Guyana Times - Tuesday, April 2, 2024

The

Tuesday,

“New day in India-Guyana relations”– High Commissioner

…as US$23.27M planes delivered by Indian aeronautics company

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), as part of the Line of Credit the Government of India had extended to Guyana, has delivered two Dornier 228 planes to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), with the Asian giant hailing the milestone as the beginning of a new chapter in bilateral relations between India and Guyana.

Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr Amit Telang, was on hand at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) to welcome the Indian Air Force (IAF) team that accompanied the HAL228 aircraft when they arrived on March 31. A statement from the Indian High Commission described it as “a new chapter in IndiaGuyana partnership”.

The GDF had explained in a post that the planes ar-

already established strong defence cooperation, with several GDF personnel undergoing various levels of training with the Indian military. And the idea of Guyana acquiring aircraft from India was first raised back in January 2023, when Ali visited the Asian nation, where he toured the Indian State-owned aerospace and defence company in Kanpur and inspected its CG-767 Indian Coast Guard 18-seater Dornier aircraft.

The Guyanese leader was also given a presentation on the company’s capacity and capabilities.

According to reports coming out of that visit, President Ali indicated an interest in purchasing two of the India-manufactured Dornier 228 aircraft for the GDF, which has an aged fleet.

And just last month,

rived on board two Boeing C-17 Globemaster military transport planes from the IAF.

“Over the next month, the aircraft will be assembled by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) team. Afterwards, the aircraft will be handed over to the Government of Guyana and integrated into the Guyana Defence Force Air Corps Fleet,” the GDF further explained.

HAL is an Indian aerospace company that was founded in the 1940s. Back in February 2023, it had been announced that Guyana was in talks with the Government of India to procure patrolling vessels and a Dornier aircraft to better protect Guyana’s maritime boundaries.

India and Guyana have

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance and the Public Service, Dr Ashni Singh, had signed a Line of Credit (LoC) agreement of US$23.27 million, with the Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank), to procure the two aircraft.

Dubbed Guyana’s first major defence deal with India, this development to procure defence assets from the Asian Government comes on the heels of the Dr Irfaan Aliled Administration taking significant steps to modernise the GDF with the acquisition of new equipment and supplies, as well as capacity-building.

As a matter of fact, then Chief of Staff of the GDF , Brigadier Godfrey Bess

had attended the Aero India Defence Exhibition and seminar hosted by the Indian Government in Bengaluru early last year.

While there, Brigadier Bess had an interview with WION during which he said that over the last two years, there had been a lot of training, building human capacity, and collaboration between the militaries of both countries.

“We plan to increase that collaboration so that we can continue to prepare our Defence Force for greater things, particularly since Guyana has been known to be the fastest-growing economy. We have ensured there is a conducive environment for investors and the people of Guyana. We do recognise we need to build capacity and capabilities regarding defence and security, and we do see India as a very strategic partner in this regard,” the GDF Head had stated.

He had further told the Indian news channel that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was in the works to be signed

between Guyana and India which would foster their defence cooperation.

“Presently, we are looking at the proposal, as it relates to air assets and naval assets for our country and for sure, as we continue to collaborate, having gone around the exhibition over the last two days, there are a lot of other assets and capabilities that Guyana will be interested [in acquiring from India],” he had noted.

However, Brigadier Bess had disclosed that at the initial stage, Guyana’s focus will be on building its air asset capacity in order to move its troops across the country as well as to assist with disaster-related activities. He contended that the Dornier aircraft is “actually suiting the capability we would like to have”.

According to reports, the Dornier 228 planes are being used by India’s Coast Guard to support maritime patrols, but they can also be used for marine pollution contingency, search and rescue, and medical evacuation.

One of the massive Indian Air Force-owned Boeing C-17 Globemaster military transport planes that brought the Dornier aircraft to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport on Sunday

The India-made Dornier 228 aircraft

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Our multireligious, multicultural society

One of the most intriguing aspects of Guyanese life is the evolution of the practices of the various cultures and religions into new forms that are accepted by each other without any compulsion and in the process creating a most unique “Guyanese Culture”. Easter exemplifies this synergistic melange as much as any of the other forms.

Brought to these shores by the European colonists, especially the English who were the last to rule Guyana, Easter is a Christian observance that was transmitted first to the African slaves, several waves of Indentured servants – Indian, Chinese and African, and West Indian – and in an ironic inversion, lastly to the Indigenous Peoples. The Catholic Portuguese from Madeira brought their own Easter traditions.

While at its core, Easter is the commemoration of the rise and ascension of Jesus who had been crucified three days earlier (now called “Good Friday”) it illustrates the anthropological truism that all practices are culturally embedded. Jesus, for instance, was from a culture that was completely different from those into which it spread, and even in these, historians can trace the changes absorbed or imposed by the various cultures.

Saul, who became Paul, first sallied among the Greeks and the earliest language in which “Christianity” was spread – and the New Testament was written – was Greek. Even today, some of these early Greek words have to be analysed for ideas that may have been ‘lost in translation’. After the Roman Emperors became Christians and spread Christianity in “pagan” Europe at the point of the sword, the form of religious organisation adopted the imperial structure of the Roman Empire - with the Pope replacing the emperor at the apex and Cardinals, Bishops and priests, the lower echelons of the hierarchy.

Most pertinently for our discussion, several European “pagan” traditions were adopted and enculturated into Christian practices such as Christmas and Easter. The word “Easter” itself is from this source, as are hot cross buns, Easter eggs, and Easter bunnies. The Easter hat parade would have come later from the English. Accordingly, our kite flying, Bartica Regatta and Rupununi Rodeo are merely continuing a long tradition of change.

For a multi-religious society such as Guyana, this process of cultural cross-pollination and diffusion is important in creating a national ethos. The important caution is that the process should include all the religious practices and not privilege any along the lines Christianity was, for most of Guyana’s history. Hindus recently commemorated Phagwah, and Muslims are in the midst of Ramadan and now Christians commemorate Easter. Each festival has acquired peculiarly “Guyanese” characteristics around the core “religious” commemoration and it is a mark of our progressive maturity as a nation that we should not allow this process to be short-circuited.

There are some in our sociality who insist they are religious, but preach in a language that spreads hate and exclusion to almost everything and everyone outside their narrow belief system. This goes against the grain of our multi-religious tradition. While some speak of “tolerance”, there are growing signs that the new Guyanese standard of religious practice is outright acceptance of the right of the “other” to practise the tenets of their religion without condemnation and hate.

On Sunday, Christian Guyanese attended their churches to express their faith and belief in why Jesus was born and what was the meaning of his death and resurrection. On Monday, most Guyanese were flying their kites with their children in parks and open spaces and enjoying their snacks and goodies, picnic-style, in a manner that brings the family closer together. We would like to believe this is in consonance with the wider message of Easter.

Unfortunately, the somewhat less-than-salubrious practice of heavy alcohol consumption and all its negative effects have also crept into the Easter commemorations –as they have into every other holiday. We ask that Guyanese abjure this aspect of our “culture”.

Bartica Regatta 2024

NY Guyana Consulate “taking Govt” to the people

Dear Editor, ?The Guyana Consulate resolve of “taking Government to the people“ has become the norm of the NY Consulate. They prefer to let the evidence speak.

The last Consulate’s community engagement (outreach) was in Brooklyn.

The one on Saturday was in Richmond Hill, Queens at the beautiful Lakshmi Narayan Mandir. The next outreach is scheduled for April 13, 2024 at upstate Schenectady. According to Ambassador Michael Brotherson, Guyana’s Consul General, the other venues are scheduled

for Connecticut and New Jersey.

The response from the Guyanese community in New York to the Saturday outreach was superb. Groups of Guyanese entered the building and were given a number to ensure that no one can “jump” the line. The staff worked assiduously to process everyone’s application(s): whether that was for a new passport, a passport renewal, a birth certificate, a Power of Attorney, or an emergency travel document.

The staff were competent and respectful.

Observed prominent community leader and scholar Dr Dhanpaul Narine: “Hats off to members of the Guyana Consulate who worked round the clock… the staff was knowledgeable, and treated everyone well. I was happy to sit with this distinguished group.” Also observing the proceedings were well-known social worker and community activist Mr Vishnu Mahadeo and radio/TV talk show host OC Rogers.

Because of the high number of applicants, staff had to work an additional two hours to serve all the applicants. They finished

at 4pm. The Guyanese community expresses their gratitude to the Consulate staff for their fine performance.

One community activist calls upon the Consulate to conduct more outreaches in Richmond Hill, Queens. This allows them to feel connected to Government operations.

The New York Guyana Democracy Project congratulates the Consulate for executing a community-based service delivery programme of immense significance.

Sincerely

Dr

Tara Singh

GPL has failed to deliver a solution

Dear Editor, Given the constant failures of the GPL interconnected system and the resulting power outages affecting large swathes of the country simultaneously, is it not time to consider the benefits of ‘disconnecting’ the grid? That is, to say, break the grid into smaller chunks, each dependent on a particular power station and inde-

pendent of each other. How much longer should people in Berbice and Demerara suffer when some idiot driver smashes into a transmission pole in Mon Repos?

We can even take this idea forward logically; each power station can have its management team or ‘ownership’, then we can break the GPL monopoly, and new companies can compete to

supply areas. For example, planned industrial estates, such as being developed in Enmore, can be supplied by a new, independent power station run by an independent entity. GPL has failed to deliver a solution; the Government can keep trying to flog this horse or move to introduce new bloodstock; whatever the choice, there is the need to fix the ener-

gy supply crisis as a matter of national urgency.

Albert Einstein did describe ‘Insanity’ as continuing to do the same thing over and over again while expecting a different result… so if interconnection is not the answer, disconnection may well be what we are missing.

Sincerely,

Robin Singh

Rundy Belle, the pilot of Wave Runner, taking his victory lap after winning his second consecutive victory during the Bartica Regatta 2024 (Gifford Marshall photo)

Haiti’s Presidential Council

US Secretary of State calls Pres Ali to continue discussions on efforts to support security mission

…says US values Caricom’s support for Haiti’s inclusive, representative governance

United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken on Monday spoke with President Dr Irfaan Ali, who is the current Chair of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) to continue discussions on Haiti.

