67 from 43 deliveries, and they'd lost no wick ets. In the 34 balls after he got out

flew into the stands. He hit two more sixes later, and was out in the 10th over, having proven his worth.

Kohli's anchor

If you're going to drop anchor, this is the way to do it. You bat in your more-ag gressive team-mates' slip stream. And then you make sure you catch up. Even at

(not including the dismiss al delivery), Bangladesh lost five wickets and made only 40 runs. This essential ly, was where Bangladesh truly lost it - Arshdeep and Hardik Pandya bowling double-wicket overs.

Shanto tried to revive Bangladesh's hopes, but India always seemed the likelier winner. (Cricinfo)

Sixth edition of Fitness Expo set for Sunday at CASH

Guyana Fitness Games is set

host its 6th Fitness Expo at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) this Sunday, November 6th. A press re lease from the organisers states that spectators can look forward to seeing ap proximately 50 athletes from Guyana and Suriname partic ipate in three action-packed, physically challenging events to attain the title of 'Fittest' in the categories of Rx Teams male and female, and Scaled Individuals male and female.

'Rx' means doing the movements as prescribed, and if a weight is designated, you're doing the workout with the specific weight. 'Scaled' means modifying the move ment or modifying the weight if there is a designated weight for the workout.

The Rx teams will be per forming quite a few new syn

chronised movements, such as double barbell overhead lunges, heavy tandem dead lifts, and partner wall balls. These are in addition to sev eral other synchronised movements.

The organisers also noted that many of the scaled ath letes are new to the sport, and while they will be per

forming the scaled move ments, the movements are still very challenging. Some of these movements include heavy front squats, overhead squats, kettlebell box ste povers, and overhead lunges.

The three fitness events in which the athletes would be required to complete are a form of high-intensity in

terval training. These are strength and conditioning workouts that comprise func tional movement performed at a high-intensity level.

There will be spectator games for members of the au dience who would like to par ticipate in a few fitness chal lenges and win prizes.

“If you love sports, you're

a fitness enthu siast, or are in terested in get ting into fitness, then come out with your fam ily and friends on Sunday 6th November at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall and support these athletes as you get to enjoy the excitement of the competition.”

The sponsors are Lucozade, Icool Water, GTT, Guyoil, TechPro, Trophy Stall, Star Party Rental, Liquid Energy, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, and Genesis Fitness Gym. Admission is $1000, and tick ets are available at Genesis Fitness Gym. Fitness Expo starts promptly at 13:00hrs on Sunday.

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the runs for KL Rahul (50 off 32), and another chapter

Virat Kohli top-scored with an unbeaten 64

Liton Das scored a fighting 60

15th MACORP Invitational golf tournament tees off on Saturday

us, because it help us develop character, helps us develop values,” Escarraga explained.

The MACORP CEO continued, “Players are going to be in their best condition, coming out of the Guyana Open. It’s a great opportunity for us to display what the company can do for the customers. Obviously, we’ll be there in attendance with some of our staff, and anything related to the company that you want to learn about, we will be more than willing to share. Come and join us!

Regarded as one of the premier events on the Lusignan Golf Club’s (LGC’s) calendar, the MACORP Golf tournament is slated to return with a bang on Saturday, November 5th, 2022.

For the 15th year running, Machinery Corporation of Guyana (MACORP) would be sponsoring this annual golf tournament at the Lusignan Golf Club (LGC), and as promised by the sponsors of this highly anticipated event, there will be prizes and excitement galore.

Both the LGC and MACORP are set to ignite the Lusignan Golf Course with the Men’s

tournament, which will carry three flights, and a Women’s category - as has become customary for the LGC - is also included.

Speaking at the tournament launch on Wednesday morning at MACORP’s Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD) Head Office, CEO Guillermo Escarraga touched on the impactful aspect of the sport, and what to expect at LGC this Saturday.

“Golf will always pose a challenge. You think you have it, then golf teaches you that you have to keep learning and growing and developing. That’s why golf is so important for

“Rest assured that we will continue this for years to come,” Escarraga has promised.

In true MACORP fashion, the Company has put a Caterpillar watch up for grabs as the best net prize for the tournament. It will be accompanied by several other branded prizes for podium positions, best gross, longest drive, and closest to the pin.

Meanwhile, LGC President Patanjilee Persaud, speaking to the quality of the MACORP tournament, has labelled that company second to none.

Persaud remarked, “Many

of you have seen this weekend (last weekend) brought out some professionals from Suriname and as far as Fiji. I think some of them are still here, so the competition that we envisage will be very, very extreme.

“I know MACORP, knowing their product, they’re geared for competition. I always say they’re at the top of the

food chain when it comes to machinery, they’re second to none,” the LGC boss added.

