Guyana Times - Tuesday, February 13, 2024

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THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 5641

PRICE $100 VAT INCLUDED

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2024

Auditor General Report

APNU/AFC cut $131M in cheques for projects in Region 10, despite no work done – PAC hears …engineers warned not to follow instructions which breach fiscal laws Page 3

President Ali meets with NYPD Deputy Commissioner …as Guyana seeks to enhance GPF through partnership Page 9

…given 3 years of supervised probation

APNU/AFC- P14 awarded $265.5M contract scrapped after mere 10% of works completed in 2 years Global Business Summit

PM advocates for strategic P13 planning amid global disruptions

Attention on Guyana – P11 Mustapha calls on farmers to up production

See story on page 7

State House attacker jailed for 3 months

PAC hearing

Caricom’s agri goals

Govt envisions tougher penalties for breach of workplace safety protocols …as 4 workplace deaths recorded in 7 days Page 8

WHAT'S INSIDE:

4th FPSO to P12 set sail from Singapore to Guyana early next year – ExxonMobil

Teachers whosePage absence was 10 unauthorised last week will not be Man under makepaid – Government shift shed nabbed

Berbice woman involved in $283M fraud claims money given to pastor

Page 14

with cocaine P13

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Auditor General Report

BRIDGE OPENINGS

BRIDGE The Demerara OPENINGS Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, February 13 – 04:00h-05:30h and Wednesday, February 14 – 20:00h-20:45h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Tuesday, February 13 – 06:35h-08:05h and Wednesday, February 14 – 07:15h-08:45h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

APNU/AFC cut $131M in cheques for projects in Region 10 despite no work done – PAC hears …engineers warned not to follow instructions which breach fiscal laws

WEATHER TODAY Thundery to light rain showers are expected during the day and at night. Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-Easterly to East North-Easterly between 2.68 metres and 4.92 metres.

High Tide: 07:02h and 10: 24h reaching maximum heights of 2.78 metres and 2.76 metres.

Low Tide: 12:56h reaching a minimum height of 0.42 metre.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2024

LOTTERY NUMBERS A

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FREE TICKET

Bonus Ball

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2024 DAILY MILLIONS

16 21 22

03 10 LUCKY 3

7

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Afternoon Draw

1

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Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

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17 18 19

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SUPER

PAY DAY

PAY DAY

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2024

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2X Afternoon Draw

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2X Evening Draw

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DISCLAIMER: WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS IN PUBLICATION. PLEASE CALL THE HOTLINE FOR CONFIRMATION - TEL: 225-8902

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$82.07/barrel

+0.09

Rough Rice London Sugar

$332.91/ton $659.00/ton

-0.70 0.00

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask Low/High

$2018.50 $2010.90

$2019.50 $2028.10

Change

-1.10

-0.05%

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill

O

fficials from the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) were on Monday grilled by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) as to why $131 million worth of cheques were cut and kept on hand, despite the work that was earmarked to be done and paid for not being carried out.

It had emerged in the Auditor General’s 2019 report that as many as 228 cheques, which amounted to $131.8 million, were cut for unfinished and future works. During the sitting, Regional Executive Officer (REO) Dwight John and his predecessor, Orrin Gordon, fielded questions on these cheques.

According to Gordon, an explanation was given when the Audit Office of Guyana came to inspect their office.

“We usually get a circular from the Ministry of Finance, indicating that you have to close off operations by that time. At that time, works were still going on. There were rollover projects that were still in the system. We would have noted that a considerable amount of rollover projects were requested of this accounting entity, in addition to the fact that there were some major capital projects that were not moving on,” he said.

He explained that there was, therefore, a mixture of payments that were in the system. And while it was discussed extensively with the Auditor General Office at the time, in an effort to explain what was occurring, they were given a timeframe by which they should have cleared the cheques.

“If, for example, individuals didn’t complete, we would ensure that those are returned back. As you would see, some here that had to be returned to the Consolidated Fund. And the others that would have been completed, the cheques would have been paid off.”

Former Region 10 REO Orrin Gordon

Breach in law

However, Public Works Minister and PAC member Juan Edghill was unimpressed by this explanation, pointing out that the Region’s practices of cutting and holding cheques without turning them over at the end of the year, were breaches of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act. “Do you agree that there was a breach?” Edghill questioned, and Gordon agreed.

“So, we cut cheques that were not supposed to have been cut and kept? You can’t cut a cheque before the IPC (Interim Payment Certificate) says the work is complete.”

While Gordon acknowledged that the system was not a perfect one, it was one that allowed work to be completed without acrimony between the Government and the contractors. But Edghill noted the problems associated with his statement that

a system existed which allowed the breaking of the rules.

“If it was a man got his IPC, you prepare the cheque, the Ministry of Finance cut it. And he come in January or February to pick up his cheque, because he didn’t come back, he was late, it’s a different story.

But we’re talking here that the cheques were cut! And the works were not completed. That is the issue here!

How the cheques cut and the

work ain’t do?” Edghill further queried.

While Gordon called for changes to be made to the system in order to eliminate the need to keep these cheques on hand, PAC member Ganesh Mahipaul had a warning for engineers, urging them to “not subject yourself to instructions that are against the financial laws of this country… you cannot pay for work that is expected to be completed.”

(G3)

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guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2024

Views

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

Parenting dynamic

E

very year, the United Nations General Assembly observes Global Day of Parents, a day set aside to honour parents throughout the world.

In Guyana, it is no different, there are a lot of parents who should be thanked for their unwavering commitment and non-ending sacrifice towards the good upbringing and development of their children.

While there are a lot of children who have to be thankful in Guyana, there are many who have been left abandoned, neglected, and forgotten. Another militating factor which plagues not only Guyana but the Caribbean is the absent role of the father, the flip side of which invariably leads to increased cases of single mothers.

These dynamics, which some sociologists argue is a product of years of social and cultural degradation of the psyche of the slaves and indentured labourers at the hands of colonial masters, so that they can effectively maintain control, have left an indelible mark on the characterisation of our people.

While there is no recent local statistics to go by, which is an indictment on our research and analytical institutions, the Guyana Bureau of Standards, in collaboration with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has outlined in its Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) sometime ago, that “almost one third (29 per cent) of all children under five years are living in a household without their biological father. One in three children (30 per cent) comes from the poorest quintile, whereas one in eight (13 per cent) comes from the richest quintile.” Taking into consideration the prevalent cases of child neglect and proliferation of single mothers, it can be rationally construed that after 10 years, that figure has increased.

According to the United Nations, “many men have difficulty assuming the responsibilities of fatherhood, often with damaging consequences to families, and inevitably, society at large. Some fathers inflict domestic violence or even sexual abuse, devastating families and creating profound physical and emotional scars in children. Others abandon their families outright and fail to provide support.

Researchers continue to explore how the presence or absence of fathers can affect children, in areas such as school achievement and crime.”

Sadly, too many children in Guyana are left without the critical nurturing support of a wholesome family unit during the most crucial years of their upbringing, leading them down a narrow path of anger and self-denigration. The spin-off effects of which leave the young ones susceptible to negative influences such as gang-related crimes, drug abuse, and from a sociological perspective, the perpetuation of the deserting cycle as the child becomes an adult.

There is no denying in recent years the increase in crimes being carried out by juveniles, whether they were the masterminds is yet to be determined, but what is clear is that egregious acts of murders and robberies are being committed by children who come across as unsympathetic and distanced when caught or confronted.

According to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), there are factors that may reduce the onset of risky behaviour in delinquent juveniles; these are seen as protective factors and include “close emotional ties with at least one adult; a sense of safety and belonging to an educational institution”, which will impart strong social skills; ability to solve problems, and a sense of purpose and independence.

The root of the problem, however, has to be addressed at the family level. Through the process of educating, we need to propel a greater awareness of just how important of a role the parents play within the construct of the family and the influence this has on the positive developmental trajectory of the child.

People gather to look at a giant dragon figure at a park in Beijing, on the eve of the Lunar New Year of the Dragon (AFP)

Allegations of discrimination must be based on evidence

Dear Editor, It has become fashionable for Opposition forces to level allegations of discrimination against the PPPC Government on every sector of the economy, thus it was not surprising that the Ministry of Health also came under their scrutiny.

They stated, for example, that G$19.1 billion of capital funds in 2022 had been allocated for the purchase of medical supplies and medications. Wrong!

The amount allocated instead was G$17.7 billion.

This is just one case in a pattern of incorrect information being pedalled to the public.

While political rhetoric and platitudes would sensationalise allegations and create uneasiness among people, Government officials and supporters should not be excused from responding to them by producing evidence to prove otherwise. Critics must likewise produce evidence to support their claims.

It is in this context that I found it necessary to conduct research into aspects of procurement at one Government agency - the Ministry of Health (MoH) - for the year 2022, to determine if there has been any evidence to support allegations of discrimination.

(When data become available for 2023, this research would be updated accord-

ingly). Critics referred to the New GPC (NGPC) and Western Scientific (WSC) contracts that were awarded for the procurement of drugs, supplies, and equipment for the MoH as a “classic case” of discrimination. They stated, for example, that the drugs, supplies, and equipment had been sourced from only two vendors, NGPC and WSC, and that these were awarded on a sole source basis.

However, they failed to produce any evidence to support their allegations.

Let us examine the evidence. In respect to the contract awards that were won

by New GPC and Western Scientific, 16 awards were made through public tendering, 2 were through the restrictive tender method, and 3 were through the sole source method.

In addition, contracts totalling G$1.433 billion were awarded to other contractors, for which NGPC and WSC did not participate. A further amount of G$4.5 billion covered contracts awarded by Local Government authorities for purchase of medical supplies and equipment. NGPC and WSC were not involved in those procurements.

I recall that similar charges of discrimination were made against the PPPC Government in the awarding of contracts for road construction projects: (i) Schoonard to Crane Road

project (worth G$11 billion; (ii) the Mandela to Eccles Road Project at G$2.3 billion); and (iii) Eccles to Diamond Road Project (G$3.9 billion). Critics indicated that Afro-Guyanese, for example, benefitted by only 17% from these combined contracts (total value of G$33.2 billion).

If one goes down this track, then the argument can be made that if annual wages payable to 54,000 Government workers are combined, these would amount to G$110 billion, of which Afro-Guyanese would receive over G$72.0 billion (or 65.5% of total wage bill).

The point is: "Why would the award of contracts to Indo-Guyanese be likened to a transfer of state resources to them (Indo-Guyanese), and why the transfer of state resources to pay wages to Afro-Guyanese and others be viewed differently, and not as cash transfers too?"

Back to MoH! Another misconception is that medical supplies and equipment were purchased from capital funds. This is misleading. Capital funds are used to purchase only equipment; while the purchase of drugs and medical supplies is made from the expense budget. Of the total contract award of G$11.767 billion to NGPC and WSC, for example, only 7.3% were funded from capital

expense; while the remainder (92.7%) were from expense budget.

Lacking evidence, or distorting social reality and using this to claim corruption or discrimination is not the path smart people would traverse.

The Ministry of Health assures us that the process of awarding these contracts was transparent and in accordance with the procurement rules. The bids were evaluated by NPTAB, and there was no complaint about discrimination lodged at either the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) or the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC).

Further, critics have failed to show whether there was any contractor who submitted a responsive bid that was lower in price than that of the awardees and was bypassed, or whether the procurement process was tainted.

Finally, I want to make it pellucid that I do not support any form of corruption or discrimination. And yes, people have the right to ask questions or to seek clarification on policies and actions of any Government.

However, what they should not embrace or produce in their quest to seek the truth are statements unsupported by evidence/facts Sincerely, Dr Tara Singh

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2024

5

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

How Guyana holds the Presidency of the UN Security Council Dear Editor, Guyana currently holds the Presidency of the UN Security Council (SC) for the month of February. France held the Presidency in January, and may have another shot next year.

Guyana was elected to the 15-member body last June. The Security Council membership rotates every two years among the ten non-permanent members.

UN member nations (193) lobby for votes to get elected to that and other bodies that rotate at agreed periodic intervals.

The globe is divided into four areas, with the ten SC seats divided up based on the number of members coming from the area

— five to Asia and Africa, one Eastern Europe, two to Western Europe, two to Latin America and the Caribbean. The four areas are divided into regions or sub-regions, and member states have an unwritten understanding and gentleman’s agreement to rotate the position, like South Asia gets one, East Asia gets another, North Africa gets one, etc. India and Japan served the most two-year periods for their area. Brazil served the most for LA. Guyana and Jamaica served two terms each, and Guyana is in its third. Canada also served several periods. It will be another twenty years before Guyana gets to serve in the SC again. Five members of

the Council are elected annually, replacing five members whose two-year terms will end on December 31 this year, so that there is continuity.

There are five permanent members — US, Russia, UK, France, and China. The five have veto powers; meaning, any one can block resolutions adopted by the Council.