The US State Department on Monday said that Secretary Blinken and President Ali discussed efforts to support Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council and the Multinational Security Support mission in Haiti. The Secretary, the State Department said, also reiterated the United States values Caricom’s support of Haitian efforts to promote inclusive and representative governance.

On March 11, coming out of crucial talks among Caricom Heads in Jamaica on how to return Haiti to a state of normalcy, the regional bloc has announced that a Presidential Council will be established to guide Haiti towards elections and the restoration of order.

Heads of State and officials from a number of countries, both in the Region and from around the world, had gathered in Kingston, Jamaica for discussions on finding a resolution in Haiti, which is currently being torn apart by spiralling gang violence.

At a press conference that followed these talks, a number of leaders and officials lauded President Ali for his role as Chairman of Caricom, in organising the meeting.

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness, in whose country the meeting was hosted, was one such leader.

Also appearing in per-

son at the meeting was Secretary Blinken. Blinken represented the US in the talks and subsequently announced that financial assistance to the multinational force that would be deployed to Haiti has been increased to US$300 million. “Mr President, thank you. Thank you for your leadership today, but thank you for your leadership every day,” the Secretary of State said.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who attended the meeting virtually, meanwhile, congratulated Caricom on meeting to discuss Haiti and coming up with a strategy to help the beleaguered country.

Update

Only last week, Ali, in giving an update on the situation in Haiti, said that Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry is still committed to resigning once a Presidential Council is put in place for the transition, adding that the Region is still working with Haitian stakeholders on this matter.

The President noted that the Region was cognisant of the pressing need for action on Haiti to ensure normalcy can be returned.

“It is important for us to understand that while we await the deployment of (the troops), that there is immediate need for bridging security. And this is what we’re talking with key stakeholders and partners about. About how we can work on bridging security, as we move towards ensuring that the council comes into place,” Ali had said in his update to the media.

Ali noted that discussions about the Presidential

Council were held last week and stakeholders have been identifying persons for the council. Further, he had said that discussions would continue, ensuring that all the stakeholders were involved, and that talks are not limited to the Presidential Council.

“It’s not only about the

council. It’s also ensuring the security aspect is kept alive. The developmental needs. Humanitarian needs. So, it’s bringing a multi-faceted aspect under constant update,” he said.

Asked for a definitive timeline for how soon troops could be deployed into Haiti,

President Ali noted that “I wish I could tell you tomorrow. But, of course, we’re working with stakeholders. We’ll have to get past the council. And we’re hoping that the resources to support the security presence would be forthcoming. Because that is key. The budget must be there.”

Previously-embattled Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry had announced he would be resigning, amid mounting pressure from a spiralling security breakdown and concerted efforts from Caricom, with the assistance of the international community, to broker a way forward.

His resignation had come in the wake of several agreements between Caricom Heads and Haitian stakeholders, including for the es-

tablishment of the council that would select a new interim Prime Minister.

Haiti has been engulfed in turmoil since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. Since then, the streets have been overrun by gangs, and there has been a continuous cycle of violence.

That violence flared even more when, in February, criminal gangs in the capital Port-au-Prince conducted coordinated attacks targeting Police Stations, prisons, critical infrastructure, and civilian sites in the city.

On March 2, armed gang members raided two penitentiaries, reportedly freeing some 3800 inmates, after which Haitian authorities announced a State of Emergency and imposed a nighttime curfew.

File photo: United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Guyana’s President Dr Irfaan Ali chatting at State House during the former’s visit on July 6, 2023 (Office of the President photo)

Page Foundation

Quadrilaterals

Exercises:

Identify: Determine the type of quadrilateral

In this fun and easy water science experiment for kids, we’re going to use science to try and catch an ice cube.

Materials:

Bowl of cold water

12-inch piece of string

Ice cubes

Salt

Instructions:

Float an ice cube in the bowl of cold

By Walt Whitman

water. Lay one end of the string over the ice cube and the other end over the rim of the bowl.

Sprinkle some salt over the ice cube. Wait about two or three minutes and then lift the piece of string.

The string should have frozen to the ice cube.

How it works:

The salt will cause the ice to melt and will allow the string to fall down

through the ice. The fresh water will creep into the crevice created by the string and refreeze. Once the water refreezes around the string, you will be able to easily lift the ice cube from the water.

Make this a science project:

Try different types of salts like Epsom salts or rock salt. Try different types of string. Try this experiment with wire. (sciencefun.org)

7 (Nor for you, for one alone, Blossoms and branches green to coffins all I bring, For fresh as the morning, thus would I chant a song for you O sane and sacred death.

All over bouquets of roses, O death, I cover you over with roses and early lilies, But mostly and now the lilac that blooms the first, Copious I break, I break the sprigs from the bushes, With loaded arms I come, pouring for you, For you and the coffins all of you O death.)

8

O western orb sailing the heaven, Now I know what you must have meant as a month since I walk’d, As I walk’d in silence the transparent shadowy night, As I saw you had something to tell as you bent to me night after night,

As you droop’d from the sky low down as if to my side, (while the other stars all look’d on,)

As we wander’d together the solemn night, (for something I know not what kept me from sleep,)

As the night advanced, and I saw on the rim of the west how full you were of woe,

As I stood on the rising ground in the breeze in the cool transparent night, As I watch’d where you pass’d and was lost in the netherward black of the night, As my soul in its trouble dissatisfied sank, as where you sad orb, Concluded, dropt in the night, and was gone.

CONTINUED TO BE CONTINUED

WORD SEARCH

A quadrilateral is a 2-dimensional figure with four sides – and four angles. The following are the main types of quadrilaterals

No need to migrate to fulfil dreams – VP …says

transformation already taking place at national level

While reference has often been made to Guyana’s brain drain, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, over the weekend, assured that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government would continue to strive to reduce this phenomenon, by ensuring that persons could fulfil their dreams without leaving Guyana’s shores.

The PPP/C had embarked on a trip to Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), over the weekend, where Party members visited a number of hinterland locations. While delivering brief remarks at the fun day and BBQ hosted by the Party subsequently at Everest Cricket Club Ground, Jagdeo, who also serves as General Secretary of the Party, referenced the massive support it received during the Rupununi trip.

“The President, he’s here today. He had a long day in the Rupununi. He visited several communities there. And if you have an opportunity to, just please look at the crowd

that came out to those meetings. This is an indication that our support is widespread. It’s not just in the coastal communities. It’s not just in the traditional communities that supported the PPP. It’s also in the hinterland.”

“And why do so many people come out to these meetings? Why are they attracted to the Party? Because we’ve been working steadfastly at transforming people’s lives. There are numerous challenges in this country,” the VP noted.

Jagdeo also made reference to populism, a political term used to describe, among other things, anti-establishment and anti-political sentiments. According to the General Secretary, supporters of the Party must be wary of such sentiments. He further assured them that the Government was tackling the brain drain problem.

“Many times, (people) fall prey to the populist views. And we have to avoid that. We have to make sure we remain consistent with what we are

doing. And steadfastly, day by day, the transformation will take place. We’re going to ensure that every single citizen of this country, that they can fulfil their dreams right here. We see that unfolding at the national level, before your very eyes,” he said.

The Vice President also noted that not only was the PPP the largest political party in Guyana, it was also the only multi-ethnic, multi-religious party. According to him, this is a title no other party can claim.

The brain drain Guyana

has endured since the 1960s has been widely talked about. In fact, it was estimated by University of Guyana Vice Chancellor, Professor Paloma Mohamed Martin, that the migration of graduates after they completed studies in Guyana has come with a hefty loss of over US$1 trillion, as they move to build other countries. She had said that in its 60 years of existence, the University has produced more than 50,000 graduates, at least 30 per cent of whom have migrated.

Guyana’s transforma-

tion has, however, been at a rapid pace in recent years, and the Government has been making human resource development a key component of the transformation matrix. President Dr Irfaan Ali has previously referenced the increasing investments in the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) scholarship programme, in training and development, in the US$120 million National Training Centre, the establishment of a School of Hospitality, building new nursing schools, creating the technology to enhance the country’s knowledge economy, and investing in research and development, as being geared towards bolstering human resource transformation in Guyana.

Moreover, President Ali had outlined that economic transformation comes from diversification of the economy and adding value. This, he explained, is where agro-processing, manufacturing, and industrial development become very critical and will create higher paying jobs for Guyanese.

Guyana’s oil and nonoil economies have shown strong growth over the past few years. Last year, the oil and gas sector expanded by 45.9 per cent, with production of 142.9 million barrels of oil compared with 101.4 million in 2022. This includes production of crude oil at a rate of approximately 142,000 barrels per day (bpd) at the Liza Destiny Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, while the Liza Unity FPSO produced at a rate of 235,000 bpd. Meanwhile, the economic growth in Guyana’s non-oil sector is considered the second fastest in the world.

Back in 2022, Guyana’s rapid economic expansion saw the country recording 62.3 per cent growth – placing the country amongst the fastest-growing economies globally. This rapid growth was attributed by the Government to the oil and gas sector, which expanded by 124 per cent. Meanwhile, Guyana’s nonoil economy also saw a very strong expansion of 11.5 per cent. (G3)

New water treatment plant for Region 5

Anew water treatment plant is soon to be built in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice).

Region Five Chairman Vickchand Ramphal recently informed the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) that the plant will service residents of the eastern part of the region.

The Chairman made the disclosure after being questioned by one Councillor during a recent meeting of the RDC.

Councillor Emmerson Benjamin recently told the Region Five RDC that some villages along the East Coast of Berbice no longer enjoy a 24-hour supply of water and as such, he questioned what the reason for the service interruption.

“I know GWI [Guyana Water Inc] has a pattern now that almost every day during the midday hours ,the water would cut off. I

don’t know the reason for that, because I know we used to get 24 hours water. That brings me to the state of the water...”

Benjamin said he was told that a new water treatment plant should be installed to benefit residents between Bath Settlement and Number 28 Village and called on the Chairman to shed some

light on the proposal.

In response, Regional Chairman Ramphal disclosed some plans to improve water quality in sections of the region and these would address the quality of water supplied.

“The Government of Guyana has always been working in improving the livelihood of our people and to better the service

that is being offered.”

He pointed out that Region Five was no acceptation.

Ramphal noted that the new treatment plant will be catering for residents of Bath Settlement, UnionNaarstigheid Neighbour Democratic Council (NDC) and a part of SeafieldTempe NDC.

