Guyana Times - Tuesday, February 27, 2024

US$15.8M in new climate mitigation funding to Region announced

…as US Rep to UN hopeful for quick rollout of funding

The United States has announced new funding to the tune of US$15.8 million for regional climate adaptation efforts and US Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield is hopeful for a quick rollout of funding.

On Monday, the spokesperson for the US Mission to the United Nations, Nate Evans, announced that $15.8 million in funding would be made available to the Caribbean. This funding is part of US$43 million in United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funding that had previously been highlighted at Caricom.

During a press conference also held on Monday, Thomas-Greenfield was asked about timelines for rolling out the US funding to the Region. Specifically, she was asked about plans for US$100 Million in blended funding for the Region from the Caricom Development Fund (CDF) and the United States that had also been announced this year.

“The funds were announced immediately. And we hope to get them out immediately. I didn’t announce a timeline. Timelines always get all of us in trouble. But I can tell you that our plan is to provide these funds immediately,” she said.

The Ambassador also spoke about her discussions with President Dr Irfaan Ali and oth -

er Caricom Heads of Government, noting that issues such as climate resilience and food security were high on the agenda.

“We did discuss climate change, food security, climate resiliency. How to address all of those issues. They were top, front and centre in our discussions. And my opening statement to Caricom, our partnership, to continue to focus on those issues. Food security is an issue that I, too, have focused on during three Security Council presidencies. And this is something we’re working very closely with the Government on.

“The President announced that he wants to ensure that Guyana is self-sufficient in grains and beans and other products that can be produced here. And that we open up

trade lanes and trade barriers to other countries in the Region, so that they can support each other. We committed funding to support climate resiliency in the Region, as well as for Haiti. And we will continue to work on those issues,” she explained.

The US Mission to the UN had also provided further details on how the US$15.8 million in funding would be spent. For instance, US$5.8 million will go towards reducing “threats to coastal-marine biodiversity and build the resilience of coastal communities in the Caribbean to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change”.

It was explained that the programme will focus on preserving endangered ecosystems and species such as mangroves

and coral reefs, as well as communities of sharks, rays, marine turtles, and more. The work will also enhance climate resilience and the well-being of local communities including women, youths, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQ and Indigenous people.

Meanwhile, US$10 million of the money will go towards improving water institutions in Haiti, which has been grappling with a breakdown in law and order, as well as certain Government services, since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse.

“This support will help institutions plan for the financing and delivery of safe and reliable drinking water services before, during and after shocks and stresses such as climate crises, health pandemics, and civil unrest. With this support from USAID, one million Haitians will have access to climate-resilient sources of safe water,” a statement from the US Mission to the UN said.

Guyana has been vocal in its call for increased climate adaptation funding. A few weeks ago, when President Ali presided over a UN Security Council debate on the impact of climate change and food insecurity on the maintenance of international peace and security, he had reiterated this call. (G3)

US Rep to the UN, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Radio and Diversity

Less than two weeks ago, we observed World Radio Day and according to UNESCO, even in an era marked by the dizzying speed of technological innovation and the rapid obsolescence of one shiny new platform after another, radio is beginning its second century of service as one of the most dependable and widely-utilised forms of media in the world.

On January 14, 2013, the United Nations General Assembly formally endorsed UNESCO’s proclamation of World Radio Day. During its 67th Session, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming February 13, the day United Nations Radio was established in 1946, as World Radio Day.

The objectives of the day are to raise greater awareness among the public and the media of the importance of radio; to encourage decision makers to establish and provide access to information through radio; as well as to enhance networking and international cooperation among broadcasters.

This year’s World Radio Day theme was “Radio and Diversity.” In his message, UN Secretary General António Guterres outlined that radio brings people together and in an era of rapid media evolution, it retains a special place in every community as an accessible source of vital news and information.

UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay, pointing out that radio has a central role in our societies, now and in the years to come, said that the year 2024 marked a milestone in the history of this medium. “It is the year we celebrate the centenary of the first live radio broadcast of the Olympic Games, on the eve of the next Games in Paris. This milestone reminds us that, since its creation at the end of the 19th century, radio has always been with us, bringing us together around powerful moments and shared emotions.”

For the century, radio has been informing, entertaining, and also educating, as this year's theme underlines. Azoulay said “it is all the more true today: despite the growing influence of the Internet and social networks, radio continues to be a prime source of information and entertainment – it is estimated that over four billion people listen to it. Radio is also the medium that reaches places others do not: while almost a third of the population did not have a decent Internet connection in 2023, a proportion that rises to half of the population in rural areas, radio is more inclusive and accessible, particularly in crisis situations.”

She went on to say, in Afghanistan, following the decision to deprive Afghan girls and women of their fundamental right to learn and teach, UNESCO has put in place what is in effect education over the airwaves, supporting Radio Begum in particular. This radio station, run by Afghan women for Afghan women, provides literacy courses and gives them a voice. Radio can also be the voice of the voiceless, enabling all individuals and communities to express themselves, and to bring the diversity of their cultures to life. That is why UNESCO supports and encourages community radio all over the world.

Here in Guyana, radio broadcast is reported to have had its founding in the late 1920s when experimental shortwave broadcasts from Daventry, England were initiated, not long after the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) was established in 1922.

After broadcasting for a few hours each week, the shortwave service ended suddenly in 1931 due to economic constraints, and it was not until 1935 that radio resumed when the Marylebone Cricket Club visited the colony, and local demand for cricket commentary prompted the establishment of radio stations VP3BG and later VP3MR.

The two stations are said to have been the first two radio stations established in the English-speaking Caribbean, and became popular for their cricket commentaries, music and religious programmes. Today, radio programming in Guyana caters to diverse ethnic demographics, covering both the AM and FM broadcast bands.

According to the United Nations, radio is still the most dynamic, reactive and engaging medium there is, adapting to 21st century changes and offering new ways to interact and participate.

President Ali and PM Phillips continue to lead by example

Dear Editor,

Since taking office three and a half years ago, President Dr Irfaan Ali and Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips have been working very closely as a team, and have been leading by example on national and global issues at every level: local, regional, hemispheric and international.

At the local level, they have conducted several meetthe-people tours to solve the people’s problems, and they recently embarked on Guyana’s first National Clean Up Campaign for 2024; on Saturday, February 17, at Houston and Agricola, East Bank Demerara. After several hours of toil, President Dr. Ali and Prime Minister Phillips removed a huge amount of litter and waste from public spaces, thus making it cleaner and safer for residents in those villages. They have also repainted several medians in the community, to beautify and maintain a safe and healthy environment.

Accompanying them were Public Works Minister Bishop Juan Edghill; the top brass of the Police Force, including Police Commissioner (ag) Clifton Hicken; members of the Private Sector, and volunteers.

The overall objectives of the 2024 Clean-Up Campaign, which was initiated by His Excellency, were to promote cleanliness in the various communities across the country, sensitise residents on the importance of keeping their communities clean, and bring about a change in public behaviour.

On the regional, hemispheric and international scene, President Dr. Ali,

during an interview with Bloomberg News on Tuesday February 20, in reference to the border controversy, firmly and unequivocally stated that Guyana is a peaceful country, that has always respected the rule of law and abides by decisions made by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). He affirmed that any threat to Guyana’s territorial integrity by Venezuela would be taken very seriously; and that many of our regional (CARICOM) hemispheric (Brazil and Latin America), and international partners (United States, Canada, Britain and members of the European Union) have reiterated their support for this country’s sovereignty.

He also called upon Venezuela to participate in the ICJ process, and respect its decision. Additionally, his relentless and unyielding advocacy for food security, energy security, reduction of poverty and hunger worldwide, and for urgent action to combat the burning issue of global climate change, among other things, has made him a respected global leader.

President Dr Irfaan Ali has not only strongly rejected the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela’s spurious claim to Guyana’s territory, but has potently reassured foreign investors that they should not worry, because the border controversy was settled 125 years ago by the 1899 Arbitral Award, of which both Venezuela and Guyana were represented by the United States and Great Britain respectively.

He informed Bloomberg News that the border controversy is currently before the ICJ, and that his primary fo-

cus is to ensure stability in the region and to make sure that the hemisphere remains a zone of peace. The Guyanese Head-of-State asserted that the Government has taken steps to modernize the nation’s military with the use of technology, and to increase its human capacity.

Like President Dr. Ali, Prime Minister Mark Phillips has, on several occasions, outlined Guyana’s positions locally, regionally, and at several international forums. The most recent was during the period February 7 to 9 in New Delhi, India: when he called for rational, definitive, and strong leadership at the local, regional, hemispheric and international levels to take immediate action to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. That speech by PM Phillips was one of the most powerful, effective, and convincing speeches made at that forum.

While performing the duties of President Dr. Ali, who chaired a high-level United Nations Security meeting in New York, Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) the Honorable Mark Phillips once again delivered an eloquent, impressive, and influential speech at the Guyana Energy Conference.

He emphatically and brilliantly told the attendees at the Conference that Guyana has made significant and phenomenal progress in the energy sector in its efforts to transition to clean, renewable energy.

Reinforcing Guyana’s steadfast and ultimate commitment to an equitable, sustainable, and environmental-

ly friendly future for all, the Prime Minister highlighted the pressing need for climate-resilient action amidst the global climate change crisis, stating that the time for climate change-resilient action is now.

Speaking truth to power, the former Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force has explicitly affirmed that clean energy is pivotal to Guyana’s progress, energy transformation, and long-term sustainability goals; and that it is fundamental to the nation’s environmental, social, economic, technological and human development.

Known for his spectacular and amazing speeches, Brigadier Phillips, in his closing remarks, praised the conference attendees for their continued dialogue on energy sector issues; expressed optimism and enthusiasm for investments in Guyana’s clean and renewable energy programmes, and for ongoing partnerships to find permanent and long-lasting solutions to the global climate crisis.

It should be clear to everyone that President Dr. Ali and Prime Minister Phillips are two of the country’s greatest and most genuine leaders, and despite their different social, cultural, and political upbringing, have collaborated on most of the issues on how to solve problems, develop the country, and improve the lives of the people in their pursuit of happiness. For many, they are solid and genuine team mates who continue to lead by example.

Sincerely,

Dr Asquith Rose

A coconut water booth at the Promenade Gardens, Georgetown, where President Dr Irfaan Ali hosted a lunch for the Heads of Government and specially-invited guests attending the 46th Meeting of the Conference of the Heads of Government of Caricom (Office of the President photo)

Hamilton Green’s statements signal a dangerous return

Dear Editor, In an era wherein the fight for democracy and trans-

parency is more critical than ever, the recent remarks by Mr. Hamilton Green, for-

mer General Secretary of the People’s National Congress (PNC) and former Prime

Caricom Heads must take a stand on Gaza humanitarian disaster

Dear Editor,

I wish to join all Guyanese in welcoming leaders from the Caricom countries to Guyana on the occasion of the 46th Heads of Government meeting. I hope that their meetings would be productive and that at the same time, enjoy some moments of relaxation.

This meeting is taking place at a time when our world is experiencing much turmoil and conflicts. However, we have not witnessed a case of genocide as is going on in the Gaza since the period of Hitlerite Fascism

At the moment some 30,000 civilians in the Gaza strip have been brutally killed. Thousands of others are missing presumed to be dead. Tragically the vast majority of deaths are innocent children (some only hours old) and women. Some 70,000 over injured many losing one or more limbs.

The Israeli regime have been targeting special groups such as health workers. First responders. Doctors are shot while working to save lives.

Many in the medical profession have also been arrested at a time when civilians are being murdered.

supported by the most powerful country in the world, the United States and many of its NATO allies.

Minister, advocating for the return to rigged elections, represent a direct assault on the foundational principles of democracy and the rule of law in Guyana.