India was offered a permanent seat in the Council in the 1950s, but then Prime Minister Nehru (unwisely) declined it and recommended China instead. India, Japan, Germany, among others, are lobbying for permanent member status. China and a few other states opposed expansion of the SC and permanent members. The en-

tire UN votes to select the ten members of the Council.

Members of a sub-region tend to have an agreement on which nation would have the slot, and there is no competition from other member states from that area or region. Members lobby or trade off to win the votes of other members of the region, as well as of the entire UN membership. Guyana won a huge majority when the vote was held last June, replacing Brazil from our region, whose two-year term ended on December 31, 2023.

Also elected were Algeria, Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone and Slovenia.

Election is not based on the type of government — democracy versus dictator-

ship. All member states are equally entitled to be elected.

Some do not opt for election.

The Presidency of the Security Council rotates monthly among the 15 members of the body, based on the alphabetical order of names of the fifteen countries. This is the first time that Guyana has been a member of the Security Council under a democratically elected government (PPP) but the third time as a member of the powerful UN body. It previously served in the council in 1975-76 and 1982-83 during the Burnham years. Guyana could get another slot if the Presidency late next year.

President Irfaan Ali is hosting a reception on the historic achievement of his

administration winning a seat at the Council. Intense lobbying led to the exalted selection last year.

The primary role of the SC is to maintain international peace and security.

The President of the Council chairs meetings. Any member state of the UN can appeal to the Council if there is a threat to its territory that has implications for peace and security.

President Irfaan Ali will hold a reception on the achievement on Tuesday evening in NY among invited guests. The achievement is a rarity that should deservedly be celebrated.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram (PhD)

Best’s recklessness, lack of discretion in dealing with Guyana’s security Dear Editor, It is with considerable dismay that I read Gary Best’s letter in the local press on the matter of the safety and integrity of Guyana’s borders.

The reason that I wrote in the first place, in response to Best’s highly politicized opinions, was simply to say to him, and I repeat, that this “is not a matter for political gamesmanship” and that “he is knowledgeable enough to know better”.

Best’s response in the media has most unfortunately added insult to injury, injury done not to me, but to his country. It is unbelievable that our former Chief-of-Staff should be advocating in the press that we discuss “details on how the concept of total national defence would be operationalized across Guyana…details on how the GDF would be expanded and equipped to defend our land and maritime borders beyond its current capability… details on how the GDF would be expanded and equipped to defend and protect our vital

offshore oil resources” etc.

Best goes on, inexplicably and unapologetically, to reveal that, when serving as Chief-of Staff, the advice he gave “the PPP government” and then quotes at length from a Guyana Defence Force document approved by the Defence Board – surely, a serious breach of confidence. Even worse, Best attempts to question the efficacy of Guyana’s “bilateral defence cooperation with the US, UK and others”. Certainly, that is not a matter for detailed public consumption.

If Gary Best were a retired Vice Admiral and Chief-of Staff of the Maduro government and wrote in the Venezuelan press as he now writes in ours, he would of course have already been in jail for having betrayed the trust placed in him.

Fortunately for him, he lives in a free country with a free press, but he should know that does not give him a licence to indulge in grossly irresponsible and unforgivable behaviour in pursuit of scoring political points at

the expense of our national security.

In contrast, the leadership of the People’s National Congress has acted with great responsibility on speaking with one voice with our Government on the matter of Venezuela’s continuing threat to the patrimony of our country, and I must presume that Best does not speak or write on their behalf.

The statement that I quoted “the US and Guyana were deepening our defence cooperation” are not

my words but those of US Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer. They speak for themselves. I never once suggested in my letter that the defence of our borders is not ultimately our own responsibility.

Let me conclude by thanking Dr. Cheddi (Joey) Jagan Jnr. (who is not among my admirers) for rising above this fact for his comments on this matter, expressed in the media on February 10: “even though I part ways with Nascimento on almost everything, I

would like to agree with everything he states in his letter, especially in relation to Britain and the USA, in dealing with the Maduro threat. Mr. Best should step up, along with other opposition personnel, to support the government’s efforts to protect Essequibo through diplomacy and unity of all Guyanese on this issue and, as a former GDF head, his contrary comments should have been kept to himself.

Maduro is a communist dictator hell-bent on acquiring our land, and whichev-

er government is in power in Guyana should be soundly supported on this issue, no matter what, as long as that government is not selling out to Maduro”.

I regret now that I even bothered to express my concern about Best’s recklessness, as it has only resulted in underlining his further lack of discretion in dealing with the security of our country. I will have nothing more to say on this matter.

Yours sincerely, Kit Nascimento

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2024

06:00 (Sign on) Inspiration Time 06:30 Cartoons 08:00 Stay Woke 08:30 Guy's Grocery Games 09:30 BBC Travel Show 10:00 Stop Suffering 11:00 Paternity Court 11:30 Divorce Court 12:00 News Break 12:05 Movie - Downton Abbey (2019) 14:00 The Loud House S1 E16 14:30 Spongebob Squarepants 15:00 Indian Soaps 16:00 Drake & Josh S2 E8 16:30 Victorious S1 E19 17:00 The Young & The Restless 18:00 CNN 18:30 Teaching the Truth in Love 19:00 The Evening News 20:00 Stop Suffering 20:30 Stand-up Comedy 21:00 Dynasty S4 E16 22:00 Blacklist S8 E16 23:00 Squid Game: The Challenge E9 00:00 Sign off

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2024

Foundation ◄

Page

Dividing whole numbers by decimals Dividing a whole number by a decimal is also exactly like dividing whole numbers, except you need to remember to multiply the divisor by the smallest power of 10 that will move the decimal point all the way to the right. Then multiply the dividend by that same power of 10.

Instead of leaving a remainder, you can put a decimal point at the end of the dividend and add as many placeholder zeros as you need. Then continue dividing, but don’t forget to put the decimal point in the quotient, too!

112.2

Example: Estimate 28.05 ÷ .25

25

Step 1: Multiply the divisor by the smallest power of 10 that will move the decimal point all the way to the right: .25 x 100 = 25

30

55

50

Step 3: Set up your division and divide

50

112

25

30

25

I have been to the new cities, Epilogues of the old, The light bound cities,

50

The steel bound cities,

0

The sky bound cities,

Exercises: Divide 1) 8.70 ÷ 2.70 2) 23.90 ÷ 10 3) 783.07 ÷ 3.27 4) 6.90 ÷ 3 5) 65.42 ÷ 4.54

55

The stone bound cities, Where mirrored spectre of the past Is vista of the future,

50

5

Build a 2-stage balloon rocket Cont’d Procedure Inflate the first balloon about three quarters full. Have your helper pinch the balloon's mouth shut, but do not tie it.

Optionally, you can use a binder clip to pinch the mouth shut and prevent the balloon from deflating.

Pull the first balloon's month through the cardboard ring and press it up against the side. Make sure you do not let the balloon deflate.

Thread the second balloon partially through the cardboard ring, so its mouth

CONTINUED FROM YESTERDAY

And across the Atlantic seas

25

Step 2: Multiply the dividend by that same power of 10: 2805

25⟌2805.0

by Ian Carew

25⟌2805.0

is facing the same direction as the first balloon.

Carefully inflate the second balloon about three quarters full. Your goal is to inflate the balloon such that it presses up against the inside of the cardboard ring, and squeezes the mouth of the first balloon shut.

This can take some practice – be patient!

Keep the mouth of the second balloon pinched shut, either with your fingers or a binder clip.

Tape the balloons to the drinking straws, with the balloons pointing along the

fishing line. Do your best to make sure the balloons and straws are in a straight line. If the balloons are very curved and the straws are twisted at an angle, this will cause extra friction along the fishing line and slow your rocket down.

Make a prediction What do you think is going to happen when you release both mouths of your balloons?

Pull the balloons to one end of the line and release both mouths. (Sabine De Brabandere, PhD, Science Buddies)

And the brooding of the old cities Appeared again, The mirrored spectre of age was there again.

I have gone in my searching To the cities, The old cities, Warsaw, Prague…

To be continued

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt envisions tougher penalties for breach of safety protocols …as 4 workplace deaths recorded in 7 days W

ith four workplace fatalities being registered in the space of seven days, Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton has determined that there was need for a culture change when it comes to health and safety, coupled with the need for more stringent penalties for defaulters.

On February 4, 66-yearold Lennox McPherson died after he was pinned by an excavator bucket against the track of another excavator just outside the Guiana Shield Resources sandpit at Dora on the East Bank of Demerara.

Then on February 6, 64-year-old Trevor Jones died after he was crushed by super reach stacker at the John Fernandes Wharf at Water Street, Georgetown. It was reported that the man was struck by the counterweight at the rear of the vehicle, at which point he fell and was fatally injured by the rear right wheel of the machine.

On February 9, 27-yearold Domindra Narayan succumbed to injuries he had received one month prior after falling from a 10-foot scaffold while pressure washing Imam Bacchus and

signed a 20-year agreement for shore base services to support the US oil giant’s operations offshore Guyana.

Modern laws, training

Trevor Jones

Lennox McPherson

Domindra Narayan

Sons Limited’s complex at Affiance, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam).

Then on February 10, a Venezuelan health and safety worker, 37-year-old Rusbel Azocar was killed at the Vreed-en-Hoop Shore Base, the artificial island that is being constructed in the Demerara River.

Police had stated that the worker was placing safety cones and danger tape around a hole as a signal to warn others of the hazard, but, unfortunately, he himself fell into the hole.

It was reported that at the time, he was not wearing a lifejacket, as was mandated by protocol.

In the latest incident, Minister Hamilton highlighted the irony of the fact

that the health and safety worker failed to adhere to health and safety protocols at the worksite.

“What is astonishing, he has OSH [Occupational Safety and Health] training and understanding, so if he is in that position, then you can imagine the people he is supposed to be supervising,” the Labour Minister remarked.

He also commented on the fact that the workplace fatality occurred at a site that is supposed to have been operating at the highest level of safety standards.

“It is alarming. Most companies now are developing their HSE [Health, Safety and Environment policy] based on what oil and gas is requiring…so

yes, you would expect better for a company that is in oil and gas,” he said.

The Minister nevertheless admitted that even with all the right guidelines in place, the attitude and culture of the workplace regarding health and safety would need to be up to standards.

“For me, it’s a cultural issue…,” he said.

VESHI has since revealed that the victim was employed by a subcontractor. VEHSI is a joint venture between NRG Holdings Inc —a 100 per cent Guyanese-owned consortium that is the majority shareholder –and Jan De Nul, a Belgian international maritime infrastructure company. ExxonMobil Guyana and VESHI had

Nevertheless, the labour Minister said the Government was working on introducing modern laws governing health and safety in the workplace.

“Our legislation is not relevant to the times… our OSH legislation never envisioned oil and gas, so that also is a work in process…we are engaged with the Attorney General Chambers to revamp and review these legislation…,” Hamilton explained.

“I have recommended steep fines,” he added.

Additionally, Minister Hamilton said more training was needed for health and safety officials in Guyana.

“Some people don’t even know this exists as a profession,” Hamilton said, adding that “we need more people to be trained in the area.”

“The same way how we offer scholarships for other things, we need to start offering scholarships for people to be trained as OSH officers.”

Nevertheless, the Labour Minister said the Government has been making substantial investments in raising awareness on this matter and within the last three years, there have been results.

“I can speak to hundreds of training sessions we’ve had with both public sector and private sector…I can speak to how many workplace and safety committees we’ve established that never existed and some that existed long years ago that we’ve resuscitated…”

“We’ve expanded the Ministry of Labour beyond the coastal plain, in every region, so work is being done.”

Hamilton said in 2020, there were 32 workplace fatalities and in 2023, the number of workplace deaths reduced to 20.

Of the 20 deaths recorded, nine occurred in the mining sector in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) while six were recorded in the construction sector. For last year too, the Ministry had recorded 175 non-fatal accidents.

Meanwhile, there were 27 workplace fatalities in 2021 and 21 in 2022. (G11)

8 NEWS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

State House attacker jailed for 3 months …placed under 3 years of supervised probation

B

ethel Chimezie, the Nigerian national who was captured after a brazen attack on State House in 2022 had left a Presidential Guard seriously wounded, has been sentenced by Magistrate Leron Daly to three months’ imprisonment after being found guilty of discharging a loaded firearm with intent; and further, has been placed under three years of supervised probation.

In handing down the sentence, Magistrate Daly began with the maximum of 15 months, but deducted time spent on remand. The Nigerian had been remanded to prison by then Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan after he had been arraigned before her on January 19, 2023 charged with discharging a loaded firearm

Convicted Nigerian national Bethel Chimezie

with intent at Presidential Guard Quincy Cummings, and slapped with attempting to commit murder.

The attempted murder charge is set for calling on March 1, 2024 before Magistrate Rondel Weever.