The project will not be completed this year.

“The project is being advertised at the moment. This would take some time, because it is a massive project and the construction phase will take six or nine months.”

Meanwhile, the Cotton Tree Treatment Plant is expected to be upgrad -

ed to cater for a larger catchment area, including Ithaca in the north and villages like Number Five in the east.

“So the quality of water will be improved and the service will be improved. With that treatment plant being expanded, there will be other improvements,” he said. (G4)

Region Five Chairman Vickchand Ramphal

Cotton Tree Water Treatment Plant to be extended

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

Assizes review: 15 cases completed in Berbice, 17 in Essequibo

The Criminal Assizes in Berbice and Essequibo have resulted in over 30 cases being disposed of to date, according to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Chambers in its latest review.

The Berbice October 2023 criminal assizes had continued into the new year, with State Counsel Mohamed Ali, who presented 15 cases –one matter for the offence of murder before Justice Sandil Kissoon and the 14 others before Justice Jo-Ann Barlow.

The one murder case before Justice Kissoon involved two accused who were indicted together. The jury retuned unanimous guilty verdicts for both and they were sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after serving 30 years.

Of the 14 matters before

ternative count of felonious wounding. In one case, the jury returned a majority verdict of 11 guilty and he was sentenced to eight years in prison. The two other accused were found guilty of felonious wounding and are awaiting sentencing.

In the one case for abduc-

2024.

Essequibo Assizes

Over in Essequibo, the October 2023 Criminal Assizes also continued in the new year with State Counsel Taneiha Saygon, who completed 17 matters.

Justice Barlow, who first sat from January 2024, closed the October 2023 assizes and then opened the February 2024 assizes, three were for Murder, two for manslaughter, five were sexual offences, three for attempt to commit murder and one for the offence of abduction.

In the three separate murder cases, the accused all pleaded guilty. One pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter and was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Of the other two, one was sentenced to 26 years in prison, becoming eligible for parole after serving 21 years. The other was sentenced to life imprisonment, with eligibility for parole after 24 years. The Court has ordered that both prisoners undergo counselling programmes offered by the prison.

With regard to the two manslaughter cases, one accused pleaded guilty as charged and is awaiting his sentence. While in the other matter, the mother of the deceased testified she did not wish to proceed with the evidence, and the trial Judge directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty.

The accused persons in the five sexual offences were all acquitted by jury verdicts of not guilty. In one of these cases, the accused was charged with three counts of sexual activity with a child family member and the State has filed an appeal in this matter.

There were three cases for the offence of attempt to commit murder with the al-

tion, the jury failed to reach a verdict and the accused was further remanded to await a new trial.

Seven matters were nolle prosequi (dismissed) by the DPP during this time, each for the offences of murder, sexual offences and attempt to commit murder and one for the offence of manslaughter.

The committal in one case was quashed by the High

Five of these were before Justice Priya SewnarineBeharry and 12 before Justice Navindra Singh, who sat from January, closed the October 2023 assizes and opened the February 2024 criminal assizes.

Of those five matters before Justice SewnarineBeharry, three were for the offence of murder and the

life imprisonment on each count.

In one of the two cases for attempt to commit murder, the accused pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four years in prison, with time spent on remand prior to his conviction to be deducted. The other accused was found guilty by jury verdict and was sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after 20 years.

Meanwhile, of the 12 cases before Justice Singh, two were for the offence of murder, eight for sexual offences and one each for the offences of manslaughter and attempt to commit murder.

In one of the two murder cases, the accused was found unanimously guilty by the jury and was sentenced to life imprisonment. In the other matter, the Court ruled that the caution statement (CS) was not free and voluntary and was inadmissible. The trial judge directed the jury in the matter to return a formal verdict of not guilty.

In six of the sexual offences matters, the complainants testified that they did not wish to proceed with their matters and Justice Singh directed the juries to return formal verdicts of not guilty. In another one in which the accused, who was indicted on

Court; while in the five others, the complainants submitted statements that they no longer wanted to proceed with their matters; the accused in another matter died.

Meanwhile, the Berbice Full Court sat two times to hear one application for bail pending appeal and this was denied. The other application for extension of time to file an appeal against conviction and sentence was granted.

The Berbice February Assizes continue into June

other two were for the offence of attempt to commit murder.

In one of the three murder matters, the accused pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter and was sentenced to four years in prison after the Court ordered that the time spent on remand be deducted.

The other two murder accused were found unanimously guilty by jury verdicts and each sentenced to life imprisonment. One of them who was indicted on three counts of murder was sentenced to

two counts of rape of a child under 16 years, he was found guilty on both counts and sentenced to 10 years in prison. While in another, the accused was acquitted by jury verdict.

In the case for attempt to commit murder, the accused was acquitted by a jury verdict, while the accused in the manslaughter matter was sentenced to time served while on remand. The Essequibo February assizes remain in progress until May 2024. (G8)

What’s with…

…the Dutch Disease??

In Guyana, we all know about feared Dutchmen, don’t we?? Their ghosts hover about their old plantations that’ve become our housing areas…waiting to pounce on the unwary. But their reputation exceeds their actual (mis) deeds, don’t it?? Has anyone been actually been KILLED by one of these amorphous Dutchmen – except perchance from heart attacks brought on by fright?? Didn’t think so!! But for the record, your Eyewitness still ain’t taking no chances!! You never know!!!

However, the fear of the Dutchmen of yore seems to’ve been replaced by another (related??) bogeyman –the dreaded “Dutch Disease”!! And no, it’s not related to Monkeypox or Chicken Pox at Lusignan Prison – or any of those other diseases sweeping the planet. This one’s the dark cloud we’re now told might just overwhelm the silver linings we’ve stumbled over with oil under the Atlantic !! Seems that some time back, after languishing in the economic doldrums of post-war Europe that was developing rapidly, the Dutch struck gas off their coast.

Now everyone (not unreasonably) thought that was a good thing. But something strange happened on the way to enjoying the good life they’d enjoyed back in the day when they exploited enslaved African on their plantations here and elsewhere – for free. As foreign exchange flowed in from their gas exports, their currency – the guilder – increased in value!! That’s a good thing, no?? Well, no!! It INCREASES the price of the OTHER goods you export and as exports decrease, manufacturing falls, wage demands rise and more folks have to fall back on providing services. The entire economy becomes distorted – all because of the resource discovery and exploitation!!

That’s why it’s also called the “Resource Curse”. But when you think about it, ANY large sustained influx of foreign funds could start this domino effect – and it does!! Even large inflows of aid has been shown to be a culprit!! So, let’s look into this accusation by the Opposition that we’re ALREADY in the throes of a full-blown attack of Dutch Disease. Right off the bat, we gotta acknowledge that we’ve struck oil and started earning (comparatively) massive amounts of foreign currency from the sale of our 14.5% of the oil profits.

But has our Guyana dollar appreciated in value?? Not the last time your Eyewitness looked – this morning!! That’s been stuck in the low $200s to US$1 for years!! But the Opposition points to the drop in exports of some traditional goods – sugar and forest products. But none of this has anything to do with an appreciated Guyana dollar – but everything to do with what Granger and his merry band of army hacks did to the sugar industry! But the govt’s been diversifying like crazy!!

Gwan da side, Chicken Little!!

…constitutional changes

Step by step the PPP Government’s inching towards “constitutional change” – as promised in its winning manifesto. And which the Opposition’s demanding: to be GUARANTEED a share of the Government, or else!! But hold it!! – wasn’t “constitutional change” also on the APNU/AFC manifesto in 2015 – which led them to pip the PPP and slide into office?? Whatever happened to that promise?? Blowin’ in the wind??

Nah…buried in the mud!! With great fanfare, right after the elections, the coalition has established a Steering Committee on Constitutional Reform headed by Nigel Hughes. With a welter of talent on constitutions – like Haslyn Parris and Bryn Pollard. They held hearings, took submissions across the country and pretty much on schedule – even though Parris passed away – submitted their recommendations to PM Moses Nagamootoo in Sept 2016.

And that’s where it languished until after much pressure from civil society, it was revealed by Nagamootoo he’d invited in the UNDP, which came, inquired and made recommendations in 2017.

Then nothing – until they were ousted in 2020!!

…equity for transgenders

International Transgender Day of Visibility is an annual event announced every March 31 since 2009. We did our bit here in ole Mudland this year. But in la-la land, Trump panned Biden for “blasphemy”!!

Justice Sandil Kissoon

Justice Jo-Ann Barlow

The Essequibo High Court at Suddie, Essequibo Coast

Berbice High Court

Infrastructural works contributing to water disruption

…contractors urged to report damage to pipelines

The massive increase of infrastructure projects countrywide is contributing significantly to the disruption of water in many communities across the country.

According to Housing

not informing the agency when damages to pipes occurs.

This practice he highlighted hinders GWI teams from resolving the issue effectively and in a timely manner.

and Water Minister Collin Croal, water supply is not the issue, instead water disruption is as a result of damage to pipelines during the execution of infrastructural works.

During a discussion on the Guyana Dialogue programme, Croal disclosed that engineers and technical teams from the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) have been responding to cases of water disruption, many of which are difficult to address.

The Minister explained that the difficulty exists, given that contractors are

“A lot of time the disruption is because a pipe is broken somewhere and it has not been reported, so x, w, or z contractor machine broke the pipe and then the thing is by us not aware where the breakage is, because we now have to go and look for why we have disruption, so that takes some time,” Croal disclosed.

The Minister is urging contractors to desist from this practice and prioritize reporting damages to pipelines.

On this point, he emphasized the need for constant

water supply, noting that the country is experiencing a lot of bush fire and negligence of any kind, will not be tolerated at this time.

“Because of the dryest now… if you’re travelling around you will see that its looking hazy and that’s because they are a lot of fires happening. We are encouraging to do not light any fire,” Croal said.

Expansion programme

Since assuming office in August 2020, the administration has more than 35,000 applicants have gained first-time access to potable and treated water services.

As a result, nearly 100 percent of coastal residents now having access to clean water while access to potable water countrywide currently stands at 97.3 per cent for the year 2023.

Minister Rodrigues em-

phasized that this significant expansion recorded is part of the administration’s national agenda that advocates for the implementation of sustainable water management practices.

