Guyana Times - Thursday, October 27, 2022

Body of unidentified man found floating in Mazaruni River

The body of an uniden tified man has been found floating in the Mazaruni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

Reports are that about 15:00h on Tuesday, a female called the Bartica Police Station and reported that she received information from a miner in the area, who is a claim holder at Barakat Mining Concession, that his workers saw what appeared to be the bloated body of a human floating in the Mazaruni River.

As a result, around 10:00h on Wednesday, a Police rank went to Barakat Backdam, Mazaruni River where he made checks and observed the motion less body of a male floating face-down in the Mazaruni River.

Police said that the body was pulled from the river

and found to be in an ad vanced state of decomposi tion.

“Due to the state of de composition, no mark of vi olence was seen. The body was clothed in a black short pants and a vest. The body was photographed and was later escorted to Bartica

Regional Hospital where it was pronounced dead,” Police said on Wednesday.

The body is current ly awaiting transportation to the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home for storage and a post-mortem exam ination. An investigation has been launched.

BRIDGE

Pres Ali recalls Charrandas Persaud from India over obscene outburst

The

FERRY SCHEDULE

Parika

Guyana’s High Commissioner to India, Charrandas Persaud, has been recalled from his post following the circulation of a video which shows him verbally abusing a woman at his official resi dence in New Delhi.

This was announced by President Dr Irfaan Ali via a Facebook Live on Wednesday.

According to the Head of State, the video was brought to his attention on Tuesday, and he subsequently had a telephone conversation with Persaud, who also served as Guyana’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka. During that engagement, President Ali said, Persaud has agreed to accept “full responsibility” for his ac tions, and will return home.

“Mr Charandas agreed with me that in keep ing with the best inter ests of Guyana and the image of Guyana, that he will return home from his posting in India,” the President revealed during his Wednesday morning ad dress. He went on to say that official steps will now be taken to ensure a smooth transition, and to contin ue to strengthen work with India.

“I want to assure all Guyanese that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Government of Guyana con tinue to work every day to strengthen our relation ships, the relationship not only with India, but with every other partner across the globe,” the Guyanese Leader assured.

In the video making its rounds on social media, Persaud, while standing at the gate of his residence in India, is heard telling a woman: “You probably want the dog to f**k you, that is what you want. And I don’t care. I don’t care who you are…f**k you.”

President Ali indicated that during their conser vation, Persaud explained that the incident took place since August 2021, and that the video being circulated is not a full reflection of what took place.

“He informed me that the video was not com plete in demonstrating exactly what took place.

Notwithstanding this, I ex plained to Mr Charrandas that representatives of our country must, in all occa sion and on every occasion, conduct themselves in the highest order and regard,” the Head of State related.

He further noted that it was communicated to him by the now former diplomat that this matter was al ready dealt with by the rel evant authorities in India, and he was vindicated of any wrongdoing.

“…there was no evidence of any misconduct, and for a matter of fact, he was cleared of any accusations of sexual harassment. He also shared with me a let ter that substantiated this

statement,” the President stated.

While there are ques tions on whether the Guyana Government was immediately made aware of the incident and took any actions, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, following the rapid circula tion of the video on Tuesday, issued a statement on the matter.

It explained that Persaud himself had informed the Ministry of External Affairs in India of the incident, and was fully investigated by the relevant authorities. Additionally, it was noted that a formal response to the High Commission, dat ed September 3, 2022, in dicates that “allegations of sexual abusive words to

complainant has [sic] not been substantiated”. To this end, the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Georgetown said in Tuesday’s missive that it considered this mat ter “closed”.

However, this response did not sit well with some sections, including the Women & Gender Equality Commission, which on Wednesday not only ex pressed its utter dismay at Persaud’s “vile and dis gusting” actions, but also bashed the Foreign Affairs Ministry over its handling of the matter.

Nevertheless, the Commission said, it was pleased with “swift and decisive” action taken by President Ali to immediate ly recall Persaud from his post.

Charrandas Persaud during his accreditation ceremony as Guyana’s High Commissioner to India in March 2021

President Dr Irfaan Ali

Gender Equality

Ina very favourable report on the Global Gender Gap 2022, Guyana ranked high for its efforts at reducing gender inequalities. The report listed Guyana at number 35 in the world, and second in the Caribbean.

In the report, it is stated that, in Guyana, men and women have near equal rights with respect to access to financial services, access to land, and other assets.

One of the best ways by which individuals can be empowered is by an appropriate education and creation of empowerment programmes to enable equitable opportunities for upward mobility for every citizen, and from the report, it shows that efforts are being made in this area in Guyana.

Societies in general are veering away from male domination in work places, and Government and the Private Sector are determined to provide equal opportunities for employees, regardless of gender.

The issue of women and their role in development has always been a topic of interest, and debates have centred around the challenges women face in getting access to the same opportunities as men, and, in a general sense, programmes and policies that could be implemented to ensure their economic and social advancement.

Women, over the years, have made tremendous progress, not only in terms of their own advancement, but by playing key roles in the development of their own communities and, by extension, allowing other women opportunities to develop themselves. There is no doubt that many challenges remain, and these must eventually be tackled to ensure that women have access to all the opportunities and resources needed to allow them to lead productive and fulfilling lives.

In the domestic frontier, women – the child-bearers and primary child-carers – are disadvantaged by domestic responsibilities; and many men abdicate their responsibilities in parenting and being equal partners in the home.

There is a dire need for men to create behavioural change in their domestic and child-rearing engagements: the accrued benefits to the entire family would be manifold; and the satisfaction and happiness of family togetherness would redound to the wellbeing of everyone, not least the children. If they grow up in an environment of caring and sharing, most likely they would become rounded adults, and incidents of juvenile delinquency would be reduced.

Some years ago, under the administration of former President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, the Social Protection Ministry, in collaboration with the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI), launched the “Women of Worth” (WoW) loan programme, which helped single parent women start and/or expand their businesses.

Through initiatives like Women of Worth, Government, in partnership with institutions like GBTI, has proven that providing enabling mechanisms can make a tangible impact on the lives of vulnerable women, and consequently their children. By removing financial obstacles, the partnership with GBTI helped women realise their true potential through building businesses. Through the WoW initiative, women used their acumen to grow local communities, build wealth, and ultimately contribute to making Guyana better as a whole.

Before their advent into politics in then British Guiana, local women were treated as less in value by the colonial overlords. Women could not work in the Public Service after marriage, and they certainly could not vote, among a multiplicity of human/women/s rights constraints.

Over the years, intrepid women fought for equality, and after much struggle and countless engagements at various fora, women were permitted greater freedoms in the sociopolitical dynamics of the nation. Today, women proliferate in leadership roles in every sphere of activity in the nation.

President Dr Irfaan Ali’s Administration is off to a great start in addressing pressing social issues facing women.

To quote the Global Gender Gap 2022: “Among them, Peru, Guyana and Chile have improved their gender parity scores the most. By contrast, more populous countries such as Brazil, Mexico and Argentina showed mild stagnation in scores…Based on the current pace of progress, Latin America and the Caribbean will close its gender gap in 67 years.”

While there is still a lot to be done, this high ranking serves as a boost and a win for Guyana.

Civil society groups, Opposition need to discover dynamics of intercultural negotiations

Dear Editor,

Civil society activists should begin to think about the profound differences in international and inter cultural relations, some thing that is notably miss ing from the debates around Guyana’s oil contract with the foreign oil companies. Those who think that you can simply amend a con tract when circumstanc es change for one party are missing this cultural di mension.

The main reason is that culture is central to how we approach negotiations in an international setting. To boot, cultural misunder standing is one of the main reasons for failure in inter national business and inter national diplomacy

The crux of the matter is that cultural institutions in Guyana are based on el evated levels of informali ty, whereas the cultures of North America and Europe are rigid in business prac tices. For them, a deal is a deal. Guyana, by contrast, is a give-and-take culture based on face-to-face forms

of engagement. In this cul tural framework people can make things happen through informal means, sometimes by just making a call.

On the other hand, for Americans and Europeans, personal relationships mat ter less than what is writ ten down. Once something is written down, and there is legal ‘consideration,’ you cannot willy-nilly change things.

Guyana, like much Latin America and the Caribbean, is characterized by a maña na type culture. This type of culture is elastic regard ing rules, and especially regarding communication styles. Moreover, context is an integral aspect of nego tiations. Evidence for this could be found in the re peated claims that because Guyana was once dominat ed by foreign exploiters, the oil contracts should demon strate some measure of fi nancial recompense. For Westerners, context is irrel evant.

The noted internation al and intercultural scholar

Stefan Kammhuber makes the compelling point “that every negotiation is also a social encounter...” [I]ndi viduals inevitably bring in their cultural biography, which they cannot simply shed but must … painstak ingly adapt to a particular negotiation model that was created in a specific cultural environment” (2010: 256).

Kammhuber is clear that “[if] one judges the be havior of other partners ac cording to one’s own system of orientation, then there is a good chance that this will result in misunderstanding or conflict and eventually cause negotiations to fail” (2010: 258)

The debates around the “sanctity of the contract” bring the central issues of intercultural communi cation to the fore. I think while many of the civil so ciety groups such as Article 13 and individual writers are aware of the difficulties of reopening a signed con tract, their audience may not know the same.

This is crucial, because when a renegotiated con

tract is presented to the “masses” as something that can be done easily and with out harm, we move from civ il society efforts at protect ing the national interest, to efforts at weaponizing polit ical mobilization. Culture becomes equally crucial here because the “masses,” more than any other sector of the society, are highly so cialized into believing we can change things because a better deal could be re alized. Put differently, the elites know one thing, but based on what they say and write, the masses are led to believe something else.

Those calling for a rene gotiated oil contract should be aware that they are in the business of chasing away foreign capital. Without for eign investments, our hy drocarbon resources would have still been under hun dreds of feet of water and we would still be the sec ond poorest country in the Western hemisphere.

Sincerely, Dr Randolph Persaud

President Dr Irfaan Ali meeting with a Chilean delegation at State House on Wednesday afternoon. The delegation included the Director of the Agency for Food Quality and Safety and Vice Chair of the Codex Alimentarius, Dr Diego Varela; Coordinator of the Chilean Association of Pest Control, Victor Rivera and Daniel Vera from the Chilean International Cooperation Agency (AGCI). Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha and Director of Projects at the Office of the President, Marcia Nadir-Sharma were also at the meeting (Office of the President photo)

His Excellency made the correct call

in

in disbelief that

was taking place. More

the lack of re sponse

the part of the Government when the mat ter occurred over a year ago.

Persaud should have made the Government im mediately aware of the sit

uation, so that they could have dealt with it in a time ly manner. If they were aware and chose not to do anything, then that is an other matter, for which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would have to be held ac countable.

At the end of the day, His Excellency did make the correct call. This sort of misconduct should nev er occur in the future, and those appointed to such a post should be shown this

as part of their train ing: as to what not to do when in a confrontation while representing their country.