Recap

On December 15, 2022, Nigerian national Bethel Chimezie approached the ranks at the southern guard hut in the compound

of State House, located near the Carmichael Street Georgetown entrance, and demanded to see President Dr Irfaan Ali. After being informed about the process governing entrance into the compound, Chimezie whipped out a knife and stabbed Presidential Guard Teon Perreira five times, before relieving a female guard of her firearm and begin retreating from the compound, firing shots in the process.

Civilian videos of the ordeal captured Chimezie retreating from the guard hut as he engaged in an exchange of gunfire with Presidential Guards and other ranks. Injured in the exchanges, Chimezie was surrounded, intercepted, and disarmed by ranks. At

the scene of the shooting, Police ranks retrieved a 9mm pistol and seven 9mm spent shells.

Chimezie and the injured guard were immediately rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) for urgent medical attention. An unconscious Perreira was rushed into surgery, and later regained consciousness.

While still on his hospital bed, Perreira was subsequently promoted by President Dr Irfaan Ali to the rank of corporal.

Information subsequently released on Chimezie revealed that he had arrived in Guyana on March 13, 2020, and had previously been employed with a security company, but was employed with a cleaning service company.

The day before…

Y

…the love fest

our Eyewitness has been accused of being a misogynist (if not a misanthrope) for panning “Valentine’s Day” in yesterday’s column. The first, dear reader, hates women, while the latter is churlish towards our entire species! Nothing could be further from the truth! It’s just that since the Budget was announced (and he’s old enough to appreciate calypsonian advice “no money, no love”) he has felt constrained to set his priorities straight!!

So, now on to showering love and affection on our female of the species in general - and our better halves in particular! Let it be stated for the record that your Eyewitness did his bit with the flowers and chocolates.

After all, he didn’t want winter to descend into his humble abode with the cold shoulder and even colder cutting looks from the object of his affection! But if the truth be told, he really isn’t into these occasions; which started out as well-meaning attempts for us to live better lives with each other, but have now become so commercialised that all the human feeling has been sucked from them.

Not only Valentine’s Day, but Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, etc, have all become totally mechanical processes, wherein you walk into a store, plunk down your cash, and you’re given some pieces of merchandise that are supposed to signal your “love” for wife, mother, father, and so on.

It just sucks all the spontaneity from expressing what’s supposed to be the sentiment that’s ultimately responsible for keeping us going as a species: love - it really does make the world go round.

But where did this Valentine’s Day come from? Like Christmas and Easter - and so many of our observances in the (westernized) modern world - it all began in the practices of the Roman Empire. In the case of Valentine’s Day, this came out of the “Feast of Lupercalia” - which was “a bloody, violent and sexually-charged celebration awash with animal sacrifice, random matchmaking, and coupling in the hope of warding off evil spirits and infertility”. More specifically, male youths would run naked through the streets, where willing females would bare their skin to be whipped with thongs of leather, and “couple” with each other as suited their fancy!

After Rome fell to Christianity, the revelries were (sadly?) banned. But unlike Burnham, who banned certain foods in Guyana, the Christian Romans realized bans aren’t effective unless substitutes are provided. At the end of the 5th century, Pope Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine’s Day, and gradually, the “Pagan” practices were sublimated into signalling “love” for females in less direct ways - such as sending love letters and such like.

In our modern times, we were convinced that flowers and chocolate would do the trick!

Ah…for the good old days of expressing love directly and publicly!! …Opposition unity While most would be commemorating Valentine’s Day tomorrow, your Eyewitness wonders whether the AFC and the PNC/APNU biggies would kiss and make up. What, dear reader? You’ve forgotten that, nine years ago, on Valentine’s Day, Ramjattan had swallowed his fears of becoming “dead meat” and hitched his AFC with Granger’s APNU? Your Eyewitness doesn’t expect them to exhibit the exuberance and wild abandon of Nagamootoo and Granger “wining” down on campaign stages from Abary to Whim - and not forgetting Zeelugt! After all, right after they won the 2020 elections, the shine wore off THAT apple!

What with Nagamootoo getting “larwah” – in the words of former President Ramotar! – and Ramjattan getting shafted! – it was all downhill for them! But they do say that, with matters of the heart - and the Valentine’s Day 2015 Cummingsburg Accord was about the heart, wasn’t it? - hope beats eternal.

So, are Nagamootoo and Granger going to surface? …Opposition power Your Eyewitness has been pleading with the Opposition to use their chairing of two of the Parliamentary Sectoral Committees to hold the Government’s feet to the fire.

Well, the Natural Resources Committee just grilled the Gas-to-Shore Energy bigwigs. So, what’s the scoop??

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

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

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

President Ali meets with NYPD Deputy Commissioner …as Guyana seeks to enhance GPF through partnership

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resident Dr Irfaan Ali had a courtesy visit on Monday from the First Deputy Commissioner of the New York Police Department (NYPD), Tania Kinsella at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel.

According to the President’s social media page, Kinsella, who has Guyanese heritage, met with Ali to discuss a potential partnership between the Guyana Police Force and the NYPD. The partnership aims to support the reorganisation and transformation of the GPF through collaboration on the Guyana Police Academy.

“The Government is working to have the Academy recognised regionally and internationally. The President stated that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be established soon to define the terms of the partnership,” the post stated.

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh during his Budget 2024 presentation on January 15 in the National Assembly, had said that the GPF would embark on major devel-

President Dr Irfaan Ali and First Deputy Commissioner of the New York Police Department (NYPD), Tania Kinsella chat at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel

opmental training reform programmes which would enable ranks to receive training in various disciplines offered by renowned policing institutions such as the New York Police Department and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Some $30.3 billion was allocated in Budget 2024 to the GPF. According to Dr Singh, a sum of $170 million was expended in 2023 towards the training of 1752 ranks in areas such as gender-based violence and

restorative justice. In 2024, he added, the Government plans to further improve the investigative and forensic capabilities of ranks by conducting training, both locally and regionally, at a budgeted sum of $250 million.

“Mr Speaker, there is a need to fortify the training and human resource capabilities of the GPF to bring its authorised strength in alignment with international standards of policing,” the Finance Minister

had told the National Assembly.

Additionally, a total of $1 billion is proposed to be expended this year to expand the Guyana Police Force’s land and water fleet.

He said this would include the purchase of additional vehicles, boats, and engines.

Last year, $900 million was expended to advance procurement of additional motorcycles, pick-ups, boats, motorcars, and trucks for the GPF. In totality, $30.3 billion was allotted to the Police Force in Budget 2024.

Of that sum, some $5.4 billion is earmarked to advance infrastructure works such as the construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of a number of Police Stations countrywide.

These include the reconstruction of Police Stations at Mahaicony, Kitty, Sans Souci and Weldaad as well as the construction of Regional Police Headquarters in Regions Six and Seven.

Meanwhile, a sum of $152.1 million was set aside to support the expansion of the community policing initiative across the country.

10 NEWS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Teachers whose absence was unauthorised last week will not be paid – Government T

eachers within the public sector who were absent without authorisation from work last week will have their salaries docked, Government has announced.

Protest actions countrywide, led by the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU), has resulted in hundreds of teachers picketing for pay increases. It is an action which Government has labelled as political in nature.

In a statement on Monday, it was disclosed that the Education Ministry and Local Government and Regional Development Ministry received from each of the 11 Education Districts, a list of teachers who have not reported for duty at their assigned school. Additionally, these persons did not receive the necessary leave approval or permission during the school week ending February 9, 2024.

“This unauthorised absence constitutes a breach of their conditions of service and their statutory

reach almost 50 per cent by 2025.

Teachers protesting in front of the Education Ministry last week

duties and attracts legal sanctions. In consequence thereof, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development wish to advise that these teachers will not be paid for the days for which they were unauthorisedly absent,” the letter stated.

The Education Ministry said this would be reflected in the March 2024

salaries in accordance with law. Earlier, GTU General Secretary Coretta McDonald had indicated on the protest lines that the Union would be compensating teachers. However, efforts to contact her on Monday to determine if the Union would keep this promise proved futile.

GTU President Mark Lyte had indicated to <<<Guyana Times>>> one

week ago that their support base would persevere in these protest actions until there was a response from the Ministry.

Lyte was quoted as saying, “There is always a threat that they will cut your pay by the employer whenever there is a strike, whether they deem it illegal or not. So, we are not going to be backing off because of that. Our teachers are prepared to go the long haul, even if their salaries are cut.”

It has been over one week since the protest actions were taken.

Government has come out since then to share facts, highlighting that salaries for graduate teachers increased by some 35 per cent since 2020 and will

Patient Urging teachers to be fair and put the interest of the students at heart, President Dr Irfaan Ali on Sunday appealed to teachers to remember the good the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has done for them, and the commitments it has made to do even more. He had positioned that Guyana’s development was an incremental one and as such, public servants must be patient.

“Of course, it takes time. We’ve announced a series of measures to improve the lives of teachers, nurses and Public Servants, and these measures are going to continue even before the end of this year. No one needs to push this Government, we’re committed to this task,” President Ali had said.

Ali referred to several initiatives the Government has rolled out and will continue to roll out to benefit teachers, while he urged them not to be used as political pawns.

The President highlighted measures the PPP/C Government implemented after it took office, including correcting salary scales for $700 million; increasing the remote area incentive from $9000 to $20,000; over a 100 per cent increase and the pro-

vision of 3800 scholarships to teachers.

He also referenced the $10,000 allowance for teachers with university degrees and the opportunity within their school to earn their degrees through the Associate Degree, Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL), and online teacher training programmes.

This week, the transparency and accountability of the GTU came into scrutiny, as it was discovered that their last audited statement was done in 1989 and financial statements to the Registrar were last submitted in 2004. President Ali urged teachers to ask questions of their union.

“I’m not going to go into the accountability issue of the union. But teachers must ask questions…$2 billion invested at 10 per cent returns can give you annual returns of $200 million.

No audit from 2004. Those are questions you must ask your union,” he said.

“But I can assure you that this Government is committed to making the lives of every single worker in this country better, but workers must be committed to this process; workers must understand that there’s a short-, mediumand long-term plan. I can look every worker in the eye and say to them, ‘We’ve got your back’,” President Ali also added.

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Caricom’s agri goals

Attention on Guyana – Mustapha calls on farmers to up production

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The new heavy-duty equipment for Wakenaam

ll attention is on Guyana to provide leadership and the input to drive Caricom’s food agenda, resulting in an even greater push by Government to increase production.

This was the position taken by Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha during a community meeting in Wakenaam, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).

From the National Budget, $97.6 billion has been allocated to the Agriculture Ministry where significant monies will be injected into supporting farmers, introduce new crops and build out the infrastructure to enable easier transport and manoeuvrability in the sector.

Such is the case as some $850 million has been allocated for free fertilisers to farmers. Last year, $1 billion was set aside for assistance in light of the Ukraine-Russia war and it is an incentive that will continue, Mustapha disclosed.

The Minister stressed, “We’re doing this to improve the agriculture sector. We want more production. We want Guyana to be a food hub. We want Guyana to be the chief producing country in food. The entire Caricom now is looking forward to Guyana for that leadership. I want to tell you that when we got into Government in 2020, the first Caricom Heads of Government meeting, Guyana rescued the position once again and today, Guyana is leading agricul-

ture in the Caribbean.”

Since Guyana took back the mantle of agriculture in Caricom, there has been renewed interest in the sector across the Region. At the same time, Guyana is supporting its sister countries in expanding their economies beyond just niche sectors.

Just last week, a team from St Lucia was in Guyana to gain insight on the projects executed here.

“Places like Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Eastern Caribbean countries are looking to Guyana. For example, in Barbados, we’re helping them to build their shade house programme.

They are now constructing ponds to do brackish water shrimps. And their economy was built on tourism. Trinidad and Tobago,

whose economy was built on oil and gas and tourism, we are now helping them to resuscitate their rice industry.”

Overall, the Agriculture Ministry has been constantly working on bettering its results and increasing yields in crops such as rice, which is now fortified with zinc.

“Gone are the days when we used to get four or five tonnes in a hectare of rice. We want to increase that to seven and nine tonnes. We want to move up and ensure that we have high-yielding varieties of rice. This year, we will have better yields because we have a better variety,” said Mustapha.

While traditional areas are being expanded, high-value non-traditional crops are being explored.

In 2021, $2.6 billion of high-value crops were imported, ranging from broc-

Minister Zulfikar Mustapha addressing residents

coli and cauliflower to lettuce for the hospitality industry. Today, 50 per cent of this demand is being met by local produce.

In 2023, all subsectors either surpassed or exceeded targets. Sugar production grew from 47,000 tonnes to 60,000 tonnes in 2023. This year, the target is set at 100,000 tonnes.

In attending to the needs of the sector, the

Minister shared that Government is committed on keeping its word in ensuring that farmers can perform efficiently without setbacks. Amid concerns that there was need for a new excavator on the island, one was handed over to the tune of $41 million to assist with drainage and irrigation.