In addition, statistics from Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) show that water losses have been reduced from 69 percent in 2020 to 62 percent in 2023, while water meter coverage moved from 53 percent in

2020, to 67 percent at the end of 2023.

According to the data, GWI has successfully installed more than 55,000 meters to accurately measure consumption, aid in the conservation of water resources, and reduce non-revenue water.

Further, the agency responsible for the management of water completed the drilling of over 60 wells. (G1)

Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal

Scenes from Easter

Families flock seawalls, parks, gardens to share in Easter joy

Scores of families were observed at the seawall, National Park and other local parks enjoying the Easter kite-flying tradition, painting the skies with an abundance of soaring kites, as they celebrated

father taught me from small you know, right now I have Grandchildren and I can’t see them grow up without practicing in the good fun activities like flying kites as I once did.” Further stating that he hopes that what

the tradition with their children.

In an interview with Guyana Times, Errol Spellen shared that his age does not hinder his enjoyment of childhood activities, as he enthusiastically embraces the traditions he grew up with and also pass-

he has taught his children would be practiced for a long time, he stated that he hopes that what he has done will be passed on even when his generation comes to a halt.

Other fathers also joined in, sharing their experiences of celebrating the holi-

ing the process of making kites together. By engaging in this hands-on activity and then flying kites alongside their kids, they believe it creates a full-circle experience of bonding and tradition. This view was shared by a parent hailing from the west bank as he expressed

was not letting that stop her experience with flying kites with her kids.

Stealing the spotlight on Monday was a 32-year-old man who strolled along the sea wall accompanied by a group of youngsters aged 16, 20, and 15, effortlessly carrying the most gigantic octagon-shaped kite the easter celebrations would have wit-

es them down to youths who are willing to enjoy themselves.

“I have to keep this tradition because it’s what my

days with their children and loved ones. They expressed the importance of experiencing traditions from scratch with their children, includ-

that he and his son have spent years enjoying the activities and as of this year the kite that they have made to participate in the kite flying activities only took a short time, “Me and me son spend three hours hay fixing this kite and we enjoying it, only three hours” he conveyed towards reporters. Not only were enthusiastic men, skilfully navigating their kites against the heavy winds, but scores of females also joined in on the live kite flying action. One woman describes that though the sun was blazing and she and her kids were sweating, she

nessed through the crowds.

When asked who built the kites, his friends joyously pointed towards him when he then expressed towards the reporters of his feelings to undergo this activity which he had done.

The 32-year-old had relayed, “I am very glad to be giving the youths this experience to fly a kite as big as this,” he stated whilst then holding onto the thin threading for the kite alongside the three as they were ready to set it in the air.

Meanwhile Guyana Times met up with Education Minister Priya Manickchand at the education ministry’s ground, she spoke about the signifi-

cance of Easter stating that “Easter is a day of hope, redemption and forgiveness” and would like individuals to use this day to look back and identify ways in which they can adjust and better their lives, with assistance from the Government to ensure that the next generation is much better than we are. She also spoke about the importance of Easter to the family stating that Easter is a very important holiday that brings together the family, and for that reason, the Education Ministry’s ground was opened for the staff and members of their families. Minister Manickchand also noted that the foundation of any strong society is the family and that families of all forms from single parent to extended should be supported in any way possible.

The grand kite flying showcase in Georgetown on Monday was a true representation of the tradition of Easter, which continues to transcend the various sub-cultures in Guyana. This aspect of culture is reminiscent of Christian influences in the Guyanese society, but also presents a reminder of the diversity that exists, as yet another tradition is celebrated by the masses throughout the country. (G1)

President Dr Irfaan Ali and his son, Zayn, flying their kite at Everest Cricket Club Ground

A father sits with his son flying their kite on the Georgetown seawall

Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) flying her kite

Gun in plastic bag tossed as ‘liming’ men escape arrest

Police ranks on mobile patrol at Section 'C' Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara found a plastic bag with an illegal firearm on Saturday.

Reports are that about 21:00h the ranks approached a group of men who were seen liming at a culvert. As the Police vehicle drew close, the men ran away in different directions, during which one of the men dropped a bulky plastic bag.

According to Police, upon checking the bag, ranks found one .38 revolver without any rounds in the chamber.

The gun that was found by Police

An investigation has been launched.

Ganja found at Mahdia Arcade during raid

Police ranks in Regional Division Eight (Potaro-Siparuni)

last week conducted a raid at homes, shops and stalls of several persons in the Mahdia Arcade area for illegal firearms, ammunition, narcotics, and stolen articles

The drug found during the raid

According to Police, two black plastic bags containing a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis were found during the exercise.

Black Bush Polder welcomes new roads, bids farewell to mud dams

Residents of Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), specifically in Black Bush Polder, have experienced a transformative change with the construction of new roads, eliminating the need to traverse muddy paths.

Prior to the construction of this new road, yards within the area would often flood and cause damage to lots of gardens and would create challenges for residents to commit to daily activities such as washing and cooking. This new infrastructural change has shifted the outcome for residents marked a significant change compared to the previous trials’ residents would have had to undergo.

According to a Department of Public

Information (DPI) report, from this transformative move undertaken by the government, residents have expressed that the construction of these new roads has brought to them a vast sense of relief as they no longer have to deal with the previous risks and challenges caused by the last mud dam.

Speaking with the DPI, a longtime resident of the area the difficulties of navigating the muddy paths have been going on for decades. Describing the experience by saying that the residents were punishing from the old road, she expressed that when flooding occurred within the area, she and other residents would constantly have to walk with a stick to not get

carried away by waves and yet still they would constantly fall. With the implementation of this new road, they can now go to the market and come home with vehicular modes of transport straight to their house.

Another resident emphasized the profound impact the mud dam had on school-going children, especially her own. Despite the challenges faced, she expressed deep gratitude towards the government for initiating the construction of new roads, noting the scores of benefits it will bring to the community.

"Since the children used to go through mud from primary school to high school, the new road will greatly benefit everyone," the resident shared. In the same sentiments Vastie David, highlighted the improved accessibility for school children, she stated, “The road is alright for the school children. It was hard when the rain fell, you didn’t want to come out. Now you get a smooth street to ride your motorbike.” The massive overhaul of these 20 interior roads in Black Bush Polder serves as promise kept by the Public Works Ministry’s Miscellaneous Road Programme in enhancing communities throughout Guyana.

Reports are that one of the bags with the drugs was found stuck between a wooden post and zinc, and the other was found under an old mat in a garbage heap.

The two plastic bags of cannabis were taken to the Mahdia Police Station, weighed and amounted to 120 grams and 25 grams, respectively.

Gap between coast and hinterland rapidly shrinking – Bharrat

…points to improved hinterland access to education, infrastructure

Long existing gaps between the coastland and the hinterland, whether they be in infrastructure or the provision of critical services, are rapidly shrinking due to the work being done by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government to bridge the divide.

This was according to Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, while addressing residents at Nappi, Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo), when a team of government officials visited there over the weekend.

According to the Minister, successive PPP/C governments from 1992 to 2015 and from 2020 to present, have been hard at work to bring back hope to both the coast and the hinterland communities.

According to Bharrat, the gap between the hinterland and coastland is smaller than ever.

“His excellency and the cabinet have been working very hard to ensure that we bridge the gap between the hinterland and the coastland. And today, we see that gap is narrowing. We see it is much narrow than it used to be in the past.”

“Today we can have healthcare facilities right here in region nine, that is being offered on the coast.

Today our children can study and earn a diploma or a degree, right in your own village. With WIFI coming from your own community. That is the kind of accomplishment that we have achieved over the short three and a half years since our President took over. Today, we can boast that we have better healthcare. Better education. Better infrastructure.”

Notwithstanding all of that, Bharrat expressed the view that the greatest achievement of the PPP/C government is that it was able to restore hope in Guyana, from 1992 onwards. He referenced the mass migration of people from Guyana’s shores in the post-independence period under the government of former President LFS Burnham.

“Because I’m sure the senior folk here can recall there was a time when Guyanese lost hope. You lost hope in your own country and the government back then. That is why today, we see that there are so many Guyanese outside of Guyana, more than living in Guyana,” Bharrat further told the crowd.

“And when we look back at the reason why, it is because of the post-independence period, 1966 to 1992, when people lost hope due

to rigged elections, poor infrastructure and dictatorship. Our people were running to Venezuela, to Brazil, to Suriname, on the coastland. Many Berbicians from where I came from, they went to the US, they went to Canada.”

Only in February, the government had announced that in a bid to minimize the country’s carbon footprint while addressing energy disparity, they would be procuring 10,000 solar photovoltaic (PV) home systems for use by hinterland households this year.

A total of $95.7 billion was allocated in the 2024 budget for the energy sector. Of this, $4.8 billion was provided to finance several solar power projects across

residents in Regions One, Seven, Eight, and Nine. These initiatives promise improved connectivity and transportation networks across these regions.

the country. Further, to improve reliability by reducing the voltage drop and network losses, as well as provide access to electricity to over 475 new households, $180 million has been budgeted to upgrade the primary distribution networks at Ituni, Kumaka and Kwakwani.

When it comes to infrastructure, only last year $5 billion had been set aside to be spent across the hinterland regions, with the aim of transforming existing road networks to benefit

And back in December 2022, the Guyana Government had signed a historic multi-year agreement for the sale of certified carbon credits to major US energy company, Hess Corporation to the tune of US$750 million – 15 per cent of which is going directly towards the development of hinterland communities. The PPP/C Government has been making other, considerable investments in hinterland communities since its return to office in 2020. One such investment is its capital expenditure in hinterland communities, which has crossed the $50 billion mark. (G3)

GDF medevacs Region 7 woman in need of urgent medical attention

ARegion Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) woman in need of urgent medical attention was medevacked to the city on Monday by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

The GDF in a release said that in a swift response to an urgent medevac request, it successfully conducted a medical evacuation for a female resident of Kurutuku, Region Seven who required immediate medical attention.

According to the GDF, the extremely low water levels made travel by water challenging to the nearest health facility, which would have taken about two to three days under the current river condition in that area.

Helicopter 8R-MIA was dispatched from Timehri to the Kurutuku area and returned at Base Camp Ayanganna at 13:05h, where a GDF ambulance was already on standby.

The woman was then transported to the ambulance and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital for the necessary medical treatment.