Mr. Green's comments were made at a lecture organized by the Burnham Foundation, and they glorify a dark era of Guyanese politics, which was dominated by electoral manipulation under the leadership of Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham. Such

statements not only undermine the significant strides Guyana has made toward democratic governance, but also threaten the integrity of the upcoming 2025 elections.

The silence and lack of condemnation from the current PNCR leadership, including Mr. Aubrey Norton, in response to Mr. Green's remarks, is deeply troubling.

This silence could be interpreted as tacit approval of anti-democratic practices,

further eroding public trust in the commitment of the PNCR and its leadership to democracy. The international community and local stakeholders -- including civil society, the Government, and the Guyana Elections Commission -must take a stand to protect Guyana's democracy.

Sincerely, Women’s Progressive Organisation

Journalists are another group of people that are targeted for killing. Their crime is that they are reporting the tragedy taking place in Palestine. The other reason is to prevent news from reaching the world s public by using fear in the minds of those journalist who are still alive while still trying to kill them.

United Nations workers toiling heroically to provide some relief to the starving and disease-stricken civilians are not spared by the Israeli s fascist regime. More than one hundred of those heroic workers were killed along with the Palestinians.

I need not mention the almost total destruction of physical and social infrastructure. Hospitals, schools, universities, homes have all been flattened. They are non-existent now.

Unfortunately, the Israeli regime is allowed to carry out their genocide because it is

This meeting of Caricom heads must take a stand on this humanitarian disaster. We cannot and should not be innocent by-standers in the face of this humanitarian disaster unfolding in front of our very eyes. Mere declaration is not enough. Israel and its few but powerful backers are ignoring these statements of condemnation. Our leaders must take strong actions to express the Region s disgust at the loss of so many innocent lives.

I wish to urge Caricom countries to break diplomatic relations with Israel now. It is the only right thing to do. It will be a most tangible expression of our solidarity!

The situation is dire and it calls for urgent decisive action.

Sincerely,

Donald Ramotar

Former President of the Republic of Guyana

Political economy of oil & gas and climate change

Dear Editor,

On day three of the recently concluded Energy Conference in Georgetown, Vice President Jagdeo reflected on several hot button issues on global energy and climate change. He was interviewed by Carlos Pascual, the Senior Vice President for Geopolitics & International Affairs at S&P Global. The following are among the key points.

First, Guyana and the forested countries of the Global South are of the view that an active carbon pricing regime is critical for effective governance of GHG emissions. In effect, carbon pricing is like a ‘user-pay’ system. The rationale for this is that, both historically and in the contemporary period, the G-North countries have discharged significantly disproportionate GHG into the biosphere. Rich countries (US, Canada, Japan, and Western Europe), with only 12% of the world’s population, have discharged 50% of CO2, with 48% coming from the rest of the world (NYT, 11/12/2021).

Second, the removal of carbon subsidies would result in greater fuel efficiency, which in turn would lead to less GHG emissions. There is a ‘fair-trade’ benefit in this as well. Fossil fuel subsidies amounted to US$7 trillion in 2023.

Incidentally, just days ago, France reneged on a COP28 promise to reduce and remove these subsidies, which are rife in their agricultural sector. In 2021, the EU provided US$199 billion in energy subsidies, $42 billion of which was for the fossil fuel sector.

Third, it is important to get rid of coal. Coal currently con-

tributes more to global energy supply than natural gas, although it is far more destructive. Further, coal production has gone up dramatically since the Earth Summit in Brazil 1992. It has increased by 126% since 1981, compared to oil production, which has increased by 51% (https://ourworldindata. org/fossil-fuels).

Fourth, reduction of demand (meaning: less consumption) is imperative in the drive to meet the IPCC’s target of cutting greenhouse emissions 43% by 2030. There are staggering disparities in consumption between the G-North and G-South countries. For instance, Japan, with 125 million people, has about 40 million more households with air conditioning than India, with 1.4 billion souls. Canada’s per capita electricity generation (2022) was 16,602 kWh. Look at the comparative figures for some G-South countries – Brazil 3162 kWh; Guyana 1529 kWh; DRC 115 kWh; Chad 18 kWh. The average Indian owns 1.2 pairs of shoes (Statista); the average American owns 12 pairs.

Fifth, the call to stop oil and gas exploration in (mostly) developing countries is unfair. This is because countries such as the UK, USA, and Canada continue to facilitate new investments in oil and gas. If a stop is instituted, the current producers would effectively have a monopoly. Canada and the United States have both increased oil and gas production significantly over the recent past, and this despite their consistent rhetoric against hydrocarbon exploration elsewhere. Oil production has more than doubled in the US since 2008, now topping

13 million bpd. Canada is likely to top 5 million bpd in 2024. In 2010 it was less than 3 million bpd (Reuters, (8/23/2023).

Sixth, Guyana is already a net zero country, and its carbon sequestration services serve as a model to many developing countries that are on the way to monetizing their forests. The LCDS is also a comprehensive development plan consistent with the UN’s SDGs 2030. Two notable aspects of the LCDS are the focus on hinterland development, intended to dramatically improve the lives of Amerindians, and a dedicated strategy at realizing national and regional food security.

The Gas-to-Energy project would help to cut emissions by half, and reduce electricity prices by fifty per cent for end users. Cooking gas prices would be significantly reduced, and export markets would be developed for the significant excess that would remain. These developments are concrete ways in which Guyana would break out of the NorthSouth straitjacket.

It is worth knowing that Guyana’s oil & gas sector is free of flaring. Flaring is a major contributor to black carbon and methane, both of which are destructive to human and natural ecosystems. Guyana is also ramping up its solar energy delivery. Free solar panels and other connected accessories are currently being distributed in difficult ‘off-grid’ areas in hinterland communities. The Amaila Falls hydro-project would soon go out to tender.

Sincerely,

Dr Randy Persaud

Worthy traits of being an elder in a democratic Guyanese society

Dear Editor,

Having suffered over three decades of autocratic rule under three different PNC regimes, Guyanese - within the past three decades - have found themselves in the fortunate and envious position of residing in a democratic nation with the restoration of all civil liberties. Gone are the days of rigged elections, press censorship, denial of rights to protest, suppression of opposition voices, paramountcy (supreme power) of the party and its accompanied trappings of party loyalty.

These once denied democratic rights and privileges, restored when the PPP/C first succeeded in gaining political office through internationally monitored elections, have now become commonplace in every sector of Guyanese society. So, it is disheartening, and even disdainful, to hear Hamilton Green advocate for opposition forces’ acquisition of political power through rigged elections.

As Green puts it, “As I told one of the groups I met with this morning, if they say you rig elections, I say we should keep rigging to save ourselves from these devils…”

To say Green’s call is lamentable is putting it mildly; for here is a man who, for over sixty years, served in various prominent governmental positions, including that of Vice President and Prime Minister, openly advocating for rigged elections. Why? Is it because of the lust for power, prominence, or envy of the democratically elected PPP/C Government? Or, could it be because of the accrued benefits derived from rigging, which are difficult to acquire from participating in fair and free democratic elections?

Lamentably, Green’s statement is not only abominable; it is dismaying, coming from a man who often personifies himself as “Elder.” “Elder” in Biblical reference is someone who commands respect and reverence through grace and humility; someone who guides people towards a peaceful and harmonious existence.

Similarly, in African societies, an “Elder” is someone who has acquired experience and wisdom over the years, and who utilizes this knowledge to counsel and guide the young in leading virtuous and productive lives. In short, being an “Elder” is the epitome of humane attributes, the acquisition of exceptional personal characteristics with the coming of age.

Green, like my Nigerian

friend Olu, is an individual of advanced age. But does this singular characteristic make him an “Elder”? I think not. According to Olu - who by profession is a cultural Anthropologist - an African “Elder” uses swords sparingly, and refrains from using insulting, demeaning, or negative remarks against another. Does Green exemplify these attributes?

Interestingly, young Nigerian and Ghanian PhDs at the university where Olu taught regularly addressed him as Oba (Chief). Upon entering his office door, they would stoop slightly in salutation to Olu, in recognition of his role and demeanor as an “Elder.” In reciprocation, Olu would greet them with kind words, and impart guidance for their harmonious coexistence. Can the self-acclaimed “Elder” Green, with his regular racist, divisive, incendiary rhetoric and commentaries, say the same?

Could it be that former Prime Minister Green has difficulty differentiating the worthy from the unworthy? That is, personal age-related behaviours and traits that bestow upon an

individual the status of “Elder” in a democratic society? Given his birth and grounding in the ethically and racially pluralistic Guyana, one would have expected the aged Green to acknowledge that humane coexistence is essential in the building of a democratic Guyanese society, that election rigging disenfranchises the electorate, relegates power in the hands of political riggers, and promotes disharmony among citizens, whose interdependency is the very foundation of daily existence. Is such the intent?

Given the forgoing, it is perhaps worthy to remind the surviving PNC leader that we may differ racially and ethnically, but as a nation of six peoples, we constitute One Humane Guyanese identity – the bridging of diversity into a national unity, as promoted by the current PPP/C Government.

Given the above, I now submit to the readers’ judgement as arbiters. What are your thoughts?

Regards,

Narayan Persaud, PhD

Page Foundation

Power

Zero Property, Equality Properties

Take

Glow Snow

the snow.

Add about a tablespoon of instant snow powder to the cup.

Materials:

Tray Cup Instant snow powder (available on Amazon)

Glow powder (available on Amazon)

Water

UV light

Instructions:

Set the cup in the tray to contain

Add about a 1/4 teaspoon of glow powder to the instant snow powder.

Mix the instant snow powder and glow powder. Add several ounces of water to the powder.

The powder will absorb the water and turn into fake snow.

Turn off the lights and shine the UV light on the glow snow.

Enjoy playing with your glow snow.

How it works:

The instant snow powder is a su-

per absorbent polymer. When water is added, the instant snow powder absorbs it quickly and grows to produce fake snow. The addition of the glow powder gives the fake snow a fun glowing effect.

Make this a science project:

Try adding different liquids to the snow powder to see if it absorbs at the same rate as water. Try adding things like salt to the instant snow powder to see if it changes the composition of the fake snow. Do different temperatures of water change the rate at which the instant snow absorbs the water? (sciencefun.org)

Torment

By Ian Carew

Flail my mind

To the moment's brink, This is my fate.

Drive me like parched lips

To a cup's rim

Then shatter the cup

Upon pavements of time

That my parched dream's lips

Might know no moistening.

Push me like rising tide

Up beaches of strange emotion,

Then let the tide of my reaching Ebb away

With the moonrise

Of nights and days..

And when my appetite for reaching Ceases its hunger cries

And is surfeited, Then lull me

Under dead leaves, Under rivers, Under seas, And memoryless let me lie On the bosom of unknown forevers.

WORD SEARCH

Caricom region must develop regulations to address AI – Pres Ali

…says could be disastrous if member states fail to act …as regional single window system, digitisation of Govt services also in progress

By Jarryl Bryan

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Sunday made an impassioned call for the Caribbean Community (Caricom) to develop regulations to govern Artificial Intelligence (AI), which is growing in prominence around the world with each passing day.

Guyana’s Head of State, who is also Chairman of Caricom, made this call during the opening of the 46th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government, and pointed out that it would be a disaster for the region if member states fail to act.

“I believe the region must work immediately on developing regulations to govern AI and the use of

er. He noted that to do otherwise would not advance regional integration.

Already, countries around the world have been moving to set up leg-

AI within this region. We must have a common rulesbased system, regulations and legislation to deal with AI. It is going to be disastrous if we do not manage this now, and have the infrastructure established to manage this now,” he declared.

“Member states are currently working on the digitisation of Government services, to allow for the seamless transactions, movement of goods and services, and the reduction of bureaucracy in government. We need to develop urgently a digital strategy, an AI strategy, for the region,” the President said.