Moreover, he signalled that serious attention must be placed on building reservoirs for fresh water on Wakenaam and Leguan Islands. A team from the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) will also work with rice farmers, while planting farmers will be supported by a team from Georgetown to assess losses facing them.

A new sluice will also be built on the island while farmers will also benefit from tools and equipment.

(G12)

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

4th FPSO to set sail from Singapore to Guyana early next year – ExxonMobil G

uyana’s fourth floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel, the “One Guyana”, currently under construction in Singapore, is expected to set sail for Guyana early next year. This was revealed by ExxonMobil Guyana President Alistair Routledge during a press conference last week.

“The hull is fully constructed, the first module has been lifted onto the topside, it’s come out of the drydock, and now all the other modules that need to go onto the topside of the FPSO are being finalised and added on,” Routledge explained.

“Most of the remainder of the year will then be integration: how to integrate all the modules, the cabling, the pipework, and everything else…,” he added, as he disclosed that the goal is for this FPSO to set sail from Singapore to Guyana at around the end of the first quarter of 2025.

The “One Guyana” FPSO would be able to produce 250,000 barrels of oil per day, and would have a storage capacity of two million barrels of crude oil. The vessel would be designed

The "One Guyana" FPSO under construction in Singapore

to perform produced water treatment, as well as oil separation and gas injection functions. It would include a flare tower, safety system, power generation capability, and crude metering system.

The “One Guyana” FPSO will operate on ExxonMobil’s fourth project, Yellowtail.

It is being constructed

by SBM Offshore, a Dutch-

based global group of companies which had constructed the previous FPSOs. There are currently three FPSOs operating in Guyana’s offshore waters: The Liza Destiny, the Liza Unity and the Prosperity.

They are respectively working on the Liza One, Liza Phase Two, and Payara projects.

The Yellowtail development is located in the east-

ern portion of the Stabroek Block, and involves the development of the Yellowtail and Redtail fields. It is scheduled to begin production in 2025 with an estimated investment of US$10 billion, and is expected to generate approximately 1,300 jobs across four phases. It has previously been reported that the development plan for Yellowtail includes six drill

centres and the drilling of up to 67 development wells.

Six FPSOs are expected to be operating offshore Guyana by 2027. The fifth FPSO, which would be named ‘Errea Wittu’, meaning “abundance” in the Warrau Indigenous language, would operate in the Urau project. It would have oil storage capacity of two million barrels, an oil production design rate of 250,000 barrels per day, and be able to offload approximately one million barrels onto a tanker in a period of approximately 24 hours.

This vessel will be delivered by MODEC, a Japanese company which has confirmed construction of this FPSO with a ceremony held on February 2. Start-up of the US$12.7 billion Uaru development is targeted for 2026.

The sixth FPSO, named Jaguar after Guyana’s national animal, is earmarked for the Whiptail Project.

“We submitted the EIA last year. We submitted the field development plan, we’re working through multiple reviews and queries from the Government and advisors…,” Routledge said, in giving an update on that

Alistair Routledge

project.

He expressed hope that by the end of this quarter, “we’ll have cleared all of those questions and we can align around the environmental permit and the production licence.”

Whiptail, startup of which is expected in late 2027 or early 2028, will cost some US$12.9 billion and is also expected to have a production capacity of 250,000 barrels of oil per day. It is the last project on ExxonMobil’s list of six to come online by 2027 in the Stabroek Block.

It will take total production offshore Guyana to more than 1.3 million barrels of oil per day. (G11)

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Global Business Summit

PM advocates for strategic planning amid global disruptions P

rime Minister Brigadier (retired) Mark Phillips has emphasised the critical importance of sustainable development and global cooperation as he represented Guyana at the 8th Global Business Summit 2024, hosted by The Times Group in New Delhi, India.

During his address, the Prime Minister highlighted the pressing need for strategic planning amid ongoing global disruptions, while stressing the necessity for adaptability and adoption of sustainable practices.

Collective action, he underscored, is key to tackling issues such as geopolitical tensions, inflation, and climate-related disasters.

"As we look at other examples, we see that much preparedness must go into planning for the persistent disruptions, to ensure that we can optimise their benefits towards sustainable development. In the realm of business transformations, we witness the ever-accelerating pace of technological advancements and the shifting dynamics of global markets,” Phillips outlined to the recently concluded summit.

He affirmed the summit's theme,

Prime Minister Mark Phillips delivering his address at the Global Business Summit

"Disruption, Development, Diversification", as aptly reflective of the current global context and the need for innovative strategies to navigate complex challenges.

Additionally, he said, in light of rapid advancements and transforming dynamics, the ability to innovate, diversify offerings, and embrace sustainable practices would define success in the global business landscape.

"In today's world, primary disruptive forces such as technology, globalization, and economic and demographic change are constantly occurring. As a result, businesses, governments and individuals must be able to prepare, adapt,

and respond to these changes effectively. These transformative trends define the present and shape the future by impacting businesses, economies, industries, societies, and individual lives," the PM said.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the summit, the Guyanese Prime Minister highlighted the opportunities arising from global disruptions, citing India's Vaccine Maitri (Vaccine Friendship) initiative and Guyana's leadership in Caribbean food security as examples of turning challenges into avenues for growth and international cooperation.

Emphasis was also

Man under makeshift shed nabbed with cocaine

The cocaine was weighed and amounted to 4.2 grams

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cting on information received, Police ranks showed up at a location in Enterprise, East Coast Demerara at about 03:15h on Monday, and found a 59-year-old unemployed male, who has no fixed place of abode, sitting under a makeshift shed.

They conducted a search on his person, and unearthed in his pants waist a vial with several small, transparent plastic bags which each contained a ‘rock-like, creamish substance suspected to be cocaine.

He was told of the offence committed, cau-

tioned, arrested, and escorted to the Vigilance Police Station along with the suspected narcotic, which was weighed and amounted to 4.2 grams.

The suspected narcotic has been lodged at the station, and the man has been placed in custody and is slated to be charged. (G12)

placed on the significant contributions of both India and Guyana to the global arena, and the importance of collaborative solutions for a prosperous future.

Prime Minister Phillips commended India's leadership in global business by acknowledging its remarkable achievements in renewable energy and its pivotal role as the "world's pharmacy hub." He stressed that any discourse on global business would be incomplete without considering India's status as the fastest-growing major economy and a beacon of innovation and progress.

"The Global South remains committed to the development of its countries and the prosperity of its people. India's dedication to inclusive growth, technological advancements and sustainable development has set a commendable benchmark for nations across the globe," he declared.

Reflecting on the deep-rooted ties between Guyana and India, Prime Minister Phillips also celebrated the shared values and historical connections that unite the two nations.

He expressed optimism about further strengthening of bilateral relations and fostering dialogue among participating countries towards achieving global development goals.

The Prime Minister outlined initiatives to leverage Guyana’s energy potential from gas and renewables to catalyse its manufacturing sector and enhance energy security. He detailed, "Guyana's plan is to utilise the energy potential of gas and renewables to lower electricity and spur manufacturing. Our Gasto-Energy project and largescale solar and wind energy projects have diversified en-

ergy sources and reduced our carbon footprint. We have strongly focused on increasing power grid connectivity, which has improved energy access to citizens, including (those in) remote communities. Our country also seeks ways to harness its natural resources to enhance energy security and become a regional leader in clean energy production."

Guyana's commitment to economic diversification, particularly in agriculture, with aspirations to become the breadbasket of the Caribbean, was also highlighted by the Prime when he said "Critical to development, of course, is diversification. Our nations understand the importance of cultivating diverse economies, forging diverse partnerships, varying supply chains, and embracing innovation across various sectors. As Guyana accelerates the development of its oil and gas resources to become the world's highest per capita oil producer by 2027, the Government's vision is to lift the quality of life by investing in healthcare, education, and the diversification of the economy.” (G12)

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

PAC hearing

APNU/AFC-awarded $265.5M contract scrapped after mere 10% of works completed in 2 years

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$265.5 million contract to construct an administration building for the Region 10 Regional Democratic Council (RDC) under the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) Administration had to be scrapped owing to poor contract management and the fact that only 10 per cent of work had been done by the project deadline.

During Monday’s session of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Region 10 Regional Executive Officer (REO) Dwight John gave account for projects that occurred prior to him taking over, for instance, the $265 million contract.

The contract was issued in 2017 and was supposed to have a two-year completion period. When the contract was finally scrapped in April 2021, only 10 per cent of the work was completed by the contractor.

“Non-performance took place and at the date it was supposed to be completed, it was only at 10 per cent,” the REO explained, when asked by the PAC what were the grounds for terminating the contract.

Meanwhile, PAC member David Patterson explained the reasons for the delay. According to him, the contractor had to change his design specifications. This was corroborated by Gavin Clarke, a technical officer who overlooked the project. According to Clarke, a revised completion date of January 2021 was given to accommodate the stoppage and design changes.

“As was mentioned before, the project was started in 2017. But then as Mr Gordon pointed out, there was a cease order because of complaints of the contractor. There was a recommencement order issued to the contractor on January 31, 2019. The temporary

The site where the works were supposed to have been completed

cease order was March 15, 2018.

“However, at the time of the termination of the project, as was mentioned by the REO, only (10) per cent of the works were completed. Based on the records, April 18, 2021, a termination letter was written.

However, the revised completion date of the project should have been January 18, 2021.”

Over $40 million had been paid to the contractor. John explained that the

decision to cancel the project was made by him, after a letter was written to the Ministry of Finance appraising it of the situation.

“I informed them, through local government, that the time for the project has expired and the percentage the project was at. The same summary Mr Clarke spoke about. And I asked for the termination, because of the timeframe, the percentage and poor performance.”

Fast forward to 2023-

2024; however, the PAC noted that the region was still in need of a new admin building. The REO explained that the region has put in a request for funds for a new building, with the PAC requesting the REO to lay over documents of these requests in a week’s time.

Meanwhile, PAC Member Juan Edghill noted that this particular contractor also had similar projects. He emphasised that contractors must not be excused when it comes to poor

contract management.

“Contract management.

Poor performance of contractors must not be excused. I would not sit at PAC and allow anyone to excuse poor performance of a contractor. When a contractor has a contract that is signed, he has an obligation to perform the functions of that contract. And when you don’t perform the conditions, the same contract indicates the consequences that should be followed.” (G3)

Berbice woman involved in $283M fraud claims money given to pastor

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Charged: Phylicia Jallim

urrently before the court on 19 counts of obtaining a total of $283 million by false pretense, 37-year-old Phylicia Jallim has implicated a Berbice pastor by telling the court that all the money was given to him.

After a prima facie case had been made out against

her, Jallim was required to lead a defense on one of the charges; and on Monday, she told Blairmont Magistrate Peter Hugh that the monies were given to the pastor, whom she named.

Jallim, a former branch manager of NAFICO, and a resident of both Welcome

Street in Rosignol, West Coast Berbice and Thomas Street Kitty in Georgetown, is facing 19 counts of obtaining money by false pretenses. She is also facing one count of fraudulent misappropriation in which $5.8M is involved. However, after more than seven months, only one matter has been heard.

It is alleged that between October and November 2022, she took $38M from businessman Abdul Rashao of Number 9 Village, West Coast Berbice, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice). Rashao was one of nine witnesses, as were five Police officers, who testified during the trial, being held at the Blairmont Magistrate’s Court.

Rashao told the court that he was initially asked to invest $15M, with a promise that within one week he would get back his

money plus $3M as profit. But after collecting the $18M, Jallim returned to him and asked him to reinvest the money.

The following week, he was lured into investing an additional $15M, and 10 days later, he was lured into investing a further $6M, all totalling $39M. In an unsworn statement she made after being asked to lead a defense, Jallim told the court that she did not take any money in false pretense. “It was Pastor Danny who organised everything, and he is the one who took the man’s money!” she told the court.

Magistrate Hugh has set February 26 for his decision.

The Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) is prosecuting the case.

It was previously reported that, in December 2022, a number of persons had made reports to SOCU

that the accused was operating a Ponzi scheme.

Investigations revealed that the woman had allegedly deceived persons into believing that she is the Chief Executive Officer of Dream Chasers, a legal investment company through which she borrows money from investors and lends the money to Government contractors and farmers who are having financial problems.

She allegedly informed the ‘investors’ that she would pay them five to 20 percent interest weekly on their capital invested.

Among those who have made reports to SOCU were a West Coast Berbice pastor, who claimed to have invested $16.5M; a 29-year-old female employee, who claimed she invested $7.9M which she took out of her parents’ bank account; and a Rosignol businessman, who is claiming to have in-

vested $38M. The woman said she initially invested $500,000 and received her capital and the promised interest, and she continued investing and receiving a profit; so, she continued to reinvest her capital together with the profits.

Meanwhile, at least eight pastors from Lower Region Five have claimed that they were also scammed, but they have refused to provide SOCU with statements.