“This successful medevac operation highlights the crucial role of the GDF in supporting the nation's security and humanitarian needs. The GDF remains dedicated to serving the people of Guyana and ensuring that even in the most challenging circumstances, critical support is available,” the GDF said on Monday.

The Region Seven woman being medevacked by GDF ranks

The Government has invested over $50 billion in hinterland communities since 2020

Mosquito infestation posing challenge for Berbice

…only 2 fogging machines available – regional chair

Amosquito invasion has been affecting Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) for several weeks now and the Regional Health Services of Region Six are tackling it by means of daily fogging exercises.

However, according to the Regional Chairman, David Armogan there are only two fogging machines available.

The region is made up of 18 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and three townships.

Armogan is of the view that the fogging machines available to the region are inadequate.

“I think we probably would need more fogging machines in light of the regularity at which these mosquitoes have been infesting the region and so I think I will approach the Ministry of Health to see if we can get some more fogging machines,” the chairman said.

He noted too that there will also be the need for additional transportation to

take the machines around.

“We at the regional level don’t have enough pickups to do that kind of work and so we can solicit the help of the private sector if we have more machines.”

The Chairman is also of the view that fogging might not be the answer making mention of a recent function which saw many leave at about 18:00h when the mosquitos swarmed. He noted that special fogging exercises were carried out in the vicinity of that function in advance.

“The fogging was done the afternoon before and yet the mosquitoes just kept swarming in. They probably have to take a look at the chemicals that we are using and see if it is that the mosquitoes have become resistant to those things that we are using. There needs to be some kind of research into this thing because we are trying to push tourism and a lot of other things in the region and with this kind of mosquito situation it is going to deter people to some extent. So, we have to be

able to control this mosquito infestation that we are having in the region from time to time,” he pointed out.

Mosquitos dwell in the mangroves, which can be found throughout the region; along sections of the Atlantic Ocean, Corentyne River and Berbice River. Mangroves serve as a natural barrier, protecting inland ecosystems from flooding and saltwater intrusion. During the spring tides, swarms are taken inland. (G4)

Record wildfires hit Venezuela during climate-driven Amazon drought

Venezuela is battling a record number of wildfires, according to data released on Monday, as a climate change-driven drought plagues the Amazon rainforest region.

Satellites registered more than 30,200 fire points in Venezuela from January to March, the highest level for that period since records started in 1999, according to Brazil's Inpe research agency, which monitors all of South America.

That includes fires in the Amazon, as well as the country's other forests and grasslands.

Man-made fires that are often set to clear land for agriculture are spreading out of control thanks to high temperatures and low rainfall in northern South America, as well as a lack of prevention planning, researchers say. Scientists blame the drought on climate change and El Niño, a natural warming in the eastern Pacific that roils global weather patterns.

While the rainy season has brought relief in recent months further south in Brazil's Amazon, the fires in Venezuela could be a worrying sign for what's ahead once the dry season arrives there, said Manoela Machado, a fire researcher at University of Oxford.

"Everything is indicating we're going to see other events of catastrophic fires – megafires that are huge in size and height," Machado said.

The region's most intense fires typically occur in Brazil in August and September along the southeast edge of the Amazon, where deforestation for agriculture is most aggressive.

In Venezuela, roughly 400 firefighters fought a major blaze over the Easter holiday weekend that is threatening the lush Henri Pittier National Park, a beachfront preserve with rare cloud forests, according to the national park service.

"I am shocked, if not to say alarmed, by this fire,"

said Carlos Carruido Perez, who lives nearby. "I had never seen a fire of this magnitude and this damage to the environment."

Venezuela's Environment Ministry said last month it had launched a coordinated effort with helicopters and additional equipment to fight the fires in Henri Pittier.

The Ministry said last week it was mounting further firefighting efforts along a highway that cuts through the park.

In Venezuela's Amazon region further south, there are 5690 active fires as of late March, according to NASA data. That accounts for more than half of all the blazes burning in the entire Amazon across nine countries.

The fires are blanketing with smoke Guayana City, Venezuela's largest urban centre in the Amazon, according to a Reuters witness.

In the nearby town of Uverito, authorities evacuated 315 families from their homes due to the threat of fire, local media reported. Some 360 square kilometres have burnt in Uverito, an area six times the size of Manhattan, according to Jose Rafael Lozada, a forestry engineer and retired professor at Universidad de Los Andes in Merida,

Venezuela.

Regional response lacking

The same hotter, drier weather helping to feed fires in Venezuela is driving fires across the border in Brazil's Roraima state, which are threatening Indigenous reserves there.

Venezuela and Roraima have seen only 10 per cent to 25 per cent of their normal rainfall levels in the last 30 to 90 days, said Michael Coe, director of the tropics programme at the US-based Woodwell Climate Research Center.

The region is in a vicious cycle in which climate change contributes to dry and hot conditions that worsen fires, with those fires in turn releasing greenhouse gases that further drive climate change, Lozada said.

Fires generally do not occur naturally in the wet rainforest. Humans set the vast majority of fires to clear forest for farms and ranches, a long-held practice, he said.

"People burn the same, but the drought is more extreme. The vegetation is drier, the rains are scarce and we see the consequences: a small burn turns into a fire of great magnitude," Lozada added.

The Amazon drought has upended life in the world's

largest rainforest since last year as it pushed river levels to record lows, killed endangered dolphins, and disrupted boats carrying food and medicine to dozens of cities.

Despite a wealth of information tracking fires and flagging the climate risks that lie ahead, Governments throughout the region are still failing to mount a robust response to prevent and combat the fires, Oxford's Machado said.

Governments should ban setting fires during dry periods, mount faster targeted response to stop fires before they get out of control, and

hire firefighters year-round instead of temporarily, she said.

In Venezuela, Lozada, firefighters and other experts said the Government response was lacking.

Venezuela's Information Ministry and parks service did not respond to requests for comment.

"The forest is unprotected due to a lack of equipment to fight forest fires," said William Lopez, a union leader with the State-owned forestry company Maderas del Orinoco.

"Firefighters have to work miracles to be able to fight fires without equipment." (Reuters)

Region Six Chairman David Armogan

A drone view shows a burnt forest after a forest fire in Henri Pittier National Park, in Maracay,

Venezuela, March 30, 2024

(Reuters/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria photo)

Regional Panic in Haiti's capital as wild shooting fills streets

Panic set in around downtown Port-auPrince on Monday as wild shooting filled the streets of Haiti's capital, with heavy gunfire approaching the national palace. Reuters saw civilians rush to escape gunfire in the capital, where rival gangs are vying for control of turf while the State remains largely absent, three weeks after Prime Minister Ariel Henry announced his resignation with no successors in place.

Gunmen seized an armoured vehicle from palace guards in the centre of the city. Meanwhile, four more persons were found dead on Monday in the capital's relatively-upscale Petion-Ville suburb, which has been threatened by gangs.

At least one other person was shot dead amid fighting in the capital's Delmas district. Media also reported a large industrial park had been set on fire three days before.

The new US Ambassador to Haiti, Dennis Hankins, arrived in the country on Monday, as the United States and other nations continue evacuating their citizens and bolstering their borders against migrants.

Haiti has been facing a worsening conflict with alliances of gangs vying for control of parts of the capital and attacks on the airport and main port blocking access to key goods.

The Prime Minister announced his resignation on March 11 pending the installation of a presidential council and interim replacement, but the process has been hampered by threats, factional infighting, and resignations.

Though the council, proposed by regional leaders meeting in Jamaica, was set to be formalised within two days of his announcement, this has yet to take place, prompting calls for an alternate method of transition.

Jamaica's military reported over the weekend that

troops had arrived from the Bahamas and Belize to participate in a training exercise known as Trogon Shield with Canada, which had earlier said its soldiers would over the course of a month train some 330 Caribbean troops in preparation for deployment to Haiti.

Henry called in 2022 for an international security force to bolster Haiti's under-gunned Police Force, but despite the United Nations ratifying the force six months ago progress has been sluggish.

Over 1500 persons were killed in the first three months of 2024 and around 60 lynched by vigilante groups operating where Police presence is lacking, according to a UN report last week.

The report warned of the ongoing recruitment of children into gangs and called for more efforts to stop the flow of firearms, largely from the United States, into the Caribbean country. (Reuters)

Argentina and Colombia to mend ties following Milei “terrorist” comments

Argentina and Colombia said they were moving towards amending frayed diplomatic relations in a joint statement published late on Sunday, following comments by libertarian Argentine President Javier Milei that had offended his leftist Colombian counterpart.

"The respective Governments have taken concrete steps to overcome any differences and strengthen this relationship," the joint statement from the nations' Foreign

Ministries said. These steps will include the return of both countries' respective ambassadors after Bogota last week expelled all Argentine diplomats from Colombia in response to "denigrating" comments by Milei.

Libertarian Milei had described the Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who is a former member of the long-demobilised M-19 guerrilla movement, as a "terrorist murderer" .Milei was referring to Petro's armed group past in an in-

terview with news channel CNN.

Milei also took swipes at other regional leaders during the televised interview, including Mexico's Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

Relations between Colombia and Argentina have been historically stable, but tensions have flared since Milei assumed office in December. Colombia recalled its Ambassador to Argentina in January following similar comments made by the Argentine leader. (Reuters)

Renowned T&T architect Geoffrey MacLean dies

Renowned architect and conservationist

Geoffrey MacLean has died.

MacLean, 82, died on April 1 after a battle with cancer.

He was born in Pointe-àPierre in 1942.

Educated at St Peter’s School, Pointe-a-Pierre, and Presentation College in San Fernando, MacLean studied architecture at Bristol University in England.

He was an architect based in Port of Spain and a co-curator of Medulla Art Gallery (formerly Aquarela Galleries).

MacLean was well known for his promotion and publication of works related to the historic and contemporary art and architecture of Trinidad and Tobago.

He researched the history of several heritage buildings such as Whitehall in St Clair, where the Office of the Prime Minister is located.

He was a leading authority on Michel-Jean Cazabon, Trinidad’s great 19th-century artist. His knowledge of Cazabon is reflected in books he published in 1984, 1986, 1999 and 2016.

MacLean curated lo-

cal art collections for exhibitions in London, Paris, Bonn, Toronto, Martinique and Dominica.