According to President Ali, this digital platform must be a common one that would see all the countries in Caricom sharing a single system and working togeth-

islation to govern AI. In the European Union (EU),

laws have only this month been approved that will regulate AI based on risk assessments of the different models. AI that carries “unacceptable risk” will be banned outright, while AI at the lower end of the risk spectrum would see developers having to disclose to users whenever any content they interact with is AI-generated.

Meanwhile, in the US, work continues at both the federal and state levels to bring about laws to regulate AI. In California, for instance, efforts are being taken to assess the risk of deepfake technology - AI technology that can manipulate video to mimic real persons - to the government

systems.

Earlier this month, it was uncovered that a deepfake AI scam was used to trick a financial officer at a multi-national firm in Hong Kong into paying out US$25 million of the company’s money. According to authorities in Hong Kong, the scammers used deepfake technology to pose as the financial officer’s boss on a video conference call, which led to him approving the payout…only to later discover that he had been talking to fake AI recreations.

Digitisation

Meanwhile, President Ali also spoke about ongoing regional efforts to digi-

tise Government services and set up a single window system. It would follow Guyana’s own efforts at implementing a single window system in Government agencies.

“We will have a single window operating in all the countries. We’re starting with Guyana, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago as the test, and only announcing that we are already getting tremendous Private Sector interest to take this in the wider region. And this will be an important development in our region,” President Ali said.

“In the single window operation that we are looking to achieve, we want when a container is on that ferry or on that ship from Guyana to go to another destination in the region, it must be pre-cleared through a rule-based system, because we will have customs of everyone sharing offices in the region. So, ease of doing business, improved competitiveness, and reduced delays. And all of this are cost-saving measures for the Private Sector in our region,” he explained.

The single window process is a strategy implemented by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government to integrate different agencies’

approach to services and efficiency, and to significantly reduce the processing time for planning and building permission.

In December 2022, a $202 million contract was signed with Global Services – a Guyaneseled consortium with global experience – to make the issuance of planning and building permits hassle-free. The company has been tasked with providing a server and network infrastructure, security solutions, and hardware and software maintenance and repairs.

And last year, the National Assembly passed the Planning and Development Single Window System. The legislation paved the way for, among other things, standardized application forms and checklists, as well as minimizing the time for completing a transaction in, for instance, the construction sector.

Further, the electrical portal will enable investors to submit planning and building permits, and check the status from anywhere around the globe. This new mechanism forms part of the Government’s attempt to increase the ease of doing business and foster a business-friendly environment. (G3)

President Dr Irfaan Ali

Tucville man busted with gun, ammo remanded

Andrew Marks, a vendor of Jackson Street, Tucville, Georgetown, has been remanded to prison until March 25.

He appeared on Monday before Senior Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Diamond Golden Grove Magistrates’ Courts to answer two charges in relation to possession of a firearm and ammunition,

to which he pleaded not guilty.

Police have said that on Friday, at about 01:45h, ranks were on duty at the ‘Splash-A-Mani’ concert at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence,

East Bank Demerara when they observed Marks, clad in a black jersey and a pair of blue pants.

However, upon seeing the Police, he reportedly started to run, and scaled a nearby fence. The ranks gave chase, but Marks jumped into a trench in a bid to escape.

He was subsequently arrested, and a search conducted on his person unearthed a 9MM pistol and a magazine with 16 rounds of matching ammunition.

Simple larceny lands man in jail

Forty-year-old Devvon Davis of Leopold Street, Georgetown was arrested and charged last week for the offence of simply larceny.

He appeared before Diamond Magistrate Judy Latchman to answer the charge, details of which were not provided by the Police. However, he pleaded not guilty but has been refused bail and remanded to prison until March 21.

The push for food security – “25 by 25” - in the Caribbean is kinda ironic when you think about it, innit? Weren’t our native Amerindians, over whom Columbus stumbled, eating and living by the principles of food security? We know for a fact they ate very balanced diets, and didn’t complain about “food security”. For vitamins, (fruits) they had pineapple, mammee, sapodilla, star apple, genip, guava and cashews, among other fruits. They cultivated maize (corn) on a large scale, with cassava, sweet potatoes and yautia etc as staple carbohydrates. They made cassava flour and cassava bread. For meat, they ate all sorts of small animals; which they grilled, baked, or used in “pepper-pot”, with cassareep being the main flavour!!

But our food “problems” came when the Europeans insisted our folks, who’d co-existed for millennia with their environment, were “uncivilized”, and everything about them was to be discarded - including those who were soon wiped out. The Europeans did things “their way”, including eating European foods. And as they brought waves of enslaved Africans and indentured Indians, Chinese, Portuguese, etc, European tastes became the “civilized” tastes, and, as such, were demanded by us, who wanted to be “with it", and move up!!

In terms of food, most comes from plants, and in another ironical twist, our entire existence in the modern global system was because of agriculture!! We were shanghaied to pioneer this earliest of human endeavours on an industrial scale! So, what happened? Well, the Europeans decided we’d produce those peripheral crops like sugar cane, tobacco and spices, while importing foods from Europe to keep THEIR farmers working!!

Now, all of this we already know. Hadn’t Burnham and Manley struck their leftist pose and decided we were going to feed ourselves?? Were they talking about “food security” before there was “food insecurity”?? Naah…they were just reacting to their economies imploding, and didn’t have the foreign exchange to import the foods we’d been weaned on, and craved. After all, it wasn’t apocryphal that Burnham cried out for “condensed milk” on his death bed, was it??

Anyhow, while there’s nothing wrong about growing our own food and moving off “foreign foods”, what they attempted was an ancient economic notion called “autarky”! Your country gotta be completely self-sufficient and become an island (no pun intended!!) unto yourself!! This had been debunked by the “free trade” theory, wherein countries concentrate on things they have (or can acquire) as a comparative advantage, produce and export those things, then use the foreign exchange earned to buy WHATEVER else is desired!!

But we never learn; so, we have Jamaica producing Irish potatoes all right – but at EIGHT TIMES the imported price!! So, are we going to try producing artichokes and asparagus etc!! But how about condensed milk??!!

…of mind

It’s said that every man’s home is his castle – with the expectation that he’s gonna be left in peace to do as he pleases there. But even though the Middle Ages are long gone, and one would’ve thought that the era of folks using battering rams to break into castles were over and done with, from the eighties, we had our “kick-down-the-door-bandits” -- inspired by the PNC’s terroristic onslaught on the citizenry, to keep them cowed for Burnham’s dictatorship. That’s left a lasting legacy of windows and doors grated with steel bars, so most Guyanese actually live voluntarily in JAILS!! But there still isn’t security of mind in the grated castles – witness reports of folks being regularly burglarized, and even killed.

But now there’s another irony: with oil revenues pouring in and our GDP being the fastest growing in the WORLD, of course we shouldn’t have anyone going hungry?? But it does take some time for the economy to adjust our 14.5% take of the oil profits so that everyone has jobs, no??

Sadly, there’s no magic wand.

…of tenure

How come UG’s been around for almost 60 years and its graduates can barely read and comprehend beyond primary school level?? Cause the staff has security of tenure, where they are never evaluated, and can’t be fired!!

Devvon Davis

Charged: Andrew Marks

The gun and ammunition that were found on his person

Caricom to expand presence to UAE, Saudi Arabia

The Caribbean Community (Caricom) is strengthening its ties with the Middle East as it now moves to establish a presence in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The UAE and Saudi Arabia are in the process of reciprocally establishing their diplomatic presence in the Region.

Caricom Chairman and President Dr Irfaan Ali on Monday opened the plenary of the 46th Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of Caricom at the Georgetown Marriott, where he made this announcement.

The Regular Meeting of the Caricom Heads of Government is being attended by Caricom Secretary General, Dr Carla Barnett; regional leaders and other representatives. Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Adel Al-Jubeir and Minister of State for International Cooperation of the UAE, Reem al Hashimy are also participating.

“The UAE is in the process of establishing their diplomatic presence in Caricom and they’re working with Caricom on having a Caricom house established in the UAE so that our diplomatic presence will be there also…Saudi Arabia is also offering the Region a Caricom house in Saudi

Arabia and we’re hoping to activate this and they’re also in the process of establishing their physical diplomatic presence in the Region also,” President Ali informed.

This development builds upon the Caricom-Saudi Summit last November where several countries in the Caribbean walked away with financing for projects in a number of sectors.

That one-day conference saw a joint statement from Caricom and the Saudi Arabian Government which indicated that the leaders committed to enhancing bilateral ties between the two regions by exploring further cooperation in areas such as agriculture and tourism

as well as trade and investments.

Among the discussions held was for the establishment of a US$25 million facility to accelerate food production and explore a hydroponics facility for the entire Region.

President Ali, who led that delegation, had said, “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia made available not only all their technical and ministerial resources, but their Private Sector resources and financing. Setting aside $2.5 billion for the development of the Region, approving a number of projects for different countries.”

Guyana is already benefiting from its ties with Saudi Arabia through the

US$150 million loan agreement signed back in May with the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) to finance the “infrastructural development works for the housing sector project”, and the construction of Wismar Bridge Project.

These partnerships align with the four pillars of Caricom: economic integration, human and social

development, foreign policy coordination and security cooperation.

Meanwhile, delegations from Ghana, Lesotho, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States of America and the United Nations are also participating in the Heads of Government engagements.

This year’s Meeting will also discuss climate change

and climate financing; regional security, including the situation in Haiti and border issues; regional transportation; financial matters, including replenishment of the Caricom Development Fund (CDF); global and hemispheric issues; reparations; and the 2024 International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup. (G12)

President Dr Irfaan Ali speaking during the Conference of Heads of Government at the Marriott Hotel

President Ali meeting with Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Adel Al-Jubeir

Scenes from Caricom's 46th Heads

of Government Meeting in Guyana

Guyana rallies regional leaders to provide assistance to Haiti

…as US Rep to UN says Benin also wants to join multi-national force

In his capacity as Chairman of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), President Dr. Irfaan Ali on Monday rallied other Heads of Government to provide much-needed assistance to Haiti in restoring the beleaguered nation to some semblance of normalcy.

The President was at the time addressing the business session of the 46th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government, which was held at the Marriott Hotel on Monday. According to him, the assistance Caricom provided to Guyana in brokering peace with Venezuela could go a long way towards also assisting Haiti… which has been engulfed in turmoil since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse.

Haiti and an expanded grouping of all stakeholders working with Haiti, we are hopeful

“Caricom Heads met on Saturday to commence discussions on the challenges we have with Haiti. This morning (Monday), with the Friends of

that, sometime today, we will be able to point the Haitian people, the region, and the global community in the direction through which we be-

lieve long-lasting sustainable solutions can be achieved,” President Ali has said.

“Of course, this requires all stakeholders -- in Haiti especially -- to give a bit, compromise a bit, and to express a collective willingness to achieve the outcomes that we’re setting ourselves to achieve. It speaks to one important subject, and that is when we trust each other in the region and find solutions among ourselves,” President Ali said during the session.

Meanwhile, US Representative to the United Nations (UN), Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who held a press conference on Monday at the US Embassy in Georgetown, revealed that she had had extensive discussions with Haitian Prime Minister Ariel

Henri (who is in Guyana for the Caricom Heads of Government meeting), and the discussions were centred on the needs of the Haitian people.

“The Haitian people need security; they need an opportunity to do the normal things that ordinary people do: go to school, go to church. When I heard, over the past two and a half days, that women are afraid to even go out of their houses to attend church, to shop for their families… So, security is uppermost in all of their minds,” the US Representative disclosed.

“So, we talked about how to address those issues, as well as having discussions on how to more urgently move the political process forward. So, in tandem with security, there is a political process that will lead to free and fair elections and democracy restored in Haiti. Caricom countries all expressed their strong commitment to Haiti,” she further explained.