Jallim had allegedly been a member of the New Light Assembly of God Church of Number 4 Village, West Coast Berbice, and had been entrusted with the safe custody and control of the congregation’s penny bank account. She is accused of converting $5.8M of the church’s penny bank money to her own use and benefit.

SOCU is also prosecuting that matter. (G4)

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GuySuCo Training Centre at Port Mourant to be upgraded – Pres Ali T

he decades-old GuySuCo Training Centre-Port Mourant (GTC-PM) is to be upgraded. This is according to President Dr Irfaan Ali. The Head of State made the announcement last Friday while commissioning the Guyana Technical Training College Inc, but stopped short of saying what the upgrades would entail.

GTC-PM was founded in 1957 by Booker Sugar Estates as the premier technical and vocational school in Guyana and the Caribbean.

Ever since, attendance has been overwhelming, and to date, more than 3400 young persons have been trained through the school's apprenticeship scheme.

Meanwhile, the Head of

GuySuCo Training Centre at Port Mourant

State said that the sugar industry would be mechanised to make it modern.

“The next couple of years of investment is critical in

building a competitive and profitable sugar industry here in Guyana and I assure you that we are going to build a competitive and

profitable sugar industry,” President Ali promised.

He pointed out that the human resource asset is an important aspect of the

plans ahead. Hence, the need for GTC-PM to be upgraded.

“Sugar workers must know that we are going to invest in them to upskill their competency and transform them into skilled operators and workers that would take up their salaries.

“We want them to earn better, we want them to have a better life, a more honourable life, a more dignified life and we will do so by investing in training, upskilling, retooling and bringing into the modernised frame of what the industry would look like,” the President stated.

The GTC-PM apprenticeship scheme is recognised as the most successful in Guyana, with the majori-

ty of graduates progressing into skilled and supervisory positions in GuySuCo after a period of consolidation in their jobs on completion of their apprenticeship.

GTC-PM offers a comprehensive training curriculum that is not only beneficial for apprentices in specialised fields, but those with technical skills.

The institution boasts to have moulded craftsmen and craftswomen, engineers, managers and entrepreneurs of a high calibre who continue to contribute significantly to the economy of Guyana, the Caribbean, and further afield.

GTC-PM has a 100 per cent pass rate at the Guyana Technical Education Examination.

Police Academy instructors need to be effective educators

T

he training instructors of the Guyana Police Force Academy have been urged to execute their roles effectively as mentors and educators, to cultivate a culture of continuous improvement and dedication among law enforcement officers.

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn; Commissioner of Police (ag) Clifton Hicken and Deputy Commissioner (Administration) Calvin Brutus met with the educators at the Officers Training Centre, Camp Road, Georgetown, Saturday last.

According to a

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn engaging training instructors

Department of Public Information (DPI) report, the meeting focused on the roles and responsibilities of educators to make the

Police Academy a professional and successful educational institution.

In his address, Minister

Benn outlined the vision for broader national development, emphasising the pivotal role of law enforcement in shaping Guyana’s future. He also highlighted the importance of modernising the infrastructural development within the Police Force.

Further, the Minister underscored the significance of continuous training and education for Police Officers, equipping them with the necessary skills and knowledge to adapt to evolving challenges in policing.

Commissioner Hicken, the DPI report states, expounded on the impor-

tance of maintaining a strong disciplinary framework within the academy, which is pivotal in moulding the character and professionalism of law enforcement officers.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Brutus added that a well-organised academy laid the foundation for a productive training environment that will ultimately contribute to the overall success of the Academy’s mission and strategic plan.

He also advocated for the implementation of more practical training, which will equip recruits with practical skills and

problem-solving abilities essential for effective law enforcement, thereby enhancing their readiness.

A three-month Junior Officers’ Course is currently ongoing at the academy catering to Assistant Superintendents from the Guyana Police Force and Guyana Defence Force ranks as well as security officers from various Caribbean countries.

In August 2023, the Police Academy received the Institutional Accreditation Certification from the National Accreditation Council of Guyana – a historic achievement.

16 NEWS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Ghanaian fashion designer provides support for creatives in Guyana R

ecognising the growth of the arts community within Guyana, an initiative was held on Friday to commence “The Continuum”, a networking forum which gives creatives insight to enhance their skills in their creative journey.

It was led by international designer Kwaku Bediako, founder and CEO of Chocolate by Kwaku Bediako.

Following President Dr Irfaan Ali’s recent visit to Ghana, a connection was established between him and the renowned Ghanaian fashion icon which led to the launch of a workshop on Friday spearheaded by the fashion artist. This impactful workshop featured local designers, poets, makeup artists and other creatives traversing the dynamic and competitive world of fashion and creativity and their sto-

ries were shared alongside nuggets of advice.

The creative industry is growing in Guyana due to the grand investment of some $2.7 billion that has been budgeted to promote Guyana’s culture and arts.

Bediako sought to deliver

International designer Kwaku Bediako in discussion with First Lady Arya Ali

sound advice endowing support to the creatives as he enlightened about the importance of collaboration with different artforms and to not only lend your perspective to only one faction of art, limiting one’s self.

He referenced Hip Hop

and how that artform does not entrap itself to stay in the realm of music but to vividly connect into sectors like fashion, dance and in sports such as the US National Basketball Association (NBA). He delivered points that creators

should focus on, by plugging what they currently do into other artforms.

“If you take a look as to what Hip Hop has done, even in NBA and sports and fashion and how people wore the things they wore and the

questions from the creatives as to how to incorporate their current art with other artforms.

As the question-and-answer segment began, a spoken word artist raised the question as to how to strate-

tions between what you are doing now and the different artforms such as musicians, painters and makeup artists connect with the different creative arts first,” Bediako noted.

This, he said, was the

manner in which they sang about what they sang, it was always a matter of collaboration. Beauty goes with fashion, fashion goes with music, music goes with food.”

This advice stirred the pot to bring out important

gically connect poetry with fashion and to provide an example.

“Those things are the easiest to do, don’t worry too much or don’t overthink it, study first as to how to build the dots and connec-

primary thing that they should think about and then everything else will fall into place.

As new questions arose, students were granted sound advice, enhancing their knowledge for their future projects.

Present at the event was First Lady Arya Ali ,who noted that this initiative was testament to the Government’s commitment to developing the local creative industry.

“We are not oblivious to the idea that the industry needs support; that is why we continue to make investment into the industry; for example, through the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport cultural grant programme and this forum that the Ministry has granted today,” the First Lady said. (G2)

NEWS

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

4 lives saved in Gunns Village as Telemedicine project to be expanded S

ituated hundreds of miles away from the capital city of Georgetown lies an Amerindian village called Masakenari (Gunns Village), Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), home to the Indigenous Wai Wai people.

Access to healthcare services in emergencies is limited due to the remoteness of the village, thereby posing a risk to patients.

Recognising this serious challenge, the Health Ministry launched a Telemedicine Programme, targeting the remotest villages in Guyana including Masakenari and due to this intervention, four lives have been saved to date.

This is according to Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony during the recommissioning of a community health post in Wallaba Village, Region One

Each telemedicine site will be equipped with the requisite technological devices which provide Community Health Workers stationed in the respective villages with 24-hour access to specialists from GPHC (DPI photo)

(Barima-Waini).

“The persons were sick

and because we had the system in place, they were able

to call out to Georgetown and when they called out to

Georgetown, we were able to assess the patient and then send in a medevac to transport them,” he explained to a gathering in Wallaba, a Department of Public Information (DPI) report stated.

Telemedicine is a two-way, real-time interactive communication between a patient and healthcare provider at different sites. It is supported by audio and video equipment and integrated medical devices that empower clinicians to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients remotely and is beneficial in Guyana’s case The telemedicine programme was officially launched in 2022, with four Amerindian communities in Region Nine piloting the programme. It was later expanded to 25 communities in Regions One, Seven, Eight, Nine and 10 with an allo-

cation of $1.8 billion in the Health Ministry’s $84.5 billion budget in 2023.

According to Minister Anthony, additional sites will be established with financial resources approved in the 2024 National Budget.

“In this year’s budget, we plan to do at least another 50 sites and therefore, we are working with the regional health authorities to make sure that we can select, that would be the main beneficiaries of these types of service,” he is quoted as saying in the DPI report.

Each telemedicine site will be equipped with the requisite technological devices, which provide Community Health Workers (CHWs) stationed in the respective villages with 24-hour access to specialists from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Vybz Kartel’s appeal to be heard by Privy Council February 14-15

A

ttorney-at-law Isat Buchanan, who represents the embattled deejay Vybz Kartel, is now in England to argue the deejay’s appeal in the United Kingdom-based Privy Council—Jamaica’s final appellate court—between February 14 and 15, 2024.

Vybz Kartel is currently serving a life sentence for the 2011 murder of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams.

“The key points are the jury management issues, the discharging of a jury and failure to discharge the bribing juror; the judge handing the case to the jury so late in the day at 3:42 pm; and the admissibility of JS2 in breach of the charter rights,” Buchanan told Observer Online.

“The JS2 is telecommunication and the evidence entered in breach of the charter right to privacy,” he added.

The central plank in the defence’s Privy Council appeal questions the validity of cell phone and other telecommunication evidence presented by the prosecution which the defence argued had been compromised.

The defence lawyers intend to argue that the telecom evidence had been obtained

Vybz Kartel

in breach of the fundamental right to the protection of privacy of communication guaranteed by the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms contained in the Jamaican Constitution.

Kartel’s defence team is also contending that the police request to Digicel and Digicel’s provision of data to the police were carried out in breach of the Interception of Communications Act. Vybz Kartel and his co-appellants had already tried and failed to introduce two additional grounds for appeal, including the introduction of evidence that Kartel’s cellphone had shown signs of tampering while in police custody. In February 2023, the Privy Council denied the two applications.

Another one of the major bones of contention in the

case is the attempted jury tampering.

During the trial, the judge, Justice Lennox Campbell, became aware of an allegation that a juror had attempted to bribe the jury forewoman by offering $500,000 to influence other jurors to return a not-guilty verdict.

The offer was also allegedly made to some other jurors by Livingston Caine.

After discussing the attempted jury tampering with both the prosecution and the defence, Justice Campbell decided that the trial should proceed, opting not to discharge the jury, or the particular juror who was accused of offering the bribes.

Caine was later found guilty in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court of perverting the course of justice. He was sentenced to 12 months in prison at hard labour.

Buchanan will also be arguing the question: “Was the judge wrong to invite the jury to reach a verdict late in the day, given the special circumstances of the case?”

Court records note that Justice Campbell finished his summing up at 3:42pm on March 13, 2014. The jury

Canada's BlackBerry to lay off more staff in cost-cutting drive

C

anada's BlackBerry (BB.TO), opens new tab said on Monday it was targeting an additional increase of $100 million in its annual profit as the cybersecurity firm slashes costs, including reducing workforce.

The company's new target is in addition to a $50 million annualized cost reduction plan announced and 200 job cuts in the prior

quarter.

The company, which also makes the QNX and IVY platforms used in automotive applications, in December scrapped its initial public offering (IPO) plans for its Internet of Things (IoT) business, but still expects to split the IoT and cybersecurity businesses into fully standalone divisions.

Leadership teams for

both divisions have been established, BlackBerry said, adding that it is in talks with a leading external consulting firm with the unit separation in progress.

It added that the company is reducing costs further in the current quarter, with additional layoffs in the cybersecurity business, which is set to provide yearly savings of about $27 million.

(Reuters)

returned at 5:35 pm, when the forewoman told the court that the jury had not reached a unanimous verdict.

However, Campbell sent the jury out again and they returned at 6:08pm, and, by a majority of 10 to 1, convicted the appellants of the murder of Williams.

Back in July, Bert Samuels, the attorney for Shawn ‘Shawn Storm’ Campbell, had announced that the UK court had set tentative dates of April 16 through 18 in 2024 to hear the main arguments in the quartet’s appeal. However, Kartel’s battle with Graves’ disease, a condition which was reportedly exacerbated when the ‘Fever’ deejay was

placed in a 23-hour stint in solitary confinement – after two cellphones were found in his cell – led to an expedited date for the appeal on humanitarian grounds.

“His condition is being managed as best as possible in the circumstances currently. Proper treatment however is needed,” Buchanan said.

Vybes Kartel reportedly suffers from Graves’ disease and two heart conditions.

In March 2014, Kartel, real name Adidja Palmer, Shawn ‘Storm’ Campbell, and two associates, Kahira Jones and Andre ‘Mad Suss’ St John, were all found guilty of killing Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams.

Williams disappeared and his body was never found.

After their conviction was largely upheld by the Jamaica Court Of Appeal in April 2020, the four men moved to the Privy Council, the final court of appeal for Jamaica, seeking to overturn their life sentences that range from 22 to 32 years before parole.

The Privy Council has assigned a panel of five justices — Lord Reed, Lord LloydJones, Lord Briggs, Lord Burrows, and Lady Simler — who will hear arguments from both sides on key issues in the case. (Jamaica Observer)

Multiple people injured in the Bronx in New York subway shooting

N

ew York City police said on Monday six people had been shot at a subway station in the Bronx, with one person dead and another five wounded.