Among those paying tribute to MacLean was Professor Mark Raymond, Director of the Graduate School of Architecture, University of Johannesburg, South Africa.

Raymond was deeply saddened to learn about MacLean's death.

"I first met him when

I was in my teens, at the house of Justice Ulric Cross in Federation Park, when I was contemplating my own future as an architect."

Raymond said, "At that time he was working in Dominica, where he collaborated with Tony Gibbs (a Grenadian engineer) on a number of significant buildings. He was a talented and humane architect with a mischievous sense of humour." (Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

Peruvian Interior Minister steps down amid Rolex scandal

Peruvian Interior Minister Victor Torres announced his resignation to reporters on Monday amid a political scandal involving alleged illicit enrichment by the country's President, who is being investigated over the use of luxurious Rolex watches.

"I am leaving in peace with my hands clean," Torres told reporters after a Cabinet meeting at the Government palace in Lima, saying his resignation was due to "family and health issues".

Police and Prosecutors raided President Dina Boluarte's home and office over the weekend looking for evidence of the origin of at least three Rolex watches, in an investigation into alleged money laundering and illicit enrichment.

The former President of Peru's congress, Maria del Carmen Alva had earlier said that "several chang-

es" were being planned in the country's Cabinet, and that Torres was possibly one of the Ministers set to be replaced.

(Reuters)

Barbados Opposition Leader brushes aside ‘‘nonsensical’’ accusations

Labelling them as nonsensical and unnecessary, Opposition Leader Ralph Thorne has condemned allegations of any impropriety on his part concerning land deeds made during the recent budget debate.

However, the King’s Counsel says he has no intention of giving the accusations further credence and also will not be seeking any legal recourse. “I am not going to perpetuate vile nonsense by responding to it. It is an untruthful, nonsensical, unnecessary discussion not worthy of any greater response,” he told the Daily Nation after the opening ceremony of the Flow Oistins Fish Festival on Saturday evening. (Nation News)

Canadian soldiers stand guard by the Canadian Embassy as violence spreads and armed gangs expand their control over the capital, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, March 29, 2024 (Reuters/Ralph Tedy Erol file photo)

Peruvian Interior Minister Victor Torres (Photo taken from El Peruano)

Renowned architect, historian and author Geoffrey MacLean died on April 1 (file photo)

Around the World

OIL NEWS

Oil up 1%, WTI at 5-month closing high, market seen tight

Crude prices edged up about one per cent on Monday with US futures closing at a five-month high, on expectations that economic growth in the United States and China will boost demand, while supplies tighten on Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies (OPEC+) output cuts and attacks on Russian refineries.

Brent futures for June delivery settled at US$87.42 a barrel on Monday, June's first day as the front month. That was up about 42 cents, or 0.5 per cent, from the April 28 settlement price for the June contract. March 29 was the Good Friday holiday.

On March 28, the May Brent contract settled at a fivemonth high of US$87.48 a barrel.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures gained 54 cents, or 0.7 per cent, to settle at US$83.71, their highest close since October 27.

The US diesel crack spread , which measures refining profit margins, narrowed to its lowest since May 2023 for a second day.

In the US, manufacturing grew in March for the first time in one and a-half years, but employment at factories remained subdued amid "sizable layoff activity" and prices for inputs rose.

"Markets interpreted that (manufacturing data) as reducing the chances of meaningful Fed (US Federal Reserve) rate cuts, but construction was much weaker and there are a lot of jobs numbers still to come," analysts at ING, a bank, said in a note.

Last week, US Commerce Department data showed the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index – the Fed's preferred inflation gauge – largely moderated in February, with the cost of services outside housing and energy slowing significantly.

Most analysts said the moderation in the PCE price index should keep a June Fed rate cut on the table, which could boost economic growth and increase oil demand.

In China, manufacturing activity in March expanded for the first time in six months, according to an official factory survey. China is the world's largest crude importer.

"Chinese oil demand is arguably the one missing factor outside of geopolitical headlines capable of taking oil prices to the next level," Bob Yawger, director of energy futures at Mizuho, said in a note.

"Strong summer gasoline demand and a rebound in China oil demand could be the one-two punch that support US$100 a barrel," Yawger added.

In Japan, optimism in the services sector climbed to a 33year high in the first quarter on booming tourism and rising profits from price hikes, a central bank survey showed.

In Europe, oil demand was firmer than expected, rising 100,000 barrels per day (bpd) on the year in February, Goldman Sachs analysts said, versus a forecast for a 200,000bpd contraction in 2024.

On the supply side, top oil exporter Saudi Arabia may raise the official selling price (OSP) in May for flagship Arab Light crude after Middle East benchmarks strengthened last month, according to industry sources.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said the country's oil companies would focus on reducing output rather than exports in the second quarter to evenly spread production cuts with other members of OPEC+.

Drone attacks from Ukraine have knocked out several Russian refineries, which should reduce Russia's fuel exports as almost one million bpd of Russian crude processing capacity is offline. (Reuters)

Iran says Israel bombs its embassy in Syria, kills commanders

Suspected Israeli warplanes bombed Iran's Embassy in Syria on Monday in a strike that Iran said killed seven of its military advisers, including three senior commanders, and that marked a major escalation in Israel's war with its regional adversaries.

Reuters reporters at the site in the Mezzeh district of Damascus saw emergency workers clambering atop rubble of a destroyed building inside the diplomatic compound, adjacent to the main Iranian embassy building. Emergency vehicles were parked outside. An Iranian flag hung from a pole by the debris.

"We strongly condemn this atrocious terrorist attack that targeted the Iranian consulate building in Damascus and killed a number of innocents," said Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad who was seen at the site along with Syria's Interior Minister.

Iran's Ambassador to Syria said the strike hit a consular building in the embassy compound and that his residence was on the top two floors.

Israel has long targeted Iran's military installations in Syria and those of its proxies, but Monday's attack was the first time Israel hit the vast embassy com-

pound itself.

It has ramped up those strikes in parallel with its campaign against Iranbacked Palestinian group Hamas, which ignited the Gaza war with an October 7 attack on Israel that killed about 1200 persons with 253 taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies.

More than 32,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's offensive in Gaza, according to Palestinian health authorities.

Israel's military has escalated airstrikes in Syria against Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Iranian-backed Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, both of which support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Saying the strike was "a significant threat to regional peace and security," the Iranian mission urged the United Nations Security Council to condemn the attack and said Tehran reserved the right "to take a decisive response".

Meanwhile, Israel's military has pulled out of Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City after a two-week raid that has left most of the major medical complex in ruins, the BBC reported.

Gaza's Hamas-run Health Ministry said doz-

ens of bodies had been found and locals said nearby areas were razed.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said it had killed 200 "terrorists", detained over 500 more and found weapons and intelligence "throughout the hospital".

The IDF said it raided Al Shifa because Hamas had regrouped there.

The two-week operation saw intense fighting and Israeli air strikes in nearby buildings and the surrounding area.

Meanwhile, the BBC reported that the Israeli parliament has approved a law giving the Government the power to ban broadcasts of

TV channels including Al Jazeera, the Qatari-owned network.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would "act immediately" to close the network's local office.

The US expressed concern over the move.

With foreign Journalists banned from entering Gaza, Al Jazeera staff based in the strip have been some of the only reporters able to cover the war on the ground.

The Knesset, Israel's parliament, approved the bill allowing foreign networks considered a threat to national security to be "temporarily" banned. (Excerpts from Reuters and BBC News)

Russia, Ukraine trade drone claims over Black Sea

Russia and Ukraine claimed to have downed each other's drones over the Black Sea on Monday, with both sides apparently devoting increasing attention to developing and using unmanned aircraft in their more than two-year-old war.

Russia's Defence Ministry, writing on the Telegram messaging app, said its air defence units had intercepted six Ukrainian

drones attempting to carry out a "terrorist attack".

The governor of Russia's border region of Belgorod, Vyachelsav Gladkov, wrote on Telegram that defence units had downed 19 airborne targets and Ukrainian shelling of the region had injured 10 persons.

A spokesperson for Ukraine's Air Force, Illya Yevlash, told national television that Ukrainian forc-

Thousands of Israelis join anti-Government protests

Thousands of Israelis took to the streets in Jerusalem on Monday, continuing a three-day protest against the Government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and demanding new elections.

The protests have gathered in intensity as the war in Gaza nears the end of its sixth month and anger at the Government's handling of the 134 Israeli hostages still held by the Islamist movement Hamas in Gaza has grown.

"We're here to protest. To ask for having elections as soon as possible. We feel like we got it to the edge. We really need to get rid of Bibi,"

said Timna Benn, a protester in Jerusalem, using Netanyahu's nickname.

Netanyahu's right-wing coalition faced some of the biggest protests in Israel's history last year, when hundreds of thousands joined weekly demonstrations against plans to overhaul the powers of the Supreme Court, which protesters saw as an attack on Israel's democratic foundations.

Netanyahu has repeatedly ruled out early elections, which opinion polls suggest he would lose, saying that to go to the polls in the middle of a war would only reward Hamas. (Excerpt from Reuters)

es had downed a Russian "Forpost" drone which he described as one of the most sophisticated and costly in Moscow's arsenal.

"It's not often we get a target like that, but we did it – one of the most expensive Forpost attack drones," Yevlash said, estimating its value at US$8 million.

Natalia Humeniuk, a spokesperson for Ukraine's

Person

southern group of forces, said Russia was using the drones more frequently after Ukrainian air defence units proved successful at shooting down at least two A-50 surveillance aircraft.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy again stressed the importance of boosting domestic manufacture of drones. (Excerpt from Reuters)

in Texas diagnosed with rare bird flu after contact with cattle

Aperson in Texas has tested positive for bird flu, the second US human case of the virus that has infected herds of dairy cows in recent weeks.

State health officials said the patient had experienced eye redness after coming into contact with sick cows.

The risk to the general public is low, experts said, but people should take precautions when around ill animals.

The Texas patient is being treated with an antiviral drug and is isolating.

Despite its name, the virus is not limited to birds, and in recent weeks it has been detected in cows in sev-

eral states, including Texas, Kansas and Michigan. It does not normally spread to people, but human infections have occurred in rare cases around the world.