She also related that Benin, a West African country that shares such commonalities with Haiti as language and religion, has offered to join the coalition that is looking to help restore order in Haiti. Benin would contribute up to 2000 troops.

“As you know, Kenya has volunteered to lead this multi-national force. We learned just before I started

this trip that Benin has offered up to 2000 troops to support this force. Other Caricom countries have also volunteered to have troops that would provide training and other support to the multi-national force. Jamaica has been key in galvanizing the contributions from Caricom countries,” she disclosed.

She also reiterated US support for the multi-national force, particularly when it comes to providing money and logistical support. However, the Ambassador emphasized that Haiti does not need to feel as though it is being occupied by foreigners, hence the need for the region and other African countries to be engaged.

“The US is committed to supporting the multi-nation-

al force. We’re committed to providing the multi-national force with what it needs to deploy on the ground, and we’re committed to providing a lot of the logistical support that is required. What we have heard -- and again, this is something you’ve heard as well -- Haiti does not need what appears to be an occupying power, and this is why we think it’s so important that the region has engaged, and that African countries have engaged,” she disclosed.

“We have committed US$200 million to supporting that process; we’ve committed to provide logistics; we’ve committed to providing equipment and support to the multi-national force,” she said. (G3)

Berbice High School wins Mashramani Panorama 2024

The Marriott Hotel beach front was painted with musical auras as the Panorama Mashramani competition kicked off on Sunday, and Berbice High School emerged as the victors defeating seven contenders in the youth band category.

Patrons got the chance to witness electrifying per-

formances from President’s College, Queen’s College, The Bishops’ High school, National School of Music, Buxton Pride, West Demerara Secondary and New Amsterdam Secondary. As each team fought through what was considered a battle of music, Berbice High School came out the winners. Led by Adrian Benjamin

and Andrew Charles, who arranged the music, the Berbice team had the opportunity to be trained creatively to perform the song, “I am 592” by local artiste Vanilla.

All activities of the Mashramani Panorama competition for 2024 were sponsored by Republic Bank. (G2)

President Dr Irfaan Ali

The flag of Benin

US Rep to the UN, Ambassador Linda ThomasGreenfield, with Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henri

Panorama champions Berbice High School

Caricom should move to become net exporter of energy – Ali

It is time for the Caribbean Community (Caricom) to craft a regional energy plan that would not only address the demands of member states, but, more extensively, establish the bloc as a net exporter of energy.

President Irfaan Ali made this statement as the business session of the 46th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) got underway on Monday.

As he opened the session, the Caricom Chairman revealed, “I believe the time has come for us to have a regional energy plan that looks at the future: all forms of energy, and to see how the region can be self-sufficient; how we can guard against inflationary pressures; and how we can become a net exporter of energy, especially as we move towards renew-

ables and transitional fuel.”

President Ali has made his position known at a time when countries have been making the switch to renewables in keeping with the global commitment of reducing emissions by almost half by 2030, and achieving net-zero by 2050.

It is projected that, by 2050, the Region would have transitioned from 19 percent to 51 percent electrification .

It has been outlined by Caricom Secretary General Dr Carla Barnett last week, during the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo, that energy

Taxi driver charged with possession of 73lbs ganja

Charged: Noel Tobin

Noel Tobin, a 28-yearold taxi driver who was busted with 73 pounds of ganja in his Bartica apartment last week, was on Monday remanded to prison after appearing before Bartica Magistrate Crystal Lambert and pleading not guilty to the charge of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

This matter has also been adjourned to March 18, 2024.

It has been reported that on Wednesday, at about 22:00h, ranks of the Bartica Police Station conducted a search of Tobin’s apartment and unearthed a suitcase containing 20 brown and red scotch-taped parcels; one multi-coloured shopping bag containing 16 parcels wrapped in transparent plastic; one multi-coloured shopping bag containing five parcels wrapped in brown scotch tape; and two parcels wrapped in transparent plastic.

“All the parcels, when opened, contained leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis (marijuana),” the Police have said.

However, at the time of the discovery, Tobin was not at home; and the ranks subsequently went to a house at Karabese Hill in Bartica, where the taxi driver was contacted, told of the offence committed, and cautioned.

The Police have said that

Tobin admitted to having the narcotics in his possession in that he told the officers that, about two days ago, he received the marijuana from a “brethren” to keep.

Tobin was arrested, and escorted along with the narcotics to the Bartica Police Station, where he was placed in custody. The narcotic, when weighed in his presence, amounted to 33,470 grams (33.47 kilograms).

able and resilient energy future, by accelerating the deployment of renewable energy resources and fostering partnerships among member states.

Dr Barnett has said, “The increasing production of hydrocarbons in Guyana, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago presents opportunities to enhance regional energy security. It also presents opportunities for increased Private and Public Sector investments in building social, economic, environmental, and climate resilience as the world transitions towards clean and renewable sources of energy.”

ogy,” Dr Barnett has been quoted as saying.

Locally, a total of $95.7 billion has been allocated in 2024 for the energy sector. Of that sum, $1.3 billion would go towards energy expansion and diversification. The 2024 budgetary allocation for the energy sector builds on the 2023 allocation of $59.3 billion.

plays a critical role in development, as it enhances the social well-being and fosters the economic stability of the region. However, the region faces significant challenges to energy security. Hazards such as hurricanes and earthquakes affect electricity supply, leaving communities without electricity and posing significant threats to security and well-being.

At the same time that many member states are struggling to replace outdated power plants and fragile electric grids, the heavy reliance on imported oil, with its rising costs, exacerbates our energy challenges; and this has been made even worse by increasing geopolitical tensions which have affected prices.

Caricom is actively working towards a more sustain-

She has outlined that accelerating the energy transition and energy system transformation is essential to increasing the share of renewable energy, promoting the use of cleaner fuels, and bolstering resilience. And capacity building and access to emerging technologies would also help develop energy potential in the region.

“Achieving our vision of a sustainable energy future in the Caribbean requires continued collaboration, integration, and investment. Caricom’s energy transition is strengthened by cooperative partnerships, including with international development partners who can play a crucial role with support through technical assistance, funding for sustainable energy projects; and critically, access to technol-

In this regard, the sum of $80 billion dollars has been budgeted separately to advance the flagship 300MW Gas-to-Energy project; however, no money has been provided for the 165MW Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP), given that four firms have submitted pre-qualification documentation, and these are currently being evaluated.

Nevertheless, work on the mini-hydropower facilities in Kumu and MocoMoco would move forward with $1.3 billion from this year’s budget. Additionally, $4.8 billion has been provided to finance several solar power projects across the country.

While the Gas-to-Energy (GtE) Project would play an important role in supplying gas to the domestic market, President Ali shared last week that it also would play an important part in Guyana earning export revenue through the supply of gas to neighbouring Brazil; the Caribbean Community (Caricom); and even the Dominican Republic (DR). (G12)

President Irfaan Ali with Caricom SG Dr Carla Barnett at the opening of the business session of the Caricom Heads of Government Meeting

The ganja that was allegedly found in Tobin’s apartment

Heavy global agenda demands “undivided attention” – Caricom SG

Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretary General, Dr Carla Barnett has called for undivided attention in navigating the tides of a heavy global agenda by harnessing the wisdom of the bloc’s fivedecade-long experience in overcoming challenges.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the 46th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of Caricom on Sunday evening, the Secretary General underscored that a solid foundation has been established over the past 50 years of the regional bloc’s existence.

She called upon President Dr Irfaan Ali, who is the incumbent Caricom Chair, to carry the Region forward in the changing global landscape.

“The stage is well set for this new generation to engage its innovativeness,

ingenuity and dynamism to secure and improve on the gains so far achieved. Mr Chairman, as you carry us forward, as the standard bearer for Caricom for the next six months, there is a heavy regional and global agenda which demands our undivided attention and active en -

gagement, despite the ever-present vagaries of the global landscape. Let us, therefore, harness the wisdom of our 50 years of existence, learning from what we have done well and what we know we can do better, and move forward with passion and determination to overcome today’s

challenges,” Dr Barnett charged.

The Secretary General highlighted Trinidad and Tobago’s Presidency of the 78th United Nations General Assembly; Guyana’s election to the United Nations Security Council and its current Presidency of that body; and St Lucia's election to the Presidency of the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as positive strides where the Region has a voice to address complex and multi-faceted global issues.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is also completing a successful year as Pro Tempore President of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), the first Caricom country to undertake this role.

According to her, the

Caribbean’s resilience, adaptability and development will be examined in detail this week, allowing Governments to pool their collective wisdom to devise sustainable solutions to the threats and challenges faced.

“Significant technical and policy work has led to accomplishments in various areas, including food and nutrition security, advancing aspects of the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME), border security, air and maritime transportation, among others…As we continue to tackle these and other issues during this 46th Meeting, our dedicated hours in plenary, caucus and retreat sessions will be focused on moving our integration movement determinedly forward in the best interests of our Region and its citizens,” she said.

This week, regional

leaders will be joined by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and their exchanges will seek to further advance the regional food security agenda among other critical areas.

Dr Barnett underscored that Caricom speaks clearly in the international community and its determined advocacy has helped to spur positive change for critical hemispheric and global issues.

The SG mentioned, “The decision at COP28 in December 2023 to operationalise the Loss and Damage Fund; and growing acknowledgement in the international community that the Bridgetown Initiative presents a more relevant financial approach to addressing the unique needs of our Region are but two examples of the impact of Caricom’s advocacy.” (G12)

UK to pump £190,000 towards conservation efforts in Caribbean Sea

British Minister for the Americas, Caribbean and Overseas Territories, David Rutley is representing the United Kingdom at the 46th Caribbean

Community (Caricom) Heads of Government Meeting and is expected to announce £190,000 funding to help countries of the regional bloc manage their marine environment sus-

tainably.

The funding will be used to create a unified action plan that will allow Caribbean countries to benefit economically from their ocean resources in an envi-

ronmentally-friendly manner. Rutley stated, “The UK and Caricom members are building on our modern partnership and we are committed to working together to protect our natural environment.

“Our new funding will help Caricom States create and implement plans to conserve their unique marine environments for future generations while also helping to boost their economies.

“This is part of our wider partnership, which supports regional security, deepening trade and building resilient economies. Our collaboration will continue ahead of the UN’s Small Island Developing

States [SIDS] summit in May.”

The new UK funding comes ahead of the SIDS summit in May, where the international community will meet to discuss the impact of climate change on SIDS. The UK will also provide additional funding to Caricom to help the organisation launch an action plan at the summit on the sustainable use of natural resources.

The UK is one of the largest bilateral donors to the Caribbean, an area of the world particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, and has provided £400 million for development programmes in the Region since 2016.

This includes £26 million for a climate-resilient highway in Belize, as well as almost £20 million to help Eastern Caribbean countries build their renewable energy capacity.

The UK is already leading marine conservation efforts in the Caribbean, with three Overseas Territories (Cayman Islands, Turksand Caicos Islands and Anguilla) members of the flagship Blue Belt programme. Established in 2016 and covering 10 Overseas Territories, Blue Belt is the largest marine conservation network in the world – covering one per cent of the planet’s oceans from the Southern to the Pacific.

Caricom Secretary General, Dr Carla Barnett

Minister for the Americas, Caribbean and Overseas Territories, David Rutley with Caricom Secretary General, Dr Carla Barnett during a meeting in 2023 (file photo)

Chevron, Exxon in dispute over Hess stake in Guyana oil block

ExxonMobil Corp said on Monday it may pre-empt Chevron Corp's acquisition of a 30 per cent stake in a giant Guyana oil block, the centrepiece of its deal for Hess Corp.

The companies are in talks on Exxon's claim it has a right to first refusal of any sale of the Stabroek Block, a giant field off the coast of Guyana that contains at least 11 billion barrels of oil.