A spokeswoman for the New York Police Department said by phone that no arrests had been made in the shooting and that it was not clear what condition the five injured people were in. Local media, citing unnamed police sources, reported the five sustained non-life threatening injuries.

The most recent data shows crime remains rare on New York's subway system: about 3.8 million trips are taken on the system on an average weekday, and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority reported 570 felony assaults in all of 2023.

Shootings are especially uncommon: in 2022, when a man with a handgun injured 10 people on a train passing

Members of the New York Police Department (NYPD) investigating the scene of a shooting at the Mount Eden Avenue subway station in the Bronx borough of New York City, US February 12, 2024

through Brooklyn, it was the first mass shooting attack on the subway system since 1984. A few weeks later, in May 2022, a man shot dead 48-year-old Daniel Enriquez on a Q train in what police said was an unprovoked attack.

Fears of how dangerous the subway really is among passengers jumped early in the pandemic, when the

subway crime rate spiked in early 2020, but fell back to normal levels in 2021.

Riders' perceptions of the dangers remain high, even in the face of falling crime rates. Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat and a former city police captain, has sought to reassure unnerved commuters by increasing the number of police officers in subway stations. (Reuters)

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2024

guyanatimesgy.com

Regional

Bolsonaro coup probe weakens Machel Montano crowned 2024 Brazil's right-wing Opposition Trinidad Calypso Monarch

S

P

olice raids on former President Jair Bolsonaro and his associates for allegedly plotting a coup after the 2022 election has weakened right-wing Opposition to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ahead of October's local elections, analysts say.

Bolsonaro, a far-right firebrand who modelled himself on former US President Donald Trump, surrendered his passport to Police on last Thursday and four of his ex-aides have been arrested. Search warrants were served against four of his former Ministers, three of them retired Army Generals.

That, analysts say, has dealt a serious blow to Bolsonaro's right-wing Liberal Party (PL), the largest Opposition party. PL President Valdemar Costa Neto was also arrested on Thursday on an unrelated gun charge and set free provisionally on Saturday.

Brazilian Liberal Party President Valdemar Costa Neto leaving the Federal Police Headquarters in Brasilia, Brazil, February 10, 2024 ( Reuters/Adriano Machado photo)

"The Bolsonaro Opposition has been badly hurt by this," said Andre Cesar, analyst at Hold Assessoria Legislativa, a public policy consultancy.

"The PL will lose political muscle and have to rethink plans to triple its mayors in the October elections."

Brazilian Police accused Bolsonaro of editing a decree to overturn the result of the 2022 election that he

lost to Lula, pressuring military chiefs to join a coup attempt, and plotting to jail a Supreme Court Justice.

PL President Costa Neto has been counting on Bolsonaro's popularity with core supporters to bolster turnout for his party in October, when voters will elect Mayors and councils in 5568 municipal districts across Brazil. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Mexico logs biggest meth lab raid under current admin

M

exican armed forces said on Monday they had dismantled a clandestine meth "mega-laboratory" in northern Sonora state, marking the largest drug laboratory busted under the current administration.

"This is the largest laboratory we have secured during the current administration and represents more than 50 per cent of the drugs and precursors seized this year," Mexico's navy said in a statement on X, alongside photos showing large containers and white sacks at the rural camp near Rancho Viejo.

The navy said it had seized 4.13 metric tonnes (91,073 lb) of meth and 1.27 tonnes of precursor chemicals used to make the synthetic drug.

The site counted 72 laboratory reactors, it added, five times more than the 13 discovered at what was previously considered the coun-

oca superstar Machel Montano has been crowned this year's Calypso Monarch as Trinidad’s Carnival activities continue.

Montano maintained his form from the preliminary and semifinal rounds to claim his first title with his catchy composition " Soul of Calypso" at the end of the Dimanche Gras show.

His performance, which had the audience in the Grand Stand at the Queen's Park Savannah on their feet throughout, was arguably the most memorable, energetic and highly anticipated in the competition in recent memory.

His victory makes that first person after Winston "The Mighty Shadow" Bailey to win the three major Carnival titles – Calypso Monarch, the Road March and the now-defunct Soca Monarch titles – during their musical career.

His mother Elizabeth joined him on stage to receive his prizes – an oversized ceremonial $500,000 cheque and a maroon

Machel Montano

Suzuki Grand Vitara, which he gifted to her.

In a brief interview, Montano, took a hiatus from Carnival this year as he pursued his Master's Degree in Carnival Studies from the University of T&T (UTT), noted that he will defend his crown next year.

In second place was

2011 winner Karene Asche followed by Roderick "Chuck" Gordon, who won back to back titles in 2014 and 2015.

Kurt "The Last Bardjohn OF Calypso" Allen, who was a crowd favourite with his social commentary "De First Investigation".

(Trinidad Guardian)

Ralph Thorne sworn in as B’dos Opposition Leader

M

A view of a clandestine lab to process synthetic drugs seized by the Mexican Navy (SEMAR) in the municipality of Rancho Viejo, Sonora state, Mexico, in this handout distributed on February 12, 2024 (Secretaria de Marina y Armada de Mexico (SEMAR)/Handout via Reuters)

try's largest clandestine lab, which had also been discovered in Sonora.

The US has been pushing Mexico to crack down on drug trafficking, particularly fentanyl, even as leaked documents revealed the Mexican army revised up the number of drug lab raids it said it had conducted under the

Administration of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who is in his final year of office.

Mexico has meanwhile been pushing for the United States to take a firmer stance on the illicit trafficking of firearms from the United States to drug cartels across the border. (Reuters)

nises the limit of man and at the same time acknowledges and is humbled by the awesome power of God,” he noted.

Prime Minister Holness further encouraged citizens to use the Holy season to petition before God the desires of their hearts.

“You may not know any special prayers, but the National Anthem is a prayer in itself. I encourage you to whisper that in your quiet time. You don’t have to know a special prayer to communicate with God. Let Him know your needs, your challenges,” he said. “There are so many

things beyond our control.

So many uncertainties in our lives, so many fears that we have to face. Take time out to connect spiritually with God.” “Ask for His comfort and direction. Pray for protection against evil powers, for wisdom, for knowledge and understanding. Pray for the safety and security of our people. Pray for the increase in peace and productivity. Pray for the sick, infirm, and vulnerable among us. Pray for God’s blessings on Jamaica, land we love,” he further appealed. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

ember of Parliament for Christ Church South, Ralph Thorne has officially been sworn in as Opposition Leader. The ceremony occurred at State House before President Sandra Mason on Monday.

Speaking to the media following the ceremony Thorne explained why he left the Barbados Labour Party and outlined his objectives as Opposition Leader.

The Senior Counsel crossed the floor. In 2018, Thorne won the constituency seat with 3094 votes. It

was hit his first-time ever campaigning. He canvassed and won the seat after re-

turning to Barbados in 2017 to give politics his undivided attention. (Nation News)

5 relatives of detained Venezuelan PM urges J’cans to pray for the nation activist reported missing

P

rime Minister Andrew Holness is calling on Jamaicans to use the Lenten period, which begins on Ash Wednesday (February 14), to pray for the nation.

Holness made the appeal during a prayer session with members of the Cabinet and the Jamaica Umbrella Group of Churches on Monday at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM).

“There are so many challenges facing our nation and, indeed, there may be challenges facing you personally. Pray; give thanks, pray in supplication. Prayer recog-

A

dvocacy groups and lawyers on Monday said that five family members of Rocio San Miguel, a celebrated human rights activist in Venezuela who was detained last week, were missing.

Venezuela's Attorney General, Tarek Saab, on Sunday said that San Miguel was detained for her alleged involvement "in the conspiracy plot and attempted assassination" of President Nicolás Maduro.

San Miguel, 57, an ex-

pert on topics including security, defence and Venezuela's military, was detained on Friday afternoon at Maiquetia international airport near capital city Caracas, advocacy groups said.

The arrest was widely condemned on social media

by Opposition politicians and human rights groups.

Five of San Miguel's relatives – including her daughter – are now missing, said Juan Gonzalez, one of the activist's lawyers.

San Miguel's legal team has requested information from security officials, but has not received a response, Gonzalez added.

Neither the Attorney General's office nor the Ministry of Communication responded to requests for comment.

San Miguel's lawyers have submitted a constitutional protection before a court asking why she was arrested and where she is being held, because they do not have details, Gonzalez added. (Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2024

19

Around the World

Jordan, US throw their weight behind OILNEWS OIL NEWS Gaza ceasefire effort ahead of new talks Oil settles little changed; demand concerns offset Middle East tensions

O

il futures settled little changed on Monday as concerns about interest rates and global demand caused the market to take a break after prices jumped about six per cent last week on worries Middle East tensions could cause supply problems.

Brent futures fell 19 cents, or 0.2 per cent, to settle at US$82.00 a barrel. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 8 cents, or 0.1 per cent, to settle at US$76.92.

That was the highest close for WTI since January 30 for a third day in a row and put the contract up for a sixth straight day for the first time since September.

The New York Fed said its January Survey of Consumer Expectations showed the outlook for inflation a year and five years from now were unchanged, with both remaining above the Fed's two per cent target rate.

If inflation worries delay Fed interest rate cuts, that could reduce oil demand by slowing economic growth.

US inflation data is expected today, while British inflation and eurozone Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data should land on Wednesday.

The International Energy Agency (IEA), which represents industrialised countries, predicted oil demand will peak by 2030, undercutting the rationale for investment. Others in the market disagreed.

France's TotalEnergies Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Patrick Pouyanne said he does not see peak oil demand in the numbers, adding "we should exit debate about peak oil demand, be serious, and invest".

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) believes oil use will keep rising over the next two decades.

Soaring prices last week Crude benchmarks rallied about six per cent last week due to persistent threats to shipping in the Red Sea, Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries ,and US refinery maintenance.

US gasoline futures edged up about one per cent on Monday to a three-month high after soaring nine per cent last week during refinery downtime.

The Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen have targeted shipping with drones and missiles since November in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The US has led retaliatory strikes on Houthi missile sites since January.

"We will again note that global crude supply has yet to be significantly disrupted by the Mideast hostilities and that rerouted oil cargoes around the Red Sea have not significantly reduced global crude supply," analysts at energy advisory Ritterbusch and Associates said.

In Gaza, Israel freed two hostages held by Iran-backed Hamas in Rafah in a ferocious rescue operation that killed 74 Palestinians in the southern Gaza city where about one million civilians have sought refuge from months of bombardments.

Elsewhere in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia's Energy Minister said the reason behind the kingdom's recent decision to halt its oil capacity expansion plans was the energy transition, adding it has plenty of spare capacity to cushion the oil market.

Fellow OPEC member Iraq said it was committed to OPEC's decisions after its second voluntary cut announced in December. Iraq also said it was committed to producing no more than four million barrels per day.

In the US, meanwhile, oil output in top shale-producing regions was on track to rise in March to a four-month high, according to a federal energy outlook. (Reuters)

U

S President Joe Biden and Jordan's King Abdullah kept up pressure for a Gaza Strip ceasefire as senior mediators were to resume work today on an Israel-Hamas truce agreement, with the threat of an Israeli ground offensive looming in Rafah.

Senior officials from the US, Egypt, Israel, and Qatar were expected to meet in Cairo to work on a threephase framework that would see the release of hostages and achieve an extended pause, sources familiar with the matter said.

"The United States is working on a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas which would bring an immediate and sustained period of calm into Gaza for at least six weeks," Biden told reporters at the White House

on Monday after talks with Abdullah.

Saying he was working on the issue "day and night", Biden said a six-week break in hostilities would provide a foundation "to build something more enduring".

For his part, Abdullah underscored the urgency of the plight of Palestinians, especially more than one million civilians seeking refuge in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

"We cannot stand by and let this continue," he said.

"We need a lasting ceasefire now. This war must end."

Israel launched a rescue mission on Monday that freed two Israeli-Argentine hostages held by Palestinian militants of Hamas in Rafah, by the Egyptian border. The two men were among 250 persons seized during the October 7 raid on Israel by Hamas

US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden pose for a picture with Jordan's King Abdullah, Queen Rania and Crown Prince Hussein at the White House in Washington, US, February 12, 2024 (Reuters/Kevin Lamarq photo)

that triggered Israel's war on Gaza.

The Palestinian Authority's official television station, Palestine TV, said 74 persons were killed during

the Israeli military operation. There was no immediate confirmation from the Gaza Health Ministry, which is run by Hamas. (Excerpt from Reuters)

US Senate forges ahead on “enormously high stakes” Ukraine, Israel aid

T

he US Senate on Monday attempted to steer a US$95.34 billion package containing aid for Ukraine and Israel to passage this week following months of delays, even as it lacked any guarantee that House of Representatives Republicans will support it.