In people, the virus, also known as avian flu, can cause symptoms that range from mild illness, such as upper respiratory and eye infections, to severe disease such as pneumonia that can be fatal, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

The first human case of H5N1 bird flu in the US occurred in 2022 in Colorado, when a person became ill after direct exposure to poultry presumed to be infected. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Smoke rises after what the Iranian media said was an Israeli strike on a building close to the Iranian Embassy in Damascus, Syria, April 1, 2024 (Reuters/Firas Makdesi photo)

DAILY HOROSCOPES

(March 21-April 19)

(April 20-May 20)

(May 21-June 20)

(June 21-July 22)

(July 23-Aug. 22)

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

Gather facts and determine what’s best for you. Take care of your responsibilities and protect your reputation and position. Expand your options by learning new skills.

Be open to suggestions but resourceful in determining how the information you receive will be used. If you take on too much or lack organizational skills, you will fall behind.

Upgrades are essential to maintaining your position or advancing your pursuits. Don’t expect everyone to offer an accurate point of view. Ask questions and leave no room for error.

Learn all you can and share what you know. A partnership will help you more than anticipated if you choose someone whose assets compensate for your weaknesses.

You have the skills, knowledge and energy to tap into something that brings you joy. Change what you don’t like, open doors to new beginnings and trust yourself to go in the right direction.

Participate in an event that broadens your awareness and teaches you how to do something that interests you. A unique relationship with someone will encourage you to make a change.

Be a good listener and discover what you can do to make someone’s life easier. A kind gesture can do as much for you as it does for the person you help.

Take the plunge, follow your heart and invest in yourself. A change will lift your spirits and point you in a direction that gives you hope for a brighter future.

Stick to what you know. Having accurate information will help you instill confidence in others. Don’t put up with interference or manipulative people. Honesty is the best policy.

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Use your imagination, and you’ll develop many unique ideas. Reinventing yourself will pave the way for exciting prospects. Don’t be afraid of the changes happening around you.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

Don’t fold under pressure. Use your ingenuity to discover how to overcome a financial barrier. Expert advice will motivate you to turn something you enjoy doing into a lucrative side project.

Don’t hesitate. It’s up to you to make things happen. Address how you make and use your money. Set up a savings plan that encourages a debt-free future. Steer clear of temptation.

PEANUTS

CALVIN AND HOBBES

PICKLES

ARCHIE

Boult, Chahal, Parag make it 3-0 for Royals …and

0-3 for Mumbai Indians

Hardik Pandya's return to the Wankhede Stadium as Mumbai Indians captain was far from a fairy tale, as the five-time champions lost their third game in a row, this time with 27 balls to spare. Rajasthan Royalsled by superb performances from Trent Boult, Yuzvendra

other way, getting a full ball to nip into Dhir.

With two wickets gone inside the game's first six balls, Mumbai brought in impact sub Brevis in the second over itself, but he too fell prey to the ball angling across, edging it to Nandre Burger at short third.

With three wickets in his

Chahal and Riyan Paraggave them a thorough hammering to move to No. 1 on the points table with a hattrick of victories.

Boult left Mumbai gasping within minutes of the start of the match when he dismissed Rohit Sharma, Naman Dhir and Dewald Brevis for first-ball ducks in his first eight balls. His 3 for 22 was only matched by the 3 for 11 taken by Chahal, who controlled the middle overs to ensure Mumbai did not stage a batting comeback.

Chasing 126 for victory, Parag dragged Royals out of some early trouble and shepherded the chase. He finished the game with six, six, and four to stay unbeaten on 54 to take the No. 1 spot on the orange cap leaderboard - tied on runs with Virat Kohli but ahead of strike rate.

Boult sets up the demolition job

Rohit had all the support from the crowd, which chanted his name even as they booed Hardik, but his time with the bat lasted only one ball when Boult got one to swing away from him and get him to edge it behind. Next ball, Boult swung it the

first eight deliveries of the game, Boult gave Royals an advantage that they never let go. He finished with 3 for 22.

Scintillating Chahal

After Boult's searing opening spell, Burger got in on the action. Playing as a replacement for the injured Sandeep Sharma, Burger came around the wicket to

pick off Ishan Kishan with a length ball that angled away and took his edge.

With Mumbai Indians 20 for 4 in three-and-a-half overs, Tilak Varma and Hardik looked to build a recovery, almost succeeding with a 56-run fifth-wicket stand, but Chahal dismissed both batters to snuff out any chance of a comeback.

After hitting six boundaries early in his innings, Hardik fell on 34 when he holed out at mid-on trying to hit Chahal. Tilak was sent packing on 32 soon after when Chahal's googly was edged to R Ashwin at short third.

Chahal finished his spell with the wicket of Gerald Coetzee late in the innings. In all, 16 of Chahal's 24 deliveries were dots, and his four-over spell ended with

an economy of only 2.75.

A late wicket for Avesh Khan and a second for Burger ensured Mumbai fin-

ished on 125 for 9, a score too low on a surface that is traditionally batting-friendly.

Madhwal comes good on season debut

Only wickets could save Mumbai after that batting effort, and they played their trump card early when Jasprit Bumrah shared the new ball, with Kwena Maphaka, for the first time this season.

But even though Bumrah bowled three of the six powerplay overs, the Royals batters did not give a wicket away to him. Yashasvi Jaiswal fell to Maphaka in the first over itself, while the other three wickets went to Akash Madhwal, playing his first game of IPL 2024.

Madhwal struck with the second ball of his spell when he got Sanju Samson to chop on to his stumps, and added a second when Jos Buttler pulled him to

fine leg. He added a third later, in the 13th over, when Ashwin sent a leading edge off a short delivery to point. Madhwal was the standout bowler for Mumbai Indians with 3 for 20.

Parag's form continues

Parag walked in ranked No. 5 on the orange cap list and finished the day with the cap on his head. With no real scoreboard pressure on this occasion, No. 4 Parag played risk-free cricket early on, but tore into Coetzee with four fours and two sixes. It all started with backto-back boundaries off Coetzee in the eighth over,

followed by another lofted four over the covers in the 11th. He then smoked Bumrah through mid-off in the 14th over before depositing Piyush Chawla over long-on in the 15th.

Parag then put the finishing touches on the result by hammering Coetzee for 16 runs off the first three balls of the 16th over. The first ball went for a clubbed six over the covers, and he reached his fifty next ball with a slog over midwicket. The winning runs came over wicketkeeper Kishan's head and sent Royals and Mumbai Indians to opposite ends of the points table.

(ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

Nandre Burger 4-0-32-2 Avesh Khan 4-0-30-1

Yuzvendra Chahal 4-0-11-3

Ravichandran Ashwin 4-0-27-0 Rajasthan

(T: 126 runs from 20 ovs)

It was an all-star performance in the field for Royals

Riyan Parag scored another half-century, and claimed the orange cap

Kwena Maphaka struck in the first over, sending back Yashasvi Jaiswal for his first IPL wicket

Trent Boult struck three times in the first two overs to have Mumbai reel

Spankhurst reigns supreme at Port Mourant Turf Club Easter Cup

Guyana’s champion horse for the year 2023, Spankhurst extended his dominance with another crushing win at the Port Mourant Turf Club Easter Cup. The Jumbo Jetowned horse piloted by Jockey Colin Ross stormed to a $2 million win in the feature race, finishing ahead of Stolen Money, Jessica’s Pride and Cremore.

On a day filled with controversy where the stewards were hard at work, it was a dead heat for Stolen Money and Jessica’s Pride (both were adjudged second) while Cremore came fourth in the feature race which was open to all horses, running at 1700 meters.

The penultimate race of the day was the G & Lower and West Indies first-time starters. It was a tense race as American Traveler won a sprint home to upset Soca Harmony.

However, after the race, the stewards disqualified American Traveler for interference at the first turn. Soca

Harmony was adjudged the winner of the G & Lower and West Indies first-time starters. Coup Detat came in second. She WBO on Time came in third while American Traveler was given fourth. Earlier, the exciting race card started with Haley winning the J & Lower event.

Tizway came in second while Black Time and Shake the Bank rounded out the top four finishers in that order.

The second race of the day was the E Class race, which was won by Hecho Con Amor followed by Glorious Business and Phil in Echo in that order.

Race three was the L Open and J3 Maiden event.

Sans Souci Jaguars are WCC/Farmers Cup T20 Champs

Sans Souci Jaguars were awarded the title of victors of the Wakenaam Cricket Committee/Farmers Cup T20 tournament, which was held recently at the Wakenaam Community Center in Good Success.

Sans Souci Jaguars defeated archrivals Sans Souci SC by 88 runs in front of a sizable crowd.

The Sans Souci Jaguars took the opening strike, scoring 151. Gladewin Henry Jr and Zameer Zaman gave their team a strong start with a 47-run stand before Henry was dismissed for 30, with three fours and two sixes, by Jaggernauth Manbodh. Safraz Mohamed was bowled for 13 by Cleon

Venture, and Zaman followed shortly after with 21 runs, including three fours and one six, for a total of 77.

Sans Souci fought back, picking up wickets at regular intervals, with only Nokta Moses (16), Beesham Moses (15), and Derwin Daniels (12) reaching double digits; Wayne Osborne took 3-17 and Kamal Khan 3-20.

Zaman (1-7) returned Osborne (06), and Siddiq Mohamed stopped Jaggernauth Manbodh (06) and Kamal Khan (00) early in the chase, leaving Sans Souci SC in difficulty at 29-3. Any dreams of a comeback were dashed as Mohamed sent back Varounie Sasepaul (02) and

Ceon Venture (01) in rapid succession, while Nokta Moses captured Cleon Venture for a maximum score of 11.

Nokta and his brother Beesham Moses (1-18) demolished Sans Souci SC's lower order, bowling them out for 63 in 11 overs. Mohamed scored 4-12, while Nokta Moses had 3-7.

Mohamed won the manof-the-match and best bowler awards, while the Sans Souci Jaguars received a trophy and $50,000. Sans Souci got a trophy and $15,000, while Henry was elected the best batsman in the final, Henry, Derwin Daniels, and Zaman were awarded awards for hitting the most sixes in the game.

Top Gun, piloted by Jockey Kellman, cruised to victory, finishing ahead of Risk Affair. Princess Sasha finished third while Get Them Bobby finished fourth.