There is obviously a training gap in the national diplomatic corps and among the Government-appointed executives. Persaud's be haviour does remind me of some other high-profile ap pointees whose behaviour has resulted in a simi lar cry for change. There is room for significant im

provement. The Opposition could not have planned this better themselves, and the cost is our nation's relation ship with India, the moth erland of most of the popu lation, and the support base of the current Government. We must be more vigilant and mindful of how we move forward. I am confi dent that our nation will re cover its good name.

With concern, Jamil Changlee

Challenges facing Ramps Logistics have no linkage to local Private Sector

Dear Editor, We have noted, with considerable concern, a statement made by the Chairman of Ramps Logistics Guyana, Mr Shaun Rampersaud, with regard to the Guyanese Private Sector, on the sub ject of our country’s Local Content Policy. This state ment has no basis in either fact or reality, and to say the least, it is totally mis guided and is completely out of place.

The challenges facing Ramps Logistics have no

linkage to the local Private Sector. The Private Sector is obliged to comply with the Laws of Guyana, and has no control over the Local Content Secretariat, the Guyana Revenue Authority, or any other compliance agency with re gards to meeting the Local Content requirements to operate in Guyana’s oil sec tor.

As the umbrella Private Sector body, the PSC has been welcoming to inves tors from Caricom mem ber countries and inter

national countries. In fact, the Commission and its members have host ed Trade Missions from Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and the United States, among oth ers. We are open to meet ing with any Private Sector company to foster business growth and national devel opment.

Indeed, it is the Private Sector which advocated and fought for the Local Content legislation to pro tect the interests of lo cal businesses, but we are

also cognisant that we do not currently possess all the skills and resources our country requires. We shall continue to advocate for partnership and joint ventures from all investors and countries interested in doing business and contrib uting to the development of Guyana while adhering to the Laws of Guyana.

Sincerely, Private Sector Commission

Regional health authorities seem content to let issue slide

Dear Editor, So, the driver in the ‘chicken ambulance’ mat ter has been fired, but the mastermind remains free: penalise the small fish as a

way of appeasing the pub lic, and hope the issue will fade away.

There can be no end to the matter in which public utilities were used in the

dead of night for nefarious purposes. If this matter continues along the trend of a perceived cover-up, it will be a blot on the integ rity of the regional health

authorities, who, after sev eral weeks, seem content to let the issue slide.

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

Mental health training

Dear Editor, Speaking at the launch of a nine-month Pharmacy Assistant training pro gramme in Region Six on Saturday, Advisor to the Health Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, talked about various training pro grammes in place to boost the health care landscape.

Especially significant is the training of bio-med ical technicians, which would ensure that medi cal equipment no longer sit idle for months, if not years, because they cannot be repaired. Now they can. But also significant by its omission is mention of any

training with respect to mental health.

The Caribbean Voice fervently hopes that this omission is not an indica tion that mental health training programmes are not part of this en hanced approach to health care, thus we humbly re quest Dr Ramsammy and the Ministry of Health to please inform the nation about the various train ing programmes on stream or on the table for mental health care.

Sincerely, Annan Boodram

Sets cont’d

Universal Set

The universal set is all the integers.

When talking about sets, it is fairly standard to use Capital Letters to represent the set, and lowercase letters to represent an element in that set. So for example, A is a set, and a is an element in A. Same with B and b, and C and c.

Equal sets

Two sets are equal if they have precisely the same members.

Example: Are A and B equal where: A is the set whose members are the first four positive whole numbers B = {4, 2, 1, 3}

Let's check. They both contain 1. They both contain 2. And 3, And 4. And we have checked every element of both sets, so: Yes, they are equal! And the equals sign (=) is used to show equality, so we write: A = B

Subsets

When we define a set, if we take pieces of that set, we can form what is called a subset.

Example: the set {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}

A subset of this is {1, 2, 3}. Another subset is {3, 4} or even another is {1}, etc. But {1, 6} is not a subset, since it has an element (6) which is not in the parent set. A is a subset of B if and only if every element of A is in B.

Make a stick, rubber band, and index card sound like a swarm of bees.

Tools and materials

Popsicle stick or craft stick

Two cap erasers

Index card

Scissors Stapler strong enough to staple the index card to the craft stick

String

A wide rubber band (such as a 1/4-inch #64) long enough to stretch lengthwise around the craft stick

Assembly

Put a cap eraser on each end of the craft stick. Trim an index card so it fits in the space between the two erasers on the stick.

Staple the card to the craft stick. It should stick out about 2 inches (5 centimeters) from one side of the stick.

Cut enough string (about 2 feet [60 cm]) to safely swing the Bee Hummer. Then tie the string next to one of the erasers, making several knots so it’s secure.

Once the string is tied to your Bee Hummer, stretch the rubber band around the craft stick from one eraser to the other, and make sure it’s snugly in place.

To do and notice

Make sure the area is clear. Then hold the end of the string and swing your Bee Hummer in a circle. You should hear a sound like bees buzzing.

What’s going on?

When you spin your Bee Hummer, moving air makes the rubber band vibrate. The air flowing over the rubber band makes it vibrate the same way that wind blowing over a flag makes it wave.

Sound is produced by those vibrations, in the same way that vibrating strings on a guitar or violin produce sound. The index card amplifies the sound. If your Bee Hummer doesn’t seem to be working, check to be sure that the rubber band isn’t twisted, and that the string isn’t touching the rubber band. Either of these things could stop the sound.

(Exploratorium.edu)

When we say that A is a subset of B, we write A B. Or we can say that A is not a subset of B by writing A B ("A is not a subset of B")

Empty (or Null) Set

As an example, think of the set of piano keys on a guitar. "But wait!" you say, "There are no piano keys on a guitar!" And right you are. It is a set with no elements. This is known as the Empty Set (or Null Set).There aren't any elements in it. Not one. Zero. It is represented by Or by {} (a set with no elements) The empty set is a subset of every set, including the empty set itself. (mathsisfun. com)

TO

CONTINUED FROM WEDNESDAY

By The BroThers Grimm

2022 Gender Gap Report

Guyana ranked 2nd in Caribbean, 35th in world for gender equality

…among handful of LAC countries to improve gender parity

Guyana has been fa vourably ranked on the Global Gender Gap Report 2022 produced by the Switzerland-based World Economic Forum, with the report listing Guyana at 35 out of 146 countries and second in the Caribbean for reducing gender inequality.

According to the report, Guyana received a score of 0.752. The report notes that Guyana’s score is a 0.024 improvement on its 2021 index score. Barbados, ranked at number 30 with a score of 0.765, was the

only Caribbean country to be ranked above Guyana.

Meanwhile, Jamaica, which was ranked at 38 with a score of 0.749, was the next closest country.

When it comes to the en tire Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region, Guyana is ranked number six.

The report notes that in Guyana, men and wom en have near equal rights when it comes to access to financial services, as well as access to land and nonland assets. Meanwhile, there are equal rights to in

heritances for widows and daughters.

When it comes to educa tion and skills, there were only three categories where more men than women ex isted in the workforce. For instance, 38.2 per cent of the workforce in agricul ture, forestry, fisheries and veterinary sciences are women, compared to 61.7 per cent men.

In Information and Communications Technology (ICT), 73 per cent of the workforce are men and 26.5 per cent, women. And in engineer

Toddler left at home with younger sibling drowns

Atoddler who was left at home with his siblings drowned in the Pomeroon River, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) on Monday.

Dead is Jeremiah Rodrigues, a 21-monthold toddler, of Lower Pomeroon River.

According to Police, the incident occurred about

09:30h on Monday at Grant Kitty, Lower Pomeroon.

Inquiries revealed that around 08:30h, the boy's mother, Dacia Torres left her home and went to work a short distance away, leaving her twomonth-old baby, along with Jeremiah, at home.

About 09:30h, Dacia's sister shouted out for her and told her that Jeremiah

was “floating in the trench”.

Police said that the tod dler's motionless body was taken out of the water and transported to the Charity Hospital, where the child was pronounced dead on arrival.

Checks were made for marks of violence, but none were found. An investiga tion has been launched.

ing, manufacturing and construction, 77.6 per cent of the workforce are men and 22.3 per cent, women.

However, in health and welfare, the report lists the workforce as 84.4 per cent women and 15.5 per cent men. In education, the workforce was list ed as 88.5 per cent wom en and 11.4 per cent men. Business, administration and law had a 68.7 per cent female to 31.2 per cent male workforce, and in arts and humanities, the work force was 89.6 per cent fe male and 10.3 per cent male.

The social sciences, journalism and informa tion sectors meanwhile have a workforce that was 81.7 per cent female and 18.2 per cent male. And significantly less skewed was the natural sciences, mathematics and statistics sector, with 53.3 per cent of the workforce female and 46.6 per cent male.

“Based on the current pace of progress, Latin America and the Caribbean will close its gender gap in 67 years. Six of the 22 in dexed countries in this edi tion improved their gender gap score by at least 1 per

centage point,” the report states.

“Among them, Peru, Guyana, and Chile have improved their gender par ity scores the most. By con trast, more populous coun tries such as Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina showed mild stagnation in scores.”

The report further ex plained that there have been general gains in the share of women in se nior positions and wom en in technical roles in most countries. In Guyana, Guatemala, and Uruguay, the report noted that par ity has increased among workers in senior roles by at least 10 percentage points.

In the sub-indexes of the report, Guyana was ranked 53 for gender equality in economic participation and opportunity; 57 in educa tional attainment; number one in health and surviv al ,and 42 for political em powerment.

The World Economic Forum was established in 1971 as a not-for-prof it foundation and is head quartered in Geneva, Switzerland. It identifies itself as independent, im partial, and not tied to any special interests. (G3)

Founder of the World Economic Forum, German engineer and economist Klaus Schwab

Airy Hall man found guilty of raping underage girl

Aman of Airy Hall, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) has been found guilty of raping an underage girl.

28-year-old Raphael Doobay has been found guilty of raping a child un der 16 years old on October 28, 2019 on the Essequibo Coast. The case was heard by Justice Jo-Ann Barlow at the Suddie High Court, and Doobay has been found guilty of rape. A probation report has been ordered, and sentencing has been de ferred to November 15.

Just two weeks ago, a 12-member jury found

Francis Gonsalves of Charity Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast guilty of raping a 35-year-old wom an in 2018. Gonsalves was on trial before Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Suddie High Court for al legedly engaging in sexual penetration of the victim on March 27, 2018. The jury, by a 10-2 majority, found Gonsalves guilty of the crime. Gonsalves refused to accept the verdict, and told the court that he was inno cent and had had an unfair trial.

His attorney Ravindra Mohabir, during a plea of mitigation, told the court

that his client is a “mod el prisoner”, and could be rehabilitated. However, State Prosecutor Tiffani

Lyken told the court that Gonsalves showed no re morse for his actions, al though being found guilty by a jury. She also told the court that Gonsalves is cur rently serving a sentence, and is no stranger to the law. He was previously charged with burglary, as sault causing actual bodily harm, damage to property, and breach of a protection order.