The measure cleared an important procedural hurdle a day earlier in a 67-27 vote, with the support of 18 of the chamber's 49 Republicans.

Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Monday was aiming to push it

through two more procedural hurdles in order to put it on a path to passing on Wednesday.

"These are enormously high stakes of the national security package. Our security, our values, our democracy. It's a down payment for the survival of Western democracy and the survival of Western values," Schumer said on Monday after rare back-to-back Saturday and Sunday Senate sessions to work on the bill.

"The entire world is going to remember what the

Senate does in the next few days," he said.

Democratic President Joe Biden has been urging Congress to hurry new aid to Ukraine and US partners in the Indo-Pacific, including Taiwan, for months.

Following Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel, he also

requested funds for the US ally, along with humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza.

Ukrainian officials have warned of weapons shortages at a time when Russia is pressing ahead with renewed attacks. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Armed woman killed in Joel Osteen Texas megachurch shootout

Congo protesters burn US and Belgian A flags, target Western embassies

P

olice in Democratic Republic of Congo fired tear gas on Monday to disperse protesters who burned tyres and US, and Belgian flags near Western embassies and United Nations offices in the capital Kinshasa, angry about insecurity in eastern Congo.

The protesters, seizing on a new tactic by targeting embassies, say the West supports neighbouring Rwanda, which is accused of backing the Tutsi-led M23 rebellion, whose advance is threatening the strategic city of Goma in the east.

Rwanda has denied the accusations. Congo; Western Governments, including the United States and Belgium, and a United Nations expert group say the rebel group benefits from Rwandan support.

Despite security being stepped up after UN staff

and vehicles were attacked on Saturday, groups of protesters gathered at the US and French Embassies and the offices of the United Nations mission in Congo known as MONUSCO. Some threw stones, attempting to break the surveillance cameras at one of the United States Embassy offices, while others chanted "Leave our country, we don't want your hypocrisy".

"The Westerners are behind the looting of our country, Rwanda doesn't work alone, so they must leave our country," said Pepin Mbindu, who joined the protest.

Onlookers cheered as one demonstrator removed the EU flag from the entrance of a large hotel in central Kinshasa, according to videos shared on X. Reuters has not authenticated the video. (Excerpt from Reuters)

woman clad in a trench coat and accompanied by a child opened fire in a crowded Texas megachurch before she was gunned down by security, officials say.

The suspect, named by Police as Genesse Ivonne Moreno, 36, was with her seven-year-old son, who was critically injured in the Houston shootout.

Investigators said the attacker had "Palestine" written on the butt of her rifle and they had uncovered antisemitic writings.

But they said the motive was unclear.

A 57-year-old man was shot in the hip during the incident and has since been discharged from hospital.

The gunwoman's unnamed son was shot in the head during the shootout and is currently "fighting for his life", said Police. It is not clear who shot the boy.

The church was in the midst of a live stream service when the first gunshots rang out. Pastor Jorge Basave at first continued on with the recording, telling the Houston Chronicle he

Genesse Moreno has a history of mental health issues, officials say

wanted to project calm.

"I was worried my fear would be contagious," he said.

Police said the suspect used an AR-15 rifle for the attack. She also had a .22 calibre rifle, but did not fire that weapon.

Officials told Monday's news conference the attacker has a history of mental health issues and was placed under an emergency detention order in 2016.

Public records indicate Moreno also has a long record of arrests and convictions on assault, drug, and weapons charges. (Excerpt from BBC News)

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TUESDAY FEBRUARY 13, 2024

guyanatimesgy.com

DAILY HOROSCOPES

ARCHIE

Review numbers and restructure your plans to fit your budget. A passionate approach to life is helpful, but only if you use common sense. Settle any financial terms upfront.

(March 21-April 19) Take a moment to think about what's happening and fine-tune your approach to guarantee success. A physical change will promote better health and make you feel good about yourself.

PICKLES (April 20-May 20)

Live in the moment, be open to information and be ready to implement change. Refuse to let anyone lead you astray or prevent you from pursuing your dreams. Believe in your abilities.

(May 21-June 20) Work alongside people trying to reach the same objective. Don't invite opposition to the table until you are ready to engage in deep debate. Work to create and implement a foolproof plan.

PEANUTS (June 21-July 22)

Ignore what you can't change and focus on what brings you joy or encourages you to take responsibility for your happiness. Use your voice to let others know how you feel.

(July 23-Aug. 22) A new environment will spark ideas and get you moving in a direction that offers new beginnings or motivates you to take care of unfinished business.

Partnerships look promising.

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

Home is where the heart is, and it's up to you to make it appealing. Nurture relationships and encourage peace and happiness. Share your favorite things with loved ones.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

Set high standards and work on yourself instead of trying to change others. A disciplined attitude and a vivid imagination will help you implement a positive shift.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Put a plan and budget in place and make positive alterations at home. Be forthcoming about what makes you happy and issues you want to resolve. Listen to complaints and suggestions.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Focus on home and family. Altering your lifestyle to fit your needs will ease stress and encourage you to have more fun. Heart-to-heart talks will bring you closer to a loved one.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Speak from the heart when dealing with relationships, money and lifestyle changes you want to pursue. Don't let anyone convince you to spend more than you can afford.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Broaden your awareness regarding investments, lifestyle and work. It's up to you to find the balance that makes you feel content and able to lock in the changes that work for you.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2024

21

World marathon record Patrick Mahomes steps up holder Kelvin Kiptum Tom Brady chase as leader dies in accident in Kenya Super Bowl 2024…

of NFL's new dynasty I

f there was any lingering doubt about the greatness of Patrick Mahomes, it was dispelled with three seconds of overtime remaining at Super Bowl 58. That was when he threw the touchdown pass that took the Kansas City Chiefs to glory.

Many now feel it's just a case of when, not if, he can chase down Tom Brady's records.

That dramatic late pass to Mecole Hardman not only gave the Chiefs a 25-22 win over the San Francisco 49ers and backto-back Super Bowls, but put the rest of the NFL on notice that if you want to win a Lombardi Trophy these days, you have to find a way of beating Mahomes.

And as the confetti rained down in Las Vegas, what should really worry the other 31 teams in the league is that this could,

Patrick Mahomes is the first player to win three Super Bowl MVPs in his first seven seasons

and perhaps should, have been a good year to beat the Chiefs.

Mahomes had some of his lowest output totals across the board this season. His receivers led the league in dropped passes, and he had to go on the road for the first time

in the play-offs, winning their last three games as underdogs.

What the Chiefs proved, though, is that with Mahomes on board, they're never beaten. As he put it himself: "The Kansas City Chiefs are never underdogs; just know that."

M

arathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum and his coach have died in an accident in Kenya, it has been announced.

Kenyan Member of Parliament Gideon Kimaiyo confirmed the pair’s death in a statement on X. Mr Kimaiyo said: “It is with heavy hearts that we learn of the passing of Kelvin Kiptum, the world marathon record holder, and his coach in a tragic accident along the EldoretKaptagat road.

“Kelvin Kiptum was at the prime of his career, a legend in his own right.

It’s a tough one to take.

Our thoughts are with their families during this incredibly difficult time.

The people of Keiyo South are saddened by this loss.

May their souls rest in eternal peace.”

Kiptum, 24, set a new world record of two hours and 35 seconds at the Chicago Marathon in October last year. He also won the London Marathon in 2023 with a record time of two hours, one minute and 25 seconds.

The organisers of the London Marathon said on X: “We are shocked and deeply saddened to hear the terrible news of the death of marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana. The thoughts of everyone at the TCS London Marathon are with Kelvin’s and Gervais’ family and friends.”

World Athletics president Seb Coe said: “We are shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the devastating loss of Kelvin Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana.

On behalf of all at World Athletics, we send our deepest condolences to their families, friends,

teammates and the Kenyan nation. It was only earlier this week in Chicago, the place where Kelvin set his extraordinary marathon World record, that I was able to officially ratify his historic time. An incredible athlete leaving an incredible legacy, we will miss him dearly.”

At the 2022 Valencia Marathon, Kiptum set the record for the fastest debut marathon in history, crossing the line in a course record of two hours, one minute and 53 seconds.

He was due to compete at the Rotterdam Marathon in April, which would have been his first event since setting the world record.

Najmul Hossain Shanto named Bangladesh captain in all formats

N

ajmul Hossain Shanto has been appointed Bangladesh captain in all three formats.

Najmul Hossain Shanto has been handed the reins for a year, according to BCB president Nazmul Hassan.

The news comes as a surprise, at least in the T20I format, in which Shakib Al Hasan was set to lead till the upcoming T20 World Cup in June.

Shanto led impressively in the recent Tests against New Zealand, and also later during a white-ball tour of New Zealand. Shanto's appointment marks a shift in the BCB's policy to give some of the younger cricketers a permanent leadership role.

Shakib, Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim are still an active part of the international sides, but Shanto's promotion as the 12-month captain means that the board is prepared to move on from the vaunted seniors.

BCB chief Nazmul Hassan has said that they considered Shakib as their

No. 1 choice for captaincy in all formats, but the board went ahead with Shanto for the role after Shakib informed them of a condition in his eye. Hassan said that they couldn't wait any longer to make a decision on the leadership.

"We have elected (Najmul Hossain) Shanto as captain in all three formats," Hassan told a packed press conference following a board meeting in Mirpur on Monday. "We discussed the national team captaincy for the longest time in this meeting. We spoke to Shakib, who told us that his eye problem hasn't gone away. We are not sure of his availability in the Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe home series. We also have to consider the T20 World Cup that's coming up.

"Shakib is definitely our first choice, but we don't want to stay in any uncertainty. We didn't want to delay the decision; we had the World Cup in mind, so to run the team smoothly, we had to pick a captain."

Shakib had announced

Najmul Hossain Shanto will lead Bangladesh in all three formats

before the World Cup last year that he would give up the ODI captaincy after the 50-over marquee event.

He had also hinted that he was unlikely to continue in Tests, but expressed his interest in leading the side during the T20 World Cup. Shakib had built an impressive T20 side in the last 12 months, notably winning against England.

Shanto takes over a side that will face Sri Lanka in

three T20Is, three ODIs and two Tests in March and April this year at home.

Bangladesh are also likely to play five T20Is against Zimbabwe, also at home, before embarking on the World Cup in West Indies and USA in June.

Gazi Ashraf is new chief selector The BCB also named former Bangladesh captain Gazi Ashraf Hossain as the

new chief selector of the senior men's side. He will begin his job officially from March 1.

Ashraf is a former BCB director, who was in charge of the BPL in its nascent days.

Another former player, Hannan Sarkar, was also appointed in the selection panel. He was a junior selector for a number of years.

"When we made a shortlist, he seemed the best

choice. We waited for him to agree on our offer. There wasn't much debate about it. When he agreed with us, we were unanimous with our decision too," BCB president Hassan said.

Only Abdur Razzak survives from the previous panel, after the board decided not to renew the contracts of Minhajul Abedin, whose eight-year reign as chief selector ends. Former captain Habibul Bashar, too, exits as a selector.

Abedin, the former Bangladesh captain, became the chief selector when Faruque Ahmed quit the role in 2016. He was regularly criticized for allowing the policy of BCB chief Hassan and some of the influential board directors to meddle in selection matters. After retiring from cricket in 2010, Bashar became a national selector in 2011.

Abedin also joined at the same time. Bashar was briefly the women's team selector, before returning to the men's selection panel in 2016.(Cricinfo)

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2024

GFF hosts social media mastery workshop for Elite League clubs G

uyana Football Federation (GFF) on Saturday hosted a social media workshop with representatives of the ten Elite League clubs. It is aimed at bolstering their brand management strategies in readiness for Season Six, set to commence on February 25.

The interactive session was held on February 10 at the Guyana Olympic Association Headquarters at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, and was attended by a total of thirteen (13) representatives from reigning league champions Guyana Defence Force, Guyana Police Force, Den Amstel, Fruta Conquerors, Santos, Ann’s Grove, Buxton United, and recently promoted Monedderlust and Slingerz football clubs.

Facilitated by Martin Massiah, the one-day training programme imparted valuable insights into

Participants in the GFF’s social media workshop

sports marketing, with a focus on social media brand management, merchandising, effective use of artificial intelligence, and football culture.

GFF First Vice President, Brigadier

General (Ret) Bruce Lovell, said the day provided an excellent opportunity for the clubs to learn how to strategically position their brands to attract potential corporate support and more followers locally and

internationally.

“It was an excellent workshop that we hope will have a significant positive impact on clubs increasing their visibility by understanding and managing their brands better, in or-

der to grow their fans and attract more sponsors. The information has been disseminated, the onus now lies on each representative to execute the steps, effect essential changes in their social media strategies, and seize the opportunity to increase visibility by strategically using social media platforms,” Lovell detailed.

Facilitator Massiah noted that there had been a significant level of engagement throughout the day, with “every single club… actively participating in sharing ideas.”