The dispute between the top U.S. oil producers could end Chevron's US$53 billion deal for Hess, Chevron warned in a securities filing.

If the deal falls part, Hess could be liable for a US$1.7 billion breakup fee.

Hess shares fell more than three per cent in late

trading. Chevron fell almost one per cent.

Exxon said in a statement it wanted to ensure it would "preserve our right to realise the significant value we’ve created and are entitled to in the Guyana asset", adding it was "working closely with the Guyanese Government to ensure their rights and privileges."

"You have to assume that Chevron made a business decision that Exxon wouldn't try to preempt," said Dan Pickering, Chief

Investment Officer at Pickering Energy Partners.

The two companies are partners in projects elsewhere and the dispute signals how valuable the Guyana projects are to Exxon, he said.

"It obviously means that 30 per cent of Guyana is really valuable and maybe they think that Chevron is getting in too cheaply, Pickering said, adding "Right now, it feels like a food fight."

Exxon operates all pro-

Mahaica trio nabbed with ammo in car

A28-year-old carpenter of Helena #2 Mahaica, East Coast Demerara (ECD) and two others were taken into custody following the discovery of several rounds of ammunition in a motor car on Saturday.

Police stated that ranks were conducting a traffic enforcement exercise along the Helena #2 Public Road, ECD on Saturday when they observed a motor car, PSS 7252, had suddenly stopped. Soon after, the driver exited the vehicle and entered the Sun Flower Supermarket.

At the time, he was accompanied by a 25-year-old and a 26-year-old, both carpenters.

The ranks upon observing their suspicious movements followed them and the three men were escort-

ed out of the supermarket, where they began behaving disorderly. Consequently, other ranks in the vicinity were summoned for assistance, and the suspects were escorted to the Mahaica Police Station along with the vehicle.

A search of the vehicle

was conducted in their presence during which five live rounds of .32 ammunition were found on the floor mat behind the driver’s seat.

They were told of the allegation, arrested and placed into custody pending completion of the investigations. Investigations are continuing.

duction in Guyana with a 45 per cent stake in the consortium with Hess and China's CNOOC as its minority partners. In October, Chevron proposed to buy Hess largely to obtain the Guyana stake.

Right of first refusal not applicable – Chevron Chevron said it believed the talks "will result in an outcome that will not delay, impede or prevent the consummation of the merger." However, it also said the dispute could wind up in arbitration if the two sides could not reach a settlement.

"The right of first refusal provision is not applicable to the merger. We are fully committed to the transaction and do not believe the

ROFR or these discussions will prevent its successful completion." Chevron and Hess said.

A disruption of the deal terms would be a major blow to the US second largest oil producer, which has been trying to expand production into lower cost fields in the Americas.

Guyana has been trying to attract more large oil producers to dilute Exxon's dominance of the country's energy output. It recently held an offshore block auction that drew bids by

TotalEnergies, Petronas and Qatar Energy.

The Hess acquisition has been stalled by the US Federal Trade Commission's request for additional information on the merger. That request pushed back any closing to at least the middle of this year, and the Exxon claim could extend it further.

The Exxon-led consortium has said it expects to triple Guyana's oil output to more than 1.2 million barrels of oil per day by 2027.

(Reuters)

23 jailed over 68 child deaths linked to cough syrup

An Uzbekistan court has sentenced 23 persons to prison over the deaths of 68 children linked to contaminated cough syrup.

The defendants were found guilty of tax evasion, sale of substandard or counterfeit medicines, abuse of office, negligence, forgery, and bribery.

The sentences range from two to 20 years.

The number of deaths announced at Tashkent City Court was higher than previously reported.

Some 65 deaths were recorded at the start of the

six-month trial, and prosecutors added three more last month.

The contaminated syrups were manufactured by Marion Biotech in India and distributed by Quramax Medical in Uzbekistan.

The longest sentence of 20 years was handed to Singh Raghvendra Pratar, an executive director at Quramax Medical.

Former senior officials who had been responsible for licensing imported medicine were also handed lengthy sentences, according to Reuters news

agency.

Last January, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said two of Marion Biotech's cough syrups were "substandard" after 18 Uzbekistani children died from consuming them.

The WHO said the two syrups – Ambronol and Dok-1 Max – had unacceptable amounts of contaminants.

Marion Biotech denied the allegations at the time and told the BBC it did not "agree" with the findings.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Guyana to attend Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting in Tanzania

The United Republic of Tanzania is all set to welcome Ministers and Attorneys General, including from Guyana, to the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting, which will open in Zanzibar on March 4.

Held every two years, the meeting of law ministers is a leading platform for collaboration among the 56 Commonwealth countries, which share a common legal tradition.

The theme of this year’s meeting is “Technology and Innovation: How digitalisation paves the way for the development of people-centred access to justice.”

Under this theme, law ministers will examine ethical ways to use technology to make legal services and information more accessible to people, while exploring responses

to threats, such as cybercrime.

Speaking about the meeting, the Commonwealth Secretary General, Patricia Scotland, KC, commended the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania for making exceptional arrangements for the meet -

ing.

Secretary General Scotland drew attention to the pressing need to close the access to justice gap, which currently affects two-thirds of the world’s population.? She highlighted the detrimental consequences of the lack of people’s ac -

cess to justice on development, inclusive growth, and conflict prevention.??

The Secretary General continued: “At a time when increasing conflicts are undermining respect for international law, ensuring equal access to justice remains a fundamental precondition for building

peace and security for all.”

She said:?“Our priority is to help all our member states deliver equal access to justice for all. That requires legal systems which can meet the needs of all.

“The upcoming Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting offers us a vital platform to discuss the growing threats to the rule of law and find innovative ways to deliver the changes which will guarantee justice for every one of the 2.5 billion people living in our Commonwealth.”

Ambassador Dr Pindi H Chana, the United Republic of Tanzania’s Minister of Constitutional and Legal Affairs and Chair of the 2024 Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting, announced the meeting’s details at a press conference in Zanzibar on Monday.

Addressing Journalists,

she said: “We expect to get a lot of benefits following this meeting as the topics that will be discussed will help to find the right ways to strengthen and enforce the law and access to human rights.”

The meeting’s four-day agenda will cover a range of topical legal issues, including digital assets, electronic resources for efficient legal systems, access to justice for people with disabilities and developments in climate legislation.

The outcomes from the meeting will shape the agenda for the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa later this year.

The meeting will be held at the Mora Hotel in Zanzibar from March 4 to March 8, 2024.

Thousands of Brazilians rally in support of Bolsonaro amid coup probe Peru declares health emergency as dengue outbreak “imminent”

TPens of thousands of Brazilians have rallied in support of former President Jair Bolsonaro amid a probe into allegations that he tried to orchestrate a coup following his election loss in 2022.

Bolsonaro, who called the rally in São Paulo after being targeted by a Police raid earlier this month, denied the coup charges on Sunday and hit out at an election ban that has seen him barred from seeking office for eight years.

“What is a coup? Tanks in the streets, weapons, conspiracy. None of that happened in Brazil,” Bolsonaro told his supporters, who filled up six blocks of São Paulo’s iconic Paulista Avenue.

“We cannot accept that an authority can eliminate whoever it may be from the political scene, unless it is for a fair reason,” he said.

Federal Police in Brazil seized the former President’s passport earlier this month after accusing him of editing

a draft decree to overturn election results following his electoral loss to leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in 2022.

They also say he pressured military chiefs to join a coup attempt and plotted to jail a Supreme Court Justice.

The former army officer is also facing several other investigations, such as the falsification of COVID-19 vaccination certificates, and the alleged misappropriation of gifts received from

other nations, such as jewellery offered by Saudi Arabia.

Separately, hundreds of Bolsonaro’s supporters were also arrested and face charges for invading and ransacking Brazil’s presidential palace, Supreme Court and Congress on January 8, 2023, a week after Lula took office.

Bolsonaro said on Sunday that he was being “persecuted” and that his draft decree was based on the Constitution. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Jamaica: JLP and PNP in dogfight for local government dominance

After 24 days of official campaigning and millions of dollars spent, it’s now down to the voters to determine which of the 499 nominated candidates will be elected to serve in the island’s 14 municipal corporations and as the Mayor of Portmore.

Just over two million Jamaicans are eligible to vote, and with a voter turnout of 41 per cent when Police, soldiers and election day workers cast their ballots last Thursday, it is anticipated that more than the 30 per cent of electors who voted in 2016 will vote. But a forecast of rain for sections of the island could suppress the numbers.

Both the Jamaica

Labour Party (JLP) and the People’s National Party (PNP) have hyped the importance of the election, the first municipal contest in almost eight years, and have spent the past three weeks criss-crossing the island and pressing flesh in an attempt to pull out the votes.

PNP President Mark Golding has labelled the election a referendum on the leadership of JLP Leader Prime Minister Andrew Holness and is hoping a strong showing will give the Opposition party the momentum it needs going into the next General Election constitutionally due in 2025.

“This will be a referen-

dum on this Government, this will be an earthquake for the Labour Party Government, because when, on the 26th, the PNP is victorious in the local government election, it is only a matter of time before the General Election has to be called and the PNP will be returned to power,” declared Golding on the campaign trail.

While charging that it would be a desperate person to liken the Local Government Election to a referendum on his leadership, Holness has left little doubt that his party wants to send a strong signal when the votes are counted.

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Mexico's President defends decision to share journalist's phone number

Mexico's President on Monday shared a letter from the New York Times' bureau chief for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean for the second time and defended his decision last week to share her private telephone number publicly.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador shared the letter from the Times' Natalie Kitroeff to his head of communications at his morning press conference, although the version on Monday obscured the telephone number which he had made public on Thursday.

The President, however, defended the release of the number, arguing that by sending it to a Government communications official Kitroeff had made it public.

"Journalism is a public activity, like politics, and we all have to act with transparency," Lopez Obrador said.

The letter sought comment from the President's office on an investigation into a shelved US Government investigation into allegations that Lopez Obrador allies met with and took millions of dollars from drug cartels after he took office in 2018.

eru declared a health emergency across most of the country on Monday as a heat wave and heavy rains have led to a spike in dengue fever cases.

The South American nation's death toll due to the virus has risen to 32 so far this year, Health Minister Cesar Vasquez said on Monday.

Total cases also climbed to 31,300 in the first eight weeks of the year, Vasquez said, up from 24,981 in the first seven weeks.

The Peruvian Government's Cabinet approved the motion to declare a health emergency on Monday, Vasquez told

Journalists, hours after he said a dengue outbreak was "imminent".

"There are 20 regions (out of 25) that will be declared in a health emergency due to dengue," Vasquez said in an earlier interview on local radio station RPP.

The declaration boosts resources to health responders in the affected areas.

Dengue, largely transmitted through the bites of infected mosquitoes, causes symptoms such as fever, nausea, vomiting, fatigue and body aches.

Most of the cases seen so far in Peru have been in the country's north, where hospitals are already over-

whelmed.

The nation's typical dengue response has been "overtaken" by factors such as climate, Vasquez said.

"The weather has created a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes to reproduce more quickly and become a more frequent vector of the disease," he said.

Last year, 428 people in Peru died from dengue, with 269,216 infected, according to official data.

Since 2023, the Andean nation has faced high temperatures and heavy rains due to the El Niño weather phenomenon, which has warmed the seas off Peru's coastline. (Reuters)

Colombia, ELN rebels hold meeting after troubles at peace talks

Colombia's Government and the National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels said on Monday they have held a meeting amid difficulties at peace talks and will meet to continue negotiations in April.

The guerrilla group, which has fought the

Government since 1964, said last week the talks were in crisis because the Government participated in regional talks with communities. The Government said it complied with all its commitments.