The judge has deferred sentencing to November 13, 2022. The court heard that the victim had left a birth day party at 03:00h when she was attacked and raped by Gonsalves. (G9)

Theft of US currency, concrete mixer lands men in court

Two men from com munities on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) have been charged separately for two robberies which occurred on the East Coast of Demerara.

Osanti Benjamin of Laing Avenue, Georgetown, who was arrested on October 17 by Police ranks from the Golden Grove Police Station, EBD, has been charged with the offence of simple larceny. It is alleged that the 20-year-old male stole the following items

from Aronco Construction Inc at Providence, East Bank Demerara: a Ransom Concrete Mixer valued at $600,000; a sling of ce ment valued at $70,000; a 2-inch water pump valued at $70,000, and two wheel bar rows valued at $30,000.

Benjamin has been ar raigned before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Diamond/Golden Grove Magistrate’s Court, before whom he denied the charge and was placed on $80,000 bail. The case has

been adjourned to November 11.

Meanwhile, Vishaul Beharry, 29, of Republic Park, EBD, was arrested by Police of the Providence Police Station, EBD, and charged for the offence of lar ceny in a dwelling house. It is alleged that he broke into the dwelling house of Mohamed Solomon of Herstelling, East Bank Demerara at some

time between September 15 and 17, and stole US$2,500.

He also was arraigned before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Diamond/ Golden Grove Magistrates’ Court, before whom he denied the offence. He, however, has been de nied bail, and has been re manded to prison. His case will continue on November 11. (G9)

More...

…electoral changes

Well, here we go again – revising the elections laws to “get it right” !! If there’s one thing we lead the world in, it’s gotta be “fixing” the electoral system. We’re still screwed up, but hey…can’t blame Governments over the years for not “FIXING” things. But that’s the problem, ain’t it?? It’s all about who’s doing the “fixing”, and for what purpose!! For hundreds of years, most couldn’t vote because they didn’t “qualify” – not enough money and property!! Then when enough Coloureds could jump through those hoops, the Brits changed the entire system of governance to make votes irrelevant!!

Finally, when they wanted the PPP out, they just “fixed” the electoral system from FPTP to PR, and that was that! Burnham had learnt well, and changed the Registration System to “fix” the 1968 elections by making counting of votes irrelevant! And so it was in 1973, 1978 (referendum), 1980 and 1985: each election was preceded by “fixes” followed by ingenious PNC end runs!! The “free and fair” elections of 1992 were conducted through a “complete overhaul of all aspects of the electoral system” – from registration to counting at the place of poll.

But that didn’t stop the “fixing”!! 1997 saw the PNC agree with the PPP to use National ID cards to vote - but as soon as they lost, they went to the Courts to claim the election was invalid, since the laws didn’t approve that requirement!! The 2000 overhaul of the Constitution had a slew of modifications tightening the electoral rules… accommodating more constituency seats, for instance. But when the PNC finally got back into power in 2015, we witnessed their naked and blatant grab for power by misusing some rules of tabulation that everyone thought were quite mundane!!

And that’s why your Eyewitness believes the present attempt that’s trying to lock the door to the donkey’s pen – we don’t do horses and stables!! - while necessary, ain’t gonna be enough to restrain the PNC from their deeply embedded compulsions!! It’s like “the Devil makes them do it” – just it’s their own carefully nurtured Devil!! It’s said that “Stricter the government, wiser the population”, but when it comes to elections, it’s stricter the legislation, more reckless the PNC!! If this shameless bunch can try to rig in front of the whole world by using concocted spreadsheets and a soiled bedsheet, what else wouldn’t they do??!!

Now, while your Eyewitness might sound cynical, the sad truth is this is where Guyana’s at right now – the PNC still hasn’t accepted it doesn’t have to go the crooked route to acquire power. They did the right thing in 2015, and can do it again.

Once both sides have to observe the SAME set of electoral rules!!

…oil, more oil

Exxon just struck oil in two more wells!! Back in the day, folk wisdom insisted there was oil off the mud beaches of our Atlantic Coast!! They didn’t need no fancy geological surveys to tell them that. Their own logic sufficed. They’d ask, “Aren’t we below sea level, and so, lower than Venezuela??” After you conceded that, there came the clincher: “Then the oil from Venezuela has to be oozing our way!!” Well looks like the gushers that Exxon keeps hittingwell after well - are proving the old folks right!!

But as the same Venezuela has proven – with the largest oil reserves in the world dwarfing Saudi Arabia’s!! – and once pumping 3 million barrels/day, look where they are today. 95% of the population are living in poverty, and six million have fled!! And why is this?? Leadership that refused to understand what made the world go round.

As Kenny Rogers advised, “You gotta know when to hold it, and know when to fold it!!” Guyana’s folding it!!

…nastiness

Well, after some evasion of eyes from some real nasty behaviour of a couple of “never-see-come-fuh-see” big ones, Pres Ali moved quickly and decisively to axe the foulmouthed diplomat. Can’t have our newfound fame sullied!!

The views expressed in this column are the author’s

necessarily reflect Guyana Times’ editorial

Convicted rapist Raphael Doobay

Charged: Osanti Benjamin

Charged: Vishaul Beharry

ExxonMobil

ical capabilities.

new discoveries offshore Guyana

“Our unrivalled explora tion success and accelerat ed pace of development in Guyana are a testament to our people, decades of expe rience, technology capabili ties, and steadfast focus on optimising all aspects of op erations,” Mallon said.

“We are committed to re sponsibly and safely devel oping this world-class re source to help meet global demand for secure, reliable and lower-emission energy. Our investments through the pandemic have allowed us to increase supply at this critical time, while creat ing value for the people of Guyana, our partners, and shareholders.”

ExxonMobil has an nounced two new oil finds in the Stabroek Block after it struck oil in the Sailfin-1 and Yarrow-1 wells, bringing its tally of oil finds since it first discov ered oil in 2015 to 35 and continuing its above-indus try average development and production of oil in Guyana.

According to Exxon, which is operating in Guyana’s waters through subsidiary Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), the Sailfin-1 well encountered approximately 95 me tres (312 feet) of hydrocar bon-bearing sandstone and was drilled in 1407 metres

(4616 feet) of water.

Meanwhile, the Yarrow-1 well encoun tered approximately 23 me tres (75 feet) of hydrocar bon-bearing sandstone and was drilled in 1085 metres (3560 feet) of water. It was revealed by Exxon that both wells were drilled by the Stena Carron drillship.

These discoveries are EEPGL’s eighth and ninth for 2022. In a statement, ExxonMobil Upstream Company President Liam Mallon recommitted the company to continuing to develop its oil fields in a re sponsible manner. He at tributed the finds to a num ber of factors, not least the staff and Exxon’s technolog

Capacity building

In a statement from the Natural Resources Ministry, the Government welcomed the new oil discoveries. It had also assured that the Ministry and its regulatory agencies continue to build capacity to enhance moni toring of exploration activi ties as Guyana’s offshore oil development and produc tion accelerate.

“The petroleum sector regulatory agencies were mandated to enhance col laboration with all other operators to expedite their drill programmes as we seek to further expand the sector through the discover ies of recoverable high-qual

ity hydrocarbon.

“Additionally, the much-anticipated bidding round for the oil blocks off shore Guyana is expected to bring new and emerg ing major petroleum com panies to further increase Guyana’s oil and gas poten tials,” Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat said in the statement.

ExxonMobil’s first two sanctioned offshore Guyana projects, Liza Phase 1 and Liza Phase 2 have achieved an average of nearly 360,000 barrels of oil per day in the third quarter of this year.

A third project, Payara, is expected to start up by the end of 2023, and a fourth project, Yellowtail, is

expected to start up in 2025. ExxonMobil is currently pursuing environmental au thorisation for a fifth proj ect, Uaru. By the end of the decade, ExxonMobil expects Guyana’s oil production ca pacity to be more than one million barrels a day.

Stabroek Block

The oil-rich Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometres).

Exxon, through subsidiary EEPGL, is the operator and holds 45 per cent interest in the Block. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd holds 30 per cent interest, and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, holds the remaining 25 per cent interest.

So far, Exxon’s total in vestments in Guyana is G$1.3 trillion on its own, and over G$3 trillion with its partners. Additionally, the joint venturers’ explo ration and production plans up to 2025 would likely in crease their investments to more than G$6 trillion.

Exxon, as operator in the Stabroek Block, is now re sponsible for 35 out of the 40 oil finds made in Guyana’s waters since 2015. In July of this year, it had announced oil finds at its Seabob-1 and Kiru-Kiru-1 wells.

The Seabob-1 well, drilled by the Stena Carron ship at a depth of 4660

feet, encountered 131 feet of oil. The Kiru-Kiru-1 well, drilled by the Stena DrillMAX at a depth of 5760 feet, encountered 98 feet of oil.

In April of this year, Exxon had also announced three oil finds in the Stabroek Block. The three discoveries were southeast of the Liza and Payara de velopments and at the time had brought the tal ly of discoveries made by ExxonMobil in Guyana in 2022 to five. The Lukanani well was spud and com pleted by the Noble Tom Madden, while Barreleye was drilled by the Stena DrillMAX and Patwa by Noble Don Taylor (G3)

The Stena Carron drill ship

ExxonMobil Upstream Company President

Liam Mallon

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat

Essequibo Coast vendor fined for selling explosives

Acustomer care repre sentative who is also a vendor was arrest ed in Regional Division Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) and charged for possession of ex plosive devices.

Charged is Daniel Smith, 20, of Sparendaam New Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara (ECD), a stall ven dor at the Anna Regina Old Market, Essequibo Coast.

Police said at the time Smith was arrested, he was selling the explosives.

“The offence is the un lawful selling of explosives which is being sold whole sale or retail; it offers same for sales under section (21) (1) (a) of the Explosive Act, chapter 16:06 of 2008, and committed on public justice,” the Police report stated.

The incident occurred at Anna Regina Old Market, Essequibo Coast.

Smith appeared at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday where he

Charged: Daniel Smith

pleaded guilty to the charge and was fined $20,000. Failure to pay the fine will result in him serving one week’s imprisonment.

Four days ago, three ven dors were arrested in the vi cinity of Stabroek Market Square for selling firecrack ers during an exercise by the

Guyana Police Force (GPF).

The ranks reportedly raided several stands for fire crackers and other illegal ex plosive devices.

As such, Alisha Adams, 31, of Meadow Brook Gardens, Georgetown; Kishawna David, 30, of West Ruimveldt, Georgetown; and Shondell Alexander, 26, of Leopold Street, Werk-enRust, Georgetown, were ar rested.

The vendors were tak en to the Brickdam Police Station along with a quanti ty of firecrackers.

In 2020, the Guyana Police Force began clamping down on the sale of firecrack ers and other explosives during the holiday season, in order to safeguard animals and keep people safe.