Star Fire Gold displayed dominance in the threeyear-old Guyana-bred event. Jockey Ronaldo Appadu piloted the Cheefoon Racing Stables horse to the Scores Even trophy, which was dominated by Dennis Deroop. In the three-year-old Guyana bred race, Country Rock came in second while Regal Surprise and She’s a Monica rounded out the top four finishers.

Eighteen-year-old jockey Kishan Pereira then scripted a sensational win in race five, the H and Lower race. He won with Jagdeo’s Racing

Stable horse, Here Comes Heidi while Amicable Kate came in second. Red Ruby and stable-mate Theory of Colors came in third and fourth respectively.

This race was sponsored by Big G Lumber Yard, Kares Engineering, Ryan Tilak, Old Broom Lounge, K Hanniff Construction, Kascon Construction, AJM Enterprise, Apsol, Money Tree Trading, T&R Construction, Port Mourant Turf Club, Jumbo Jet, KP Jagdeo, Wally Enterprise, Premium Asphalt, Zick Back Shop and Family, Archway Snackette, Devendra Bishoo and Dennis Deroop.

The next race day is set for April 28, via the Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Committee, at Rising Sun Turf Club.

SLBA calls for greater investments in Caribbean’s Youth Development Boxing Programmes

Over twenty-five young boxers from the Vieux Fort and Castries gyms, participated in a Preparatory Camp over the Easter weekend, as St Lucia readies to host the second annual Caribbean Champion of Champions Boxing Tournament.

Seven countries including defending champions St Lucia will be represented at the tournament on April 12 & 13 at the Vigie Sports Complex.

The Preparatory Camp was organised by the St Lucia Boxing Association (SLBA) to bring the national team together and introduce boxers to a regime of tactical training and conditioning.

President of the SLBA, David Christopher says the camp was extremely successful, as it met the overall objectives.

He added "we are ex-

cited about the interest and improvements among several young boxers who will represent St Lucia against their regional counterparts at Champion of Champions".

The SLBA President also acknowledged major strides being made with Youth Development Programmes in Trinidad, Guyana, Antigua, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Barbados and the Bahamas.

He said that "all these countries have submitted teams of young boxers for the upcoming tournament, and St Lucia is excited to give our young boys and girls the opportunity to match up and get some ring time".

Christopher further encouraged regional Governments and the corporate sector to increase support for national boxing programmes, as they help

create better citizens and potential champions.

The Champion of Champions Tournament promises exciting action and entertainment.

Bell time is 6pm nightly.

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh along with the connections of Jumbo Jet at the feature presentation at Port Mourant

The Sans Souci Jaguars team

SLBA President David Christopher

CARIFTA Games 2024…

Persaud, Hinckson rake in silver on final day

…dramatic 4x4 ends in bronze for U20 boys

The duo of Athaleyha Hinckson and Kaidon Persaud brought Guyana’s medal tally at the CARIFTA Games up to seven, while the Boys’ U20 4x400m team put the cherry on top with another bronze on the final day on Monday.

As such, Guyana ended their 2024 campaign with 4 gold medals, 2 silver and 2 bronze.

It was high drama in the very final event at the Kirani James Athletics Stadium in Grenada on Monday night as the 4x400m Boys’ U20 race saw three teams falling out of the race due to a mixup with the starting gun sound.

Jamaica’s team completed the race in 3:10.58 for the gold while Guyana’s team of Malachi Austin, Jaheel Cornette, Dh Neilson Gill and Jamol Sullivan stopped the clock at 3:14.05 for second place.

However, the mix-up was contested and the teams that stopped were allowed to run against the clock.

With Trinidad’s team finishing in 3:11.10, they snatched the silver medal while Guyana was demoted to third place.

Despite not being able to complete the sprint double, U17 sprinter Hinckson was once again impressive, crossing the line in 23.85s for second place and silver in the Girls’ 200m event.

While Trinidad and Tobago, the Bahamas and Antigua and Barbuda stopped; Guyana, Jamaica, Grenada and Barbados, etc, continued running.

Jamaica’s Natrece East in 23.74s claimed gold while Tyra Fenton of Antigua and Barbuda completed the podium with a time of 23.97s.

In the male version of the 200m event, Guyana’s Skylar Charles missed out after running 22.36s for sixth place.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Kadeem Chinapoo clocked 21.78s for gold, while Jamaica’s Oshane Jarvis (22.16s) and British Virgin Islands’ Tiondre Frett (22.18s) finished third.

Moving up to the Under-20 category, Malachi Austin clocked 21.56s, finishing seventh in the 200m final. Gary Card of Jamaica stopped the clock at 20.60s for the gold medal.

Barbados’ Aragon Straker clinches silver

KFC Elite League…

with a time of 20.76s, while Cayman Islands’ Davonte Howell rounded off the top three in 20.60s.

Meanwhile, in the distaff, Tianna Springer was withdrawn from the Girls’ 200m event as an injury precaution. Jamaica’s Shaniya Douglas was the gold medal

Twinner in that event, after clocking 23.03s. An hour earlier, Kaidon Persaud moved Guyana’s medal count up to six on Monday afternoon, after clocking 1:56.53 in a close finish to claim silver in the Boys’ Under-17 800m event.

Persaud was bested

only by Jamaica’s Keandre Kelly, who stopped the clock at 1:56.31 for gold, while his countryman Alejandro Palmer earned bronze with a time of 1:58.05.

However, Guyana did not have much more fortune in the 800m discipline. Attoya Harvey had her hopes of a second medal shot when she finished sixth in the Girls’ U20 version of the events, with a time of 2:16.10.

That race was won by Virgin Islands’ Michelle Smith in 2:06.18, while Haiti’s Victoria Guerrier (2:07.45) and Jamaica’s Monique Stewart (2:07.56) completed the podium.

In the male version of that event, Guyana’s Javon Roberts completed the first lap, but was unable to end the race. Roberts has reportedly been battling an injury.

The Boys’ U20 800m was won by Jamaica’s Kemario Bygrave, who clocked 1:51.43.

Guinness “Greatest of the Streets”…

GDF, Slingerz make waves on return to play Laing Avenue is the ‘greatest’ in Georgetown

he Guyana Football Federation’s National Training Center (NTC) at Providence, East Bank Demerara came alive on Sunday night when the KFC Elite League resumed in full force, with the ‘big teams’ back in action.

In what was previously touted as one of the ‘mustsee games of the tournament’, Slingerz Football Club trumped a familiar foe in Western Tigers to conclude what was an entertaining night of football action in Season 6 of the League.

Returning to competition after several of their players were out on international duties, Slingerz were tasked with facing former Coach Charles Pollard, who could have used his intricate knowledge of the Slingerz players to his outfit’s benefit.

However, 3 minutes before the first segment expired, Slingerz’ Darron Niles levelled the scores with a perfectly executed set-piece from 10 yards outside the box.

With the scores levelled 1-all, Slingerz stunned Western Tigers with two back-to-back goals early in the second.

Initially, it appeared as though that was occurring as the men out of West Ruimveldt took the lead first by way of an Andrew Murray strike. On an assist from Captain Daniel Wilson, who stormed the box, Murray found the back of the net in the 25th minute and Western held on for almost another 20 minutes.

Both executed in similar fashion, Simeon Moore assisted, while Sheldon Holder executed the finishes in the 52nd and 56th minutes.

hold off the soldiers for some time, it was short-lived as Olvis Mitchell opened GDF’s account in the 22nd minute. Thereafter, Mitchell made it a 2-0 affair by the 30th minute and went on to complete his hat-trick before the half expired, in the 45th+1.

IThe score remained 3-1 for much of the half, until Curtez Kellman converted a penalty opportunity in the 85th to push the final score to 4-1.

Earlier on

Sunday evening, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) FC also made a strong return with an 8-0 mauling of Fruta Conquerors FC.

While Fruta Conquerors managed to

But Mitchell’s superb striking was not the only source of fireworks in the first 45 minutes, Delroy Fraser had found the back of the net in the 31st, while Chris Macey did the same in the 42nd to ensure a whopping 5-0 lead by intermission.

Then in the second, Ian Dooker extended GDF’s lead in the 64th minute, while Stephen McDonald and Kelsey Benjamin added their names to the scoresheet in the 72nd and 89th minutes for the massive win.

The Elite League continues today, Tuesday, April 2, at the same Providence venue with another double-header. First, Monedderlust Football Club will battle Den Amstel FC at 18:30h, and then Santos FC take on the Guyana Police Force (GPF) FC from 21:00h.

n what can be considered the greatest underdog story in the history of the event, Laing Avenue were crowned the Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” Georgetown Champion, defeating former winners North Ruimveldt on sudden-death penalty kicks on Sunday evening at the National Park tarmac, Thomas Lands.

Entering the tournament as a reserve team, Laing Avenue, who lost their opening game of the event, went on a five-game winning streak that culminated with the 2-1 sudden-death penalty shoot-out championship victory over North Ruimveldt to seal the title after regulation time ended scoreless.

One of their notable vic-

tories was also a semi-final win over two-time defending champions Gold is Money, further highlighting their status as ‘giant killers’.

With the result, Laing Avenue walked away with $800,000 and the championship trophy. They also earned an automatic berth to the national championship in August. On the other hand, North Ruimveldt walked away with $400,000 and the second-place trophy.

On the individual side, Bevney Mark of Laing Avenue was adjudged the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the event and will receive a pair of football turfs from Colours Boutique.

Meanwhile, Gold is Money defeated North East La Penitence 2-1 on penalty

kicks after full time ended 2-2 in the third-place playoff. With the result, Gold is Money pocketed $200,000 and a trophy, while North East received $100,000 and the fourth-place award.

Complete Results

Final

Laing Avenue 0 v North Ruimveldt 0

Laing Avenue won 2-1 on sudden death penalty kicks.

3rd Place

North East La Penitence 2 v

Gold is Money 2

Gold is Money won 2-1 on penalty kicks

Semi-final round

Game-1

Gold is Money 0 v Laing Avenue 1

Game-2

North East La Penitence 0 v

North Ruimveldt1

Underdogs! Laing Avenue Captain Terrence Nero receives the championship trophy from Guinness Brand Manager Jeoff Clement after winning the Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” Georgetown Edition

A look at the battle between Slingerz FC (orange) and Western Tigers FC

Olvis Mitchell (green) led the charge for GDF with a hat-trick

Athaleyha Hinckson stormed to silver in the Girls’ U17 100m