He added that the workshop also covered both the weaknesses and strengths of the clubs, and provided participants with “a clear road map that each club can use for their own unique marketing strategies. All of these things were tailored for each club,” he said.

Diarra Thomas of Fruta

Conquerors shared that he now has insightful ideas on how to amplify the social media popularity of the former Elite League champions.

“We already have a huge following, and I believe this workshop will help us to engage our fans more and improve our following,” he said, adding, “I see some weakness our club can work on in terms of the merchandising and better community outreach.”

Jamal Johnson of Monedderlust said that in addition to understanding his club's weaknesses and strengths, he recorded “good information that the club could use to better publish the players.”

The marketing session aligns with GFF President Wayne Forde's strategy to enhance the growth of domestic football by elevating the promotion of local clubs.

KL Rahul ruled out of third Test against England; Devdutt Padikkal called up I

ndia have been dealt a blow in the lead-up to the Rajkot Test against England with KL Rahul being ruled out of contention due to a sore knee. Devdutt Padikkal, Rahul's Karnataka team-mate, has been called in as replacement.

Rahul had earlier missed the second Test in Visakhapatnam due to a quadricep injury, and had been included in the squad for the last three Tests only subject to fitness. A BCCI release on Monday evening said he "has reached 90 per cent of match fitness", and that "he will continue his recovery process at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru to be completely match-fit for the fourth and fifth Tests."

Already light on batting experience, with Virat Kohli missing due to personal reasons, Rahul's absence further complicates matters for India, who also didn't pick Shreyas Iyer for the remaining three Tests.

That aside, it isn't confirmed yet whether Ravindra Jadeja has recovered from the hamstring injury he had suffered during the first Test in Hyderabad. Jadeja is in the squad to play the third Test, which will take place on his home ground, but his participation is pending fitness clearance.

Meanwhile, this is a maiden Test call-up for Padikkal, who is expected to link up with the squad on Tuesday from Chennai, where he struck 151 and 36 against

KL Rahul also missed the second Test in Visakhapatnam

Tamil Nadu in the fifth round of the Ranji Trophy fixture that finished on Monday.

Padikkal, the 23-year-old left-hand batter, has so far aggregated 556 runs in six innings at an average of 92.66 this Ranji season. He has scored three centuries, with a highest of 193 in the season opener against Punjab.

Prior to his most-recent Ranji outing, Padikkal impressed with scores of 65, 21 and 105 for India A against the touring England Lions in Ahmedabad. The century in the second unofficial Test was part of a massive first-innings batting effort that helped set up an innings victory.

He was also part of the shadow tour to South Africa with India A in December, where he had an opportunity to train alongside India's Test regulars prior to an intra-squad fixture.

"South Africa was a great

experience for me in terms of having the chance to train with the seniors," he had told ESPNcricinfo last month.

"Being in and around them, playing that level of bowling, prepares you well for the Ranji season. I looked at it as an opportunity to get volumes in in terms of my batting. I'm grateful for that experience."

Having started off as an opener, Padikkal has slowly transitioned into a predominantly top-order role that requires him to bat at No. 3 - and at times even at No. 4 - for Karnataka. With Mayank Agarwal and R Samarth opening the innings for his state side, Padikkal has established himself lower down. This change of role is something he has learnt to embrace after a middling IPL 2023 for Rajasthan Royals.

The tipping point, he said, was his trade to Lucknow

Super Giants, where he'll be playing under none other than Rahul.

"I don't look at it in terms of just being an opener anymore," he has said. "I'm enjoying my opportunities wherever they may be. Each position you bat in offers a different challenge. I'm trying to learn new things, [and] adapt to situations. It helps me grow as a cricketer, [and] helps me understand the game a lot more; not just in terms of my batting, but [also] how the game works across different phases."

Overall, Padikkal has solid first-class credentials, having averaged 44.54 across 31

matches. He has played two T20Is for India, both of which came against Sri Lanka in July 2021.

In Visakhapatnam, India handed a Test debut to Rajat Patidar. Sarfaraz Khan is the other uncapped batter in the mix, along with Padikkal.

Jadeja's potential unavailability could well pave way for another Test debutant in Rajkot. It's also likely India could still pick one of Sarfaraz and Padikkal, even if Jadeja is available, and they play their usual three spinners and two quicks.

India have two full days of training leading into Rajkot, with the series locked at 1-1.

Leon Bailey signs new contract with Aston Villa

A

ston Villa have confirmed the signing of Leon Bailey in a new contract with the club.

The 26-year-old Reggae Boyz attacker has been in sensational form this season, and is playing the best football of his career to date. He has made 32 appearances in all competitions so far this term, recording 19 goal contributions across those games.

His 13-goal involvements in the Premier League are already more than what he managed in his first two seasons at the club combined.

Bailey joined Villa for £30 million in the summer of 2021 from Bayer Leverkusen. He was one of three players targeted

by Villa to replace the void left by Jack Grealish, who joined Manchester City for £100 million. Injuries marred his first campaign with Villa, as he only started seven times and scored on just one occasion.

Last season, Bailey improved following the arrival of Unai Emery, and played his role in helping the club qualify for European football with a seventh-place finish.

India's squad for the third Test: Rohit Sharma (capt), Jasprit Bumrah (vice-capt), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (wk), KS Bharat (wk), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed.

Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep, Devdutt Padikkal.

(CricInfo)

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2024

23

GCF Grand Prix 2…

West Indies Championships…

Thorne gets GHE call-up; Beaton Khan, Shariff emerge champions gets flagged for bowling action R W est Indies under-19 speedster Isai Thorne is heading to St. Kitts and Nevis as he grasps his opportunity to represent the Guyana Harpy Eagles (GHE) in the ongoing Regional 4-Day Championships, after being drafted as replacement for Ronsford Beaton.

Beaton, who picked up two wickets in the Harpy Eagles’ abandoned match against the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force last week, has been called for a suspect bowling action -- at the very West Indies Championships where last year he was reported for his bowling action. The Essequibo pacer had missed the final round in March, but had been cleared in May 2023.

Beaton’s issues, with his bowling action being reported, dates back to 2017.

Fresh off a solid ICC Men’s U19 World Cup experience, Thorne, one of Guyana’s top pace prospects and the Windies most recent find, will play a key role in the Eagles’ fast-bowling department, alongside Ronaldo Alimohamed and company.

In the recently concluded

Ronsford Beaton has again been flagged for his bowling action

ICC Men’s U19 World Cup, Thorne bagged 8 wickets in 5 matches in South Africa, inclusive of a 4-wicket haul against Scotland’s Under 19s. This was Thorne’s second stint at the U19 World Cup. Meanwhile, the Guyana Harpy Eagles have had to settle for a draw in their first match of this year’s West Indies Championships, after rain played spoilsport.

After the first day had been rained out, as had a portion of the third day, the remaining days’ play were hampered by a wet outfield.

In the first day’s play, the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force had managed to score 215/4, with Jason Mohamed slamming a century and Beaton claiming figures of 2-39 from 12 overs, as he took the wickets of Cephas Cooper and Jyd Goolie.

The Harpy Eagles will come up against the Leeward Islands Hurricanes in Round 2 of the West Indies Championships, set to bowl off on Wednesday, February 14 at Warner Park in St. Kitts.

Guyana Harpy Eagles fast bowler Ronsford Beaton suspended from bowling

G

uyana Harpy Eagles fast bowler Ronsford Beaton has been reported for a suspect bowling action during the ongoing West Indies’ Four-Day Championship first-class competition, his action being cited by match officials during the first-round match between Guyana Harpy Eagles and Trinidad and Tobago Red Force at the Conaree Cricket Centre in St. Kitts, which ended last Saturday.

As part of the process, once a player has been reported for a suspect bowling action, video footage from the match in which the player was reported is provided to CWI. The video footage along with the written report is then sent to the CWI Bowling Review Group (BRG) and Loughborough University for analysis using an Opinion Report.

On Sunday, Cricket West Indies (CWI) confirmed that the Opinion Report by the Independent Assessor at Loughborough University has found Beaton’s bowling action to be illegal, and as such, he has been suspended from bowling in all West Indies international and regional matches with immediate ef-

Ronsford Beaton

fect.

The assessment revealed that Beaton’s deliveries exceeded the level of tolerance for extension of the elbow permitted under playing regulations. As per the International Cricket Council (ICC) regulations, the suspension will also apply to all other domestic leagues worldwide.

Beaton will remain suspended until such time as his action is found to be legal, either by an Opinion Report from Loughborough University or by an independent analysis from an accredited ICC testing centre, in accordance with the CWI Regulations for

Dealing with Suspected Illegal Bowling Actions.

Isai Thorne who returned from competing with the West Indies Men’s Under-19 team at the recently concluded ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup in South Africa, will replace Beaton in the Guyana Harpy Eagles squad.

Round 2 of matches in the West Indies Championship starts on Wednesday 14 February.

Guyana’s first-round match against Trinidad and Tobago was abandoned, with no result, due to seepage of water onto the pitch from 24 hours of persistent rainfall.

eigning National Chess Champion Taffin Khan brushed aside all opposition to win the Open category of the Grand Prix Two tournament which ended on Sunday at the National Stadium, while former National Women’s Champion Sasha Shariff dominated the women’s category.

Khan secured all his wins comfortably, but drew his match with Loris Nathoo, whom he had faced late last year in a fast-paced playoff to determine the 2023 National Champion.

Queen's College student Kyle Couchman clinched a much-deserved second place, after displaying remarkable skills over the

Grand Prix 2 Open winner, Taffin Khan

chess board to accomplish that feat, while Anthony Drayton earned third-place in that category.

Former National Women’s Champion Sasha Shariff overtook reigning National Women’s Champion Jessica Callender to clinch the top

award. However, Callender secured second place and Queen's College student Aditi Joshi came in third.

The eight-round tournament, sponsored by International Import and Supplies, attracted 14 female and 23 male chess players.

"One Guyana" Basketball League…

Bounty Colts into Jaguar Conference Finals …as Ravens go one up in Harpy Eagle Conference Finals

B

ounty Colts emerged victorious at the playoff round of the “One Guyana” Basketball League, which culminated at the National Gymnasium on Saturday, February 10th.

They have sealed their place in the Jaguar Conference Finals even as the Kitty–Campbellville Ravens managed to go up with one win in the Harpy Eagle Conference Finals.

With their feisty style of play, the Kitty– Campbellville Ravens managed to contain their opponents and go up with a win.

Kwakwani Untouchables are known for their quick type of play, with the Ravens leading in the first quarter of the game, they scored 11 points while the Ravens’ defense was pivotal, as they restricted the Kwakwani Outfit to 10 points.

The second quarter proved to be beneficial for the Ravens, as they managed to put the ball through the net consistently, scoring 23 points while managing to keep Kwakwani calm, their failing to put the ball through the net consistently and ending up scoring 16 points.

The third quarter was also dominated by the Raven’s outfit, who put the ball through the net for 19 points while the Untouchables scored 11 points.

The Eagles went on to secure the win in the final quarter by scoring 19 points for a total of 70 at the end of the game, while Kwakwani added 14 points in that segment for a total of 52.

In an exclusive com-

The Bounty Colts

ment to Guyana Times Sport, Ravens Vice Captain Shamaar Huntley expounded on the great work the team had done both offensively and defensively to secure this enormous win.

“Feeling good! Was a really good game, as we came and defeated the team by a large margin. We are looking to repeat that next week, and was a good effort defensively and offensively we played as a team, and was a great execution,” he declared.

Bounty Colts, with inclusion of youngsters into their team, pulled off a dramatic triumph over the McDoom/ Prospect Kobras, after taking a dominating 20-15 lead in the first quarter.

The Kobras lived up to expectations, controlling the second quarter of the game by scoring 20 points to increase their lead to 35 while holding the Colts to 15 points for a total of 35.

In the third quarter, the Colts forced a comeback by pouncing on the Kobras defense and scoring 25 points

for a total of 60 points, while the Kobras appeared to slow down offensively, scoring 8 points for a total of 52.

The Colts clinched their victory in the fourth quarter with the game coming to the last second, despite the Kobras outscoring the Colts, swishing 24 points that were not enough, as their total score at the end of the game was 76, while the Colts added 17 points in the quarter at the end of the game for a total score of 77.

Head Coach of Bounty Colts, Willon Cameron, in an exclusive comment to Guyana Times Sport, shared his feelings after the win, and declared how grateful he was to advance further in the tournament.

He shared, “It feels good to advance, and we are grateful to God for the opportunity to be able to play basketball.

Of course, if you're winning games, to have to be happy and a bit ugly at the end…, but we are just happy that we are advancing.” (Omar McKenzie)

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2024

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

Pg 23

West Indies Championships…

call-up; Beaton gets Khan, Shariff emerge champions flagged for bowling action Pg 23

"One Guyana" Basketball League…

Pg 23

into Jaguar Conference Finals …as Ravens go one up in Harpy Eagle Conference Finals

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