Prior to the Diwali cele brations, persons are usual ly warned by various author ities, including the Police Force, about the use of fire crackers. (G9)

Suspected drowning Post-mortem finds traces of alcohol in teen’s stomach

Apost-mortem exam ination that was con ducted on the body of 14-year-old Kenneitha Angela Graves of Lot 24 Kara Kara, Linden, who drowned after allegedly plunging into the Kara Kara Creek last Saturday, found traces of al cohol in her stomach.

The examination was conducted by Government Pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh.

Graves had reportedly gone to the creek for a swim about 10:00h on October 15.

Police have said that the teen had left home about 09:30h unbeknownst to her mother, and had gone to a house at Lower Kara Kara where she normally goes to play with children living there.

Devika, whose house the teen would normally vis it, has said she was stand ing by a creek located at the back of her yard when she told the teen, “If you cannot swim, move from next to the creek.”

Devika said she left the teen standing there, and was about to go into her home when she heard some one shouting, “Help! Help!”.

As such, she rushed to the scene and saw the teen in the water, helpless and sinking. Devika said she began to shout for help, be cause she does not know how to swim either, and a

short while after, the teen’s body sank under the water.

She said that persons in the area rushed to the creek and immediately started to search for the teen, but the strong current in the creek prevented them from locat ing her.

Two days later, the teen’s lifeless body was pulled from the Kara Kara Creek. (G9)

Dead: Kenneitha Angela Graves

Guyanese businesses must evolve beyond traditional ways – GCCI President

In keeping with Guyana’s increas ing economic clout and presence on the glob al stage, there is a need for Guyanese businesses to evolve beyond the tradi tional ways of doing busi ness and adopt a more in ternationalised outlook.

This is according to Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) President Timothy Tucker when he was an nouncing the return of the Business Development Forum (BDF), which will be held from November 11-12 at the Pegasus Corporate Centre.

According to Tucker, the GCCI is cognisant of its role in helping to develop businesses across Guyana, not just in Georgetown. As such, he stressed the need for businesses to partici pate and to learn how they could evolve their business methods, whether it’s the way they access capital or market their products, or quality assurance.

“That is why this event is not limited to Chamber members, but is also open to the public. And to those businesses, not just in Georgetown but across the

country, who would like to come and really un derstand how to do busi ness. Listen to the leaders of the business communi ty. Listen to the experts from institutions, from ac ademia. And really, learn and develop businesses.

“Businesses cannot be based on what you’re accus tomed to – buying and sell ing things. Or in a small business standpoint. We have to grow businesses and take them to the next level, especially in Guyana. We have to change the way

we look at business, our traditional ways of borrow ing and financing business es. It has to change. The world is upon us,” he said.

Tucker noted that as a business community, Guyana’s Private Sector has to learn to grow busi nesses and must be cogni sant of the fact that they are operating on an inter national level, with more and more international firms looking for invest ment and business oppor tunities.

During the press con

ference, GCCI Executive Director Richard Rambarran had explained that the BDF would be split into five thematic ar eas, with a specialist mak ing a presentation on each. The themes that will be ex plored are access to finance; opportunities for business es in the Guyana’s oil and non-oil sectors; improving standards and quality; do ing business in Guyana; and marketing fundamen tals.

“What the Business Development Forum is in tended to achieve, howev er, is to bridge the gaps as it relates to information, as it relates to knowledge and as it relates to the capaci ty of Private Sector firms. We’ve realised that there was no single platform in which an enterprise could go and obtain the informa tion that would help them to bridge capacity gaps in their business.

“We’ve crafted an agen da that essentially ad dresses, based on our re search, the issues that plague the Private Sector and the internal dynamics of the firms. There are five thematic areas that will be explored at the forum. The

structure of it is that each of the five thematic areas will have a keynote address being done by a leader in the field,” Rambarran said.

Among those who have been invited to make pre sentations at the forum are the Bankers Association and individual banks. In addition to the 500 dele gates expected to attend, GCCI is also catering for approximately 1000 vis itors to the joint exhibi

tion. Oil giant ExxonMobil, through its subsidiary Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), has come on board as the main event partner.

The BDF was conceptu alised in 2018 as an annual two-day business forum to provide a platform for the wider business community to have conversations and network, regardless of the size of their businesses. (G3)

GCCI President Timothy Tucker

AG invalidates Aubrey Norton’s claims of poll showing Opposition’s victory at LGE polls

privacy… Most political par ties will do a poll, and based on the poll, they will work out the way forward, et cet era. And there are times when they wouldn’t publish it and there are times when, in the case of the PPP, they publish it, putting different statistics than what actual ly occurred,” the Opposition Leader alleged.

Norton was then asked that if this “poll” is showing a victory for the Coalition Opposition, then why has the party not taken a de cisive decision on contest ing the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE) that are slated for March 13, 2023.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall has rub bished claims by Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton that there is a poll done by the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) which shows that the APNU/AFC Opposition will defeat the PPP/C at the next elections.

During his weekly pro gramme, Issues in The News, Nandlall, who is a Central Executive Member of the PPP/C, denied the ex istence of any such poll, and called out Norton for fabri cating this claim.

“This obviously is a con coction of his… I don’t know of any poll that was done. But I don’t know which poll ster can come to a conclu sion [that the] APNU/AFC at this point in time or any point in the near future is likely to beat the PPP at any

elections… It’s either that he [Norton] invents these things, or he is so gullible that anyone can concoct a lie, irrespective of how out rageous the lie may sound to an objective listener or bystander, and he believes the lie. And what is worse, he regurgitates it publicly,” the Attorney General posit ed.

During his press confer ence on Tuesday, Norton claimed that “…the last poll showed that the combined APNU/AFC will beat the PPP at the next elections.”

However, despite being con tinually pressed by a report er, he refused to divulge any other details about this al leged poll.

“If I tell you my source, the persons in the PPP will be dealt with… It’s protect ing the people who divulged it that makes it a source of

There is uncertainty over whether the APNU/ AFC would participate in the upcoming polls.

While the Nortonled APNU faction of the Opposition has remained tightlipped on its partici pation in the LGE, the AFC said its Central Executive is yet to make a decision. Moreover, the minority Coalition partner is also considering whether to con test the elections together or on its own.

Norton, in responding to the reporter, contended that the Opposition would beat the ruling PPP/C “much more handsomely” if there is a clean voters’ list – some thing which the Coalition

has been pushing for.

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has already explained that it is guided only by the constitu tional and legal provisions, which do not allow it to re move names from the vot ers’ list. It pointed to the recently concluded Claims and Objections exercise for the Opposition to use to ob ject to the presence of those names that bloat the list. However, the APNU/AFC had refused to participate in the exercise, and even threatened to boycott the LGE.

Importance of LGE

But AG Nandlall has un derscored the importance of the local government polls.

“Local governance and local government are of cru cial importance, not only for the democracy of any coun try, but for grassroots rep resentation, for governance at the level of the commu nity; and it is that platform that allows the ordinary Guyanese to participate in the governance structure [and] play a real and true part in the political and ad ministrative management of local affairs within the le gal structure. The process is intended to produce a local cadre of leadership,” he ex plained.

Moreover, Nandlall went on to express the view that the APNU/AFC Coalition are at their “lowest ebb” within the decade, and can

not get their act together when it comes to anything, including their internal af fairs. This was in response to Norton’s claim that the Opposition can “beat” the PPP/C.

“Whether they boycott the elections, whether they participate in the elections, we know that they are going to get a beating… We also know that they are afraid of the elections because it will delude them of all the ‘fat talk’ that we are hearing… they are mortally afraid,” the AG has said.

“Whether the APNU/ AFC contests the elections as a collective or as individ ual parties, or whether they do not will not affect the credibility of the elections, neither will it affect the le gality of the elections. It will have devastating polit ical consequences for those who choose not to partici pate,” the Attorney General has asserted.

The long-overdue LGE is constitutionally due ev ery two years in Guyana, but had been delayed over the past two years. At the last local government polls, held in November 2018, the then PPP/C Opposition had secured 52 of the 80 Local Authority Areas (LAAs). This followed the holding of the LGE in 2016, in which the PPP/C also claimed the majority of the LAAs. (G8)

Pres Ali recalls Charrandas Persaud...

“The actions of this one individual at the level he served our country has tarnished us as a nation. Guyana has had a rich and distinguished history of dip lomatic representation at the global level. Never be fore has any country repre sentative behaved in such a manner as to cause us such embarrassment. It is time to remind those who rep resent our country that we are judged by the way they act and carry themselves. The way in which we con duct and carry on our pub lic and personal (lives) must be exemplary in thought and deed. Once again, we wish to commend the President,” the Commission stated in its missive.

Meanwhile, President Ali’s announcement on Persaud’s recall has also been lauded by some APNU/

FROM PAGE 3

AFC Opposition members. Persaud is a former Alliance For Change member and a former Parliamentarian un der the previous Coalition Administration. He rose to prominence following his “yes vote” on a PPP/Csponsored no-confidence mo tion against the APNU/AFC Government on the night of December 21, 2018.

He had departed Guyana immediately for Canada on the night the coalition Government was toppled, out of fear for his life, af ter he had received death threats.

Persaud returned to Guyana following the swear ing-in of President Ali, and was subsequently accredit ed as High Commissioner to India in March 2021. He was accredited as Guyana’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka last December. (G8)

AG Anil Nandlall, SC

Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton

Corentyne farmer counting major losses after 53 sheep disappear

Cattle rustling con tinues to be a ma jor problem faced by farmers in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), and one farmer is seek ing the intervention of the Ministry of Agriculture af ter 53 of his sheep went

missing on Monday.

According to that farm er, the disappearance of an imals from within the sa vannah has forced many farmers to take their ani mals to residential areas where they live, but this

creates other issues with crop farmers.

Oudal Budhram, a cat tle farmer of Number 55 Village Corentyne, in vent ing his frustration over the situation, having recently lost 53 sheep, says it is a

significant blow to his live lihood. Budhram said that up until Sunday night, he had 62 sheep. On Monday, when he went to the savan nah where he had left his animals, he found only ten of them.

“Abie search round the whole area where the sheep dem ah graze, and we couldn’t find the sheep. When we come, we observe about ten young ones; they pick out the big sheep dem and leff the kiddie dem, an carry way all the big sheep dem -- fifty-three what me check,” Budrham said.

He has since made a re port to the Police. Budram, who also has 20 goats and 15 head of cattle which he keeps at the savannah in the backlands of Number 56 Village, said this is not the first time he has lost sheep as a result of theft. The loss of the animals, he said, has dealt him a tre mendous blow, since he de pends solely on his stock to

make a living.

He explained that he has invested over $1M in sheep.

Budhram has been rear ing sheep for over four years. He says this is the heaviest loss he has suf fered.

“From the big flood, thir ty-seven head dead from the flood,” he said while noting that he also lost eleven at one time as a re sult of theft.