Persaud, highlighting the years that MACORP has been an ally of golf, expressed gratitude to the company for their continued involvement.

“We would like to thank MACORP for all the support they have given us through the many years. They have done

a tremendous job in assisting to keep Lusignan Golf Club as a premier golf course and a premier place where you can come and enjoy golfing activities, regardless if you’re now learning or if you’re a professional,” he expressed.

The MACORP tournament is set for a 12pm tee-off at the East Coast Demerara based golf course. (Jemima Holmes)

South American Games Saga… The GOA have their say on absence of medical personnel

The Guyana Olympic Association (GOA)

although shouldering some of the blame for the recent debacle surrounding the absence of a medical professional at the South American Games; has laid out justifications, as to why the Guyanese contingent travelled to Paraguay without such.

These revelations were made at a GOA Press briefing on Tuesday afternoon, at their Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara (ECD), Head office, where the President, executives and athletes summed up Guyana’s outing at the October 1st to 15th, 2022 Games.

Responding to a questioned posed by a media operative regarding the GOA’s inability to send a physiotherapist with the team, although two were present at the Commonwealth Games, GOA President K.A. Juman Yassin explained that the problem laid at the Executive level of the body.

“We, the GOA, started to send a physio from the Tokyo Olympics, prior to that, we did not. And then we sent physio to the Cali Games in Columbia,”

Yassin commented.

He further explained, “And the reason, I’m told, other members of the executives

Yassin divulged, “When a country hosts a game, like the Olympics or like the South American games that the team went to, they bid and part of their bidding is to also indicate what are the medical facilities, in the event that there is any need.”

“They had submitted that there will be medical personnel there, that the hospitals would be there and that if anybody needs medical treatment, they will be attended to,” he added.

However, Yassin did take responsibility for the unfortunate situation that Boxer Keevin Allicock found himself in.

were in charge of selecting and arrangement. I’m told that because of the Commonwealth games and the Caribbean Games, that the time had flown by and that the slot of time in which you had to submit the names of the physio had passed. That is why a physio didn’t go.”

The GOA Boss also laid blame at the feet of the host country, highlighting that their bid to host the games encompasses such emergencies.

“Coming back to it, GOA should take some blame, yes, that the physio wasn’t there. But at the end of the day, even if a physio was there, he had to go to the hospital, it was an emergency and an ambulance had to be called because the state that he was in necessitated that.”

In the same breath, Yassin welcomed President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s recent announcement, about facilitating the necessary medical personnel to travel with

Guyanese athletes.

Yassin said, “I listened to the address of His Excellency, President Ali, I’m heartened that he wishes his government to be able to finance a physio and a doctor to be on the teams going forward. That’s excellent.”

On the other hand, President of the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) and GOA Executive, Godfrey Munroe added another perspective to the issue, disclosing sending a medical doctor requires more than what meets the eye.

“Some systems fell down and we accept culpability in that regard but I don’t think, as Dion said, its an opportunity to blame anyone but to look at each one of us and see where the mistakes lie and what else we can do improve,” Munroe initially stated about the incident.

However, he went on to add, “One area of clarity, I’d like to provide, is the medical doctor as everybody refers to, that can go to these games, its not as easy as is, because they

require a practicing license in that particular country, in order to be of any aid to our athletes.”

About two weeks ago, Keevin Allicock, in a public statement on social media, disclosed that he suffered major pains and had to be rushed to the hospital in Asuncion, Paraguay, and was later diagnosed with Rhabdomyolysis.

The revelation and Guyana’s lack of medical personnel at the games sparked an ongoing conversation about the way athletes are treated in Guyana. (Jemima Holmes)

Captain Mahendra Hardyal of defending Legends’ champion Regal has expressed profound confidence that his team would keep possession of the Prime Minister’s Softball Cup Trophy. He made this revelation as the highly decorated team continue to intensify their preparations ahead of the three-day softball extravaganza, which is billed for November 11-13.

The tournament will be held under the auspices of the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc, in collaboration with the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport. It will be the sixth edition, and three males’ categories are slated to compete again: Legends (Over50), Masters (Over-40) and Open (all ages, with roundarm bowling only). Four female

teams are set to participate as well.

“I am very confident. Look, for the past four to five major outings, we are champions here in Guyana and overseas. Certainly, no pressure, it just boosted the confidence of our players,” Hardyal stated.

Eight teams are scheduled

to participate in this category, and Hardyal has disclosed his team’s plans. “Well, we will take each team as a challenge for us. Legends Over-50 cricket has evolved so much that you can never drop guard; every day and every tournament, teams are improving and strengthening up with players from local and

overseas. So, I encourage every side in this category to bring their A game,” the right-handed batsman Hardyal related.