"We analysed the advances of the accords and the problems faced by the negoti-

ating table for peace, in light of which each side has made commitments for the positive development of the process," the two sides said in a joint statement, adding they met in Havana over the weekend.

Talks will continue beginning April 8 in Venezuela, the statement added. (Reuters)

The Mexican President has denied the allegations.

Lopez Obrador's release of Kitroeff's phone number raised concerns in Mexico, which is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for reporters outside of war zones.

Mexico's freedom of information body INAI said it was initiating an investigation into the publication of the number. The Times called Lopez Obrador's disclosure of the number "a troubling and unacceptable tactic from a world leader."

(Excerpt from Reuters)

For the second consecutive year, intrepid rowers have been pitting themselves against the might of the Atlantic Ocean, traversing 3200 miles from the Canary Islands to Antigua on muscle power alone, in one of the toughest endurance events on the planet.

Unlike its counterparts, the Atlantic Dash is not about speed, but embracing the adventure and gaining a fresh perspective on life.

This year’s event saw three teams depart from

Lanzarote on January 3.

On Sunday morning, Brightsides were the first to cross the Jolly Harbour finish line after 52 days, 18 hours and 53 minutes at sea.

The quartet comprised paratrooper Alex Perry, vet Anna Williams and farmers Rod Adlington and Guy Minshull, all from the UK.

They arrived to a rapturous reception and a feast fit for a king, courtesy of local restaurant Sheer Rocks.

Perry, from Oxfordshire, explained what inspired him to take part when greet-

ed by the Observer team.

“I’ve always kind of wanted to do a big adventure. It wasn’t necessarily to row the Atlantic or row an ocean, but the opportunity came up and I kind of got hooked on the idea. Not many people do it, and just getting away from the hustle and bustle of life and just getting out in a big kind of wild life. . . it’s nicest to be out there and in the middle of nature and the wilderness.”

(Excerpt from Antigua Observer)

Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro rallies with his supporters on Paulista Avenue in São Paulo, Brazil, February 25, 2024 [Carla Carniel/Reuters]

Around the World

BOIL NEWS

Red Sea crisis and OPEC+ cuts support oil prices

rent crude prices have held above US$80 per barrel for most of February, with signs pointing to a tightening in the physical market as the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies (OPEC+) production cuts continue and the rerouting of cargoes away from the Red Sea and the Suez Canal drags on.

European refiners are looking for Atlantic Basin cargoes as arrivals from the Middle East are being delayed by at least two weeks with the longer route via the Cape of Good Hope that tankers have to make to reach the Mediterranean and Northwest Europe.

As a result, prices for North Sea and West African crude grades have increased this month, supporting Brent crude prices above US$80 a barrel and deepening the backwardation in the futures curve.

Backwardation typically occurs at times of market deficit, and in it, prices for front-month contracts are higher than the ones further out in time. The deeper backwardation curve suggests the market is tightening, analysts say, noting that the supplies may be tighter than market sentiment and price action imply.

Lower production and exports this quarter from the OPEC+ producers, led by the biggest exporters from the Middle East, are also supporting oil prices in the months when global oil consumption is typically lower.

OPEC+ producers can’t feel bad about that – oil prices are holding above US$80 a barrel this month, defying earlier analyst projections of weak prices and oversupply on the market at the start of 2024.

The tighter market is not all OPEC’s work, though. Disruptions to Red Sea/Suez Canal traffic have played a major role in the run-up of prices of Atlantic Basin crudes and higher refining margins so far this year.

The average margins for refining diesel and gasoline in Europe jumped to their highest levels in months in January, to US$34.30 and US$11.60 per barrel, respectively, according to estimates by Reuters.

Moreover, longer voyages for crude oil from the Middle East have raised Europe’s demand for crude oil from closer destinations, resulting in higher prices for the Nigerian grades, with the top African OPEC producer now selling its crude cargoes faster, according to traders.

“While global crude balances are getting longer (seasonally) in February and March, increased levels of Red Sea shipping diversions are keeping the market tight – as more oil is put on ships, leaving less available on land,” analysts at consultancy FGE wrote in a note on Friday.

The rerouting of crude cargoes around the Cape of Good Hope has picked up so far this month, with the volume of diversions reaching a fresh peak of 1.6 million barrels per day (bpd) in the first week of February, according to FGE.

“The bulk of the diversions remain focused on westbound flows of Middle Eastern crude destined for Europe. Indeed, out of eight cargoes of Iraqi crude bound for Europe loaded in the first 10 days of February, six have been diverted away from the Red Sea via the Cape of Good Hope,” said FGE analysts.

Europe’s crude oil imports from Iraq slumped at the beginning of this year, “definitely aggravated by the Red Sea transit risks, which caused most tankers carrying Iraqi crude to Europe to sail via the Cape of Good Hope (COGH) as opposed to the Suez Canal,” Armen Azizian, Senior Oil Risk Analyst at Vortexa, wrote in an analysis last week.

On the other hand, India’s imports of Iraqi crude hit an estimated 1.15 million bpd in January, the highest level observed since April 2022, according to Vortexa data.

India is close to one of its top oil suppliers, Iraq, while the world’s third-largest crude importer is also looking to replace lost Russian oil due to payment issues with the stricter enforcement of the sanctions against Moscow.

U.S. benchmark oil prices are also supported by higher demand for American crude in Europe owing to the Red Sea disruption to flows.

The arbitrage for US crude to Europe improved in late January-early February, as the MEH/Brent differential remained wide while transatlantic freight was reduced, FGE said. But with the higher European buying of US crude, the arbitrage has started to close up in recent days, suggesting that the current strength in West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures structure could be short-lived, FGE analysts reckon. (Oilprice.com)

Biden hopes for ceasefire in days as Israelis, Hamas take part in talks; Palestine PM resigns

US President Joe Biden said on Monday he hopes to have a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza start by next Monday as the warring parties appeared to close in on a deal during negotiations in Qatar that also aim to broker the release of hostages.

The presence of both sides for so-called proximity talks – meeting mediators separately but in the same city – suggested negotiations were further along than at any time since a big push at the start of February, when Israel rejected a Hamas counter-offer for a four-anda-half-month truce.

A US official said US negotiators had been pushing hard to get a pause-for-hostages deal by Ramadan's be-

ginning on March 10, and top US officials were working on the issue last week. The optimism appeared to grow out of meetings between the Israelis and Qataris, the official said.

After meeting Qatari Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Ismail Haniyeh, the reclusive Head of Hamas, said his group had embraced efforts to find an end to the war, and accused Israel of stalling while Gazans die under siege.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was ready for a deal, and it was up to Hamas to drop demands he described as "from another planet".

Meanwhile, according to the BBC, Palestinian Authority (PA) Prime Minister Mohammed

Shtayyeh has resigned along with his Government, which runs parts of the occupied West Bank.

Shtayyeh said new "arrangements" were needed to take account of the "emerging reality in the Gaza Strip".

President Mahmoud

Abbas accepted his decision, which could pave the way for a technocratic government. Abbas is under pressure from the US to reform the PA so it could govern Gaza after the Israel-Hamas war ends. (Excerpt from Reuters and BBC News)

Hungary's Parliament clears path for Sweden's NATO membership

Sweden has cleared its final obstacle to joining NATO after Hungary's Parliament voted to ratify the bid.

The Nordic nation applied to join the defence alliance after Russia's fullscale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Every member must approve a new joiner, and Hungary had delayed, accusing Sweden of being hostile to it.

But last week

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said the two countries were now "pre-

pared to die for each other".

All NATO members are expected to help an ally which comes under attack.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said it was a "historic day" and a "big step" for Sweden to abandon 200 years of neutrality.

"Sweden is an outstanding country, but we are joining NATO to even better defend everything we are and everything we believe in," he said.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the Hungarian decision made the alliance

US airman dies after setting himself on fire outside Israeli Embassy in Washington

AUS airman has died after setting himself on fire in front of the Israeli Embassy in Washington DC.

The man was identified by Police as Aaron Bushnell, 25.

Officers from the US Secret Service extinguished the flames before the man was taken to hospital on Sunday afternoon.

Before setting himself on fire, he said he would "no longer be complicit in genocide".

In a video aired live on streaming site Twitch, the man identified himself and said he was a serving member of the Air Force.

Dressed in military uniform, he said he was "about to engage in an extreme act of protest" .After setting himself on fire, he repeatedly shouted "free Palestine".

No Embassy staff members were injured in the incident, said a spokeswoman for the Embassy.

The incident happened at 13:00 local time (18:00 GMT) on Sunday. A bomb disposal unit was sent to the site over concerns about a suspicious vehicle that could have been connected to the individual.

This was later declared safe after no hazardous materials were found. (Excerpt from BBC News)

"stronger and safer".

The Parliament's approval must now be signed by the President – after which a formal invitation is sent to Sweden to join the 31-member group.

The process usually lasts a few days.

Sweden and its eastern neighbour Finland, both long considered militarily neutral, announced their intention to join NATO in May 2022.

Finland formally joined in April last year. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Burkina Faso mosque attack: Dozens killed during prayers

Dozens of people have been shot dead at a mosque on the same day that a church was attacked, say the authorities in Burkina Faso.

It was during early-morning prayers that the gunmen surrounded the mosque in Natiaboani town.

"The victims were all Muslims, most of them men," a local resident told the AFP news agency.

More than a third of Burkina Faso is currently under the control of Islamist insurgents.

The attackers are suspected to be Islamist fighters who also targeted soldiers and a self-defence militia stationed locally that same day.

Unverified reports on social media suggest the death toll from the mosque attack could be much higher than the count given by officials.

Natiaboani, where those attacks happened, is in Burkina Faso's troubled eastern region where mul-

tiple armed groups operate.

That same day, at least 15 worshippers were killed in an attack on a Catholic church during Sunday mass in Essakane in the country's north-east. A church official said suspected Islamist militants were to blame.

No link has been formally made between the two attacks, but Burkina Faso's privately-owned L'Observateur Paalga newspaper has questioned whether they were part of a coordinated plot.

Attacks on religious figures are not uncommon in Burkina Faso.

Humanitarian workers say Burkina Faso is one of the world's most-neglected crises.

Years of rampant insecurity has forced more than two million people from their homes, and the United Nations estimates that a quarter of all children under five have stunted growth resulting from hunger. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Mohammed Shtayyeh is an economist who has been in office for five years

DAILY HOROSCOPES

(March 21-April 19)

(April 20-May 20)

(May 21-June 20)

(June 21-July 22)

(July 23-Aug. 22)

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

Call someone you trust to give you hands-on help. A physical outlet will relieve tension and give you time to assess a situation or decision you must make. Address a partnership issue.

Indecisiveness will plague you. Think matters through before you act. Anger and disappointment will result if you give someone a chance to interfere. Don’t share personal information.

Learn all you can before you start something new. Maintain integrity, and abide by the rules and regulations to avoid penalties. Protect your health. Time is on your side.

Control your emotions. Learn something exciting or take a step in a direction that gives your creative side free rein. Don’t let your attachment to someone lead to poor financial decisions.

Share your thoughts and feelings. It’s OK to take a pass or look in a different direction. Assess your situation and make adjustments to suit your needs. Don’t waste time worrying.

Don’t spend money on things you don’t need. Pay attention to how you look and feel. Start an exercise regimen or update your appearance. A new look will boost your confidence.

Participation will motivate you to make positive adjustments. Although change is warranted, a budget will be necessary if you wish to maintain the status quo. Update your image.

A premature change will leave you in limbo. Map out your course of action before you make a move. A situation at home will require patience, discipline and a well-thought-out plan.

Don’t give someone the freedom to decide things for you. Stay in control, set high standards and live within your means. Let your actions speak for you. Follow your heart.