“Last March that gone, I buy five Alsace cow to get milk, because me na wuk no way, so I say I gon milk dem cow and get lil money. It cost me $1.5M, and dem man go away with all five, and now they go away with over $1M worth in sheep fo me. Me na know wah fo turn to now,” he continued.

Cattle rustling and the theft of small ruminants has been one of the ma jor issues affecting ani mal farmers on the Upper Corentyne.

According to Budhram, other farmers in the com munity have been losing small animals, but this is the first time so many were stolen at one time.

Apart from this, farmers have to deal with attacks by jaguars, pythons and alli gators, even dogs which go to the savannah and feast on the newly born.

However, Budhram strongly believes his miss ing animals were the vic tims of theft.

Only recently, Police of ficials in the region said they would be paying more attention to cattle rustling, and promised results before the end of October. This was after farmers had com plained that the law en forcement officers seemed inept in dealing with the situation.

Meanwhile, a butch er from New Amsterdam has been placed before the court for cattle rustling and related charges. (G4)

Some of Oudal Budhram’s remaining sheep

Farmer Oudal Budhram

21-year-old among 128 farmers receiving new leases from Agri Ministry

The Ministry of Agriculture’s Mahaica/Mahaicony/ Abary – Agriculture Development Authority (MMA–ADA) hosted its an nual Open Day activity at its offices at Onverwagt, West Coast Berbice, during which some 128 leases were pre pared and issued to farmers of Region Five.

The issuance of leases for lands for agricultural pur poses is usually the high light of the Open Day, which was hosted for the first time in two years due to restric tions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, while speaking at the event, said that since taking office, the Government has been stead fast in its efforts to restore

the operations within the MMA Scheme. He also said the Government would con tinue to provide the neces sary support to increase pro duction in the area.

“We have to increase pro duction. Our farmers have to make that happen. That is why the Government has been making the necessary resources available to farm ers. We will ensure the nec essary infrastructure (is) in place, and that the neces sary resources are given so that you, the farmers, can produce. This is why we are here today; we know that for Guyana to increase pro duction, more lands have to be made available to our farmers. If we continue with these efforts, we will be food secure,” the Minister is quoted as saying in a release

on Wednesday.

He also said the Government is working to have more young people in volved in the agriculture sector.

“We have to encour age young people to get in volved in agriculture. Many young people who have di plomas and degrees in agri culture are not actively in volved in the field. We have to change that. This is why

His Excellency President Dr. Irfaan Ali developed a company where hundreds of young people are now in volved in the cultivation of high-value crops such as car rots, broccoli and cauliflow er. Through the Ministry of Agriculture, 300 shade houses will be constructed around the country as part of this project,” he added.

Many farmers who re ceived leases said their ap plications had been pending for some time, and expressed thanks to the Government for putting an end to their wait.

Vevekenand Ramnarace, a 21-year-old student at the University of Guyana, was one of the persons who re ceived leases during the ac tivity. Although he didn’t study agriculture, the young lessee said he has always had an interest in agricul ture, more so rice cultiva tion, due to the fact that he grew up seeing his father in the fields planting rice to take care of their family. He said he would utilise his two 18-acre plots to plant rice and continue in his father’s

footsteps.

When the Government took office in August 2020, Cabinet approved some $90 million to carry out emer gency works on critical in frastructure in the MMA Scheme. While speaking on this, Mustapha said the Government, upon assuming office, worked to reverse the unfavourable measures that were implemented by the previous Administration.

“We’ve been work ing to restore this scheme, the MMA Scheme. We’ve worked to ensure it is once again viable and able to function effectively. Before this Government took office, there was a period where we saw a rapid decline in pro duction in the MMA in all

the sectors. This was due to the unfavourable conditions and measures that were implemented by the previ ous Government. These sys tems were not conducive to the development of agricul ture in this country. This Government, under the leadership of His Excellency President Dr. Irfaan Ali, recognises the importance of agriculture. We saw and took note of what took place in the world during the pan demic. Many countries had money but were unable to purchase food because of global shortages and im port restrictions. Guyana produces 60% of the food we consume, but we want to produce more,” the Minister added.

Minister Zulfikar Mustapha along with MMA-ADA General Manager Mahendranauth Ramjit during the agency’s Open Day activity

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha presenting 21-year-old Vevekenanad Ramnarace with his lease

Regional

Multinational task force for Haiti in November

Washington is con fident of securing a United Nations Security Council resolution and finding nations to lead a task force in early November to address the humanitari an crisis in Haiti, Assistant Secretary of State, Brian Nichols said on Wednesday.

Briefing reporters on a visit by Secretary of State, Antony Blinken to Canada beginning on Thursday, Nichols, the top State Department official for Western Hemisphere af fairs, told reporters the com position of a multinational task force proposed by Haiti would be discussed during the visit.

UN Secretary General António Guterres has said "a rapid action force" should help Haiti's Police confront gangs that have created a humanitarian crisis by blocking access to a key fuel terminal.

McClatchy and the Miami Herald reported on Tuesday that a US-backed resolution on the initiative was on the verge of failure unless a foreign partner

Assistant Secretary of State, Brian Nichols steps forward to offer per sonnel for the force, citing multiple unnamed sources.

So far, no country has offered to lead the force, though The Bahamas has said it could send troops or Police if asked to do so.

"I strongly disagree with the idea that a resolution authorising a multination al force is in peril," Nichols

said, adding that he expect ed the leadership of the force to become clear as talks move forward in the coming days.

"I'm confident that we will have something early in November, both a resolution and leadership for the force. So I think things are mov ing very much on schedule," Nichols said. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Mexico’s Quintana Roo state decriminalises abortion

The Mexican state of Quintana Roo has voted to decriminal ise abortion, becoming the latest area to ease restric tions on the procedure as part of a “green wave” de manding greater repro ductive rights across Latin America.

Nineteen lawmakers on Wednesday voted in favour with three against, approv ing a change in the law that would decriminalise abor tion for women up to 12 weeks pregnant and remove a requirement for rape vic tims to report their abuser to access abortion.

“The struggle is bear ing fruit,” the Quintana Roo Feminist Network said on Twitter. “We will insist that abortion is not only legal, but also free and safe.”

GIRE, a reproductive rights group in Mexico, also welcomed the decision, say ing more areas of the coun try now grant people “the right to decide” on abortion.

“The green tide continues to advance in Latin America,” Planned Parenthood tweeted.

Abortions became legal in Mexico City 15 years ago, and last year the country’s Supreme Court unanimous ly ruled that penalising

abortion was unconstitu tional.

While rights activists have campaigned to re move state sanctions to en sure women can freely ac cess abortions, fewer than a dozen of Mexico’s 32 states have since adapted their laws.

The early-morning vote in Quintana Roo also came amid a wave of abor tion rights victories in Latin America, including in Argentina, which in late 2020 legalised elective abor tions until the 14th week of pregnancy.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Jamaica: Scores of students collapse at Oberlin High

There was a bizarre incident at the Oberlin High School in St Andrew, Jamaica on Wednesday morning as scores of students fainted during the school’s daily de votion.

A staff member told Observer Online more than 200 students collapsed in the incident.

According to the staff member, a female teacher was talking to the students about their behaviour and decided to pray for them be

cause she said "she got a message" from God. Shortly after the teacher started praying, the staff member said, students started shak ing and "dropping".

Several videos of the in cident were posted on social media.

Owing to the high number of students who collapsed, traffic was halted on the road leading to the school. It was also revealed that even af ter the school was dismissed early, students collapsed out side of the school gate, lead

ing to passers-by stopping to assist them.

When Observer Online arrived at the school, the principal and board mem bers were convened at a meeting over the incident. It is understood that the princi pal will be meeting with the Ministry of Education later Wednesday.

The affected students were reportedly transported to the Lawrence Tavern Health Centre, Stony Hill Health Centre, and Kingston Public Hospital. (Jamaica Observer)

Brazilian central bank holds interest rates, eyes moderating growth

Brazil's central bank on Wednesday held interest rates at a nearly six-year high for the second policy meeting in a row, noting that economic growth seems to be slow ing, but inflation remains high.

The bank's rate-set ting committee, known as Copom, left its benchmark Selic interest rate at 13.75 per cent, as expected by all 34 economists polled by Reuters.

Economists and trad ers have been watching for clues about when rates might start falling again.

Policymakers paused an aggressive tightening cy cle in September after 12 consecutive increases lifted rates from a 2.0 per cent re cord low in March 2021.

The central bank again stressed on Wednesday that its strategy involves keeping the Selic rate at this level for a "sufficient ly long period" to bring in flation back to "around its targets".

In their statement of Wednesday's rate decision, Copom said indicators since their September meeting suggested "more moderate" economic growth in Brazil,

but consumer inflation re mains "high".

Rafaela Vitoria, chief economist at Banco Inter, said the statement seemed harsh in light of the recent improvement in inflation, with policymakers warn ing again that they may re sume hikes if needed.

"The disinflation out look is more positive, with a slowing economy and cheaper commodities. I think inflation will contin ue to fall faster than we ex pected," she said, adding that she expected a first rate cut as early as March.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Symmonds: Reform civil aviation industry

Thetime has come to reform Barbados’ civ il aviation sector, says Energy and Business Development Minister Kerrie Symmonds.

Piloting debate on the Civil Aviation Bill 2022 in the House of Assembly on Tuesday, he pointed particu larly to the Grantley Adams International Airport.

The bill before the House proposed separation of the roles of service providers and regulators at the airport, as Symmonds explained this was necessary in order for the airport to achieve true international status.

He also said the time had come for the airport to

Former

Central Bank Governor wins

wrongful dismissal

the law and to a fair hearing in accordance with the prin ciples of fundamental justice were breached and that the decision was illegal, null and void.

Rambarran was appoint ed Central Bank Governor in July 2012 and his contract was terminated in December 2015.

The decision came shortly after Rambarran announced that T&T was in a recession and after he revealed the names of some of the biggest foreign exchange users in the country.

Former Central Bank

Governor Jwala Rambarran is set to receive TT$5.47 million in compensation for being wrongfully dismissed by the Government in December 2015.

High Court Judge Devindra Rampersad upheld Rambarran’s case in June, but only calculated the com pensation owed to him in a ruling delivered Tuesday morning.

In the ruling, Justice Rampersad ruled that Rambarran was entitled to TT$7,545,217.57 in com pensation, but ordered that TT$1,931,162.29 in taxes be

deducted.

The compensation, which is quite possibly the larg est ordered against the State in litigation involving the breach of constitutional rights, represents the salary and benefits that Rambarran would have received had his contract not been terminat ed before it was due to end in July 2017.

In his judgement, Justice Rampersad ruled that the termination of the appoint ment on the advice of Finance Minister Colm Imbert was “seriously flawed.”

Justice Rampersad ruled that Rambarran’s constitu tional rights to protection of

In his constitutional claim, he contended that the Government unlawfully re voked his appointment in breach of his constitutional right to due process and fair ness.