Quizzed on Regal combination, the stalwart softball player responded. “The team is balanced, with skills and experience, and cricket is a team’s game, so we don’t

single out players. Rather, what we discuss a lot is for everyone to play for each other,” the businessman commented.

Hardyal further declared that his team is definitely inspired to churn out excellent performances at the megasoftball showpiece.

“Yes! Definitely! We are inspired to do well because of the bragging rights. I will always tell my fellow players (that), by being a professional team, we must at all times play hard and clean to win,” he declared.

An optimistic Hardyal has said that winning the Prime Minister’s Cup will be a big boost for his team as well. He also took the opportunity to welcome all the teams, since they have completed their registration, and stated that cricket will be the winner because he is anticipating fun

in the sun.

The male team winning this tournament would receive $600,000 and a trophy, while the runners-up team would cash in $50,000 and a trophy. There will be special prizes for outstanding individual performances in this T20 tournament. The victorious ladies’ team will take home $200,000.

Matches will be played at various venues in Georgetown for the first two days, while all the finals are set for play at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence, East Bank Demerara on Sunday. Prime Minister Brigadier (retired) Mark Phillips is expected to bowl the first ball, and more than 25 teams coming from New York, Florida, Canada and across Guyana, would be taking part.

MACORP CEO Guillermo Escarraga making a presentation to LGC President Patanjilee Persaud in the presence of LGC VP Paton George and MACORP’s Miguel Oviedo

LGC President Patanjilee Persaud

MACORP CEO Guillermo Escarraga

GOA President K.A. Juman-Yassin

Several of the athletes and GOA executives that were present at Tuesday’s press briefing

Eagles

against

Romario

Shepherd's un beaten 74 and his econom ical spell of 2-44 helped Guyana Harpy Eagles to a cru cial three-run win against the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in the CG United Super50 Cup 2022 tournament.

In the match, played at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Darren Bravo's patient innings and Sunil Narine's finishing touch went in vain, as Clinton Pestano pro duced a good final over in defend ing 11 runs.

In pursuit, T&T Red Force had a solid 79-run stand, with Kjorn Ottley (49) and Joshua Da Silva (28) taking charge early. Gudakesh Motie was introduced, and he got the breakthrough when Ottley offered a re turn catch, while Da Silva was bowled by Shepherd.

Jason Mohammed and Darren Bravo then dropped anchor and added 47 runs for the third wicket. Mohammed offered Hetmyer a catch at long-on and was re moved for 24. Bravo was partnered by Nicholas Pooran, and the duo took the score to 126-3 in 27.5 overs.

Bravo, who started slowly, sur passed his half-century, while Yannic Cariah (30) held the chase together with Bravo, adding 56 runs together. The left-hander held out to mid-wicket at 250-6 after scoring 71 from 88 balls, including four boundaries and two six

es. Narine's 30 went in vain, as Pestano held his nerves as Red Force made 266-6 in 50 overs.

Earlier, Trinidad and Tobago Red Force won the toss and opted to field first. Guyana Harpy Eagles had a good start, with openers Anthony Bramble (42) and Tagenarine Chanderpaul add ing 69 runs together. Sunil Narine, the third ball into his spell, produced a beauty to shatter Chanderpaul's stumps, after the left-hander faced 31 balls and stroked five boundaries in his promising 25.

Bramble then dragged on a Shannon Gabriel delivery, and the floodgates were opened. Gabriel found himself on a hat trick when he peeled the edge of

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Leon Johnson for a golden duck. Shimron Hetmyer then made 11 from 23 balls before be ing caught in the slips by Nicholas Pooran off the magician Narine. Tevin Imlach and Sherfane Rutherford then took the score from 86-4 to 169-5 in 36.2 overs, adding 83 runs togeth er. Rutherford made 49 from his 63 balls, an innings that had four fours and two sixes. The solid Imlach was bowled by Gabriel for a 66-ball 32, which had no boundaries.

Romario Shepherd then added the finishing touches with a brilliant un beaten innings of 74 from 46 balls, in clusive of six maximums and five fours, as Harpy Eagles recovered to 269-9 in 50 overs, after losing wickets at regu lar intervals. Gabriel ended with 4-42 from nine lightning overs, while Narine ended with 3-17 from 10 top overs. Shepherd dominated the final wicket stand with Veerasammy Permaul, add ing 68 runs. Guyana will play CCC on Saturday November 5.

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Bowling Romario

(10-1-44-2)

Veerasammy Permaul (9-0-51-1) Clinton Pestano (8-0-53-1) Kevin Sinclair (10-0-35-0) Gudakesh Motie (6-0-33-1) Sherfane Rutherford (7-0-46-0)

Romario Shepherd scored an unbeaten half-century for Guyana

Sunil Narine claimed three wickets

Shannon Gabriel had four wickets

Darren Bravo played the anchor innings