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Before you move forward, check the information you have and make needed adjustments. Don’t take shortcuts that can lead to miscalculations.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

Deal with important matters first. Set a budget and stick to your plans. Don’t let outside influences tempt you to get involved in something that isn’t in your best interest.

Tidy up, plan and budget, and prepare to turn your objective into a reality. When dealing with authority figures, partners and institutions, keep your emotions in check.

PEANUTS

CALVIN AND HOBBES

PICKLES

ARCHIE

Mangal, Adams victorious in ANSA McAL's Glenmorangie Whiskey tournament

Golf enthusiasts enjoyed a thrilling weekend of competition as the highly anticipated two-day tournament, generously sponsored by ANSA McAL under their prestigious Glenmorangie Whiskey brand, was held at the Lusignan Golf Club, East Coast Demerara.

The greens buzzed with excitement and anticipation as players from across the region showcased their skills and determination in pursuit of victory.

In a display of exceptional talent and precision, Mike Mangal emerged victorious in the 0-14 Flight category, demonstrating remarkable skill and strategic play throughout the tournament.

And his consistent performance and unwavering focus secured him the coveted title in his division.

Meanwhile, in the fiercely contested 15-36 Flight cat-

egory, Carlos Adams showcased remarkable resilience and tenacity as he navigated the course with finesse to claim victory in his division. Adams's impressive performance and unwavering dedication earned him well-deserved recognition among his peers.

The tournament, made possible through the generous sponsorship of ANSA McAL's Glenmorangie Whiskey brand, provided participants with an unforgettable experience filled with camaraderie, sportsmanship, and friendly competition. As one of the premier events on the golfing calendar, the tournament served as a testament to the enduring popularity and passion for the sport in the region.

LGC President Patanjilee Persaud has said, "We are thrilled to have partnered with ANSA McAL under their Glenmorangie Whiskey brand to sponsor this exciting two-

day tournament. The event showcased the exceptional talent and camaraderie within the golfing community, and we congratulate Mike Mangal and Carlos Adams on their impressive victories.

“Supporting events like this tournament allows us to celebrate the spirit of golf, and connect with enthusiasts

England tour to India

Lwho share our passion for excellence. We are proud to have been a part of such a successful and enjoyable event." The success of the tournament would not have been possible without the dedication and hard work of all involved, including the players, sponsors, and organizers. As the golfing community looks

2024: Test 4 of 5…

INDIA TAKE SERIES WIN

– as Gill, Jurel weather England’s spin storm

ed by the sixth-wicket pair of Shubman Gill and Dhruv Jurel, India stood up to England's threat to win the fourth Test inside four days, and instead claimed the series 3-1 with one Test to play.

India had suffered a substantial wobble after Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal had set off the chase beautifully, losing five wickets for 36 runs in 20.5 overs to be left at 120 for 5 - needing 72 more

runs for victory. However, an unbroken partnership between Gill and Jurel, the latter playing just his second Test, saw them home.

England's young spinners Shoaib Bashir and Tom Hartley bowled with great maturity to make India work in the second hour of the morning session; after a bright start, when they resumed on 40 without loss and needed only 152 more.

SCOREBOARD

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Ravindra Jadeja 20-5-56-1

Mohammed Siraj 3-0-16-0

Kuldeep Yadav 15-2-22-4

India 2nd Innings (T: 192 runs)

Rohit Sharma (c)c †Foakes

b Hartley 55

Yashasvi Jaiswal c Anderson

b Root 37

Rajat Patidar c Pope

b Shoaib Bashir 0

Ravindra Jadeja c Bairstow

b Shoaib Bashir 4

Sarfaraz Khan c Pope b Shoaib Bashir 0

Dhruv Jurel †not out 39

Extras(b 4, lb 1) 5

TOTAL 61 Ov (RR: 3.14) 192/5

TOTAL 53.5 Ov (RR: 2.69)

Fall of wickets: 1-19 (Ben Duckett, 4.5 ov), 2-19 (Ollie Pope, 4.6 ov), 3-65 (Joe Root, 16.6 ov), 4-110 (Zak Crawley, 28.1 ov), 5-120 (Ben Stokes, 32.3 ov), 6-120 (Jonny Bairstow, 33.1 ov), 7-133 (Tom Hartley, 40.3 ov), 8-133 (Ollie Robinson, 40.6 ov), 9-145 (Ben Foakes,

Did not bat: Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj Fall of wickets: 1-84 (Yashasvi Jaiswal, 17.3 ov), 2-99 (Rohit Sharma, 25.1 ov), 3-100 (Rajat Patidar, 26.2 ov), 4-120 (Ravindra Jadeja, 38.1 ov), 5-120 (Sarfaraz Khan, 38.2 ov) • DRS

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Joe Root 7-0-26-1

Tom Hartley 25-2-70-1

Shoaib Bashir 26-4-79-3

James Anderson 3-1-12-0

Bashir gave India the scare by adding three wickets to his first innings’ five-for; but, ultimately, England had left India with too little to do, after Jurel had lifted India to within touching distance in the first innings with his 90, and England were bowled out for 145 in their second - thanks to R Ashwin's fivefor, and Kuldeep Yadav's foursetting India a victory target of 192 with two days and a bit to go. They needed just over half a day.

BAZBALL

Bazball is more than a "vibe", it's an ethos with a proven Test-series record of four triumphs, three drawn and no defeats - until now. But it was the vibe that kept England believing almost to the very end. It was possibly why India were so wary, having lost three wickets in 8.5 overs.

After James Anderson's age-defying mid-air catch at short third to remove Jaiswal, who has been so impressive this series, India put on just 34 runs in the 19.3 overs until lunch. It was possibly why India got the jitters after the break, with Ravindra Jadeja spooning a full toss straight to midwicket, to give Bashir his first of two wickets in two balls. It was possibly why, when Ben Foakes could be heard shouting, "We're a bang-bang away, lads!" with India needing just 27 more, hardened England fans could be forgiven for thinking, "Just maybe".

But India have a proven record of their own, having not lost a Test series at home in

more than 11 years.

On Monday morning, they were chewing through their target, adding 42 runs in the first eight overs of the day. Rohit slammed Anderson for six over mid-on to take his side past fifty, leaving them with 140 more to get. He and Jaiswal pulled out the sweeps and reverse sweeps against Bashir and Hartley as they kept the boundary count up.

But Joe Root interrupted their stand on 84 runs, extracting some turn out of the rough with a full delivery, messing with Jaiswal's attempt to clear extra cover, as his outside edge flew to short third and Anderson flung his 41-year-old self forward for a full-stretch grab.

Hartley drew Rohit out of his crease with a ball outside off, which kissed the edge ever so lightly before sailing into Foakes's gloves. Even without the edge, Rohit would have been out for 55, as Foakes whipped off the bails with him still out of his ground, and the dismissal was originally thought to be a stumping before UltraEdge revealed a faint spike.

Bashir removed Rajat Patidar for a six-ball duck next over, when his length ball turned from off stump into the inside edge and popped to Ollie Pope at backward short leg via the knee roll. It extended a poor series for Patidar, who has only twice reached double-figures, and only once passed 30 in six innings.

India went to lunch needing 74 with seven wickets in

forward to future events, the excitement continues to build, promising even more memorable moments on the greens.

Glenmorangie is a single malt whisky from the MoetHennessy portfolio that is distributed by ANSA McAL Trading Limited. The brand was newly added to the company’s premium spirits port-

folio, and is known as one of the best premium single malt whiskies available around the world.

Glenmorangie is available from aged 10 years and up, and is available countrywide.

The results of the tournament were as follows:

0-14 Flight

1st Mike Mangal – Gross 79, HC 9, Net 70

2nd Jaipaul Suknanan –Gross 82, HC 11, Net 71

3rd Miguel Yunes – Gross 82, HC 10, net 72

15-36 Flight

1st Carlos Adams – Gross 89, HC 27, Net 62

2nd Jason Clarke – Gross 89, HC 22, Net 67

3rd Chet Bowling – Gross 96, HC 26, Net 70

Nearest to the pin –Hardeo Ghanpat

Longest drive - Miguel Oviedo

hand. Then Bashir swung the momentum England's way with wickets off consecutive balls in the second over after the interval. He had Jadeja caught by Jonny Bairstow off a full toss, then got one to turn from outside off, beating Sarfaraz Khan's defensive prod to take a thin edge onto the pad and into Pope's hands at backward short leg.

Jurel survived the hat-trick ball, and when he drove a full, wide Bashir delivery through the covers, it was India's first boundary off the bat in 31 overs; and it took their task to under 50 runs. From there, he and Gill got to work, steadily accumulating the runs they needed.

Jurel initially took the lead role in their union, reaching 32 off 70 balls before Gill, with 39 from 119, cut loose. With 20 runs needed, Gill launched Bashir over long-off; and then, two balls later, raised his fifty by clearing the fence at deep midwicket.

Jurel got in on the act, pulling Hartley through mid-on for four; and it was he who struck the winning runs, working a

Hartley delivery off his legs as he and Gill ran two.

Jurel's first innings was key to India's victory, too. Only he and Jaiswal, with 73, passed 40 for India as they set out in pursuit of England's 353, which was led by Joe Root's return to form via an unbeaten century.

Jurel came in with his side on 161 for 5, and saw Sarfaraz and Ashwin fall before staging a 76-run stand with Kuldeep, and putting on another 40 with #10 Akash Deep, who was making his Test debut. By the time Jurel was last man out, India had put up 307 runs and closed the deficit to just 46.

Bashir and Hartley shared eight wickets between them during India's first innings, and England were backing themselves to build enough of a buffer when they came back out to bat. But Zak Crawley's half-century was the only contribution of note, as England's batters racked up three ducks and Bairstow was the only other one to bat beyond 20. It left India with a target that proved to be as achievable as it looked, with plenty of intrigue thrown in.(ESPNCricInfo)

The winners’ row

Job done! Dhruv Jurel and Shubman Gill started the celebrations

Spankhurst dominates JJTRC feature event from gate to pole

Guyana’s Horse of the Year 2023, Spankhurst, turned in a totally dominating performance in the Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Racing Committee Mashramani horse race meeting held at the Rising Sun Turf Club in Region Five.

Piloted by Jockey Razack, Spankhurst won from gate to pole to silence the critics and confirm himself worthy of the “horse of the year” tag.

Having jumped out of the gate, Spankurst never looked back, although Jockey Colin Ross, riding Easy Time, caught up with Spankhurst at the finish line, as Easy Time finished second. Bossalina finished third, while Stolen Money came in fourth in a thrilling feature event which was run over one mile and was open to all horses.

Spectators who crammed the Rising Sun Turf Club were swept up in the thrill of the race as these top jockeys displayed their tremendous skill in this race as they had done throughout the day.

Jumbo Jet Racing Stables continued their dominance of Guyana’s horse racing, and Spankurst Trainer Damain Dharamjit was an obviously proud man.

Earlier in the meet, race one - the NM Trucking Auto Sales G Class and lower

Com Amor were the other finishers in the top four.

The penultimate race of the day was the Sinotruk Handicap I Class, J Class & West Indian-bred threeyear-old maidens. Rachel was at her amazing best as

she finished first, ahead of Royal Ink, Amazing Grace and Sex Appeal in that order.

Eight high-quality races were successfully run off at the Rising Sun Turf Club, and more than G$10 million in cash and prizes were won.

According to the preliminary schedule, the next race meeting is set for March 17 at the Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club, and that will be followed by another race meeting on March 31 at the Port Mourant Turf Club.

1400-metre event – was won by She WBO On Time, while Coup D’état, Regal Intention, and Game Changer were the other top finishers.

In race two, which was the Jumbo Jet Auto Sales K Class and Open to J3 First Time starters, Black Time was victorious, while She Is A Star, Royal Flight and Hurricane Lane rounded out the top four.

Race three, the Z & J Enterprise race for threeyear-old, Guyana-bred, non winners of two races, saw Country Rock, piloted by Jockey Ronaldo Appadu, emerge victorious, while Money Time, Swinging Jet and Bin Ladin Kushan were the top four horses.

The fourth race, which was the JS Engineering Services and Supplies L Class and Open to J3 first

time starters, saw Haley cruise to victory, while El Dorado Queen came second. Shake the Bank came third, and Miss Olympic finished fourth.

In race five, the NM Security Classic race for West Indian-bred, four-yearold & West Indies threeyear-old horses, Firecracker of the Jumbo Jet Racing Stables dominated the race and claimed the top spot.

Experienced jockey Colin Ross left the competition in the dust, with Scandal trailing, followed by Blinding Lights and Angry Bird in that order.

Glories Business returned a win in the race for Handicapped E & Lower horses sponsored by AJM Sprint. Early Bird finished second in a close sprint home, while Creemore and Hecho

George, Persaud, Sinclair dominate YBG All–Stars tournament

Stephon George has been declared the top 3-point shooter and Tavishti Persaud has been declared the best free throw shooter as the Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) kicked off their year of activities with a challenge series and skills competition that included schools from throughout the nation on Sunday.

Simeon Sinclair won the skills combined contest, including three-pointing, free throws, and skill challenges.

Meanwhile, the team’s competition segment saw several categories contesting. In the U14 Boys’ segment, Kwakwani managed to outshine Berbice High School, in the U14 Girls’ segment, Kwakwani defeated President’s College, and in the U16 Boys’ segment, Mackenzie High outshone Kwakwani.

The U18 Final saw buckets on both sides of the court, but Kwakwani came out victorious over Bishops’ High School; and in the U21 Final, Kwakwani conquered UG Trojans.

In an exclusive comment made to Guyana Times Sport, Co-director of Youth Basketball Guyana, Chris Wayne Bowman, in evaluat-

ing the tournament, shared that he is grateful for the tournament's success.

“We are satisfied. We are extremely pleased that the Schools Basketball Season is off to a good start. Of course, one of the measures that we use to evaluate our tournaments naturally is to see the participation at the many different age categories or divisions that we are trying to encourage development, and we have had all those divisions adequately represented at the U14, U16, U18 Girls, and now that we are doing U21,” Bowman said.

He expounded that this tournament allows coaches to evaluate teams ahead of regional competition.

Bowman said, “I think it was a good two–day and a good opportunity for the teams, the schools and the coaches to evaluate where they are in terms of preparation for the Regional Conference, and make the adjustments so that we can have a good rest of the year.”

The two-day event, which bounced off on Saturday, was designed to promote the fundamentals of the game by testing student athletes' skills in shooting, passing, and dribbling as students begin preparation for the Regional Basketball Championship, which leads into the National School Basketball Festival later this year. (Omar McKenzie)

NSC/EBFA/Ralph Green U-11 League… Fruta Conquerors outlast Santos to lift the winners' trophy …Friendship All-Stars needle Swan for third spot

The fifth edition of the National Sports Commission-sponsored Ralph Green/EBFA Under-11 League came to a fitting end on Sunday afternoon at the Agricola Ground, with Fruta Conquerors defeating Santos to win the competition.

It was a perfect end to a competition that commenced last year owing to numerous unforeseen challenges but delivered exciting ball play and results among 14 teams that had put their hands up for the championship.

When the dust settled, at just around 14:00hrs on Sunday, Conquerors were celebrating their having got the better of Santos via kicks from the penalty mark, 3-2. This followed a riveting regulation time contest that saw Santos clawing their way back with an equalising goal in the final minute of regulation time.

Octane Moore momentarily added hope to their quest for the title with a well-executed shot that beat the Best Goalkeeper of the tournament, Clive Jacobs. The very evenly contested match-up, which saw both teams doing well in offence and defence, produced the first goal with just four minutes to full time.

Dontay Kowlessar rocked the nets for Conquerors to break the deadlock in the 26th minute. The level of exchanges between the two sides was eye-catching in humid conditions, and the fans on hand enjoyed every moment of it.

There could be only one winner, and it turned out to be Conquerors, whose players held their nerves to score all three of their kicks. Santos, on the other hand, scored two and missed a similar amount.

For his consistent performances throughout the League, Kowlessar was named the Most Valuable Player.

In the third-place match, an all-East Bank affair, the difference between the two teams was the goal scored by Friendship All-Stars Jahfree Davson in just the 4th minute of play. Swan tried their utmost to find the equalizer, but despite their best efforts, were unable to break the defence of Friendship, whose Christopher Hunte, at 9 years old, was named the tournament’s Most Promising Player.

Swan’s Eleon James copped the Most Disciplined Player award, while

Conquerors’ Dane Vancooten was the tournament’s Highest Goal Scorer with eight (8) goals. The respective individual awardees, which numbered five (5) players, each received a plaque and an electronic tablet.

Fruta Conquerors Coach Sampson Gilbert received the Best Coach Plaque, while Swan’s Coach Andre Gonsalves accepted the Team Sportsmanship Plaque for a high level of discipline exhibited throughout the League, which was played using the round-robin format in the group stages.

After that stage, the top two teams from each of the four groups advanced to the quarter-finals, when the knockout format was employed.

At the presentation, Assistant Director of Sport, Franklin Wilson, commended the winning team Fruta Conquerors, losing finalist Santos, as well as the thirdand four-placed teams.

“On behalf of the Honourable Minister of Sport Charles Ramson Jr., and Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle, I would like to let you all know that you are all winners. This competition could not have been a reality without you playing, and we want to commend you. The Ministry of Sport, and by extension the NSC, has been privileged to support this competition and the youths of the three Associations that competed.

“We want you to feel assured that this commitment in terms of empowering our young people will contin-

ue. I’d also like to commend all the players and officials who received prizes for your outstanding performances, which contributed to the success of your respective teams. Each of you in the final four would have walked away with a medal or a trophy to show what you achieved. Best wishes in your future endeavours.”

Each of the fourteen teams was also presented with branded number tops, inclusive of the goalkeepers. Each team also received two footballs, while each coach also received a jersey.

Apart from the final four teams, the others were Herstelling Raiders, Timehri Panthers, Diamond United, Den Amstel, Samatta Point/ Kaneville, Pouderoyen, Eagles of Stewartville, Agricola Red Triangle, Riddim Squad, and Vengy.

Spankhurst crossed the finish line in style to win the feature event at Sunday’s JJTRC Mashramani race meet

The 3 points shooting champion Stephon George collecting his trophy from Co-director of Youth Basketball Guyana, Chris Wayne Bowman

Highest Goalscorer, Dane Vancooten (8) from Fruta Conquerors, being rewarded with his plaque and electronic tablet by Franklin Wilson

GFF/KFC Elite League…

Tudor impresses as Slingerz, GDF win on opening night

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has finally completed the lighting system at the National Training Center (NTC) at Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD), and what better way was there to commission them than with two riveting football games which produced contrasting results?

Slingerz FC announced their return in style, while defending champions Guyana Defence Force (GDF) narrowly escaped an embarrassing start to their title defence, when the KFC Elite League Season six commenced on Sunday evening.

The first match of this year’s Elite League saw a replay of the Promotional Playoffs’ final, wherein Slingerz FC were finally able to turn the tables on

Monedderlust FC. The star on show, Marcus Tudor, opened the scoring in the 9th minute, and made it a 2-0 affair in the 23rd, after which he ensured the scores read 3-0 by the end of the first half with a strike in the 39th minute.

Tudor then opened the second segment with anoth-

er goal in the 48th to complete his helmet-trick. When a penalty opportunity went Slingerz way in the 63rd, Tudor was given the chance to complete his five, and so he did.

Mere minutes after his substitution into the game, Darren Niles played through Monedderlust’s defence and

West Indies Championships…

won a 1v1 with their keeper to make it a 6-0 game in the 76th minute.

Ricardo Halley then put the icing on the cake in the 90th+2, netting the 7th and final goal for Slingerz.

Following the game, Tudor spook briefly on the win, sharing, “We’ve been working hard for this, and it’s back to the training ground after this game. It was a good game for us. The coach that came, he is a good coach. We adapt very quick-

ly,” Tudor added about the team’s recent shift in coaching. The following game was a battle between GDF FC and Santos FC. After deadlocked scores for much of the first half, Ryan Hackett finally broke the ice in the 42nd to give GDF the advantage. Then in the second half, Malcolm Miggins gave the defending champions a 2-0 lead in the 58th.

However, Santos pulled one back in the 78th through

a Ryan Dowding strike, and looked threatening enough to level the scores. However, the GDF defence held out to secure the 2-1 win.

The KFC Elite League will continue today: Tuesday, February 27th, with another double header at the same venue. Fruta Conquerors will first battle Ann’s Grove United FC from 19:00hrs, after which Western Tigers and Buxton United will go toe-to-toe from 21:00hrs.

CWI regional women’s tournaments…

Harpy Eagles move to number 6 after Round 3 GCB President Singh engages women’s squad before their departure

Even after a commanding 221-run win over the West Indies Academy on Saturday last, the Guyana Harpy Eagles (GHE) are still placed 6th out of 8 teams in the West Indies Championships 4-Day tournament. After three rounds, defending champions GHE have 26.4 points, comprising 15 match points and 11.4 bonus points, following a draw,

a loss and a victory. The Windward Islands Volcanoes currently lead the West Indies Championships points table with 62.2 points from 3 victories, while the Leeward Islands Volcanoes are second with 45.6 points from 2 wins and a loss. Rounding off the top 3 are Barbados Pride with 43.8 points from 2 wins and a loss. Although sitting in sixth

place, the Harpy Eagles are not far off from the teams in the fourth and fifth positions, Jamaica Scorpions and Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, who have 29.6 and 27.6 points respectively.

The West Indies Championship tournament is currently on a break, and will resume on March 13, when the Harpy Eagles will clash with the Barbados Pride.

President of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Bissoondyal Singh, has met with the senior women’s national team ahead of their departure for the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Regional Women’s Tournament.

The CG United Women’s Super50 Cup and the Blaze T20 tournaments will bowl off from March 4 and March 16, respectively in St. Kitts and Nevis; and Singh, who met with the ladies on Sunday, wished them the best as they will be facing some tough competition on the road.

He urged them to remain positive and put on their best performances come game time. The GCB President gave his complete support to

the team ahead of their assignments, further reassuring them that all of Guyana will be behind them as they seek to bring home one, if not both, of the titles owned by Barbados.

Mr Singh also gifted several players in the team cricket gear, including Essequibian Yonnette Welcome, who received a full kitbag. Welcome is the second player from Warapoka, Essequibo, to represent Guyana at any level; the first player was last year’s Guyana under-17 pacer Damian Joseph.

The Hayley Matthews-led Barbados Pride are defending champs for both Super50 and T20 tournaments, and on paper have arguably the stron-

gest team, apart from Guyana and Trinidad & Tobago Red Force Ladies.

Meanwhile, it is widely believed that a strong Guyana team, led by Shamaine Campbelle and featuring a wide array of talent the likes of Cherry-Ann Fraser, Ashmini Munisar, Shabika Gajnabi, Sheneta Grimmond, Nyia Latchman, Naomi Barkoye and others, would be equal to the task as it relates to possibly dethroning the Bajans. Round 1’s triple-header in the Super50 Cup bowls off on Monday, March 4, with the Guyanese ladies facing a tricky challenge when they come up against hosts Leeward Islands.

Marcus Tudor (orange) storming through the Monedderlust defence

Malcolm Miggins (5) netted GDF’s second goal

The Guyana Harpy Eagles tasted victory in their recent encounter with the West Indies Academy

The West Indies Championships points table after 3 rounds

GCB President meeting with the Guyana senior female team