In his judgement, Justice Rampersad ruled that if there were concerns that Rambarran’s alleged con duct was in breach of aspects of the Central Bank Act and Financial Institutions Act, both had provisions for crim inal charges to be laid which Rambarran would have had to defend before a Magistrate.

(Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

maximise the commercial potential of the aerodrome, making accommodation for shopping activity that would

provide business opportuni ties for more small vendors and craftspeople. (Nation News)

Energy and Business Development Minister Kerrie Symmonds

Flashback January 2020: Finance Minister Colm Imbert greets former Attorney General Anand Ramlogan, SC, at the San Fernando Supreme Court, while former Central Bank Governor Jwala Rambarran leaves after their appearance in a civil matter

Oil prices ease on Chinese demand data, stronger dollar

Crude oil prices moved higher on Wednesday after the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported a crude oil inventory increase of 2.6 million barrels for the week ending October 21.

This compared with a draw of 1.7 million barrels for the previous week, accompanied by moderate moves in fuel inventories.

Last week, the EIA reported a draw of 1.5 million barrels in gasoline inventories and a moderate increase of 200,000 barrels in middle distillate inventories.

This compared with a gasoline inventory draw of 100,000 barrels for the previous week and the same-size increase in distillate inventories.

Gasoline production during the week to October 21 averaged 9.4 million barrels daily, virtually unchanged on a week earlier.

Middle distillate production averaged five million barrels daily last week, which was a slight decline over the previous week.

The supply situation with distillates has been tense both in the US and in Europe as demand continues to exceed supply and the chances of this changing remain slim due to apparently insufficient refining capacity.

Indeed, Bloomberg reported earlier that the diesel shortage is spreading across the United States, with at least one fuel supplier initiating emergency delivery protocols.

Oil prices, meanwhile, have been seesawing, pushed in different directions by a weaker dollar, on the one hand, and lower demand from China, on the other.

Meanwhile, the Biden Administration is trying to solve the fuel supply problem, with the latest move involving Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm meeting with industry executives to discuss the possibility of shuttered refineries reopening.

The industry poured a cold shower on these hopes, however, with executives saying this was not an option, echoing a sentiment expressed earlier this year by Chevron’s Mike Wirth.

“Building a refinery is a multi-billion-dollar investment. It may take a decade. We haven’t had a refinery built in the United States since the 1970s. My personal view is that there will never be another refinery built in the United States,” the supermajor’s chief executive wrote in June. (Excerpt from Oil Price)

Iran protests: Police fire on Mahsa Amini mourners – witnesses

Iranian Police are report ed to have fired on pro testers in Saqqez, home city of Mahsa Amini who died in custody after being arrested for allegedly wear ing her hijab "improperly".

Thousands gath ered near the grave of the Kurdish woman and clashed with security, 40 days since her death.

A rights group and wit nesses said officers fired live rounds and tear gas at the crowds in the city.

Protests swept across Iran after Amini, 22, died on September 16.

She had been detained three days earlier by the morality police in the capi tal, Tehran, and fell into a coma after collapsing at a detention centre.

There were reports that officers beat her with a ba ton and banged her head against a vehicle, but

Police denied that she was mistreated and said she suffered a heart attack.

On Wednesday, securi ty forces were deployed in Saqqez and other parts of Kurdistan province, in an ticipation of fresh demon strations on the 40th day of mourning for Amini – a culturally significant occa sion for Iranians.

Videos showed thou sands of mourners walk ing along a road, through a field and across a river to bypass roadblocks and reach the graveyard where Amini is buried.

The crowds were heard shouting "Woman, life, freedom" and "Death to the dictator" – two of the sig nature chants of the pro test movement – as well as "Down with traitors" and "Kurdistan will be the graveyard of fascists".

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Around the World

Ukrainians hold out in east, prepare battle for Kherson

Ukrainian troops are holding out against repeated attacks by Russian forces in two eastern towns while those at the southern front are poised to battle for the stra tegic Kherson region, which Russia appears to be rein forcing.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a Wednesday evening video address that there would be good news from the front but he gave no details.

He did not mention what was happening in Kherson, which officials and mili tary analysts have predict ed will be one of the most consequential battles of the war since Russia invaded Ukraine eight months ago.

The most severe fight ing in eastern Ukraine was taking place near Avdiivka, outside Donetsk, and Bakhmut, Zelenskiy said.

"This is where the cra

ziness of the Russian com mand is most evident. Day after day, for months, they are driving people to their deaths there, concentrating the highest level of artillery strikes," he said.

Russian forces have re peatedly tried to seize

COP27: Prioritise climate or face catastrophe – UN chief

Bakhmut, which sits on a main road leading to the Ukrainian-held cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk.

The looming battle for Kherson city at the mouth of the Dnipro River will de termine whether Ukraine can loosen Russia's grip on

the south.

While much of the front line remains off limits to Journalists, at one sec tion of the front north of the Russian-occupied pock et on the west bank of the Dnipro, Ukrainian soldiers said Russian shelling was stepping up again after having tailed off in recent weeks.

Radio intercepts indi cated freshly mobilised re cruits had been sent to the front and Russian forces were firmly dug in.

It is Kherson, in the south, where Russian forc es have reportedly amassed 45 battalion tactical groups, that the next major – and possibly pivotal – action is expected to be fought.

Russian forces mined crossings and bridges across the Dnieper River in expectation of a Ukrainian counterattack, according to Kyiv. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Tesla faces US criminal probe over self-driving claims

Countries must re-prioritise cli mate change or the world faces catastrophe, the United Nations chief António Guterres has told BBC News.

Secretary General Guterres was speaking in New York ahead of a major climate conference in Egypt.

"There has been a ten dency to put climate change on the back burner," he said. "If we are not able to reverse the present trend, we will be doomed."

The conference, known as COP27, will bring togeth er countries to discuss tack ling climate change.

Guterres said that cur rent global problems such as inflation, Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the high pric es of energy and food were distracting Governments.

"Bring back climate change to the centre of the international debate," he urged.

The UN chief insist ed that leaders should not abandon key goals, includ ing keeping global tempera ture rise to 1.5C, in order to avoid the worst effects of cli mate change.

He said he would like to see both King Charles III and new United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak attending COP27, saying King Charles has been a "constant voice" calling at tention to the problem of cli mate change.

He also called on the US and China to work together at the conference, saying the world relies on their lead ership. In August, China said it was ending coopera tion with the US on climate change after a leading US politician visited Taiwan.

"This is the defining is sue of our time, nobody has the right to sacrifice inter national action on climate change for any reason," he warned.

"We need to tell the truth. The truth is that the impact of climate change on a number of countries in the world, especially hotspots, is already devastating," he added.

Governments must de liver the US$100 billion of finance promised to devel oping countries facing the harshest impacts of climate change, Guterres insists. (Excerpt from BBC News)

TeslaInc is under crim inal investigation in the United States over claims that the com pany's electric vehicles can drive themselves, three peo ple familiar with the matter said.

The US Department of Justice launched the previ ously-undisclosed probe last year following more than a dozen crashes, some of them fatal, involving Tesla’s driver assistance system Autopilot, which was acti vated during the accidents, the people said.

As early as 2016, Tesla’s marketing materials have touted Autopilot’s capabil ities. On a conference call that year, Elon Musk, the Silicon Valley automaker’s chief executive, described it as “probably better” than a human driver.

Last week, Musk said on another call Tesla would

soon release an upgrad ed version of “Full SelfDriving” software allowing customers to travel “to your work, your friend’s house, to the grocery store without you touching the wheel.”

A video currently on the company’s website says: “The person in the driv er’s seat is only there for le gal reasons. He is not doing anything. The car is driving itself.”

However, the company also has explicitly warned drivers that they must keep their hands on the wheel and maintain control of their vehicles while using Autopilot.

The Tesla technology is designed to assist with steering, braking, speed and lane changes, but its fea tures “do not make the ve hicle autonomous”, the com pany says on its website.

A woman passes by a gas station destroyed by a Russian military strike, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Dnipro, October 26, 2022 (Mykola Synelnykov/Reuters)

"We

A Tesla Model 3 vehicle drives on autopilot along the 405 highway in Westminster, California, US, March 16, 2022 (Reuters/Mike Blake)

SUDOKU

Remain calm and offer the truth. How you conduct yourself in front of oth ers will determine how they treat you. Dazzle

with your insight, ex perience and knowledge; progress will follow.

Gather the facts before you promise to do something. Work to avoid being taken for granted or used by someone with questionable motives. Address sit uations that need adjustment.

Get involved in things that matter to you. Reaching out to others and imple menting improvements will result in a better personal environment. Speak up and put your plans in motion.

Don't fall short of what others expect of you. Keeping up, regardless of emo tional turmoil, will motivate others to pitch in and help. Taking on unneces sary debt will drag you down.

Don't get involved in other people's drama. Stick to what you know and keep your thoughts to yourself. Don't let changes unfolding around you disrupt your plans. Finish what you start.

A change of scenery will spark your imagination. Take the road that encour ages you to make your life more enjoy able. Learn new skills, socialize more or focus on personal growth.

Live to learn. Keeping an open mind will help you tie up loose ends and head in a direction that excites you. Do the necessary prep work and present what you have to offer with confidence.

Address domestic situations and set a budget to cover any expenses required for improvements. Uncertainty regard ing a relationship will require time and patience. Honesty will be required.

Stick to what's comfortable. Deal with domestic issues cheerfully. Be ac commodating, offer others incentives and get what you want in return. Pay attention to detail.

Attending a reunion, reaching out to an expert for help or finding a way to make your dollar stretch will encourage better days ahead. Run a tight ship at home, and prosperity will follow.

Question any changes around you. Don't sign up for something that com promises you mentally, emotionally or financially. Start a fitness routine that helps you look and feel your best.

Take a step back, double-check facts and carry on without worry. Having ev erything in order will show you can han dle whatever comes your way. Refuse to fold under pressure.

Ireland stun England in rainy Melbourne

Ireland dominated the powerplay with bat and ball on either side of a col lapse of 7 for 25 to take down England at the MCG, add ing another glorious chap ter in Irish sport. Eleven years after Kevin O’Brien in spired Ireland to a memora ble victory on a steamy day in Bengaluru, Ireland found new heroes on a wet after noon in Melbourne to stun a more-fancied England side, once again at a World Cup.

Josh Little posed a threat to England with the new ball, finding sharp movement and bounce from a fresh MCG pitch. The left-arm quick first had Jos Buttler nick ing off, and then bounced out Alex Hales. Fionn Hand, who was playing only his third T20I, breached the de fences of Ben Stokes to leave England 29 for 3 in the sixth over in their pursuit of 158. Legspinner Gareth Delany hiked England’s asking rate further with his quickish darts.

Though Moeen Ali threat

cranked it up to 150kph, tucked him up, and had him splicing it straight to Curran.

Lorcan Tucker, who is usually strong against spin, then showed that he could cut it against the pace and bounce of Wood and Woakes on a spicy pitch. Tucker closed out the powerplay with a punchy six off Curran, pushing Ireland up to 59 for 1 in six overs.

