Guyana Times - Tuesday, January 16, 2024

NYPD, Canadian Police to train local cops

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Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Pages 3&9

Issue No. 5613

THE BEACON OF TRUTH TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024

Budget 2024 is $1.146 trillion

PRICE $100 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

March 4 set for commencement of election fraud P10 trial

…aims to buffer rising cost of living, build prosperous country – Pres Ali Income tax threshold increases to $100,000

"Because We Care" cash grant increases to $40,000

Reduction in freight charges

Old age pension increases to $36,000

$7B in cost-ofliving measures

$450M for Small Business Development Fund

$3000 eye test vouchers for children & pensioners

NIS pension increases to $43,075

$8000 cervical cancer voucher for women

Public assistance now $19,000

Cancellation of UG student loans

Removal of duty and VAT on fire extinguishers, smoke alarms

$15,000 spectacles voucher for children & pensioners

Removal of VAT & duty on sport equipment

$1B to expand Police Force’s land & water fleet

Removal of VAT & duty on cellphone accessories

$10B for part-time job programme

Reduction in cost of life and medical insurance

Govt to increase withdrawal amounts from NRF See story on page 7

…2024 profit oil estimated at US$2078.9M; royalty at US$319.9M

$20M worth of ganja unearthed at Parika P10

P15 Wanted bulletin issued for CEO of RK Concrete

2 wanted for murder P15 & 17

City Council short-changing Georgetown residents P17 – Councillor

2 NEWS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana’s economy projected to grow by 34.3% this year B

olstered by an expected ramping up of oil production offshore and persistent growth in key non-oil sectors, Guyana’s economy is slated to continue its growing trend for yet another consecutive year, with projections putting Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at a 34.3 per cent growth in 2024.

This was revealed by Senior Minister with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, during his presentation of the whopping $1.146 trillion 2024 Budget in the National Assembly on Monday.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government’s fiscal plan – its fifth since taking office in August 2020 – is themed: “Staying the Course; Building Prosperity for All”.

Initial projections had pegged the country’s real GDP to grow by 25.1 per cent in 2023, with non-oil GDP expanding by 7.9 per cent.

However, Dr Singh has reported to the nation that Guyana’s real GDP has surpassed expectations and expanded by 33 per cent overall last year, with a “stronger-than-expected” growth of 11.7 per cent in non-oil real GDP. “The expansion of the overall real economy in 2023

can be largely attributed to continued growth in oil and gas activity, with the notable achievement of first oil at the new floating, production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel, Prosperity, in November. Additionally, while growth in the non-oil economy was mainly driven by expansions in the construction and services sectors, notable increases were also observed in all subsectors within agriculture, forestry, and fishing and man-

ufacturing, as well as in the other mining and quarrying subsector,” the Finance Minister explained.

This, he noted, is evidence of Government’s policies focusing on supporting growth in the traditional pillars of the economy while

managing the oil and gas sector effectively. Consequently, the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector expanded by seven per cent in 2023. He attributed this performance to increases across all subsectors, namely: other crops, rice growing, livestock, fishing, sugar growing, and forestry – all despite the impact of El Niño on the production of a number of crops.

In the sugar sector, a 28 per cent growth was recorded last year. This was as a

result of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) having produced 60,204 tonnes in 2023, compared with 47,049 tonnes in 2022.

Similarly, the rice industry saw an expansion of seven per cent, with Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB)

reporting a total production of 653,706 tonnes for 2023, above the 610,595 tonnes produced in the previous year.

The performance in these two industries pushed the overall growth in the manufacturing sector to 25 per cent in 2023. This expansion was also driven by other manufacturing activities, mainly the manufacturing of fabricated metal products and non-metallic products.

Additionally, the mining and quarrying sector grew by 42.6 per cent in 2023, due mainly to the burgeoning oil and gas industry.

Last year, the oil and gas sector expanded by 45.9 per cent, with production of 142.9 million barrels of oil compared with 101.4 million in 2022. This includes production of crude oil at a rate of approximately 142,000 barrels per day (bpd) at the Liza Destiny FPSO, while the Liza Unity FPSO produced at a rate of 235,000 bpd.

In contrast, however, the gold mining industry contracted by 11.2 per cent in 2023, on account of lower output from the small and medium scale producers.

Total gold declarations fell to 432,113 ounces last year.

Similarly, the baux-

ite mining industry also declined by 20.4 per cent last year, due to reduced output from both producing operators. Bauxite production is estimated to have fallen to 525,000 tonnes last year.

The other mining subsector – sand, stone, diamonds, and manganese – showed a more positive performance, with a 22.7 per growth in 2023. Expectedly, stone and sand extraction increased by 98 and 21 per cent respectively, with demand from construction activity in the public and private sectors continuing to grow.

Predictably as well is the 26.8 per cent growth in the construction sector last year, building on the 26.3 per cent growth in 2022. While in

the service sector, a 10.3 per cent expansion was recorded across all of the service industries.

Projections: consecutive growth

The Finance Minister has said that, heading into the new fiscal year, “The Guyanese economy is set to expand at an even faster pace in 2024, with real GDP growth projected at 34.3 per cent. Once realised, this will represent the fifth consecutive year in which the Guyanese economy will be growing at more than 20 per cent, and will result in Guyana growing at an annual average of 38.8 per cent over that five-year period.”

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NEWS

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

BRIDGE The Demerara OPENINGS Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, January 16 – 04:00h-05:30h and Wednesday, January 17 – 22:00h-23:30h The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Tuesday, January 16 – 07:50h-09:20h and Wednesday, January 17 – 08:30h-10:00h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny conditions are expected in the morning hours followed by light to thundery showers in the afternoon and at night. Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly to Easterly between 2.68 metres and 5.36 metres.

High Tide: 08:14h and 20:37h reaching maximum heights of 2.56 metres and 2.54 metres.

Low Tide: 14:08h reaching a minimum height of 0.67 metre.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 13, 2024

LOTTERY NUMBERS B

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FREE TICKET

Budget 2024 is $1.146 trillion B

reaking its own record, the People’s Progressive/Party Civic (PPP/C) Government on Monday announced its largest-ever budget in Guyana’s history, mapping out $1.14 trillion in transformational programmes and policies for 2024.

Dr Ashni Singh, Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, presented the massive fiscal plan, crafted under the theme: Staying the Course, Building Prosperity for All. Financed again by zero new taxes, this National Budget is 46 percent larger than last year’s 741.9 billion. It is built on continuing the rollout of initiatives to improve the lives of Guyanese and, most importantly, increase the ‘generational household wealth’ across the country.

The Finance Minister announced a menu of measures as he laid before the House the Budget that is intended to put in excess of $70 billion in relief for persons and busi-

ness. The income tax threshold has been increased from $85,000 to $100,000. With this jump, taxpayers in the public and private sectors will see $4.8 billion going directly to improve their disposable incomes.

Meanwhile, the “Because We Care” cash grant has been moved from $35,000 to

measure will place an additional $2.7 billion of disposable income in the hands of some 76,000 old-age pensioners. Since the resumption of office by the PPP/C Government, old age pension has increased significantly from $20,500 in 2020.

Currently, the minimum pension paid by NIS is $35,000 monthly, but with effect from this month, this sum has been revised to $43,075, which will result in $2.6 billion in additional disposable

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

COMMODITIES US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$78.03/barrel

-0.15

Rough Rice London Sugar

$318.78/ton $626.70/ton

+0.23 0.00

Live Spot Gold Bid/Ask Low/High Change

$1.8 billion.

Supporting early detection of cervical cancer will see Government providing a voucher of $8,000 for women between the ages of 21 and 65, to meet the cost of cervical cancer testing. This intervention will cost an estimated $2.8 billion.

In a move to ease the cost of living, Government has in-

As he wrapped up his almost six-hour presentation, Dr Singh voiced, “Budget 2024 comes to this Honourable House against the backdrop of very challenging circumstances for our country and for the global economy of which we are very much a part, the age of the global polycrisis perhaps.”

dicated its intention to absorb the impact of elevated fuel prices. The measure which has been maintained with zero percent excise tax on petroleum products will be kept in place. It is estimated that this measure will see Government foregoing some $40 billion in revenue annually.

He added, “Notwithstanding the interlocking and overlapping global crises we face, given the bold agenda our Government is implementing, as I have outlined in Budget 2024, we in Guyana are also living in what would validly be described as the age of opportunity.

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PAY DAY

Indicators

and VAT on sports and technological equipment and firefighting apparatus; reducing the cost of life and medical insurance; and supporting small and medium scale enterprises.

income going to the benefit of over 27,000 persons.

Meanwhile, public assistance has been increased from $16,000 to $19,000, with 35,000 persons with disabilities standing to benefit from an additional $1.2 billion.

Back in 2020, this sum stood at a mere $9,000, and this new sum represents more

MONDAY, JANUARY 15, 2024

1

children and pensioners living in the hinterland, where testing facilities might not be readily accessible, an alternative arrangement will be put in place. The total cost of this intervention aggregates to

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh delivering the budget presentation in the National Assembly

Bonus Ball

04 16

Additionally, for those from these categories who require spectacles, a $15,000 voucher towards the cost of acquisition will be made available. In the case of school

Government had launched, in 2022, the parttime jobs programme by which one person per household was able to earn $40,000 by working in public offices in close proximity to their homes. In 2023, over 15,000 persons were employed through this programme, and in 2024, this programme will be expanded with an allocation of over $10 billion.

Among the measures in keeping with its manifesto promise to provide a pathway for debt write-off for persons with outstanding student loans, Government will embark on the first phase of this exercise for the University of Guyana (UG).

Provisions were also made in the 2024 National Budget for removal of duty

USD Per Ounce $2050.30 $2048.80 -4.00

$2051.30 $2059.30 -0.19%

$45,000 per child, benefitting 205,000 school-aged children in both public and private schools, and putting an overall $9.2 billion in the hands of parents.

Old age pension has now been increased from $33,000 to $36,000. The Finance Minister shared that this

than 100 percent increase since the Ali-led administration took office.

To improve access to health services for all citizens, over 205,000 students and 76,000 pensioners will receive a $3,000 voucher towards the cost of an eye test.

This measure comes at a cost of over $840 million.

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guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024

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

Let the debate begin!

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ith the Budget Debate scheduled to begin next week, we believe that it is important that all Guyanese understand the nature of Budgets and have a perspective for evaluating the contributions in the National Assembly. First and foremost, a Budget is literally an opportunity to see whether the Government is putting its money where its mouth is: a concrete expression of its policy priorities.

Governments make all sorts of promises in policy statements and policy papers, but it is in their Budgets that we see whether those policies are being implemented or whether the statements were merely Public Relations. Of course, a Budget captures Government’s income and expenditure for one year, and not all policies can be implemented within that timeframe.

The PPP have traditionally been sticklers for translating their manifesto policies and goals into their Budgets to make decisions in raising revenues and spending it to satisfy the country’s competing needs. So, they should have an easier time explaining their policy choices. Both sides of the equation ought to be examined: what revenues will be brought in, and how it will be spent. In the past, most revenues came from taxes, loans and grants, but now everyone expects that, with oil revenues flowing in, all needs can be satisfied. It is up to the Government to defend the policy choices they made – especially at this take-off stage from the poverty we have been mired in for so long.

One of the most salient criteria in our polarised society will be to determine whether the spending is equitable.

There are, of course, always accusations by the Opposition of the Government and their constituencies, and this will be the major sticking point during the debate. But we must also look at whether there are regional and municipal variations that are meant to address differing levels of relative poverty and deprivation. It is very important to examine claims about equity across all fault lines with factual evidence, and not mere perceptions and allegations. All Budgets have a redistributive function that is meant to address concerns about equity geographically, horizontally, and vertically.

Contraposed against concerns about equity is to examine whether the funds – which are ultimately the people’s assets - are being expended efficiently. That is, to get the biggest bang for the buck. For example, were funds allocated last year spent? And if not, why? The Government has to ensure that those bottlenecks, whether in material or manpower, are resolved. The Government’s capital investment, which is so massive, must be questioned from this perspective. However, we must not sacrifice bureaucratic efficiency for equitable goals, since the function of all Budgets is to improve the lives of the people.

Then there is the question of effectiveness. Is the spending in sync with our national policy priorities, or are they being frittered away on boondoggles? There will always be disagreement on specific issues or policies, but the test must be “will the country benefit?” For instance, all Guyanese will agree that high-cost electricity has been a major constraint on our manufacturing expansion. Is the spending on the Gas-toShore project the most effective path to solving this challenge?

Are there alternatives in view of the availability of gas in terms of timing in lowering electricity costs? Infrastructure has also been a major constraint to businesses and citizens. Is this also been addressed satisfactorily, accepting that there is no magic wand to have everything done immediately?

In Guyana, transparency in the decision-making process on utilizing revenue and matching them to spending has always been a bugbear.

Questions about consultations with as wide a swathe of stakeholders as possible must be made – especially with civil society members from the business sector and the labour market. While Civil Society writ large should also be consulted, unfortunately, we have several organisations which each have an axe to grind against the Government, and not necessarily for those they purport to represent.

Let the debate begin!

The construction of the 11 lots of the Schoonord-to-Crane Four-lane Highway in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) is moving rapidly (Office of the President photo)

Who knows what might emerge in the post-Panday era in T&T?

By Dr Bhoendradatt Tewarie

O

ne may say that with the passing of Basdeo Panday, former Prime Minister, feisty Opposition Leader before that, and trade union agitator even before that, we have come to the end of an era in T&T. But have we entered the beginning of another one? I do not know. It is hard to say.

In European history, we have eras like classical and medieval, defining a century or more at a time.

In our time, we are familiar with the post-World War II era. In T&T, we talk of the Williams era, or the post-Independence era, or the post-COVID lockdown era.

In T&T’s history, 1937 was a watershed year in terms of labour agitation and anti-colonial rebellion.

But when the nationalist movement came in 1955, with Dr Eric Williams in the lead, and won the most seats as the PNM party in the Legislative Council in 1956, Tubal Uriah Butler, who had led riots and became a fugitive in 1937, was not part of the new power structure.

And while the anti-colonial resistance continued, the workers’ struggle got lost, and the era of Williams eclipsed and left behind the era of Butler. Workers’ causes were never central to the policies of the PNM and the DLP, the official

Opposition at the time.

The Butler era reared its head again though, in 1970, through Makandal Dagga, who had grown up in the household of his father, who was an avid and sincere Butlerite.

And in 1969, the labour movement, resisting the Industrial Stablisation Act, brought workers out in the streets in a confrontational mood.

The search for a new political order was on within the first decade of national Independence, and a range of currents was unleashed.

The New World Movement had begun the intellectual discourse; worker aspirations through organised labour, which had been left behind, were searching for political space; the Butlerite anti- colonialism which was disrupted by nationalist fervour was groping for an anchor.

But in this period, too, emerged identity politics, Afro-centric in nature, and in hindsight, one might say now that they were the beginnings of the reparations movement which is currently gaining momentum; as well as the recognition of the failure of the 1956 nationalist movement to include Indians and poor Africans sincerely and genuinely. This is what gave resonance to the march to Caroni led by Daaga and others, to reach out to Central Trinidad under the banner of Africans and Indians unite. Daaga had,

some weeks before, made a dramatic visit to Beetham, where he had railed at the conditions of living in what was then known as Shanty Town.

Clearly, one of Daaga’s objectives was to heal the wounds of identity, and demolish divisive politics that pitted Africans and Indians against each other in election battles. From his view, these battles, which resulted in predictable hollow victories of the PNM and bitter and futile losses of the DLP, made little sense.

1970 and immediately after saw an explosion of political fervour for something different.

Restlessness with PNM and DLP politics was beginning to show through the formation of new parties, with dissidents from the main parties creating the Liberal Party and the Workers and Farmers Party. While significant political figures at the time, like Peter Farquar, Balgobin Ramdeen and Tajmool Hosein, formed the Liberals, CLR James, Basdeo Panday and Stephen Maharaj formed the Workers and Farmers Party. Stephen Maharaj was also a Butlerite, CLR James was a Marxist, and Basdeo Panday a socialist, not unlike Williams or Rudranath Capildeo.

The impact of NJAC in 1970 did not translate into electoral support at any time. And 1971 saw a no-

vote campaign by the opposition forces, with PNM victory in all 36 seats.

And while the Republican Constitution of 1976 was being put in place by officialdom, voices of opposition and discord were growing. Lloyd Best founded Tapia, ANR Robinson formed the DAC, weekly newspapers started to proliferate, and the agitation on behalf of sugar workers began under Panday, after the death of Bhadase Sagan Maraj and the deposition of Rampartap Singh.

It was in this heady time: when the labour movement was becoming agitated, when new political parties and political perspectives were forming, when suspicion was growing about the meaning of national Independence, that Panday entered the political fray with the Workers and Farmers Party, became leader of the All Trinidad Sugar Estates and Factory Workers’ Trade Union, became a senator, collaborated with other trade unions and union leaders and founded with them the United Labour Front (ULF), which made him the Opposition Leader after the 1976 election. It was a time of many storms, much turbulence and many controversies, and Panday was at the centre for four decades.

Who knows what might emerge in the post-Panday era in T&T? (T&T Guardian)

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024

5

News NYPD, Canadian Police to train local cops T

he Guyana Police Force (GPF) will embark on major developmental training reform programmes, which will enable ranks to receive training in various disciplines offered by renowned policing institutions such as the New York Police Department and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

This was revealed

by Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh during his Budget 2024 presentation on Monday in the National Assembly.

Some $30.3 billion has been allocated in Budget 2024 to the GPF. According

to Dr Singh, a sum of $170 million was expended in 2023 towards the training of 1752 ranks in areas such as gender-based violence and restorative justice. In 2024, he added, the

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

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

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

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

Last year, $900 million was expended to advance procurement of addition-

al motorcycles, pick-ups, boats, motor cars, and trucks for the GPF. In totality, $30.3 billion was allotted to the Police Force in Budget 2024.

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

This includes the reconstruction of Police Stations at Mahaicony, Kitty, Sans Souci and Weldaad as well as the construction of Regional Police Headquarters in Regions

Budget 2024 is $1.146...

This is not by accident.

This PPP/C Government has remained firm in our resolve to ensure that we navigate these testing times, contain-

earmarked for fisheries and aquaculture.

In the energy sector, generating and delivering adequate electricity to meet the

ing as far as we possibly can any adverse domestic fallout from the global setting, while also ensuring that the transformation of our country continues apace and that the improvement of the wellbeing of the Guyanese people is realised in the shortest possible time.

need, while reducing the cost of electricity by half, will come at a price tag of the budgeted $95.7 billion. Some $80 billion will be spent on the gas-to-energy project; $1.3 billion will be used to complete mini-hydro facilities at Kumu and Moco-Moco, along with provisions for the Amaila Falls Hydropower project, among others.

Additionally, modernising the transport network will see construction of the Corentyne River bridge with Suriname, as well as studies to determine the possibility of a new bridge across the Berbice River. Construction will advance on the new Demerara River Crossing with a budgeted $19.7 billion.

With several key highways currently being constructed, or being in the process of commencement, the infrastructure sector will receive a sizable $204.1 billion – the largest for any sector.

Major transformation is also earmarked for the health sector, which received $129.8 billion from the 2024 budget. This is in pursuit of a ‘resilient’ sector which makes available a comprehensive and widely accessible suite of healthcare services to all citizens of this country. The funds will support expansion of primary healthcare; upgrade of health facilities and expansion of diagnostic services countrywide; adequate and timely procurement and

Allocations

Whopping injections have been made for 2024 to fund the country’s infrastructural boom, social programmes, and traditional sectors.

This was reflected in the $97.6 billion budgeted to advance and catalyse agriculture development through the promotion of investments in large-scale cultivation; promoting increased aquaculture and shrimp farming; modernizing, upgrading and strengthening drainage and irrigation and farm-to-market infrastructure and support services.

Further, Government will commission a tissue culture laboratory which is expected to produce 1,000,000 plantlets per year. This increased production would facilitate ready availability and easy access of planting materials to supply farmers in crops such as citrus, pineapple, breadfruit, coconut, ginger, turmeric, plantains and bananas, among others.

Livestock will see an injection of $1.5 billion, while another $1.2 billion has been

supply of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies; expansion of the range of medical personnel and services; expansion of tertiary health care, including partnerships with the private sector; and incentives for the private sector to upgrade facilities.

This year, the education sector has been allocated $135.2 billion; some $28.7 billion will be spent to upgrade school infrastructure. The Government will spend $16 billion to build out new secondary schools at locations such as Aishalton, Christianburg, Jawalla, Kopinang, and Micobie.

In 2024, construction will also begin on primary schools at Augsbury, Kuribrong, Lake Mainstay, Pennack and Red Creek at a cost of $3.1 billion, while over $3 billion has been budgeted for nursery school buildings.

The Housing sector will execute its work programme to the tune of $78 billion, with Government well on its way of reaching the 50,000 houselots target for its first term in office. Water supply and distribution will also be extended to new communities.

A total of $16.8 billion was spent last year on water and sanitisation, and $22.5 billion

Six and Seven.

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

FROM PAGE 3

is budgeted for further advancements in 2024.

For Amerindian and Hinterland Development, $9 billion has been budgeted for targeted developmental programmes aimed at strengthening land tenure, promoting the development of a sustainable village economy in each village, maintaining and upgrading infrastructure, and enhancing the social welfare of our first peoples.

Coupled with injections in every sector, the Finance Minister shared that this period in the country’s history is seen as one to harness and consolidate national prosper-

ity, which will translate into community prosperity, and ultimately household prosperity.

“First and foremost, we are building a Guyana where every single Guyanese family will be in a position to meet their most basic needs relative to a minimum threshold required to enjoy a decent life. I hasten to add that this threshold is not to be viewed through narrow and simplistic monetary and fixed income lenses, but instead is to be viewed from a multi-dimensional perspective,” the Minister relayed. (Rupa Seenaraine)

TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024 06:00 (Sign on) Inspiration Time 06:30 Cartoons 07:00 Evening News (RB) 08:00 Stop Suffering 09:00 Guy's Grocery Games 10:00 Grand Designs 11:00 Paternity Court 11:30 Divorce Court 12:00 News Break 12:05 Movie - Red, White & Brass (2023) 13:35 Wheel of Fortune 14:30 The Tom and Jerry Show S4 E2 15:00 Indian Soaps 16:00 Sydney to the Max S3 E17 16:30 Victorious S1 E1 17:00 The Young & The Restless 18:00 CNN 19:00 The Evening News 20:00 Stop Suffering 20:30 Stand-up Comedy 21:00 Manifest S4 E15 22:00 The Crown S5 E3 23:00 The Office S5 E10 23:30 Insecure S2 E4 00:00 Sign off

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024

Foundation ◄

Page

ADDING FRACTIONS WITH LIKE DENOMINATORS

GREEN IS THE COLOUR OF THE WORLD in face of Present Being-Buber

by Wilson Harris

CONTINUED FROM MONDAY

Remember: Like denominators are the same, and are sometimes called common denominators.

Exercises: Change to improper fractions

II Rain spattered and immense is the world conjured out of many-sided visions

“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” — Coretta Scott King Community starts with kindness.

Being kind might sometimes feel like a muscle that needs to be exercised.

Here’s a simple idea for you to try.

Find an old jar and decorate it if you like. Write down a random act of kindness on a strip of paper and add it to the kindness jar. You can add more

KINDNESS JARS than one strip at a time if you are inspired, or you can go more slowly and contribute one idea each day, until the jar is filled up.

Next, dip into the jar to choose a kindness idea. Talk about it with parents and decide if this is something you can do right away, or plan to do in the near future.

What will your kindness notes say?

Here are a few ideas, in case you need to get the brainstorming going: • Make a handmade card for a family member or friend • Do a chore without being asked

dripping like tears from the roof of a house for a debt unpaid in imagination (for example, putting toys away) • Ask someone to share their “roses and thorns” from that day • Invite a child to join your game — someone who may be shy or lonely • Offer a hug to someone and tell them why you like them so much • Write a silly poem Try this!

You can also use a kindness jar to collect kindness: collect change to donate funds to help others or use your jar to grow a plant that everyone takes care of. (adapted from startwithabook.com)

The owner torments himself unnecessarily but bucks up to smile with a sneaking conviction and yet is not fully redeemed from mockery!

Rejection and glory conspire when he resolves to be free TO BE CONTINUED

WORD SEARCH

JAX HANDBALL SIMONSAYS TETHERBALL HIDEANDGOSEEK COPSANDROBBERS TWISTER

HANGMAN MONOPOLY HOPSCOTCH PINGPONG SOFTBALL DODGEBALL MOTHERMAYI

BATTLESHIP MARBLES JUMPROPE CHECKERS TAG

NEWS

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt to increase withdrawal amounts from NRF …2024 profit oil estimated at US$2078.9M; royalty at US$319.9M

W

ith the aim of financing its accelerated transformation agenda, the Guyana Government will be moving to increase the amount of money it can withdraw annually from the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) – where the country’s earnings from the oil and gas sector is being held.

Back in December 2021, Government amended the NRF Act to bring greater transparency and accountability in the management of Guyana’s oil resources, including the requirement of Government to seek annual parliamentary approval for withdrawals from the NRF as stated in Section 19 of the NRF Act 2021.

Pursuant to that provision, as part of its consideration of the budget process, the Parliament approved a total of $208.9 billion (equivalent to US$1.002 billion) to be withdrawn from the NRF in 2023.

But during his presentation of the $1.146 trillion 2024 National Budget on

Monday, Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh pointed to the need for an “optimal and dynamic financing mix”.

“Our Government will be proposing… a revision to the NRF withdrawal rule which, once approved, will result in an upward revision to the NRF withdrawal amount to take effect from this fiscal year. The revised withdrawal rule will retain

the important feature that, as production and revenue ramp up further, an increasing share of the inflows into the NRF will be saved relative to the share transferred to the Consolidated Fund to finance national development priorities,” he explained.

According to the Finance Minister, this proposal will be placed before the

National Assembly for consideration and approval.

The funds in the NRF have their origins in the oilrich Stabroek Block offshore Guyana, where US oil major ExxonMobil and its partners – Hess Corporation and CNOOC – are producing light sweet crude using the Liza Destiny, Liza Unity, and more recently, the Prosperity Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels.

In 2022, for the first time, Guyana had used oil funds to finance a national budget. In fact, in 2022, the Government withdrew a total of $126 billion (US$607.6 million) in three tranches from the NRF which went towards financing Guyana’s national development plans.

In 2023, US$1002 million was withdrawn to finance national development priorities. The last withdrawal for last year, of eight in total, was made on December 27, 2023 from the NRF to the Consolidated Fund to the tune of US$152.1 million (equivalent to $31.6 bil-

Guyana’s economy projected to grow...

According to Dr Singh, the projected expansion this year is primarily attributed to the further increases in oil production, as the Prosperity FPSO – the third vessel in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana – ramps up its operations.

Key to note, however, is the continued growth of the non-oil economy, which is projected at 11.9 per cent this year, and represents four years of consecutive growth at an average rate of 9.9 per cent annually since its 7.3 per cent contraction in 2020.

This year, the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector is projected to grow by 10.4 per cent, supported by increased production across all subsectors. Meanwhile, sugar will continue to accelerate its recovery, with strong growth of 66.1 per cent in 2024 being aided by GuySuCo’s continued focus on mechanisation and conversion efforts, as well as promoting value-added production. Supported by a $6 billion budget allocation, the sector is expected to produce 100,000 metric tonnes

of sugar in 2024.

Similarly, the rice industry is expected to grow by 6.2 per cent this year, with production increasing to 710,000 metric tonnes.

The $1.3 billion allocated is anticipated to drive an expansion in acreage cultivated, the deployment of new and more productive varieties, and improve research and development.

An 11.6 per cent growth is projected this year in the other crops subsector, largely reflecting considerable progress in corn and soya production as Guyana works to achieve self-sufficiency in 2025.

Increases are also expected in the cultivation of coconuts, root crops and spices as Government continues to put systems in place to achieve food security locally and regionally.

The livestock and fishing subsectors are expected to expand by 6.6 per cent and 15 per cent respectively.

The forestry sector is also projected to record growth of 3.9 per cent, supported by continued investments

in the housing sector and, more broadly, construction.

In the extractive industries, further growth in oil and gas and other mining and quarrying, as well as an expected recovery in the gold and bauxite mining subsectors, have been projected.

With three FPSOs in the Stabroek Block, production of crude oil is slated to reach over 550,000 bpd in 2024, with a further ramping up to over 600,000 in the latter part of the year – representing a 44.7 per cent growth this year.

The sand, stone, diamonds and manganese subsectors are also anticipated to continue their momentum in 2024, with projected growth of 19.3 per cent.

On the other hand, the gold and bauxite mining industries are projected to reverse last year’s contractions to grow this year by 15.7 and 57.2 per cent respectively. The gold mining recovery is expected to be supported by higher projected declarations from the lone large operator, as well as the small and medium

FROM PAGE 2

scale miners, to collectively amount to 500,000 ounces; while the turnaround in bauxite mining is to be driven by higher expected production from both operators, given the investments made in the sector, with projected production of over 1,700,000 tonnes this year.

In the manufacturing sector, the growth trajectory will continue this year at 16 per cent, with increases across all three subsectors, including sugar and rice.

Other manufacturing is again forecasted to achieve growth of 10.4 per cent, due to the manufacturing of fabricated metal products and non-metallic products with continued construction and oil and gas activities.

Construction in 2024 will be maintained with a projected growth of 23.4 per cent, while the services industry will expand by 6.9 per cent this year with supported spillovers from the other sectors – agriculture, construction, housing, and extractives – with the renewed interest in Guyana as a burgeoning investment and tourist destination. (G8)

lion).

Petroleum revenue According to Dr Singh, some US$1617 million in petroleum revenue was deposited into the Fund last year, and at the end of 2023, the overall balance, inclusive of interest income, stood at US$1973.5 million.

For 2023, the Fund received US$1398.9 million in profit oil, that is, US$576.6 million from Liza Destiny and US$822.3 million from Liza Unity. With respect to royalty payments, some US$218.1 million was received from the Stabroek Block operator.

These earnings stemmed from the 142 lifts of crude oil from Guyana’s three producing FPSOs last year.

Of those lifts, 17 were Government’s entitlements – six from the Liza Destiny FPSO and 11 from the Liza Unity FPSO. “The profit oil receipts received in 2023 correspond to two lifts that occurred in the last quarter of 2022, and 15 Government lifts that

occurred in 2023. Two receipts related to 2023 are anticipated to be made this month, with respect to lifts that occurred in December 2023,” the Minister explained.

In 2024, Dr Singh revealed, some 202 lifts of crude oil are projected from the three FPSOs in Stabroek Block. Again, 25 of those lifts are estimated for Government.

Consequently, earnings from the Government’s share of profit oil in 2024 are estimated at US$2078.9 million, while royalty payments for this year are projected at US$319.9 million.

Additionally, based on 2023 deposits, an estimated US$1154.3 million or $240.1 billion can be withdrawn from the NRF in 2024 and transferred to the Consolidated Fund to support the country’s development agenda.

The $1.146 trillion 2024 Budget is financed with a $240.1 billion transfer from the NRF to the Consolidated Fund.

8 NEWS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Armed robbery accused remanded to prison K

evin Batson, a resident of School Street, Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD), appeared on Monday before Senior Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Diamond/Golden Grove Magistrates’ Courts to answer two counts of armed robbery.

The 29-year-old unemployed Batson, called “Kero”, is accused of robbing Joshua Singh of a quantity

of items valued at $215,000 on January 4, at Diamond Public Road, EBD. He has also been charged with robbing Rajesh Ramlakhan on January 7 at Grove Housing Scheme, EBD. Batson denied the allegations before Senior Magistrate Sunil Scarce, but was refused bail and remanded to prison until February 2.

Batson had faced a similar charge in 2022, when

he was accused of robbing a labourer of $50,000 in cash on August 22, 2022. That robbery had allegedly occurred at Grove Public Road, EBD, and he had been granted bail in the sum of $150,000 by Magistrate Scarce. This publication is unaware of the legal status of that matter. (G1)

Remanded: Kevin Batson

19-yearold on $60,000 bail for wounding charge

Wounding accused Tyrele Blair

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yrele Blair of East Ruimveldt, Georgetown appeared on Monday before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly in that Georgetown Magistrate’s Court to answer a charge of wounding.

It is alleged that he unlawfully wounded Andrew Cameroon with the intention of disfiguring, maiming, or seriously injuring him on November 6, 2023 in East Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

Represented by an attorney, who informed the magistrate that this client has no prior convictions, the 19-year-old Blair entered a not-guilty plea and was eventually placed on $60,000 bail.

The Police prosecutor did not object to Blair being placed on bail, although she detailed that the virtual complainant has "deep lacerations" on his fingers and on the back of his head.

Blair must appear in court again on March 4.

Mo’ money…

Y

…mo’ money

our Eyewitness has written this article before Minister Singh presented his Budget 2024 yesterday, in what had to’ve been an 8-hour marathon that consumed a gallon of water!! He’s heard of Fidel Castro haranguing crowds for even longer than that, back in the day, without losing his audience. But, clearly, Singh ain’t no Fidel; he doesn’t even have a beard!!

For older folks, during the Burnham and Hoyte years, budgets were awaited with bated breaths, and even broadcast over loudspeakers to mammoth crowds in Stabroek Market Square. But if truth be told, they were either waiting to hear what new taxes were being imposed, or what the latest devaluation would be!! Your Eyewitness still remembers the screams of agony that followed Hoyte’s massive devaluation in 1989. It sparked the greatest revival of Sparrow’s “Ten to one is murdah”!!

Well, back to the present, we’ve already been informed by the VP that there’s gonna be no new taxes!! So, no flutters from that quarter!!

So, what’d we hear yesterday? Since your Eyewitness wasn’t no fly on the wall when the Minister’s team were crunching and allocating their numbers, all he can do is connect the dots that are already in the public domain.

Firstly, Budgets have to state how much funds the Government expect to receive; where the funds are coming from; and then state how those funds are gonna be spent. Today, let’s deal with the money coming in. In our case, there’s gonna be mo’ money than ever before, from taxes that were collected by the GRA from our salaries and business profits and placed into the Consolidated Fund, since there’s been so many more businesses, with increased employment. So, right up front, let’s understand that MOST of what the Government’s gonna be spending comes from our hard-earned paychecks and profits – even before we received what crumbs were left!!

By now we also know that huge chunks of funds gonna be taken from the Natural Resource Fund - where our 14.5% of oil profits are placed. With more oil pumping this year, the Govt’s gonna have mo US greenbacks to spend.

Finally, there are the loans we’ll be taking to fund some of our projects – like the new DHB. At this point, you may be wondering, dear reader, why we gotta borrow money when we’re the fastest growing economy on planet Earth!

And that’s a point we hafta start appreciating: when you GOT money, that’s when folk like to lend you money!! They figure you’re a better risk!

And it’s better to take the money and spend it NOW - and repay it later with money that’s worth less!!

Tomorrow, we’ll deal with how the good minister decided the Government’s gonna spend OUR money!! …and no scrutiny??

Looks like your Eyewitness is the only person – yes, dear readers, he’s a PERSON!! – who remembers that back in 2000, after the PNC beat, looted, burnt and stuck pins into Janet dolls, the Constitution was changed to give them and the Opposition real-time powers to scrutinize governmental spending. The Old PAC – which is still around – deals with spending from the past. But by the time they do their thing, the horse has looong bolted and never been caught!!

Your Eyewitness is talking about the four Parliamentary Sectoral Committees (PSC) that cover EVERY aspect of the Government’s activities, and the Chairs of these committees are rotated every year. So, at any point, the Opposition Chairs of two PSCs have the authority to summon anyone in the Government – save the President – and interrogate them on where our money’s going!!

So, why’s the Opposition blathering on ad nauseum that the Government’s doing their own thing with no crudity? If this is happening, isn’t it because they’ve lapsed in their duties? …being stymied So, the Houthis of Yemen started bombing ships with Israeli connections, in sympathy with Hamas – and the Yanks and Brits retaliated in kind. Why? Well, the risks to shipping went up along with the costs!!

Mo money squeezed!!

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

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

NEWS

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Budget 2024 aims to buffer rising cost of living, build prosperous country – Pres Ali “Together we are building a stronger, more prosperous, unified country for all our people. This is the mission; no one will stop us in making your life better” – Pres Ali

“T

ogether, we are building a stronger, more prosperous, unified country for all of our people. This is the mission; no one will stop us in making your life better,” Dr Irfaan Ali said from his presidential home in Georgetown.

Following the presentation of the $1.146 trillion 2024 Budget by Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh in the National Assembly on Monday, which represents a 46.6 per cent increase in spending and is the largest budget in Guyana’s history, President Dr Irfaan Ali took to social media and shared his views on the provisions made to address the rising cost of living.

Among the measures is raising the income tax threshold from to $85,000 to $100,000 allowing thousands of persons to pay fewer or no taxes. As a matter of fact, some 13,000 persons will no longer be paying taxes as a result of this measure.

Additionally, an increase in Old Age Pension from $33,000 to $36,000 will take effect this month and provide $2.7 billion in additional disposable income to pensioners, as well as an increase in public assistance from $16,000 monthly to $19,000. This move, the Head of State said, is expected to provide about $1.2 billion in additional disposable income to thousands of persons.

For the first time too, other measures to support vulnerable groups were announced.

A $3000 voucher for eye tests will be provided to over 205,000 school children and 76,000 pensioners. This new support should cost about $840 million. For those who require spectacles, a $15,000 voucher will be provided.

Further, the Government will provide an $8000 voucher to women aged 21 to 65 to help meet the cost of cervical cancer testing.

The Finance Minister also announced that the minimum National Insurance Scheme (NIS) pension has been increased from $35,000 monthly to $43,075.

Over 27,000 persons are expected to benefit from this move.

The survivor’s pension, which is payable to the dependants of a deceased insured person, will also be increased from $17,500 to $21,537. Additionally, an invalidity pension, paid to an insured person who is incapable of work otherwise than as a result of employment injury, is being increased from $35,000 to $43,075.

During his address to the nation, the Head of State noted that the provisions included in this year’s budget would directly attack and/or cushion many of the effects associated with the cost of living. Additionally, a total of $7 billion has allocated for measures to be determined after consultations with stakeholders, aimed at containing the impact of price increases.

Boost non-oil sectors He explained that Government’s primary goal in 2024 was to boost the non-oil sectors while ensuring that Guyanese have access to disposable income.

“These are the type of investments we’re making to bolster income and to target the most vulnerable bringing equity, ensuing that we build a society in which disparity doesn’t widen or create gaps within our society.

This is how you implement and plan measures in the interest of people and this is what we mean when we say building prosperity across our country in every single household,” President Ali stated.

Moreover, the sum of $10 billion is allocated in the 2024 National Budget to continue the Government’s part-time job programme.

However, major focus

will be placed on ensuring beneficiaries acquire further skills and qualifications, to help satisfy the skills gap in the labour market and ultimately transition to fulltime employment.

In 2023, over 15,000 persons from the 10 administrative regions of Guyana were employed through the programme. The sum of $6 billion in disposable income was poured into these households, and in 2024, this programme will continue and be expanded.

Small business Meanwhile, $450 million was allocated for the replenishment of the Small Business Development Fund and $331 million allocated for the Small Business Bureau.

Some 100 loans will also be targeted for disbursement and 1362 grants will be issued in 2024.

These monies will support initiatives to grow small and micro business developments and the promotion of entrepreneurship.

President Ali disclosed that government would provide incentives to banking institutions this year, to make available loans above $5 million to small business owners.

According to the Head of State, a framework will be implemented to make access to funds easier for business owners while ensuring that interest rates remain low.

“Together we are building a stronger, more prosperous, unified country for all our people. This is the mission; no one will stop us in making your life better,” the Head of State said.

Another $3.3 billion is allocated this year to commence industrial development at Wales, Region Three and advance similar works in Regions Two and 10.

The Government is moving ahead this year with the establishment of business incubators and will be providing extensive training

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Monday evening

to 2800 business owners in five key sectors: apiculture, farming, livestock farming, poultry rearing, and micro-enterprise.

The Electronic Single Window for business transactions will come on stream this year with $600 million budgeted for that proj-

ect; a National Quality Infrastructure laboratory will move ahead with $1.25 billion budgeted for that project, and $500 million is budgeted to support the continued construction of the Food and Drugs Department laboratory.

These measures will po-

sition small businesses to take advantage of the opportunities that abound.

The 2024 Budget was presented by Senior Minister for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh under the theme: “Staying the Course: Building Prosperity for All.” It is the fifth budget of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government since its return to Government in 2020 and the third to be funded in part by proceeds from oil production offshore Guyana.

Government said Budget 2024 would strike a balance between addressing the pressing needs and irritants of today and simultaneously investing in the future, with a primary focus is placed on policies designed to increase the disposable income of Guyanese and their general quality of life.

10 NEWS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

March 4 set for commencement of election fraud trial

Roxanne Myers

From top left are: Volda Lawrence, Keith Lowenfield, Denise Babb-Cummings, and Michelle Miller From bottom left are: Enrique Livan, Sheffern February, Clairmont Mingo, and Carol Smith-Joseph

T

he prosecution will, from March 4–8, commence leading evidence in Senior Magistrate Leron Daly’s Georgetown court in support of the dozens of fraud charges that resulted from attempts to rig the March 2020 General and Regional Elections – more than three years after the Police had first filed complaints.

Senior Magistrate Leron Daly will be presiding over these cases, the defendants of which are former District Four (Demerara-Mahaica) Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo; former People’s National Congress/Reform (PNCR) Chairperson Volda Lawrence; PNCR activist Carol Smith-Joseph; former Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield; former Deputy Chief Elections Officer Roxanne Myers; and Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) employees Sheffern February, Enrique Livan, Denise BabbCummings and Michelle Miller.

Among the offences these defendants are accused of committing are: misconduct while holding public office;

presenting falsified documentation; and planning to manipulate Guyana’s voters by presenting an inaccurate vote total. These charges stemmed from attempts to rig the 2020 General and Regional Elections in favour of the then-ruling APNU/ AFC. These accused persons are all out on cash bail.

Lead prosecutor Darshan Ramdhani, KC, during another hearing on Monday, informed the court, "We are ready to commence leading evidence by the end of this month.”

“We have been ready to start from the day the charges were filed, because these charges are imaginary," retorted defence attorney Nigel Hughes. Thick bundles of statements were signed and uplifted by the defendants, all of whom were present in court.

The first week of April and the first week of May have been designated for hearing additional testimony. All of these matters have been consolidated. Over 80 witnesses are slated to testify on behalf of the prosecution. Among the exhibits to be presented are certified

copies of the Statements of Poll (SoPs), Statements of Recount (SoRs), and video interviews between defendants and detectives.

Hughes had suggested that the prosecution drop some charges to expedite the process, but the special prosecutor had strongly objected.

The fixing of the trial date comes days after Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, had bemoaned the pace at which the matters were being handled by the court.

During his year-end press conference, the Attorney General had addressed the issue and lamented the time it was taking to move forward with a trial.

“After three years, those charges have not been able to secure a trial date. Now, I am the Minister of Justice, I cannot be pleased with this state of affairs. No decent-minded Guyanese can be pleased with this state of affairs. And I wish to make it abundantly clear that these are not politically-driven or inspired charges; these are charges that relate to the misconduct of the electoral process by persons who have been appointed

and paid by the taxpayers of this country to manage that process and ensure that the process meets the imperative of transparency, legality, and fairness,” Nandlall said.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC, had requested the assistance of the Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, to expedite the proceedings by designating particular

Magistrates to oversee the cases.

The election report of former CEO Keith Lowenfield claimed that the APNU/ AFC coalition had garnered 171,825 votes, while the PPP/C had gained 166,343 votes. How he arrived at those figures is still unknown, since the certified results from the recount exercise supervised by GECOM and a high-level team from the Caribbean Community (Caricom) pellucidly showed that the PPP/C won with 233,336 votes, while the coalition garnered 217,920.

The recount exercise had also highlighted that Mingo had heavily inflated the figures in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) — Guyana’s largest voting District — in favour of the then-caretaker APNU/ AFC regime, which had been defeated by a no-confidence motion passed in the National Assembly on the

Senior Magistrate Leron Daly

night of December 21, 2018.

In August 2021, GECOM voted to terminate the employment of Keith Lowenfield, Roxanne Myers and Clairmont Mingo. The firing of these officials was met with much satisfaction by various stakeholders, including the Government, which hailed it as a step in the right direction to restoring public confidence in GECOM. (G1)

$20M worth of ganja unearthed at Parika R

anks of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) have unearthed some $20 million worth of cannabis at Hubu, Parika, East Bank Essequibo, on Monday.

Reports are that CANU ranks conducted a search of a residence in Block 1, Unity, Hubu, Parika, and it resulted in several large bags containing 102 brick-like parcels of cannabis being found.

A 39-year-old man of the same address and a 36-yearold woman of Sisters Village, West Bank Demerara have consequently been arrested.

According to CANU, the

The ganja that was found in the house at Hubu, Parika

duo and the find were escorted to CANU Headquarters, where the 102 parcels were confirmed as cannabis, weighing 55.2kg and hav-

ing a street value of approximately $20 million.

The couple remains in custody, pending investigations.

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Teen wanted for Pedestrian Victoria man’s murder

Wanted: Siynai McFarlane

S

iynai McFarlane, known as “Biggs” of Victoria, East Coast Demerara (ECD), is wanted for the murder of William Montrose which occurred on December 17, 2023.

The 26-year-old miner/construction worker, of Side Line Dam, Victoria, was killed along with 24-year-old Youfie Eusi Bobb, also of Victoria. Two persons – Delex Skeete, 25,

a plumber, also of Victoria, and McFarlane,19, were also seriously injured.

Reports are that the men were all at a construction party called “Bank on It” in the area when about 03:15h on December 17, 2023, Bobb, along with Skeete and McFarlane ,allegedly attacked Montrose and took away his 30-pennyweight gold chain.

Police said that during the attack, Bobb, along with the others, dealt Montrose several stabs about his body. According to the Police, Montrose then left and returned with a cutlass and dealt Bobb, McFarlane, and Skeete chops about their bodies, after which he escaped.

Bobb, McFarlane, and Skeete were escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where Bobb was pronounced dead on arriv-

killed in Mon Repos accident

Dead: William Montrose

al while the other two were admitted.

Police ranks combed the murder scene and discovered the body of Montrose in a trench about 500 feet north of the scene. His body was facing upwards.

It was retrieved from the trench and examined; three

Wanted bulletin issued for CEO of RK Concrete T

he Guyana Police Force (GPF) has issued a wanted bulletin for the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of RK Concrete Guyana Inc, Keron Jaggernauth.

According to Police, Jaggernauth’s last known address is Lot 236 South Road, Lacytown, Georgetown.

The GPF is seeking Jaggernauth for questioning in relation to suspected fraudulent activities.

RK Concrete Guyana Inc,

Wanted: Keron Jaggernauth

a company that secured contracts for housing projects under the Housing and Water Ministry, is now under scrutiny owing to the allegations against its CEO. The Police are now urging anyone with information on Jaggernauth's whereabouts to contact them promptly.

Persons with information can reach out via phone at 222-2232, 225-8196, 2259-6976, or visit the nearest Police Station to provide relevant details. (G9)

wounds were seen on the forehead, one to the upper left side of the chest, and two to the right-side jaw.

Police said one black-handled knife was found tucked in the waistband on the left side.

The body was escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital and pronounced dead on arrival.

Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of McFarlane is asked to contact the Police on telephone numbers 2261389, 227-2128, 226-7476, 226-7065, 227-9271, 2271611, 227-1149, 227-1270, 225-6940-9, 225-3650, 2261928, or 911, or at the nearest Police Station. (G9)

Dead: Andrew Viramuthu

A

ndrew Viramuthu, a 33-year-old labourer of Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, has lost his life in a tragic accident that occurred on the Mon Repos Public Road on Monday at about 04:00h.

Reports are that

Viramuthu was stuck by motorcar PZZ 8045, driven by a 27-year-old legal clerk who was travelling in an easterly direction along the public road. According to the Police, the driver of PZZ 8045 is alleging that Viramuthu ran across the road from north to south and into the path of his vehicle, and despite his attempt to apply brakes, the front portion of the vehicle collided with Viramuthu, propelling him into the air.

Viramuthu sustained fatal injuries, and was pronounced dead at the scene.

His body has been escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital mortuary to await a post-mortem examination.

A breathalyzer test conducted on the driver revealed a reading of .006 micrograms. The driver has been taken into custody, and is cooperating with the ongoing investigation.

(G9)

16 NEWS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Electronic case management system to be launched soon – CJ C

hief Justice (ag) Roxane George, SC, has revealed that the electronic case management system for the Court of Appeal and High Court will be ready for a soft launch in the coming weeks, as Guyana's Judiciary moves towards the use of technology.

“The E-litigation system for Court of Appeal and High Court will be ready for a soft launch of Phase One - Court of Appeal - within the next few weeks. Phase Two -High Court - should be ready for launch by the last quarter of this year.

Like the Magistrate Court case management system, the e-litigation system will be a game-changer for the administration of justice,” she posited.

Justice George, in describing the operation of the e-litigation system for the High Court and Court of Appeal, said matters would be filed at court registries' service bureaus, where filing fees would be paid and documents would be uploaded to the system with the help of registry employees. The portal will be used for both the issuance of court orders and the exchange of documents between attorneys and/or

Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George, SC

the court.

She added, “As we become familiar with the system, we will migrate to having counsel file and make payments via a reducing balance credit system from the comfort of their chambers or wherever they may be in the world. Self-represented litigants will file through the service bureaus. Again, the cases will be electronically assigned to the Judges.”

Given this system is new, she explained, a committee is revising the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR), and will report to the Rules Committee before the year-

end.

She also said the Minutes Books for Judicial Officers would no longer be necessary.

“And in the future, we will move away from having the Minutes Books of Judicial Officers as the court record to having court-produced audio and/ or written transcripts of all cases as the official record of our courts,” she declared.

The respective chambers of the Attorney General and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the Guyana Prison Service (GPS), the Guyana Police Force (GPF), and other

justice sector stakeholders have been praised by the Chief Justice for their collaboration with judicial officers in supervising the creation of these cutting-edge technological systems.

“We will be engaging with other justice sector partners: for example, the Deed’s Registry, the Land Registry, the Child Care and Protection Agency, and the Probation Department of the Human Services [and Social Security Ministry], in relation to utilising the system,” she said.

A sophisticated electronic Court Case Management System for the Magistrates’ Courts was launched last month. Once the pilot project at the Diamond/Golden Grove Magistrates’ Courts proves successful, it will be replicated in Magistrates’ Courts across the country.

The Guyana and United States governments worked together to establish the system.

It was put into effect by the National Center for State Courts and by the Guyana Judiciary with backing from the US State Department's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. (Feona Morrison)

Massive ganja farms found at Yarrowkabra

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n intelligence-led Police operation that began in the wee hours of Monday has led to the discovery of eight fields of cannabis sativa (marijuana) plants in Yarrowkabra backdam, a community off the Soesdyke-Linden Highway.

Reports are that the Police operation, which lasted from 04:00h to 11:30h on Monday, resulted in the discovery of well-cultivated narcotics (cannabis sativa) plants, ranging in height from two feet to three feet on eight fields measuring one hundred feet by two hundred feet (100’x200’).

Eight camps were also seen, the Police have said, and four persons have been arrested.

These are: a 25-year-old farmer of Circuit Road,

Timehri; two labourers of Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara, one 35 years old and the other 29 years old; and a 21-yearold painter of Hyde Park Timehri, who, after being arrested in a camp, took Police to the field where he was planting narcotics. All the narcotics, along with the camp, were destroyed.

The three other men were found in camps with a nursery which had a quantity of seedlings, amounting to approximately 1000 plants. This nursery has been destroyed.

Police also found a quantity of dried cannabis amounting to 1700 grams, and some 5000 plants were found. Police said several plants were uprooted and taken as exhibits. The four suspects have been arrested, and are in custody pending charges.

NEWS

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

City Council short-changing Georgetown residents – Councillor …asset register not updated in 14 years, audits finally being mulled

P

eople’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/ C)-nominated Georgetown Councillor Alfonso De Armas has said that the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) is short-changing residents of the city, highlighting a series of alleged financial discrepancies and questionable practices within the municipality’s administration.

De Armas on Monday ve-

hemently dismissed claims that the PPP/C Government was intentionally withholding resources from the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)-led City Council, emphasising that the city generates millions of dollars annually.

However, a staggering 70 per cent of this revenue is allocated to payroll, he said, amounting to a hefty $110 million. He expressed con-

cern over the lack of infrastructure development, citing decades without road construction or maintenance despite substantial funds.

The Councillor pointed out that the payroll includes what he termed a "bloated and inefficient" workforce, raising questions about the city's financial sustainability. In terms of accountability, De Armas highlighted a significant lapse, with no

Golden Grove man wanted for murder A

Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara (ECD) man is wanted by the Police for questioning in connection with the murder of Otis Andy Haimchand of Lot 183 Nabaclis, ECD. Police on Monday issued a wanted bulletin for Junior Heywood, known as Larry.

It is alleged that on January 6, Heywood killed Haimchand at Haslington New Scheme, ECD. According to Police, Haimchand and Heywood, a 36-year-old miner, were engaged in a heated argument over a phone that had been damaged. The men were subsequently parted and they went their separate ways.

However, about 21:00h, the two men met again at Haslington, where another altercation erupted that quickly escalated into a scuffle.

The now-dead man reportedly attempted to leave the scene, but he was followed by the suspect, who

Dead: Otis Andy Haimchand

Wanted: Junior Heywood

dealt him one stab with a knife to the upper left side of his chest.

Haimchand reportedly fell to the ground after which the suspect fled the scene.

The Police were contacted and upon arriving at the scene, they observed a stab wound to the chest area near the victim’s heart.

The injured man was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was pro-

nounced dead on arrival.

The Police, since then, have launched a manhunt for the suspect.

The Police are asking anyone with information on the whereabouts of the wanted man to contact them on these telephone numbers 225-6940, 225-8196, 2267476, 227-1149, or 911, or at the nearest Police Station.

(G9)

comprehensive audit conducted in the past five years. “…yet the city maintains road gangs on its payroll and this is just one example of a bloated and inefficient payroll”, he said.

Assets

The city's asset registry was last updated in the early 2000s, raising further red flags regarding financial transparency. “…bank statements have not been reconciled since 2021, and yet you hear the Opposition, yet you hear APNU say the PPP is wilfully starving the residents of Georgetown and withholding funds from City Hall…,” he explained.

De Armas revealed that between 2015 and 2016, a substantial amount of $500 million was allocated to City Hall, yet millions remain unaccounted for. The PPP/C Councillor emphasised the urgency of addressing these financial irregularities and called for a thorough audit to restore transparency and accountability.

“Should we allow the city to fall into disrepair, to decay, to fall into rot? Do we allow our residents to wallow in filth? Absolutely, not.”

In response, he said that the PPP/C has taken proactive steps, initiating negotiations with reputable accountants, to conduct a comprehensive audit to which De Armas said the City Council agreed.

“This is to eventually produce accounts and eventually produce the audit… in the

PPP/C Georgetown Councillor Alfonso De Armas

meantime, works still need to be done…,” he noted.

De Armas stressed that Georgetown could not afford to stand still while the APNU-led Council navigates the path toward accountability and transparency.

While advocating for audits, he said that the PPP/C has been actively working across constituencies, focusing on road paving and drainage clearance in the city. De Armas highlighted that residents are paying for these essential services and deserve tangible results.

“We have been working with the Central Government and throughout all the constituencies in Georgetown, we have been doing paving of roads, clearing and maintaining of drains, parapets, alleyways.

These are all basic services that the residents pay for,” he relayed.

As the situation unfolds, Georgetown residents anxiously await the outcome of the impending audit, hoping

for clarity and rectification in the management of their city's finances.

A few months ago, it was announced that the Mayor & City Council of Georgetown was cash-strapped and needed an urgent injection of finances to run the city for the rest of 2023.

The Finance Committee, chaired by Lelon Saul, said they were facing difficulties owing to the absence of a financial audit in over a decade and the lack of a budget for the current year.

The Committee, comprising members from different political parties, said they were aiming to address the city's financial issues and enhance accountability.

Don Singh of the PPP/C had emphasised the need for cooperation between the Government and Opposition councillors to overcome the city's financial crisis. He highlights the absence of financial audits for 10 years, proposing appeals to relevant Ministries and involvement of the Local Government Commission for assistance.

Singh had stressed the urgency of conducting an audit and suggested frequent committee meetings to devise solutions. He also advocated for improved accountability and transparency, proposing measures like online payment systems for rates and taxes.

Despite the challenges, Singh had emphasised the importance of financial stability for effective city management. (G9)

18

TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024

guyanatimesgy.com

Regional

Dozens of prisoners escape T&T Police probe voice note Ecuador jail amid continued with threats to top officials military operations T

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orty-three prisoners remain at large after escaping a prison in northern Ecuador, the SNAI prisons agency said on Monday, as security forces continued operations throughout the country.

President Daniel Noboa declared a 60-day state of emergency last week, including a nighttime curfew, and designated 22 criminal groups as terrorists.

The recent explosion of violence – including the storming by gunmen of a live TV news broadcast, explosions in several cities and the kidnapping of Police Officers - appears to be a response to Noboa's plans to address Ecuador's serious security crisis.

Police and military personnel are present in jails throughout Ecuador after some 200 kidnapped guards and administrative officials were freed from at least seven prisons over the weekend.

The inmates escaped a jail in Esmeraldas, a city close to the border with Colombia, SNAI said in a statement on Monday, af-

Members of the security forces check an area near the Zonal 8 prison, from where Jose Adolfo Macias, alias "Fito", disappeared earlier in the month, amid the ongoing wave of violence around the nation, in Guayaquil, Ecuador, January 15, 2024 (Reuters/ Henry Romero photo)

ter some 2000 members of Ecuador's security forces conducted a search operation in the prison on Sunday.

"As a result of this inspection, the escape of 48 people inmates was discovered," the statement added, noting that five prisoners were recaptured.

Security forces also learnt that one prisoner had died in the prison, SNAI said, without giving further details.

Since the state of emer-

gency was declared, security forces have detained more than 1500 persons and have carried out 41 operations against terrorist groups, according to the Government.

Operations will continue throughout Ecuador this week, the Government said in a separate statement.

"The stated objective is clear: to be implacable with those who have terrorised and abused citizens," the Government said. (Excerpt from Reuters)

“A new spring”: Guatemala’s Arevalo becomes President after Congress delays

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rowing up, Joaquina Perez says her mother always told her that Juan Jose Arevalo was the country’s best president, as he ushered in progressive reforms into the Central American country between 1945 and 1950.

Decades later, the 63-year-old was filled with excitement as she travelled 193 kilometres (120 miles) from her home in the city of Retalhuleu in the country’s southwest with others from the local pro-democracy movement to see the former President’s son, Bernardo Arevalo, take office as Guatemala’s new President.

“We are happy because we have high hopes with

[Bernardo] Arevalo,” Perez told Al Jazeera in Guatemala City’s Central Plaza.

“We saw an opportunity for [change] with the Seed Movement and with Arevalo,” she said, referring to the President-elect’s popular anti-corruption platform that has drawn wide support from across the impoverished Central American nation. “That is why we are here.”

On Sunday, close to midnight, Arevalo was finally sworn in as Guatemala’s President after months of efforts by the country’s long-ruling elite and a conservative-leaning Congress to derail his rise to power, despite his landslide win in an

August run-off against businesswoman and former first lady Sandra Torres.

But the inauguration followed hours of delay as Congress negotiated the formation of a new Directive Council, the body that guides the legislature’s sessions and helps shape its agenda. An atmosphere of joy and celebration on the streets of Guatemala City briefly gave way to anger. Earlier in the day, live music played across Guatemala City’s historic centre, as thousands of people like Perez travelled from across the country, with some sleeping in the plaza the night before, to witness the swearing-in. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

occupy management positions were prioritising travel, “Millennials are the largest age group within the United States over 70 million, and one of the interesting things is that they preference travel over almost any other discretionary spend, even over things like housing.”

Kirby added that in spite of the online options, many travellers still turn to travel advisors to help manage their travel experience, and when the advisors have the opportunity to visit destina-

tions like Antigua and other Caribbean islands, then it becomes much easier for them to promote and sell these destinations to clients: “The vast majority of them (tourists) when they are actually ready to book, they are going to go and find someone who has actual expertise and experience. That’s the one thing Internet search engines don’t have, the actual onsite experience that our members are getting here this week.”

(Excerpt from Antigua Observer)

rinidad and Tobago’s National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds has described as worrying a voice note currently being circulated on social media that has been linked to the country’s newest criminal gang, Ghost Gang.

In it, an alleged member of the gang warns that they would soon be moving to eliminate warring gang members, politicians, corrupt law enforcement officers, members of the legal fraternity and the Police Commissioner.

Hinds said the three-minute-long audio, which was released Saturday on a TikTok account, @change.tt5, is being

N

gather intelligence and their job is to suppress and break up these gangs.”

He said several people had sent him copies of the voice note.

“When you listen to the content it is worrisome, but fortunately it has also come to the attention of the Police Service, and I am aware that they are treating it in the way they treat all such matters: trying to get to the bottom of it, who would have been the spokesperson and assessing the extent of the threats and doing all that the Police Service has to do in those circumstances,” he said. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

JLP Chairman says Party “leaving nothing to chance”; boasts slate is the best and ready

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hairman Robert Montague emerged from the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Central Executive Committee meeting on Sunday ,saying that the 80-year-old political organisation was now in "full election mode" and that his team had no equal going into the upcoming local government polls.

"In February 2023 when the Local government election was being postponed from the floor of the Parliament, the country was put on the mark.

At our 80th anniversary conference last November, the order came, 'Get set'. On the 14th of January 2024, it is ready," Montague, who was returned unopposed as Chairman during Sunday's meeting at JLP headquarters on Belmont Road in St Andrew, told the Jamaica Observer.

"The Jamaica Labour Party has introduced to the country the best set of Mayors, the best set of Councillors, and today, on the 14th, we have declared the best set of candi-

JLP leader, Prime Minister Andrew Holness is surrounded by Party representatives at Belmont Road (Karl Mclarty photo)

dates for a local government election. There is no alternative; this slate is Jamaica's only choice. We stand on our achievements and we look forward to our plans and policies; and we believe in the Jamaican people because we have served them, we love them, and we know they love us," Montague said.

The veteran politician, who represents St Mary

Western in the legislature, said the ruling party would be giving the same level of energy to its strongest and weakest divisions.

"We are leaving nothing to chance. We're going to fight for every community because this is about community and the community is the cornerstone of the country," Montague said. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Shares in Brazilian airline tank on report of potential US bankruptcy filing

Caribbean tourism to remain strong S in 2024 according to travel advisors

orth American travel advisors are expressing confidence that the Caribbean stands to benefit from robust travel in 2024.

Board members of the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) recently met with Chapter Presidents from 50 US states at the Sandals Grande Antigua Resort.

ASTA President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Zane Kirby said the one thing the travel trade has noted is that many millennials who now

investigated by the T&T Police Service (TTPS).

The voice note, which has been widely shared, purportedly made threats against the Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley; parliamentarians; Judges; crooked Police Officers; Councillors; gang leaders and the Police Commissioner.

The profanity-filled recording included a warning that members of the gang have guns to take out their targets.

Hinds admitted: “We do have a serious gang problem in the country, so we have the anti-gang law which we passed, we have anti-gang units in the Police Service around the country. They continue to

hares in Brazilian airline Gol tumbled on Monday after local newspaper Folha de S Paulo reported that the company was considering filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States within the next month.

Gol's shares slipped as much as 13 per cent on the report before paring some losses to trade down 8.8 per cent.

The carrier was the biggest loser on Brazil's benchmark stock index Bovespa, which was trading near flat.

Gol, Brazil's second-largest airline in terms of passengers transported, has been struggling with high debt and last month hired Seabury Capital to assist it in a broad capital structure review.

Folha, citing sources familiar with the matter, reported that Gol was still trying to negotiate an out-of-court deal, but the possibility was seen as increasingly inviable as multiple stakeholders were involved in the talks.

The carrier, which has also recently grappled with delayed aircraft deliveries

by Boeing, in a statement to Reuters said that efforts to improve its profitability and strengthen its balance sheet were underway.

"Gol is in discussions with its financial stakeholders about several options that would provide it with greater financial flexibility, including additional capital to finance operations," the airline added Sell-side analysts and

rating agencies say Gol has strong operating figures amid healthy demand for air travel in Brazil, but high leasing and interest expenses have been pressuring its cash flow and affecting its debt profile.

"We expect a negative market reaction to this news," Itau BBA analysts led by Gabriel Rezende said of the Folha report, "as it will raise concerns about additional potential dilution for shareholders."

Peer LATAM Airlines in 2022 came out of pandemic-related bankruptcy proceedings with a US$8 billion reorganisation plan. Fellow airline Azul also restructured its debt last year, but through deals with lessors, manufacturers and bondholders. (Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024

19

Around The World

Hamas appears to show dead bodies OILNEWS OIL NEWS of 2 hostages after warning Israel

Oil edges lower despite Middle East conflict

O

il prices weakened slightly on Monday as the Middle East conflict's limited impact on crude output prompted profit taking after oil benchmarks gained two per cent last week.

Brent crude futures settled down 14 cents, or about 0.2 per cent, at US$78.15 a barrel. There was no settlement for West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude due to the US Martin Luther King Jr Day holiday, but the benchmark was down 18 cents, or about 0.3 per cent, at US$72.50 at 1513 EST. Both benchmarks fell more than US$1 per barrel earlier in the session.

Several tanker owners avoided the Red Sea and multiple tankers changed course on Friday after US and Britain launched strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen after the Iran-aligned group's attacks on shipping in response to Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza.

The conflict has also held up at least four liquefied natural gas tankers travelling in the area.

"The realisation that oil supply has not been adversely impacted is leading last week's bulls to take profit, with the move down somewhat exacerbated by a slightly stronger dollar," said Tamas Varga of oil broker PVM. The chief negotiator for Yemen's Houthis on Monday warned that attacks on ships headed toward Israel will continue. An anti-ship ballistic missile fired by Houthi militants struck a Marshall Islands-flagged, US-owned and operated container ship on Monday, the US military said in a post on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

There have been no oil supply losses so far, but the shipping disruption is indirectly tightening the market by keeping 35 million barrels at sea owing to longer journeys shippers must take to avoid the Red Sea, Citi analysts wrote.

In Libya, people protesting against perceived corruption threatened to shut down two more oil and gas facilities after shutting the 300,000 barrel-per-day Sharara field on January 7.

The US and Canada are dealing with frigid weather that is shutting in some oil production. North Dakota oil output has fallen by 400,000-425,000 bpd on extreme cold and related operational issues, the North Dakota Pipeline Authority estimated on Monday.

"Cold weather is impacting production, but (prices) seem to be down on the perception that this cold snap is going to break soon," said Phil Flynn, an analyst at Price Futures Group in Chicago.

The economic situation also remains somewhat gloomy, with the European Central Bank warning it is too early to discuss cutting interest rates.(Reuters)

H

amas appeared to show the dead bodies of two Israeli hostages on Monday after warning Israel they might be killed if it did not stop its bombardment of Gaza.

A new video released by the Palestinian militant group purportedly showed the bodies of Yossi Sharabi, 53, and Itai Svirsky, 38, who had appeared in an initial video on Sunday.

It also showed a third Israeli hostage, university student Noa Argamani, 26, seemingly reading a script in front of a blank white wall, saying the two were killed by Israeli strikes.

Israel's military spokes-

person said there was serious concern regarding the fate of the hostages purported to be dead in the video, while specifying that one of them, whom he identified as Svirsky, was not killed by Israeli fire.

"Itai was not shot by our forces. That is a Hamas lie.

The building in which they were held was not a target and it was not attacked by our forces," said military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, who did not give the name or any details about the second person as per the family's request.

"We don't attack a place if we know there may be hostages inside," he said,

Yemen's Houthis threaten to hit more US ships as more tankers steer clear

Y

emen's Houthi movement will expand its targets in the Red Sea region to include US ships, an official from the Iranallied group said on Monday, as it vowed to keep up attacks after US and British strikes on its sites in Yemen.

Attacks by the Houthis on ships in area since November have impacted companies and alarmed major powers in an escalation of Israel's more than threemonth war with Hamas militants in Gaza. The group says it is acting in solidarity with Palestinians.

British and American ships had become "legitimate targets" due to the strikes launched by the two countries on Yemen last week, Nasruldeen Amer, a spokes-

person for the Houthis, told Al Jazeera.

"The ship doesn't necessarily have to be heading to Israel for us to target it. It is enough for it to be American," Amer said. "The United States is on the verge of losing its maritime security."

The Houthis previously said they would only target Israeli ships or those en route to Israel.

In the latest apparent attack, the US Central Command said Houthi forces in Yemen struck the USowned and operated dry bulk ship Gibraltar Eagle with an anti-ship ballistic missile on Monday, although there were no reports of injuries or significant damage.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Taiwan loses ally Nauru, accuses China of post-election ploy

T

aiwan lost one of its few remaining diplomatic allies Nauru to China on Monday, just days after it elected a new President, and accused China of attempting to pressure it while it affirmed the will of Taiwanese to go out into the world.

China claims Taiwan as its own territory with no right to State-to-State ties, a position Taiwan strongly disputes, and the two have for years traded accusations of using "dollar diplomacy" as they compete for diplomatic recognition.

Taiwan security officials told Reuters before Saturday's election that China was likely to continue to whittle away at the handful of countries – now down to a dozen – that maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taipei.

Lai Ching-te, repeatedly criticised by China before the poll as a dangerous separatist, won the election for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and will take office on May 20.

The Government of the tiny Pacific Island nation of Nauru said that "in the best interests" of the country and its people it was seeking full resumption of diplomatic relations with China and would cut ties with Taiwan.

Nauru has recognised China before, between 2002 and 2005.

China and the United States have in recent years stepped up their competition for influence in the Pacific.

In 2019, Kiribati and the Solomon Islands both ditched Taiwan for China in the space

An empty flag pole where Nauru's flag used to fly is pictured next to flags of other countries at the Diplomatic Quarter which houses embassies in Taipei, Taiwan, January 15, 2024 (Reuters/Carlos Garcia Rawlins photo)

of a week.

The US affirmed that its commitment to Taiwan is "rock solid" after Saturday's election, in comments deliv-

ered by former U.S. National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley on Monday during a trip to the island. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Smoke rises over Gaza during Israeli strikes, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, as seen from southern Israel, January 14, 2024 (Reuters/Tyrone Siu photo)

adding that areas nearby had been targeted.

Reuters was unable to verify what had happened to the three, who were among some 240 people taken hostage by Islamist Hamas militants during a surprise cross-border rampage into southern Israel on October 7.

Around half of those hostages were released during a short-lived November truce,

but Israel says 132 remain in Gaza and that 25 have died in captivity.

Meanwhile, ran's Revolutionary Guards said they attacked the "espionage headquarters" of Israel in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, State media reported late on Monday, while the elite force said they also struck in Syria against the Islamic State.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Trump seeks early victory in Iowa caucus, as Republicans brave cold and snow

People arrive at a caucus site at Fellows Elementary School as voters get ready to choose a Republican presidential candidate in Ames, Iowa, US, January 15, 2024 (Reuters/Cheney Orr photo)

R

epublican presidential candidates on Monday headed out for a final, frigid day of campaigning in Iowa, where Donald Trump is the overwhelming favourite to stake an early claim to the party's 2024 presidential nomination.

The former president's dominant position has turned Iowa's first-in-thenation contest into a race for second place, as both Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley are aiming for a clear runner-up finish to emerge as the chief alternative to Trump.

"If you’re willing to brave the cold and turn out for me, I'll be fighting for you for the next eight years, and we're going to turn this country around," DeSantis told a crowd in Sergeant Bluff.

A commanding victory for Trump in Iowa would bolster his argument that he is the only Republican candidate capable of taking on Democratic President Joe Biden in the November election.

It would also spell trouble for his challengers, especially DeSantis, who has wagered his campaign on Monday's Iowa caucus, pouring resources into the Midwestern state and barnstorming all of its 99 counties.

A third-place finish could prove fatal to DeSantis' prospects. Polls show the Florida Governor far behind Trump and Haley in the more moderate state of New Hampshire, where Republicans will choose their nominee eight days from now. (Excerpt from Reuters)

20

TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024

guyanatimesgy.com

DAILY HOROSCOPES

ARCHIE

Don’t act prematurely or jump to conclusions. Sort through your options and spend time honing your skills, preparing for what you want to do next and making improvements.

(March 21-April 19) A change of heart will point you in a much better direction. Be open to suggestions, but take the path that soothes your soul and encourages you to expand your interests.

PICKLES (April 20-May 20)

Get out and mingle. Mix business with pleasure. A chance to get to know someone better will change your feelings. Don’t take a risk with your health or reputation.

(May 21-June 20) Keep your emotions under wraps.

Observe what others are doing while you figure out your next move. When the time is right, reach out to people who can help you get things done.

PEANUTS (June 21-July 22)

Get together with friends or do something that lifts your spirits or motivates you. Don’t overreact if someone decides to make a change that leaves you questioning what to do next.

(July 23-Aug. 22) Take the initiative to bring about change. Discipline will pay off and allow you to spend more time on personal growth, self-improvement and upgrading your skills.

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

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

Keep your thoughts to yourself.

Sharing too much information will leave you open to criticism. Concentrate on your needs, appearance, feelings and the personal changes you want to pursue.

Take an interest in what’s happening around you. Share your ideas with people who can bring about change. An interesting partnership will help you develop something you want to pursue.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Take care of sensitive domestic issues. Implement a lifestyle adjustment that will simplify your everyday routine.

Take an innovative approach to business transactions.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21) If you reveal too much, you’ll be vulnerable. Let others do the talking; listen, and you’ll gain insight into how to get the most out of something you want to pursue.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Be forthright about money, intentions and feelings. Don’t let a change someone makes alter your plans. Be true to yourself and honest with others, especially about your mistakes.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Place your focus where it belongs, and don’t stop until you reach your objective. You have the skills to make things happen if you are diligent and stay true to yourself.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024

21

Messi wins ‘best male player’, Pep Guardiola named ‘best male coach’ in FIFA’s ‘Best’ awards Untouchables, Ravens A “One Guyana” Basketball League…

go one up in playoffs A

s the playoff round of the “One Guyana” Basketball League continued at the National Gymnasium on Saturday January 13, Ravens and Kwakwani Untouchables emerged victorious and went one win up in the playoff’s bestof-three series.

The Ravens pulled off an heroic win against Pacesetters.

They had a commanding lead in the first quarter, when the scoreline read 16-14; and dominated the second quarter, scoring 26 points to elevate their score to 42 while limiting the Stars to 14 points for a total of 28 points.

In the third quarter, a fight ensued, with the Pacesetters forcing a comeback by pouncing on the Raven's defense to score 18 points for 46 points in total, while the Ravens seemed to slow down offensively, scoring 12 points for a total of 54.

Ravens secured their victory in the final quarter, when they scored 20 points for an overall score of 74 points; while the Pacesetters, continuing to put up a fight, scored 19 points for their overall total of 65.

With their feisty play, the Kwakwani Untouchables annihilated the Black Mambas to go up with a win, despite the Mambas, in the first quarter of

The Kwakwani duo of Domair Gladstone (left) and Stanton Rose jr. (right)

the game, scoring 15 points. The Mambas’ defense was pivotal, as they restricted Kwakwani to 10 points.

The second quarter proved beneficial to Kwakwani, as they treated spectators to a glimpse of Linden basketball. Deemed tournament favourites, and through the net consistently, they scored 24 points while they managed to calm the Mambas, who failed to put the ball through the net consistently, and ended up scoring 19 points.

The third quarter was also dominated by the Kwakwani

outfit, who put the ball through the net for 17 points while the Mambas scored 10 points.

Kwakwani went on to secure the win in the final quarter by scoring 19 points for a total of 70 at the end of the game, while the Mambas scored 20 points for a total of 64.

Captain of Kwakwani Untouchables led from the front, as he led the scoring to up his total score to 111 at the end of the group stage. He put the ball through the net for 37 points, and Jamal Collins did likewise for 15 points.

rgentine forward Lionel Messi has won men's Player of the Year at the Fifa Best Awards, with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola claiming the Men's Coach prize in London.

Inter Miami's Messi edged out City striker Erling Haaland, with Paris StGermain attacker Kylian Mbappe placing third.

City's Ederson collected the goalkeeper award ahead of Real Madrid's Thibaut Courtois and Al Hilal's Yassine Bounou.

City won the treble titles of Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup in 2022-23, and Messi won by the tightest margin.

Messi, 36, began 2023 at Paris St-Germain, before moving to Major League Soccer (MLS) club Inter Miami in June.

He picked up the ‘best men's player’ award for the third time since this format of the awards began in 2016, after doing so in 2019 and 2022.

He scored nine goals for PSG as they won the French Ligue 1 title, and 10 goals in seven games as Inter Miami won the inaugural Leagues Cup in the United States.

Haaland grabbed a record 36 Premier League goals last season. In all competitions in 2022-23, he scored a club-record 52 goals - with 28 of them coming after the World Cup, plus another two goals this season before 20 August.

France's Mbappe, like Messi, won the Ligue 1 title with PSG - and clinched a fifth consecutive Golden Boot.

The 25-year-old net-

GCB congratulates Deleep Singh on re-election as ECB President I t was a unanimous win for Deleep Singh, who easily retained his post as President of the Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB) this past weekend, following the Board’s elections.

Singh, who is a Cricket West Indies (CWI) Director, had been the breath of fresh air needed for cricket in the Cinderella County, having revamped the cricket system across the islands of Essequibo.

Among those present at the elections were CWI Director and President of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), Bissoondyal Singh, alongside GCB CEO Claude Raphael.

The ECB new-look body includes Vice-President and national senior selector Royan Fredericks; Ernesto De Mattos and Mustapha Zaman who were appointed Zone VicePresidents for Zones One and Two. Mirenda Cornelius will take on the role of Secretary, with long-time national youth manager Nazeer Mohamed

being named Assistant Secretary. Rooplall Looknauth was appointed Treasurer, with Adjodha Lall being his assistant, while Basil Persaud, caretaker of the ECB Hostel, was appointed Public Relations Officer. Kumar Dass, the Competitions Chairman who was an integral part of last year’s expansion, was elected Marketing Manager for the ECB. Former national youth cricketer Yogeshwar Lall will now take over from Dass as new Chairman of the Competitions Committee.

Janice Griffith and Khemraj Surujpaul will serve as Trustees of the ECB. PKF Barcellos/Narine Chartered Accountants have been named official auditors of the ECB, as the board pushes to maintain its commitment to financial transparency and accountability.

Meanwhile, in a post-reelection statement, Singh maintained that development is one of the main goals of the ECB. He highlighted more

Newly re-elected ECB President Deleep Singh and GCB President Bissoondyal Singh

emphasis on young women as another key area the ECB will continue to develop. Future plans to complete the renovation work at the Cricket Hostel in Essequibo, while forging new and better relationships with members across the neighbouring is-

lands, were among goals discussed by the ECB head.

The GCB has said it wishes Mr. Singh and his executives well, and encourages them to continue the good job they have been doing in the growth of cricket across Essequibo.

Lionel Messi

ted 18 goals for his French club during the window of 19 December 2022 to 20 August 2023 - the period the awards were based on.

A mix of votes from national team managers and captains, journalists and fans on Fifa's website - with each counting for 25% - were used to decide the winners.

Messi and Haaland finished on the same amount of points, with Messi getting the award as he had more firstplace nominations from national team captains.

Among the national team captains who voted for Messi were Harry Kane, Mbappe, Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, Aaron Ramsey and Luka Modric, while Ilkay Gundogan and Casemiro voted for Haaland, as did Messi himself.

England boss Gareth Southgate gave his vote to Haaland, while Wales's Robert Page and Scotland's Steve Clarke voted for Messi.

Montserrat skipper Lyle Taylor opted for Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice, Russia skipper Georgi Dzhikiya voted for Georgia and Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Portugal boss Roberto Martinez voted for ex-Inter Milan midfielder Marcelo Brozovic, now at Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia.

The Fifa Best Awards generally cover a calendar year and are different to the Ballon d'Or awards, which reflect performances across a season and which Messi has won on eight occasions.

However, this year, the men's Fifa Best Awards, and Puskas Award were judged from 19 December, 2022 to 20 August 2023, because the Qatar World Cup was included in last year's ceremony.

This year's event took place at the Hammersmith Apollo in London with a host of the best players past and present in attendance.

Six Manchester City players in team of the year Men's coach of the year was the first award of the night, with Guardiola winning it ahead of Luciano Spalletti and Simone Inzaghi.

Spalletti guided Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years with a record-equalling five games to spare.

Inzaghi was nominated

after winning the Coppa Italia with Inter Milan, and taking them to the Champions League final, where they lost 1-0 to Manchester City.

There were six Manchester City players named in the men's Team of the Year - defenders John Stones, Kyle Walker and Ruben Dias, midfielders Bernardo Silva and Kevin de Bruyne, and striker Haaland.

Real Madrid and England midfielder Jude Bellingham was also selected, and was the only English player named in the side that does not play for City.

Men's Team of the Year: Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), John Stones, Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva (all Manchester City), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Kevin de Bruyne and Erling Haaland (both Manchester City), Kylian Mbappe (Paris St-Germain), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) and Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid).

Dias paid tribute to Guardiola, and said: "He is intense. In the end, he makes you play football in a way that no-one else is able to, and somehow, through that intensity, he does get the best out of everyone.

"You can have different personalities as coach, but the one you want is the one that gets the best out of you."

Guardiola added: "Thank you so much to our players for what they have done for eight years together. Thank you so much for this incredible journey."

Brighton's Enciso misses out on Puskas Award Brighton midfielder Julio Enciso was one of three nominations for the Puskas Award, handed out to the player that had scored the best goal.

The award - named after Hungarian legend Ferenc Puskas - was decided by pundits.

Enciso scored a spectacular long-range strike in the Seagulls' 1-1 draw at home against Manchester City on 23 May, but missed out on the award, which went to Brazilian Guilherme Madruga, who plays for second-tier Brazil side Botafogo after a spectacular 25-yard overhead kick. (BBC Sport)

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024

Slingerz seal Elite League CLASSIFIED ADS spot on second attempt S

lingerz Football Club have completed their return to the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) Elite League following a close encounter with Victoria Kings on Sunday night in the Elite League Promotional Playoff eliminator match.

Victoria Kings FC, who finished 9th in last year’s 5th edition of the League, had the opportunity to battle the Promotional Playoff runners-up for the final spot in the upcoming 6th edition.

However, the East Coast outfit were not hungry enough to hold their place.

After an unusually dismal performance last week, Slingerz returned to the Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground on Carifesta Avenue on Sunday with zest and a few changes to their starting line-up.

The inclusion of Clive

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Simeon Moore (on ball) netted the lone goal of the eliminator game

Coast outfit as they looked a more-improved team than in the previous game.

Coupled with Victoria Kings’ apparent decision to play a more defensive game, Slingerz dominated posses-

the renowned Slingerz.

One of their most outstanding chances came around the 37th minute,

Simeon ‘Shines’ Moore celebrating his game-winning goal

ready to clear it.

Minutes later, Lennox Young took what looked like a sure shot, but it was pushed

Jalade Trim (on ball) netted a hattrick for GDF Women Clive Nobrega’s presence ensured more fluency in Slingerz’s midfield

Nobrega in the mid-field, alongside Lennox Young and Deon Alfred upfront, made all the difference for the West

sion and came close to finding the back of the net on several occasions. However, finishing was still a bit of a bother for

when Deon Alfred sent a flat shot across the face of the goal from the left corner. The ball hit the goal post and ricocheted out, where a Victoria defender was present and

GHE practice match on at Meter-Meer-Zorg Ground today

R

ain having ruined the first practice trial game for the Guyana Harpy Eagles last week, the defending Regional 4-Day Champs will have another opportunity to prepare, starting today, Tuesday, ahead of next month’s start to the 2024 Regional season.

With action shifting to the Meter-Meer-Zorg Ground, both sides will be looking to hit the ground running, with the core players especially wanting that time in the middle before the actual title defense bowls off.

Torrential rainfall last week postponed the action and any efforts to ensure that some cricket could be played at the Bourda Ground. Due to the recent patch of sunshine, coupled with their new match venue, which hosted an intense T20 double-header this past weekend, the Eagles will be banking on making the most of this final opportunity before the tournament bowls off in the first week of February.

Meanwhile, the Harpy Eagles enter this season’s battles as arguably the most

out by the Victoria keeper for the save.

On the other hand, Victoria’s chances were nonexistent, as the half expired with the scores remaining deadlocked. But it did not stay the same for much longer in the second segment. In the 54th minute, Simeon ‘Shines’ Moore, in approaching the box, played through the Victoria defense and passed the ball off to Alfred, who

back-heeled it back to Moore.

Moore then set up a one-onone (1v1) with the keeper, and opted to shoot across the goal for the game-winning strike.

Though many near misses followed, neither side found the back of the net again, for the 1-0 result.

Following the match, Slingerz were presented with their Promotional Certificate

by GFF President Wayne Forde. The Elite League is scheduled to commence in February.

Meanwhile, another fixture in the GFF Women’s Division 1 League preceded the men’s game, with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) women enjoying a victory once again.

Their opponents, Potaro Strikers, did well to hold off the GDF ladies in the first half, as the 45 minutes ended with Jalade Trim recording just one goal in the 21st.

However, GDF found things much easier in the second half, as Trim went on to complete her hattrick in the 46th and 56th minutes, while Sandra Johnson netted a brace in the 53rd and 63rd minutes, to seal GDF’s 5-0 win.

Upset victories...

Anthony Adams will lead Team A

Matthew Nandu will lead Team B

successful franchise to play in the last decade, having won the Regional 4-Day title on six occasions, with 2023 being the most recent.

Action bowls off at 9:300h.

Anthony Adams’ XI (Team A) – Anthony Adams (Captain), Sachin Singh, Rampertab Ramnauth, Kevlon Anderson, Akshaya Persaud, Zachary Jodah, Zeynul Ramsammy, Joshua Persaud, Aryan Persaud, Junior Sinclair, Quentin Sampson, Rivaldo Phillips, Sylus Tyndall, Malcolm Hubbard, Adrian Hetmyer,

Bruce Vincent and Clinton Pestano.

Coach: Ryan Hercules Matthew Nandu’s XI (Team B) – Matthew Nandu (Captain), Raymon Perez, Shamar Yearwood, Kemol Savory, Richie Looknauth, Brandon Jaikaran, Jonathan Rampersaud, Jonathan Van Lange, Gulcharran Chulai, Veerasammy Permaul, Nial Smith, Thaddeus Lovell, Ronsford Beaton, Ashmead Nedd, Ronald Alimohamed, Ushadeva Balgobin and Steven Sankar.

Coach: Garvin Nedd

The surprise from 14-yearold Clement came during their Round One encounter.

Clement successfully checkmated her higher-ranked opponent in a marathon 4 hour, 100 move game, after promoting a pawn to a new and powerful Queen in the endgame.

In their Round Five encounter, Callender resigned to the experienced Rahim after 35 moves. The match saw Callender giving up the fight after losing material and falling prey to an invading Rook, which forced her vulnerable King into the path of Rahim’s Bishop, which was waiting to pin her Queen to the monarch, effectively sealing a lost position.

In the Open Division, top player Anthony Drayton also went down with double defeats: one to reigning Junior Champion Keron Sandiford and the other to quickly developing Under-14 rapid champion Kyle Couchman.

The points standings of the leading players in the Open category are Keron Sandiford

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In the female category, Shazeeda Rahim takes the lead with five, Aditi Joshi secured four, and Jessica Callender, Ciel Clement and Sasha Shariff are on three each.

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024

23

$4.6B allocated to Sport Sinclair praises CPL Emerging Players programme in National Budget …New stadium at Crane among budgetary plans J A n improvement of $3 million has been made to the Budget allocated to the sport sector in 2024, as announced by Senior Minister with Responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, during the reading of the National Budget on Monday.

During his presentation of the 2024 Budget at the Arthur Chung Conference Center (ACCC) at Liliendaal on Monday, Dr Singh revealed that a whopping $4.6B has been allocated to sport - continuing in the trend of gradual improvements being made on monies allocated to sport since 2021.

Of the major revelations that Dr Singh made for the sport sector, the most prominent is the construction of yet another international standard, world-class stadium, this time in Region 3 (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).

Singh told the National Assembly, “We’re constructing

Senior Minister with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh

two major international stadiums at Palmyra in Region 6 and at Crane in Region 3.

Work has already commenced at Palmyra.”

Falling in line with infrastructure for yet another year, allocations have been made for the enhancement of community grounds around the country.

“We’ve also been upgrading grounds throughout the country, with $1.2 billion already expended on over 250 grounds across the ten regions of Guyana; and in 2024, a further $1 billion has been allocated to continue this work on upgrading our grounds,” Singh revealed in his presentation on Sport’s allocations.

West Indies Test tour of Australia 2024…

“WE’RE HERE TO WIN”

– Vice-Captain Alzarri Joseph

A

fter their team had been announced weeks ago, there had been much talk about West Indies having 7 uncapped players for their 2-match Test series against Australia. However, according to vice-captain Alzarri Joseph, this factor is no detriment to the Caribbean team, who are in Australia to win.

Ahead of the two-Test Series between West Indies and hosts Australia, set to bowl off this evening Caribbean time, a confi-

Following their warmup match, West Indies have continued preparation for the Test series which begins tonight

dent Alzarri Joseph fielded a number of questions from local media Down Under.

The West Indies red-ball vice-captain revealed that the Men in maroon are there to challenges the Aussies and come away with a win.

“We expect to come in and give them a challenge. We’re here to win two Test matches, not just here to play. So, we’re going to come out here and give it our best,” Joseph confidently shared.

Given West Indies’ unconventional inclusion of 7 uncapped players in the 15-

Touching the topic of a ‘new- era West Indies’, Joseph revealed the brand of cricket the Caribbean team hopes to play.

“For us, it’s about being brave, being positive; but everyone has their different ways of going about it, so it’s about, you know, bringing those ways together as one brand of cricket,” Joseph explained.

The first Test in the 2-match series will bowl off at 19:30hrs today, January 16, and conclude on January 20 (Caribbean time- January 17th to 21st in Australia).

The second match will run from January 25-29 (January 24 to 28th in the Caribbean).

The Test Squad to face Australia from today reads: Captain Kraigg Brathwaite, Vice-Captain Alzarri Joseph, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Kirk McKenzie, Alick Athanaze, Kavem Hodge, Justin Greaves, Joshua DaSilva, Akeem Jordan, Gudakesh Motie, Kemar Roach, Kevin Sinclair, Tevin Imlach, Shamar Joseph and Zachary McCaskie.

man Test squad, Joseph was quizzed on whether there are nerves, and what possible debutants bring to the team.

The Pace bowler responded, “Everyone’s here, you know, wanting to play for the West Indies. It’s an opportunity for everyone to represent their country, so I don’t think there’s any nerves in the camp. I think it’s more of excitement. They’re all different players, so they all bring something new to the table. They all bring a different style of play to the table, so it’s all good for us,” the Antiguan cricketer added.

unior Sinclair won the Lasco Food Drink Emerging Player Award at the 2023 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League, but he had made his T20 debut in 2022. He had to wait for his second game for the Guyana Amazon Warriors, against the Barbados Royals, to claim his first wicket.

A muted celebration had followed his claiming of the wicket of Rahkeem Cornwall, but when he dismissed Kyle Mayers, we saw Sinclair celebrate with a remarkably athletic flip.

“That started back home,” Sinclair said. “Growing up in the countryside in Berbice, we were always playing cricket in the streets, backyard cricket. It was a very competitive home with my brothers and family. When there was no school and you had free time, it was cricket, and so we would go on the ball field to play cricket; and when you finish, you get tired, there is a lake nearby (in which) we would go and swim, and you practice those flips there. And I thought, ‘Why not try it in the CPL?’” A tall off-spinner, Sinclair is 22 and has performed well enough to make it into the West Indies Emerging team that took on Ireland in 50 over games recently; and he relished the chance to represent the region.

“I always wanted to put on that maroon. It was good, definitely a learning experience for me. I learned a lot, the coaching was very helpful, I was trying to get as much as I can while I was over there working with the coaches on all aspects of my game,” he divulged.

Sinclair was just 12 years old when the first CPL match took place, and he has always wanted to be part of the Amazon Warriors setup, so getting to represent his home franchise is a dream come true.

“Growing up, I was wanting to be a part of the Warriors’ team. I always want to be here. My style of game, and also the format, it is great that I could actually be a part of

Junior Sinclair had high words of praise for the CPL Emerging Players programme

such a franchise and the CPL setup. The CPL gave me a call for the West Indies Emerging Team earlier this month, so it has played a significant part,” he said.

Having been a Warriors’ fan for so many years, Sinclair describes being part of the team that won the title in 2023 as “surreal”.

“Prior to me getting into this squad, I was always looking forward to that championship moment for the Warriors.

From the inception in 2013, Guyana was regarded as one of the most consistent franchises, but never place hands on that trophy. To actually be a part of that team that won it for the first time, that was a dream come true. When I get home after the tournament, reflecting back on it, it was like, ‘Wow! It's such a beautiful thing to actually be a part of that team’,” he explained.

“It is a very, very friendly environment. Everybody is so loving, and camaraderie between everybody. So, you know, it's very good. I enjoy every moment, every second of it,” he divulged.

Sinclair is full of praise for everyone involved in the triumphant Warriors team, but he picks out the captain, Imran Tahir, as someone who has played a big part in this year’s success and in terms of helping him with his career.

“Imran Tahir is someone you can approach. We had a lot of talks, and he asked me questions and he tried to pick my brain and see where I'm at, and stuff like that. He has a very outgoing personality, which I love. You could go up to him, he is like a father figure, he makes it so easy to chat (with) him. He's willing to share his knowledge, and makes you feel welcome,” Sinclair detailed.

Sinclair has been part of the Amazon Warriors squad as a Lasco Emerging Player, and won the award for the best youngster at the 2023 tournament. He says the Emerging Player programme at the CPL is important to young cricketers like him. This ensures that there is a minimum of 30 appearances across the tournament for the 12 Emerging Players.

“It's very good. It gives us as youngsters a good platform to rub shoulders with senior guys in the region and international guys. You could pick their brain and try to implement stuff from their game into your game. As a youngster, it is all about development; and I saw that as a big step, a big part of my development, so I think it's very good inclusion. In my view, it was a great opportunity. I saw it as an opportunity for me to showcase my talent.” (CPLT20)

Upset victories headline Century 21 Grand Prix opening weekend

A

fter five rounds, reigning Junior Chess Champion Keron Sandiford is leading the Open category, while seasoned female player Shazeeda Rahim is dominating her division in the first CENTURY 21 Grand Prix tournament of 2024, setting the pace for this year’s lineup of tournaments.

The two-category tournament has not been without surprising outcomes, adding to the excitement of who will hold the Grand Prix One title in the respective Open and Women’s divisions.

The women’s category saw an excellent return by Rahim to classical chess, and she is so far undefeated. The five

Kyle Couchman

Keron Sandiford

rounds played over the weekend produced record upsets, when reigning women’s champion Jessica Callender suf-

fered a double defeat to Rahim and QC student Ciel Clement.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024

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

$4.6B allocated to Sport in National Budget “WE’RE HERE TO WIN” Pg 23

Pg 23

…New stadium at Crane among budgetary plans

– Vice-Captain Alzarri Joseph

Pg 22

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