Balbirnie, who was on 25 off 24 balls at one point, turned up the tempo when he lined up Woakes for two fours and a six in the tenth over. With the seamers leak ing runs, Buttler was forced to turn to Liam Livingstone’s all-sorts spin.

Wood’s extra pace, Livingstone’s lack of pace

After Livingstone had giv en away just five runs off his first over, England broke the 82-run second-wicket part nership when Adil Rashid deflected a straight drive from Balbirnie back onto the stumps at his end in his fol

much fuller than England’s seamers did with the new ball earlier in the day. After also testing Hales with the fuller length, Little dug one

Super Kings), and he stepped up on the big stage against England.

Malan laboured to 35 off 37 balls before McCarthy

but it wasn’t enough to pull England ahead when the rain returned.

In the 2010 T20 World Cup in the Caribbean,

Ireland had given England a scare before rain washed out the game. Nothing could deny Ireland this time.

(ESPNCricinfo)

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Stokes 2.2-0-8-1 Chris Woakes 3-0-41-0 Mark Wood 4-0-34-3 Sam Curran 3-0-31-2 Adil Rashid 4-0-4-0 Liam Livingstone 3-0-17- 3 England (T: 111 runs from 14.3 ovs)

into the pitch and drew a topedged pull to short fine leg for 7. He went on to handcuff Dawid Malan with his tact ful length variations and use of angles.

Little is the new face of Ireland’s attack, having had franchise cricket stints at the Hundred (Manchester Originals), the Lanka Premier League (Dambulla Giants) and even the IPL (net bowler at Chennai

had him miscuing a pull. Harry Brook managed only five runs off nine balls against Delany before he also holed out, failing to clear the boundary.

Ireland were untidy in the field, dropping two catch es off two balls at the start of the 11th over, but their bowl ing was anything but untidy. Moeen was on to something when he hit three fours and a six in seven (legal) balls,

Stokes

(lb

(RR: 8.12)

19.2

of wickets: 1-21 (Paul Stirling, 2.3

2-103 (Lorcan Tucker, 11.6

3-103 (Harry Tector, 12.2 ov), 4-132 (Andy Balbirnie, 15.3

5-132 (George Dockrell, 15.4

6-138 (Curtis Campher, 16.3

7-149 (Mark Adair, 17.5

8-152 (Barry McCarthy, 18.2

9-156 (Fionn

10-157

BATTING R B Jos Buttler (c)† c †Tucker b Little 0 2 Alex Hales c Adair b Little 7 5 Dawid Malan c Hand b McCarthy 35 37 Ben Stokes b Hand 6 8 Harry Brook c Delany b Dockrell 18 21 Moeen Ali not out 24 12 Liam Livingstone not out 1 2 Extras (lb 4, w 10) 14 TOTAL 14.3 Ov (RR: 7.24) 105/5 Did not bat: Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Adil Rashid Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Jos Buttler, 0.2 ov), 2-14 (Alex Hales, 2.4 ov), 3-29 (Ben Stokes, 5.1 ov), 4-67 (Harry Brook, 10.5 ov), 5-86 (Dawid Malan, 13.1 ov)

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Josh Little 3-0-16-2

Mark Adair 2-0-10-0

Barry McCarthy 3-0-20-1

18.6

19.2

Fionn Hand 2-0-17-1

Afghanistan, New Zealand split points in rainy Melbourne

ed a late fightback, marked by a straight six in the 15th over, England were five runs behind on DLS when rain came down once again. It got heavier soon after, and by 6.50pm, the game ended with Ireland’s players cele brating a monumental vic tory with their fans, family and friends in the rain.

Making merry After rain had played hide-and-seek earlier in the afternoon as well, Paul Stirling and Andy Balbirnie dashed out of the blocks like they have often done in the recent past. Stirling smeared Chris Woakes over extra-cov er, and then spliced Mark Wood’s first ball over the third-man boundary, with Sam Curran’s effort to scoop it back in proving futile.

Two balls later, Stirling backed away and tried to repeat the shot, but Wood

low through, to catch Tucker short for 34 off 27 balls.

Wood returned to the at tack in the next over, and ambushed Harry Tector with a 153kph thunderbolt. Wood continued to bowl in the 150kph range, knocking Curtis Campher and Delany on their helmets.

As for Livingstone, he mixed up his pace well, and dared Ireland’s batters to clear the bigger boundaries at the MCG. He had Balbirnie caught at deep square leg in the 16th over, and cleaned up George Dockrell next ball to trigger a full-blown col lapse. From 132 for 3 in the 16th over, Ireland crashed to 157 all out, leaving four balls unused in their innings.

The Little big moment Little started Ireland’s defence in grand fashion, by besting Buttler for a duck.

He and Mark Adair bowled

Heavy evening show ers in Melbourne have forced the tournament’s second wash out, with New Zealand and Afghanistan splitting points on Wednesday.

The match, commence ment of which was delayed due to a spillover of the England-Ireland game ear lier in the day - also due to multiple rain breaksdidn’t seem like taking off at any point.

The covers came off mul

tiple times, only for the rain to return - often with force - ei ther before or af ter inspections. Eventually, the umpires decid ed there wasn’t enough time to ready the outfield before the 10.04pm cutoff, even if the rain did subside.

The result means that New Zealand, which opened with an NRRboosting win over Australia,

continue to top Group 1 with three points in two games. Afghanistan’s chances of making the semi-finals, however, have received a big blow, as they remain at the bottom of the group, with one point in two match es. All the other sides

in the pool have at least one win in two games. Afghanistan will re main in Melbourne to take on Ireland on Friday, while New Zealand fly to Sydney, where they play Sri Lanka on Saturday.

(ESPNCricinfo)

Gareth Delany 3.3-0-33-0

George Dockrell 1-0-5-1

The dreaded announcement showed up after rain persisted at the MCG

Kane Williamson looking at the overcast skies

“Player of the match”, Andy Balbirnie, playing a shot

Joh Little is pumped after snagging Jos Butler

Rain stopped play when England were 5 short of the par score

Henrietta needle Queenstown to remain undefeated

- Dartmouth trounce Tapakuma

Another flawless dis play from Henrietta has seen them come away with a hard-earned 1-0 win over Queenstown, to end unbeaten in their first-round campaign in the Essequibo Pomeroon Football Association (EPFA) leg of the GFF/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power Under-17 Intra Association League, played last Sunday afternoon at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground.

The day’s other match produced a comfortable 4-0 victory for Dartmouth Determinators over Tapakuma FC. This also closed the first-round cam paign for Dartmouth on a high, their having se cured their third win in four matches.

The HenriettaQueenstown clash produced a humdinger of a battle be tween the two sides, much to the enjoyment of their re

spective fan bases. Neither of the two teams allowed the other to get the upper hand, as the goalkeepers kept a clean sheet for the most part, and it was not until two minutes before the final whistle in the 70-min ute duel that the relentless efforts of Henrietta paid off,

when they were awarded a penalty because of an in fringement in the area.

Erron Caesar was giv en responsibility to take the kick from the penalty mark in a very tense atmosphere, and he made no mistake in burying the shot to seal the win for his team, in the pro

Official launch of East Coast leg set for today

The East Coast Demerara leg of the Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” futsal tourna ment is scheduled to com mence on Friday, October 28, at the Haslington Tarmac, and the official fix tures and brackets have been released.

This was disclosed by an official release from the event’s coordinators, which has said, "In an effort to en sure transparency and ac countability, two tenets which have been the bed rock for the competition, the official fixtures and tourna ment bracket have been fi nalised. The fans, and more importantly the teams and players, will know their re spective path from the in ception in pursuit of the cov eted title."

The release further said, "Everything is set for a glo rious night of football, and an overall wonderful tour nament, following a twoyear absence owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. The East Coast Demerara zone, which will stage its 8th edition, has always been one of the most supported and fan-friendly legs of the Guinness 'Greatest of the Streets' platform, and we expect that trend to contin ue for the foreseeable fu ture."

The 16 teams that will feature in the tourna ment are: defending cham pions and two-time win ners Melanie-B, Liliendaal Hustlers, Belfield Warriors, Paradise-A, BV-A, Victoria Church Yard, Buxton Diamond, Uprising, Victoria Eagles, Portmore, Old School, Non Pareil, Team

Cruel, Vryheid’s Lust, Bareroot, and Haslington.

The main draw of the tournament will kick-off on October 28th at the Haslington Tarmac with the Round of 16 stage. The tour nament will last for three nights, and will be played using an elimination pro cess.

The other playing dates are October 29th, which will feature the quarterfi nal round of matches, and November 5th, which is slat ed to host the semi-final and final rounds respectively.

Meanwhile, losing teams at the Round of 16 stage will compete in the Plate Championship.

Tournament Fixtures Main Draw

Round of 16 - October 28th (1) Melanie-B vs Portmore (2) Paradise-A vs Victoria Eagles (3) Church Yard vs Team Cruel (4) Liliendaal Hustlers vs Haslington (5) Belfield vs Vryheid’s Lust (6) Uprising vs Old School (7) BV-A vs Bareroot (8) Buxton Diamond vs Non

Pareil

Round of 16 Schedule Belfield vs Vryheid’s Lust -19:00hrs

Buxton Diamond vs Non Pareil -19:30hrs BV-A vs Bareroot - 20:00hrs Church Yard vs Team Cruel -20:30hrs

Paradise-A vs Victoria Eagles - 21:00hrs Liliendaal Hustlers vs Haslington - 21:30hrs Melanie-B vs Portmore -22:00hrs

Uprising vs Old School -22:30hrs

Quarterfinal - October 29th (9) Winner (1) vs Winner (5) (10) Winner (2) vs Winner (8) (11) Winner (3) vs Winner (7) (12) Winner (4) vs Winner (6)

Semi-final - November 5th (13) Winner (9) vs Winner (11) (14) Winner (10) vs Winner (12)

cess also keeping their un beaten record intact.

The defeat for Queenstown was their sec ond in three outings so far.

In the day’s other clash, it was smooth sailing for Dartmouth Determinators, which, on the back of a firsthalf hat-trick from Sachel Marks, trounced Tapakuma 4-0. Marks was on target in the 12th, 33rd, and 35th min utes, and the other goal was scored by Martin Garraway in the 27th minute.

3rd Place (15) Loser (13) vs Loser (14)

Final (16) Winner (13) vs Winner (14)

Plate Section

Quarterfinals - October 29th (1) Loser (1) vs Loser (5) (2) Loser (2) vs Loser (8) (3) Loser (3) vs Loser (7) (4) Loser (4) vs Loser (6)

Semifinal - November 5th (5) Winner (1) vs Winner (3) (6) Winner (2) vs Winner (4)

Final (7) Winner (5) vs Winner (6)

Meditron throws support behind 10-time Champion Avinash Persaud

The GTT Guyana Open golf tournament is but a few days away from being staged. The ac tion is expected to tee off on October 29 and 30, and local company Meditron, of Lot 50G Sherriff Street Campbellville, Georgetown, has decided to back ten times’ Guyana Open Champion Avinash Persaud to bag the highly coveted ti tle.

In a simple ceremony held at the Meditron prem ises, Persaud, responding to a question, said, "How do I feel about Meditron spon soring me? I feel great, be cause I have sponsorship for golf. Golf is a big sport in Guyana, and I am a ten times’ Guyana Champion…I lost it last year to my broth er, but with this sponsor ship, it will help me to win back that title."

Also sharing her senti

Avinash Persaud and Meditron Procurement Director Ronette Mitchell ments at the simple cere mony was Ronette Mitchell, Procurement Director of Meditron, who said the com pany is elated to throw its support behind Persaud. She also explained that the company is always one hun dred percent in support of sports.

In the 2021 edition of the

tournament, Persaud lost to his brother Avinda Kishore, but with his eyes on the prize, he will be keen to take the title an eleventh time.

Aside from testing labo ratory equipment, Meditron Inc is a supplier of a wide range of high quality med ical, surgical and hospital products.

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Sachel Marks and Martin Garraway of Dartmouth Determinators FC

Erron Ceaser of Henrietta United FC

President Ali pledges $10M to help build Guyana Karate College

H is Excellency

President Dr Irfaan

Ali has said the Government of Guyana would contribute a further $10M to support the devel opment of karate in Guyana through the construction of the Guyana Karate College.

The Head of State made this announcement while delivering the fea ture address at the Guyana Karate College’s Charity Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony, held at the New Thriving Restaurant at Providence, East Bank Demerara on Tuesday night.

The President has said that $5M of the pledged funds would be made avail able this year, and the oth er $5M in 2023. He empha sised that the Government is committed to the develop ment of karate in Guyana.

“One can describe kara te as a tradition, but a tra dition that spans many gen erations; a tradition that goes beyond culture and boundaries; a tradition that opens up the mindsets and

thinking of people,” he said. He praised the “art” for de veloping discipline, focus, commitment and other pos itive attitudes in people, es pecially in children from a young age.

“Karate is not teaching someone to fight, it's an art of self-defence,” he relayed.

The Government, President Ali added, is fo cusing heavily on the de velopment of youth, sport, and culture. He remind ed that his Administration has been working to re suscitate and rehabilitate grounds and sports venues, while building new sports facilities across the country. This, he said, is aimed at providing the necessary in frastructure to help all ath letes in the country perform at their best.

Meanwhile, the President has been made an honorary 8th Dan by the Karate College.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, the Honourable Charles Ramson, was also present at the event.

Romario Shepherd in commanding form in final practice match

West Indies all-round er Romario Shepherd was like the com mander-in-chief at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence, where the final practice match of the Guyana

Saints

The Bounty Supermarket

National Indoor Hockey Championships got off to a superb start on Tuesday night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) with the likes of Saints Snipers, GCC Spice, Woodpecker Hikers and GCC Hikers romping to vic tory.

The opening match of the night saw GCC Pitbulls and Saints Superstars playing to a 1-1 draw. In the follow ing second division match, Saints Snipers defeated Hikers Cadets 4-1, with the talented Shakeem Fausette scoring 2 of their 4 goals. The lone Hikers’ goal was scored by Sherwyn Caesar.

In the Ladies divi sion, GCC Spice defeat ed the youthful YMCA Old Fort Igniters 4-2. The skil ful Abosaide Cadogan net ted 2 goals for her team, while Tricia Fiedtkou and Sonia Jardine added one goal each to the GCC tal ly. Carolyn Dean, captain of the Igniters, scored both goals for her team.

Woodpecker Hikers la

Harpy Eagles was staged on Tuesday evening. He warmed up in style for the Regional Super50 by scoring an un beaten 61 and claiming four wickets.

Tevin Imlach, Leon

Johnson, Akshaya Persaud and Sherfane Rutherford also each scored half-centuries of their own in that encounter.

Batting first, the Guyana Harpy Eagles team post ed 336-6 in their allotted 50

dies came from 1-0 down to edge the Saints team with a 2-1 win. The Saints girls brought immense energy to the game, but it was the young Jasmine Assanah who took a moment to stop and flick the ball past the goal keeper to seal the deal for the Hikers ladies.

In the veterans division, the GCC stalwarts lost to the Hikers team in a nail-biting encounter. The Hikers team showcased a more youthful play, as the national cap tain Robert France, who is

a newcomer to the veterans division, barely managed to upset the experienced stal warts of the GCC team, who held Hikers to a good fight.

Robert France and Devin Hooper each scored a double for their team, while Devin Munroe and Kevin Fogenay contributed one goal each to secure Hikers a 4-3 victory.

The Bounty Supermarket National Indoor Hockey Championships will con tinue at the Homestretch Avenue- based Sports Hall from 5pm on week nights.

overs, of which Imlach topscored with 80 while batting at number five. The Eagles had earlier lost openers Anthony Bramble (16) and Tagenarine Chanderpaul (14) to promising seamer Shamar Joseph, and Kemol Savory, batting at number three, had scored only nine.

Captain Leon Johnson and Imlach then added 91 runs for the fourth wicket, be fore Johnson departed with the score on 170-4 after 34.4 overs. The skipper scored a composed 56 from 78 balls in an innings laced with five fours.

The pugnacious Rutherford then came to the crease and produced an ex plosive 53 runs from 34 balls, with five sixes decorating his brisk innings. Rutherford and Imlach added 85 runs for the fifth wicket, with the left-handed Rutherford dom inating. Imlach departed for a 95-ball 80, after batting for 121 minutes and strok ing five fours and two sixes; and Rutherford soon followed

suit, both of these batsmen falling to off-spinner Junior Sinclair.

The huge lad from Berbice, Romario Shepherd, then came to the crease and dominated the bowling with some might hits. He slammed four sixes and seven fours in his 20-ball 61, while Kevin Sinclair's unbeaten 13 took Harpy Eagles to 336-6 when their 50 overs expired in the day/night fixture.

In response, the GCB Select XI batting order stum bled to the brilliance of Shepherd and the steadiness of Veerasammy Permaul. Only Akshaya Persaud, who scored an unbeaten 65 from 79 balls after batting for 110 minutes, stood tall, while Quentin Sampson blazed 55 from 27 balls.

The GCB Select XI fold ed for 160 in 30.4 overs, with Shepherd claiming 4 wickets for the miserly con cession of seven runs, while Permaul claimed 3-39 in his 7.4 overs. Sampson and Persaud added 83 runs to gether, but the National side

cruised to a comfortable 176run win.

The Guyana Harpy Eagles will shortly de part for Trinidad and Tobago to play Windward Islands Volcanoes in the first round of the 2022 CG Insurance Cup. The Eagles Squad reads: Leon Johnson (captain), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Tevin Imlach, Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford, Anthony Bramble, Kemol Savory, Clinton Pestano, Romario Shepherd, Kevin Sinclair, Quentin Sampson, Veerasammy Permaul, Gudakesh Motie and Nial Smith. The management staff includes Albert Clements (Manager), Ryan Hercules (Head Coach), Garvin Nedd (Assistant Coach), Angelica Holder (Physiotherapist), and Kheshava Ramphal (Cricket Analyst).

Reserves are: Akshaya Persaud, Junior Sinclair, Anthony Adams, Matthew Nandu, Ronsford Beaton and Shamar Joseph. (Brandon Corlette)

President Dr. Irfaan Ali is presented with an honorary 8th Dan Black Belt from the Canadian-Headquartered International Daigaku/Karate College

Bounty Supermarket National

Hockey Championships…

Guyana Harpy Eagles’ preparation for Regional Super50 tournament…

Randy Hope of Hickers attacking the Bounty GCC defence

Akshaya Persaud scored an unbeaten half-century for GCB Select XI

Romario Shepherd had a good all-round outing

President Ali assures athletes of better, going forward

By Jemima Holmes

Through social me dia and daily publi cations, the gener al public’s attention has, over the past week, been drawn to an unfortunate incident that occurred over two weeks ago at the South American Games in Asuncion, Paraguay.

That incident involved the health of Guyanese pu gilist Keevin Allicock, who has lambasted a number of sporting bodies in the af termath of his experience. The first sporting body to respond to his allega tions has been the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA).

On Wednesday, October 26, Guyana Times Sport published an arti cle in which Squash great Nicolette Fernandes ex pressed her thoughts on the occurrence, and in this

publication of Thursday, October 27, Guyana Times Sport is publishing the re action of President Dr. Irfaan Ali on the issue at hand.

The Head of State took to his social media page and, in a live Facebook vid eo directed at national ath letes across Guyana, ex tended his apologies for the incident and mapped out ways in which the situation would be rectified.

“All the sport events that we compete at, at a National level, brings a sense of joy and pride to us as a country and I’m sure most of us would un derstand the joy and pride of every athlete who wears the national uniform,”

President Ali stated. “But much of this is outside of the hands of Government because a lot of these sport ing bodies are independent.

Nevertheless, once you are putting on national colours,

then a country, gov ernment, every single as pect and stakeholder in that country must be re sponsible.”

Directing his words at the ill-treatment athletes receive from Associations, which has recently been brought to light, President Ali remarked, “And we must all play our part in ensuring that those who wear our national colours are treated fairly, to ensure they are treated with re spect, dignity and also that they exercise responsibili ty in doing what is right, in representing our country, representing themselves.”

The Head of State has detailed his first plan of ac tion, which will begin at the Ministry level. “I believe strongly that there must be some minimum standards.

Minimum standards must be set for all our teams, all our athletes when they repre sent our country. A lot of these Associations, they get financing, they get funding to support athletes’ devel opment, to support athletes in these events. So, its time

I think that, from a na tional level, - and I’ve had a conversation with the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport - and I’ve asked him to engage all the bod ies and the athletes, in en suring that we set a mini mum standard,” he said.

“I’ve given this a lot of thought, and I believe that there must be a wholistic conversation. Though the sporting bodies are inde pendent, as I said, wear ing the national colours require a level of responsi bility that they also, must demonstrate.

“I felt his pain, today I

saw another article in the newspaper, explaining the anguish and pain that he went through. And I share a lot of what Nicolette said today in the Guyana Times,” President Ali add ed, revisiting Keevin’s or deal.

Additionally, President Ali vowed that the nec essary medical personnel will now be mandatory for any Guyanese contingent representing the Golden Arrowhead. He explained, “Those persons [doctors] must be assigned to teams when they are leaving Guyana. So, they can have the assurance of some sort of medical support, phys iotherapy support. I think this is important for us as

their best and perform at their optimal level, if we don’t give them the sup port to do so.

“I want you to know that you have our full support,” the Head of State has asserted.

At the October 1st15th South American Games in Paraguay, Keevin Allicock experi enced a health scare for which he had to be rushed to the hospital. However, no medical personnel had been assigned to the 22-member contingent by the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), thus resulting in the fallout.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali