Guyana Times - Tuesday, January 9, 2024

Berbice River Bridge crossing

Govt to partner with private investors to lower tolls – Pres Ali

P16 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 5606

THE BEACON OF TRUTH TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2024

January 15 is Budget Day

See story on page 3

…as Govt sets to deliver budget focused on social, economic development …Budget 2024 will increase disposable income – Finance Minister

PRICE $100 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Former US P11 Secretary of State on visit to Guyana

US top-ranking defence official 2 slapped with murder charge, remanded visits Guyana to strengthen …to meet Govt, regional stability GDF, Caricom leaders in bringing Modern US$28M 12-storey Brickdam Delay electoral fraud cases to trial a Station to become new Police HQ travesty Wedding house robbery-murder

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– Nandlall

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…DPP seeks Chancellor’s intervention to expedite cases

Fire destroys P16 Sophia house, ECD storage bond

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Govt collaborating Husband, wife die Drivers who suffered with OAS to after Ruimveldt ...5-year-old among damages to be toughen efforts smash-up others hospitalised compensated – Edghill to combat illegal mining – AG Wismar bridge repairs

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

BRIDGE The Demerara OPENINGS Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, Jan 9 – 03:00h – 04:30h and Wednesday, Jan 10 – 03:30h – 05:00h.

January 15 is Budget Day

…as Govt sets to deliver budget focused on social, economic development The Berbice Bridge will be closed …Budget 2024 will increase disposable income – Finance Minister to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, Jan 9 – 14:45h – 16:15h and Wednesday, Jan 10 – 15:30h – 17:00h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY There will be thundery showers during the day and night. Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-Easterly to East North-Easterly between 2.68 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 14:57h reaching a maximum height of 2.54 metres.

Low Tide: 08:29h and 21:04h reaching minimum heights of 0.87 metre and 0.63 metre.

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COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$76.12/barrel

-3.35

Rough Rice London Sugar

$314.73/ton $622.80/ton

-0.79 +2.59

Live Spot Gold Bid/Ask Low/High Change

USD Per Ounce $2031.53 $2030.63 +0.64

$2031.76 $2031.73 +0.04

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he Finance Ministry has announced January 15 as Budget Day, amid the consultations it continues to do with relevant stakeholders in the lead up to what is likely to be the biggest budget yet and one the Government says will be focused on social and economic development.

On Monday, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh met with various representatives from the private sector, led by Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Komal Singh, as part of the customary budget consultations.

“During the discussion, Dr Singh reiterated the Government’s appreciation of the strong collaboration and the ongoing engagement with the private sector throughout the year,” a statement from the Ministry said.

It was explained that over the last several months, the Government met and held consultations with various stakeholders including Trade Unions, Government Ministries, other agencies and civil society.

According to the Ministry, Budget 2024 “aligns with the People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s (PPP/C) Administration’s manifesto of 2020, which laid the foundation for prosperity for all. It will be shaped upon two primary pillars, which include the implementation of mechanisms aimed at increasing disposable income into the hands of citizens and the development of Guyana’s economic and social infrastructure.”

In October, Dr Singh and Prime Minister, Retired Brigadier Mark Phillips had led a series of budget consultations with several Trade Unions from across the country, at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC).

The participating Unions had included the Guyana Agricultural & General Workers Union (GAWU), the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial & Industrial Employees (NAACIE), the Clerical & Commercial Workers Union (CCWU), and Guyana Labour Union (GLU), the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU), the Guyana Local Government Officers Union (GLGOU) and the General Workers Union (GWU).

These consultations have yielded a number of recommendations, with GTUC calling for, among other things, the abolish-

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh during consultations with the Private Sector on Monday

ment of the personal income tax, also known as Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE), the incentivising of homeowners to invest in clean energy and for old age pension to be increased to $50,000.

FITUG has meanwhile proposed a number of measures for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government to consider for Budget 2024.

For instance, the Union suggested changes to the income tax threshold and the rate of taxation, as well as a system of tax credits for taxpayers with dependents.

In addition to recommending improvements in old age pension and public assistance, another suggestion was for the Government to adjust pensions paid by the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), which has remained un-

changed for some time, as a matter of urgency In the past, the PSC has meanwhile advocated for relief measures to be included in previous budgets.

Last year, the commission had prepared a list of budgetary measures for the Minister of Finance ahead of the presentation of the 2023 budget. They have also historically advocated for local content in the oil and gas sector to be given due consideration, with greater monitoring and enforcement.

Insights

The PPP/C Government has meanwhile been sharing insights into what Guyanese can expect from the 2024 budget. In his 2024 New Year message, President Dr Irfaan Ali had said that the upcoming budget will detail expenditure and revenue plans for

the coming year while also delivering on the promise to continuously improve the lives of Guyanese.

President Ali, during that speech, had also noted that Guyanese are going to benefit from improved infrastructural and public services, including water, housing and education, and several major road projects are slated for completion to make commuting easier.

“Guyanese are going to benefit from improved infrastructural and public services, including water, housing and education.

Several major road projects are slated for completion and will make commuting easier… This New Year will also see significant investment in education, including preparations for the roll-out of free university education in 2025,” the President had said.

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2024

Views

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

Education campaigns

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lobally, the topic of climate change is scarcely addressed in school curricula, and for years, there has been much talk about the effect of climate change and the devastating impact it is having and is likely to have on communities and the world as a whole.

In fact, it could be argued that, on the global level, not many persons are educated about the issue, especially as it relates to the kind of impact climate change has on the environment and on individuals themselves. Citizens still do take the issue for granted, and do not pay much heed to the various messages about the need to change lifestyle patterns and so on.

Scientists have argued that the planet is indeed threatened by lifestyle patterns of individuals, and if persons continue to use resources the way we currently do, the planet’s reserves would be exhausted at an increasingly rapid pace. For many countries, there is still the challenge of getting everyone to not only understand and appreciate the idea of the need to work towards sustainable consumption, but also to take practical steps to move in this direction.

Certainly, Governments can set the framework with their policies; set targets, define standards, give incentives to make companies go green. Businesses and industries, together with researchers, can provide the solutions, but, in the end, the consumers have the power of the purse, whether they buy green products or not. The highly-touted green model reduces our ecological footprint, emits less greenhouse gases, uses less energy and raw materials, and can create new sources of growth and employment.

In essence, achieving economic growth and sustainable development requires that we urgently reduce our ecological footprint by changing the way we produce and consume goods and resources. As stated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the efficient management of our shared natural resources and the way we dispose of toxic waste and pollutants are important targets to achieving this goal.

Based on statistics, the world’s population is growing rapidly, as more than a billion new people will enter the middle class by 2050. Experts have predicted that if citizens do not change their consumption patterns, the global use of resources would be multiplied by 15, which is considered dangerous for our planet, as it would not be able to satisfy the needs of everyone.

At the individual level, every individual does play a crucial role in defining his/her own consumption patterns, and can, in a way, also contribute to the fight against climate change.

For example, we can reduce the level of energy utilised, and the money that is saved on energy could instead be used to develop climate-friendly technologies and appliances.

Official records show that, on a global level, more than 70 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions are related to household consumption. While it is accepted that it is not an easy task to get persons to change lifestyles and to work towards a climate-friendly environment, the task would be much easier if people are educated about the role they can play, and the benefits of their own action.

Here, in Guyana, we still continue to dump garbage carelessly. For example, persons continue to dispose of plastics and Styrofoam items in a reckless manner, resulting in the clogging of drains and trenches.

The issue of recycling is becoming a major concern for both the general public and to the economy. For years now, calls for citizens here to dispose of their waste in a responsible manner have fallen on deaf ears, and the issue of garbage build-up continues to be repeated.

For sure, there is need for more effective public education campaigns on climate change, and to highlight the effects of poor environmental practices.

We believe that there is need for lifestyle changes among our citizens, and it would be very helpful if the schools, religious organisations, among others in every region, start the conversation with citizens about climate change and ecofriendly alternatives.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand chats with students at the Providence Primary School on the East Bank of Demerara on Monday morning as schools across Guyana opened for the Easter Term (Education Ministry photo)

Freedom of speech gives no one the right to malign people’s character Dear Editor, A small band of the usual suspects, doomsday activists, are on a mission, not for the first time, to gag Bharrat Jagdeo, Guyana’s Vice President and the Leader of the PPP. As the “Kool Aid” gang demands absolute right to freedom of speech, they also demand Bharrat Jagdeo’s freedom to speak must be curtailed. Many have tried before; none have come close to succeed. Raphael Trotman in Parliament, calling him a “fossil”, tried silencing BJ. Jagdeo is now VP and one of the most powerful politicians in the world today. Trotman is retired from politics.

The “Kool Aid” gang’s latest anti-Jagdeo tirade is a persistent fake narrative that Jagdeo wants Government to go after its critics who live abroad. They jumped to this conclusion because of a statement made

by Bharrat Jagdeo during a recent press conference in which he was asked to address the issue of a summons from a Guyana Magistrate served on Rickford Burke in New York. The Magistrate issued a summons for Rickford Burke to appear before the court to answer a charge that he conspired with others to extort a local businessman. Essentially, the court has taken a position that any person charged under our law has a right to know that court proceedings are scheduled against him or her and that these proceedings will advance whether he or she shows up. The matter has nothing to do with any of the scandalous faked allegations

that Burke has made against Bharrat Jagdeo or against the Government. It involves a matter of extortion against a private citizen.

The General Secretary of the PPP expressed a view shared by the vast majority of the Guyanese people that while everyone is guaranteed freedom of speech, that right does not confer on anyone the right to tell lies, to misrepresent facts, to fabricate stories and malign people’s character. The freedom to speak one’s mind comes with an obligation to defend what one says if it becomes necessary. When a citizen feels maligned by anyone’s statement, that citizen has a right to ask the other person to justify his or her statements.

Citizens can ask the court to intervene when they feel maligned.

Jagdeo never addressed the issue from the perspective of anti-Government propaganda. Why would the Government want to curtail anti-Government propaganda from people living overseas, when there are even more fiercer critics living right here in Guyana and are free to peddle their lies, misrepresentations, obfuscations?

In Rickford Burke’s case, the Guyana Government is not a party to any proceeding. It has not sought extradition of Burke. It has not sought any measure to restrict Burke in carrying on with his fabricated narrative. But the Government cannot and will not restrict any citizen from seeking redress against anyone fabri-

cating lies, misrepresenting facts and maligning anyone’s character. The fact that some people feel empowered to recklessly malign other people through social media platforms while hiding in another country should not prevent a citizen from seeking redress. In fact, the Cyber Security Act of 2018 enacted

by David Granger’s PNC-led APNU/AFC Government precisely protect citizens against any form of cyber-bullying regardless where the bully resides.

Basically, Bharrat Jagdeo insists correctly that the same Constitution and the same laws that confer freedom of speech also provide citizens and entities with protection and that they can resort to the law to seek redress. It is simple. Nothing that he said sought to restrict anyone’s ability to exercise his or her freedom of speech.

Freedom of speech protects the right to opinions, no matter how murky this territory is. But the law provides protection for the person who might feel he or she was unjustly characterised by an opinion. The irony is that many of the “Kool Aid” gang resort to the courts with libel suits to restrict many of us from expressing our opinions. They want to have the full freedom to express their “opinions”, but restrict others from so doing.

Countless courts, commentators, philosophers, and parliaments and the UN have eloquently for decades underlined the critically important role that freedom of speech plays in promoting

and maintaining democracy.

However, freedom of speech provisions in Guyana or elsewhere inherently also come with braking points, a line at which the hateful or harmful or controversial nature of speech causes it to lose constitutional protection.

The anti-Jagdeo band is not fighting to secure freedom of speech, but to secure the license to speak with impunity; not freedom of expression, but rather freedom from the consequences of that expression; not just to be heard, but never to be challenged. Not only do these free speech “warriors” demand that their opinions or fake allegations be heard on all possible platforms they choose, from Facebook to Twitter to letter columns, but they also demand that there be no objection or reaction from those they malign.

They essentially demand a privileging of free speech for themselves only. For them the privileging of free speech entitles them to the right to create discomfort without the jeopardy of being held accountable.

But the fact is that all constitutions and laws and treaties relating to democracy and freedom always contain braking mechanisms for free speech. John Milton puts it this way: “Those which otherwise come forth, if they be found mischievous and libelous, the fire and the executioner will be the timeliest and the most effectual remedy, that man’s prevention can use.”

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2024

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

A Caribbean's taste with Guyana's touch

Dear Editor, Argentina, known for Che Guevara and Pope Francis and called “Land of Silver,” is not famous for cricket but soccer, having produced such great footballers like Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi. In 1996, Madonna performed and sang “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina,” starring in the movie “Evita,” which depicts the life of Eva Peron who became Argentina’s First Lady when she married President Juan Peron.

Eva died on 26th July, 1952 from cancer at the young age of 33 but not before rising to become a star entertainer after starting from a humble beginning. Argentina’s favourite daughter was revered and loved because in her short lifespan, she championed workers’ rights and those of the poor, especially women. Often mistaken for a patriotic song, the song was sung at the beginning and end of the musical drama, “to evoke the generosity of Evita’s spirit in death by asking the public not to mourn her.” Before she died, she was given the title, “Spiritual leader of the nation” and was honoured with a State funer-

al, typically reserved for Heads of State. PPP stalwarts, former President Janet Jagan along with the late paternal grandmother of President Ali, were also champions of the poor and women’s rights, being in the vanguard for democracy and independence for Guyana.

Known as “The Land of the Humming Bird,” Trinidad and Tobago will give their fifth Prime Minister (1995-2001) a State funeral on Tuesday January 9th, having departed at age 90 on January 1st, 2024, for the great beyond. Being the first Prime Minister of Indian descent for the carnival island famous for Calypso Rose, Mighty Sparrow, Brian Lara, V.S. Naipaul, curried duck, oil, etc, Basdeo Panday founded the United National Congress and remained political leader until 2010. The champion for workers’ rights known for his wit, humour and dramatic skills, the honorary doctor was a lawyer, politician, trade unionist, economist, actor, and civil servant who reached the top of the ladder by climbing from the bottom and registering and relating with the

Missed opportunity to provide key data Dear Editor, The Guyana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative’s (GYEITI) attention has been drawn to an online article published captioned “Guyana scores low performance on control of corruption, regulatory quality and accountability” citing GYEITI’s 2021 EITI Report that was published on December 29, 2023. The report, which covers payment and contextual activities in mining, oil and gas, fisheries, and forestry, fulfils the country’s ongoing commitment to implement the EITI Standard, which aims at improving transparency in Guyana’s extractive sector.

EITI Standard sets guidelines to assess the resource value chain for mining and oil and gas.

Notwithstanding, Guyana, which signed on to implement the EITI principles in 2017, agreed to include fisheries and forestry under its EITI scope to strengthen transparency and accountability over key revenue-generating sources in the economy.

GYEITI’s 2021 report includes data from World Governance Indicators (GWI), which have been taken out of context by the

publication. GWI and EITI have separate and incomparable indicators. Firstly, and more importantly, GWI is a perception survey of a country's business, households, and citizens.

Conversely, the EITI indicators are empirical and/ or fact-based. Secondly, GWI indicators are country-wide, whereas the EITI evaluates the resource value chain for the country's mining and oil and gas sectors.

The 2021 EITI report for Guyana highlights significant improvements in Guyana’s extractive sector, which includes governance, oversight, revenue mobilisation, expansion of production, employment, and other sector activities that the article failed to capture. By highlighting a perception survey, which was included to show a contrast between perception and reality, the article has missed the opportunity to provide its readers with key data on the increasing contribution of the extractive sector to Guyana’s economy.

With regards, Guyana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative

poor. A watchdog for “religious pluralism,” Panday changed “Arrival Day” to Indian Arrival Day after 1996. In 1996, he was responsible for writing off hundreds of millions of US dollars from Guyana’s debts, racked up by the Burnham’s Administration.

Trinidad and Tobago have much to celebrate instead of mourning, as they reminisce the life in the death of a movie, theatre and TV actor who started working in the sugar factory as a sugarcane weigher before becoming a school teacher.

Barbados, “The Land of the Flying Fish,” stole the honour of hosting the final of this year’s International Cricket Council Men’s Twenty20 World Cup. Prime Minister Mia Mottley praised her country’s “high level of organisation” for this cricketing feat. The birth place for world famous cricket hero, Sir Garfield Sobers and international superstar entertainer Rihanna, the small island is also known as “Little England,” because of its “strong connection and staunchly British attitude.” Mottley proudly claimed that cricket is Barbadians’ DNA. The first semifinal will be played at the Guyana national Stadium (Providence Stadium) as the luscious greenery of the once famous Bourda Oval was not sustained. Regarded as the oldest cricket ground in the West Indies, Bourda Green came into fruition in 1884.

England is the reigning champion.

St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves found himself in hot water after he was exposed posing with Venezuela’s President, Nicholas Maduro and a national flag depicting Essequibo as part of Venezuela. Known as “the Jewels of the Caribbean” and once called “Hairouna” by the early Carib settlers, “Kalinas,” this tourist attractive island’s name is translated as “Land of the Blessed,” after Saint Vincent. The beautiful island for flora and fauna, is home to former Caricom Secretary General (19922010) Edwin Carrington, known for his diplomacy.

Dr Ralph Gonsalves was prominent for his proactive role in defending democracy in Guyana’s 2020 General Election and again supportive in hosting the venue for the “Argyle Declaration,” signed by Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro and Guyana’s President, Dr Irfaan Ali which binds them to maintaining peace in the Latin/South America and Caribbean Zone.

The popular tourist resort and bauxite land, Jamaica, was referred to as “Xaymaca” by the Indigenous people, the Taino, meaning “Land of Wood and Water” or “the Land of Springs.”

The 2022 CPL Champion, the Jamaica Tallawahs, is no longer owned by Guyanese businessman, Kris Persaud, and will not be featured in this year’s tournament. The island, famous for cricket legend

Freedom of speech...

In Guyana’s case, Granger’s and APNU/AFC Cyber Security Act is one example of the braking mechanism that basically utilises Milton’s remedy. Many of the free speech “warriors” today have many legal challenges in our courts against many citizens for exercising their own free speech, essentially seeking Milton’s remedy.

Freedom of speech is freedom to speak, not a right to speak without consequences. A moral right to express unpopular opinions is not a moral right to recklessly malign other people without justification and without facing consequences. The present free speech warriors demand their right while preventing the maligned from confronting them. They seek to invoke the fundamental conflict between what the ancient Greeks called isegoria, on the one hand, and parrhesia, on the other. In ancient Athens, isegoria described the equal right of citizens to participate in public debate; parrhesia, the license to say what one pleased, how and when one

Michael Holding and Chris Gale, the reggae king, Bob Marley and sprint athlete, Usain Bolt, also helped to sensationalise the island’s fame and fortune.

As can be seen, Guyana’s political, social and economic affairs certainly play an integral part in the Caribbean’s business.

Guyana’s performance in its developing oil and gas industry, has added an additional interest to attract participation for investment. Guyana now provides numerous opportunities and Caribbean nationals are hammering on her door for employment. The country’s Administration by the PPP/C party is also responsible for increasing closer and trustworthy relationship among the Caricom Heads of Government.

Guyana now enjoys the Chairmanship under the astute President Irfaan Ali, who was recently awarded with Barbados’s highest honour.

Guyana’s Government, led by a young and vibrant President Ali, is blazing

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pleased, and to whom, and without consequences.

Because the internet is inherently a global communications system, “bad” speech can arise from foreign as well as domestic sources.

The ubiquity and structure of this newest and most powerful communications technology magnify free speech harms exponentially beyond anything we have encountered before. Guyana’s laws, and the laws of almost every country, argue that, if it is left unchecked, the very existence of democracy is at risk. It is for this reason that Guyana’s laws remove the ability to hide in another country for those who exercise the ancient Greek’s parrhesia. Bharrat Jagdeo and the PPP Government promotes the isegoria concept of free speech while the “Kool Aid” gang demands parrhesia as the definition of free speech.

Democracy is messy enough with isegoria; it is under fatal threat under parrhesia.

Sincerely, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

a trail of unprecedented achievements to catapult the nation into the 21st century with innovative ideas secured with modern technology to educate and promote a foundation for economic stability, not only locally but regionally.

President Ali finds himself in a most favourable and formidable position as he is being welcomed with open arms nationally, regionally and globally. As Guyana prepares for next year’s General Election, Caricom will again unhesitatingly participate as observers, ensuring that free and fair election takes place in a transparent manner and democracy is sustained and will survive from any attacks by insurgents of the State. As demonstrated by the people of Linden recently, their love and affection for President Ali is untarnished by naysayers and they will not cry over spilled milk by the former Administration.

Yours respectfully, Jai Lall

TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2024 06:00 06:30 08:00 08:30 09:30 10:00 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:05 13:35 14:00 14:30 15:00 16:00 16:30 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 20:30 21:00 22:00 23:00 00:00

(Sign on) Inspiration Time Cartoons Stay Woke Guy's Grocery Games BBC Travel Show Stop Suffering Paternity Court Divorce Court News Break Movie - 3 Ninjas: Knuckle Up (1998) Wheel of Fortune The Really Loud House E8 The Tom and Jerry Show S3 E19 Indian Soaps Sydney to the Max S3 E11 Austin & Ally S4 E15 The Young & The Restless CNN Teaching the Truth in Love The Evening News Stop Suffering Stand-up Comedy Dynasty S4 E12 Blacklist S8 E12 Squid Game: The Challenge E5 Sign off

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2024

Foundation ◄

Page

DIVIDING WHOLE NUMBERS When you divide, you have to know which number is the dividend and which number is the divisor. The dividend is the number to be divided. The divisor is the number that goes into the dividend. The answer, called the quotient, is the number of times the divisor can go into the dividend. If there is something left over when you are finished, you call that the remainder.

Example: Set up 347 ÷ 3 this way.

Begin by looking at the highest place value in the dividend, the digit on the left side. Can that number be divided by the divisor? In this case, the answer is yes, 3 ÷ 3 = 1. Put the 1 above the line as the beginning of the quotient. Since 1 x 3 = 3, place this 3 under the 3 in the dividend.

Next, subtract 3 – 3 = 0. Now carry down from the dividend the digit in the next place value, 4. Can 4 be evenly divided by 3. This time the answer is no, but there is one 3 in 4. So write 1 in the quotient, and subtract again. Keep repeating these steps until you get to the last digit in the dividend. How many times can 17 be divided by 3? 17 ÷ 3 = 5, with 2 left over. The 2 is the remainder.

Remember: When dividing, always begin on the left side of the dividend.

By Elly Niland

A voyage of discovery Like an archaeologist mining A hoard of outrage Digging a sort of resurrection

Exercises

In e major, and d flat. Salivating

HOW TO MAKE A HOMEMADE COMPASS

Motivation to scream

What you need: small piece of cork needle strong magnet shallow dish with water working, store-bought compass (optional) Step 1. Float the cork on top of the water.

Step 2. Magnetise the needle. You do this by drawing the needle across a strong magnet 50 times in the same direction.

Step 3. Carefully place the needle on the cork. The cork will spin back and forth a few times before it settles down to north. You can check your work by placing a store-bought compass next to the dish.

Map science: using the compass

Place a map underneath the cork compass and line up the north-pointing needle with the compass on the map itself. Locate a destination and current location, and determine the direction. Try determining the direction of travel to get to several much-visited destinations from your current location.

Why compasses point north A compass is an extremely simple device. A magnetic compass consists of a small, lightweight magnet balanced on a nearly frictionless pivot point. The magnet is generally called a needle. One end of the needle is often marked "N," for north, or coloured in some way to indicate that it points toward north.

The reason why a compass works is more interesting. You can think of the Earth as having a gigantic bar mag-

Controlling a compulsive

net (the core) buried inside. In order for the north end of the compass to point toward the North Pole, you have to assume that the buried bar magnet has its south end at the North Pole. If you think of the world this way, then you can see that the normal "opposites attract" rule of magnets would cause the north end of the compass needle to point toward the south end of the buried bar magnet. So, the compass points toward the North Pole.

To be completely accurate, the bar magnet does not run exactly along the Earth's rotational axis. It is skewed slightly off centre. This skew is called the declination, and most good maps indicate what the declination is in different areas (since it changes a little depending on where you are on the planet). (Adapted from whatdowedoallday.com and adventure.howstuffworks.com)

Of enigmatic silences Using I, me, we.

The criminal in me seeking A redemption of the past Uses a pen as good companion The “I”, to immerse me, Write to make a shape of life Digging for my old map.

The “Me”, tries to make Sense of the chaos in “We”.

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

US top-ranking defence official visits Guyana to strengthen regional stability …to meet Govt, GDF, Caricom leaders

D

eputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (DASD) for the Western Hemisphere at the United States Department of Defense, Daniel P Erikson is currently visiting Guyana, as both nations further cement their partnership in support of regional stability.

In his capacity, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense is responsible for the US defence and security policy for the 34-nation region that encompasses Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and South and Central America.

The US Embassy announced that the two-day visit from January 8-9 underscores the continued importance the United States places on Guyana

bilateral defence and security partnership.

Erikson is scheduled to meet with the members of the Guyana Government, Guyana Defence Force (GDF), and Caribbean Community (Caricom) leaders to discuss the US defence and security partnership with Guyana and regional partners.

The Embassy added, “DASD Erikson’s visit to Guyana is his first trip overseas in 2024 and it signifies the importance of the bilateral defence and security partnership as the GDF continues to grow, in the short-term with robust military to military engagements, and in the long-term as the nation continues to modernise its defence institutions.”

Erikson previously served in the White House

as Special Advisor to then Vice President Joe Biden, where he covered foreign affairs and national security issues in the Americas.

Prior to the White House, he served in the US Department of State as Senior Advisor for Congressional and InterGovernmental Affairs and Senior Advisor for Western Hemisphere Affairs.

The United States said it will continue to work closely with its allies around the world to strengthen alliances and partnerships by improving interoperability, deepening information-sharing and planning and conducting complex joint and combined exercises.

Just a few weeks ago in December 2023, GDF Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier Khan conveyed his deep

January 15 is Budget...

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“Cost-of-living interventions will be made to cushion any spikes in prices in our economy. We want to put more money into the pockets of people. Our policy-making matrix will address this ideal and the idea of putting more money in the pockets of our people.”

Additionally, he had said that the Government will be frontally addressing issues of mental health, and suicide; advancing measures to increase disposable income; supporting the building of consortiums to further enable people to benefit from the opportunities here; manufacturing and industrial development expansion, supporting through incentivising investment in manufacturing and industrial development; more community investment aimed at creating community safe spaces, community security, community

livelihood, community empowerment.

And last year, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had said that the 2024 budget would be primarily focused on policies designed to increase the disposable income and general quality of life for Guyanese, ensuring that more money goes into the pockets of citizens The Vice President had underscored that Budget 2024 will focus on the continuation of economic and social infrastructural buildout of the country to enhance future growth.

It will also bring greater comfort to citizens in the form of health, education, infrastructure, and other significant sectors.

The second prong will address increased disposable income through a menu of measures.

“Disposable income can come from several ways. It could be through increase salaries, reduction of tax-

es, more people being employed and all of these measures would be catered for. So, you can expand employment and get more disposable income at the gross level. That is national level because more people are working.”

In 2023, the National Assembly approved the whopping $781.9 billion 2023 Budget – the first to be financed in part by oil revenues and monies earned from Guyana’s historic carbon credit sale agreement and the largest ever in the country’s history.

This year’s budget will be the fifth budget presented by the current Administration since it assumed office in August 2020 and is the fourth

by Dr Singh, who commenced his current tenure as Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance in November 2020. (G3)

appreciation for the enduring and multifaceted relationship between Guyana and the United States. He underscored the foundation of this robust partnership built upon shared values for over five decades.

Newly-accredited US Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot used that opportunity to laud the existing military-to-military collaboration, describing it as an exemplary testament to the strong and positive relations between the two nations.

In recent years, the relationship between the US and Guyana has been bolstered on several fronts.

Last July, United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Guyana, where he met with President Dr Irfaan Ali and other senior Government officials to discuss a wide range of priority issues, including food and energy security, decarbonisation, climate resilience, regional migration, and building local capacity.

At that engagement, President Ali said Guyana

US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (DASD) for the Western Hemisphere, Daniel P Erikson

welcomes the opportunity to further strengthen its relationship with the US as a strategic partner, particularly during its period of growth. He had also highlighted the countries’ shared values and their quests to strengthen the region.

In his remarks at the time, the US Secretary of State had said Guyana has been a very strong partner for his country, and has been a global leader. The two countries, he added,

will continue to advance discussions and collaboration in areas for cooperation.

That high-level visit was the second by a US Secretary of State under the current People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government.

Back in September 2020, shortly after the swearing in of the Irfaan Aliled Administration, then US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had paid a visit to Guyana, during which he announced US$3 million for a “locally-led programme for citizens’ involvement in the Government”, and another US$1.5 million with which “the youth of Guyana will be involved in democracy as well”. These fundings were from USAID. Pompeo had also announced the allocation of US$5 million to assist Venezuelans in Guyana who were forced to flee their country due to severe economic hardships and other political issues which have gripped the nation in recent years. (G12)

8 NEWS 11 cases disposed of at Berbice, Essequibo criminal assizes TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

What kinda…

S

S

The High Court at Suddie, Essequibo

tate Counsel Muntaz Ali prosecuted seven cases before Justice Sandil Kissoon during the Berbice

October 2023 Assizes. One matter involved rape and burglary, while the other six involved murder.

The High Court in Berbice

Five accused persons were indicted on four charges of murder while engaging in piracy in one of these murder

cases. Since they all entered guilty pleas to every count, the trial Judge instructed the jury to render formal guilty verdicts in their favour. Each of them was sentenced to death. ln another case for murder, the trial Judge upheld a no-case submission and directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty. The State has indicated its intention to appeal this ruling. ln three other matters, the accused persons all pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter and were each sentenced to life imprisonment.

They will become eligible for parole after 23 years, 15 years, and 20 years, respectively.

The Judge ordered them to undergo anger management while in prison.

The other trial for murder remains in progress.

The accused in the rape and burglary matter pleaded guilty to both counts. On the first count for the offence of rape, he was sentenced to life imprisonment with eligibility for parole after serving 14 years. On the second count, he was sentenced to five years' imprisonment.

Both sentences will run concurrently and the Judge ordered that he be credited for time spent in pre-trial custody and that he undergoes rehabilitation while in prison.

The Berbice October 2023 Assizes continues until February. The February 2024 Criminal Assizes commences on the sixth day of that month.

On Tuesday, October 24, 2023, the Essequibo October 2023 Criminal Assizes got underway. State Counsel Taneisha Saygon finished four matters before Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, two of which dealt with murder offence and the other two with sexual offences.

The accused in both murder matters pleaded guilty; one pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter and was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment. The other accused pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment. ln one of the two sexual offences matters, the complainant testified that she did not wish to proceed with the trial, and the trial Judge directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty for the accused. The accused in the other matter was found not guilty by a jury verdict.

This assize continues until February when the new assizes will commence. (G1)

…government?

o, we know we’re gonna have elections in Nov 2025 to decide which parties or coalition of parties gonna form the next government. But from where your Eyewitness sits, it seems to him that we first gotta decide what form that Government will take. Up to now your Eyewitness thought we had a “democratic” government because it was elected by more than 50 per cent of “the people”. You know, government by the people, for the people and of the people. Trouble is – if you listen to the Opposition – that ain’t good enough and insist that only if ALL of the parties getting votes at elections come together, the Govt’s “democratic”! They call it “shared governance”.

But even though they took that line before they won the 2015 elections – and formed the Government with 51 per cent of the votes – they never invited the PPP with 49 per cent to join them in Govt as they’d promised!! No sharing with no one! Yet they boasted about their “democratic” credentials!! But the problem with the PNC’s vacillations isn’t just their hypocrisy, it has to do with their historic refusal to follow ANY particular rule to get elected – if it doesn’t get THEM elected!! In their first foray, they entered Government by gaining a majority by coalescing with the UF. But by the end of the term, decided to rig their way into Government so they could do their own thing!! And called it democracy!!

But you would’ve thought they’d learn their lesson after the entire edifice collapsed and destroyed them and the nation!! – That they’d start following the rules of the (democratic) game. But imagine in 2019 even though they’d assumed Government with a 33-32 majority, when one of their own flipped, they argued 33 wasn’t a majority!! And after they were dragged kicking and screaming to elections, they tried to rig once again – which would’ve meant that if successful they woulda taken Government with LESS than 50 per cent!!

So, what do we do going forward? The PNC and their camp followers think they’re quite clever to seem “reasonable” and again call for “shared governance” – knowing that the PPP’s gonna win in 2025. But they just wanna get their toe into the door, knowing that with most Government workers in their corner, they’ll soon effectively control the entire Government. And more to the point, get their hands on the Oil Revenues over which they’ve been salivating!!

At this point, your Eyewitness gotta point out that the old bogeyman of one group having a built-in ethnic majority is over. If the PNC can convince folks that their “wrong-andstrong” days are over, they have an equal chance as any to form the Government!!

If our democracy ain’t broken, why fix it?? …Bidenomics There’s the old saw about “Where does the 800-pound gorilla sit?” And the answer, of course, is, “Anywhere it wants!” The point being when you’re the biggest thing around, you can pretty much do whatever you damn well please!! And that’s true all the way to nations. So, with the US being the 800-lb superpower for the longest while, they can pretty much do whatever they please in so many ways.

Take how we run our economies. Around 1980, Pres Reagan decided to adopt the neo-liberal economic model where small governments, free markets and liberalised financing were the way to go. Fine and dandy for them, you say!! But through their control of the IMF and World Bank, every indebted country like Guyana had to go along with the programme – up to this day! Even though the entire system collapsed in 2008!!

But now Biden’s decided to throw all of that out the window for America. Does it mean we can also go along and reintroduce “big government”??

Let’s see!! …visit?

The US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence touched down yesterday to discuss “Guyana’s bilateral defence and security partnership in support of regional stability.”

So, your Eyewitness wonders whether Maduro will get his buckta in a knot again!!

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 9, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Husband, wife die after Ruimveldt smash-up – 5-year-old among others hospitalised

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One of the vehicles involved in the crash (GPF photo)

couple is dead while several others are hospitalised, after a motor car and a minibus collided at Ruimveldt, Georgetown, on Monday morning.

Dead are 51-year-old Sarah Wilson of Samatta Point, Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD)and her husband, Rawle McKenzie.

Reports are that at 05:25h, firefighters and first responders were deployed to the scene in front of the Ruimveldt Police Station, Georgetown.

The accident involved two vehicles, a Blue Toyota Hiace RZ Minibus, BHH 8451, and a Honda Vezel, PAD 2018.

The first vehicle was owned and driven by McKenzie while the oth-

er was owned by Ryan Seecharran of Belle Vue, West Bank Demerara, and driven by 29-year-old Pream Seecharran.

Wilson, at the time of the accident, was a passenger in the front seat of the minibus involved in the crash.

Other occupants included 31-year-old Javon Bowen of Samatta Point; 58-yearold Lennox Clementson of Guyhoc Gardens; and 56-year-old Jones McKenzie of Grove Housing Scheme.

Investigation revealed that the motor car was proceeding south on the eastern lane of the Ruimveldt Public Road, allegedly at a fast rate of speed. While in the vicinity of ‘Top Point Store’, the driver of the car was negotiating a slight bend, but the left side front

First responders at the scene of the accident removing injured persons from the minibus

of the motor car came into contact with a pile of sand situated on the eastern side of the road, then collided with a bridge.

This caused the motor car to flip several times onto the western carriageway, subsequently colliding with the front portion of the minibus, which was proceeding north along the western carriageway of Ruimveldt Public Road.

As a result, the drivers of both vehicles and the minibus passengers all received injuries on their bodies.

According to the Guyana Fire Service, both vehicles and their contents were destroyed, and both drivers suffered broken limbs.

Firefighters had to extricate both drivers, who had become trapped in their vehicles due to the collision.

They were both transported by Emergency Medical Technicians to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where Wilson was pronounced dead on arrival. Her body is at the Georgetown Public Hospital's Mortuary await-

ing a post-mortem examination. McKenzie died later Monday evening while receiving treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

The driver of the motor car was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit suffering from head injuries. His condition is regarded as critical.

Additionally, three passengers of the minibus who suffered injuries as a result of the accident were examined at the scene

by Emergency Medical

Technicians and were then transported to the GPHC. The patients included a five-year-old boy and a 31-year-old man, who both suffered minor injuries to their feet.

The Guyana Fire Service has since zeroed in on the critical importance of road safety to prevent accidents and protect lives, as it urged, “Stay vigilant, follow traffic rules, and prioritise safety on the roadways.”

Further investigations are in progress. (G12)

10 NEWS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Wismar Bridge repairs

Drivers who suffered damage to be compensated – Edghill …works to be completed today

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rivers and motorists, who suffered damages due to incomplete works on the WismarLinden Bridge in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) on Monday will be compensated, Government has assured.

On Sunday night and into the wee hours of Monday morning, rehabilitative and maintenance works were undertaken on the bridge, and due to the short window of time, there were incomplete works. This resulted in a four-inch hedge, causing discomfort to drivers. There were also reports of tires suffering damages from protruding bolts and nuts.

On Monday morning, there was some amount of unease and inconvenience to drivers and motorists, voicing their concerns over the state of the structure.

As he addressed the public hours later, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill indicated that the Linmine Secretariat and management of the Wismar-Linden Bridge were engaged to allow for a prompt resolution.

By this morning, it is ex-

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill

pected that the maintenance will be completed and the process will commence to have these drivers compensated.

“I had a videocall with all of the taxi drivers that were out at the Wismar end of the bridge…They have shown me their tyres that have been busted or damaged. The agreement that we have is that the manager will document the vehicles’ number, name of driver and photographic evidence of the damages that have been incurred and…by Thursday

morning, we will be engaging those persons about how we can deal with the damages,” said the Public Works Minister.

Edghill has indicated that there is no intent to ‘slow up’ traffic across the Linden-Wismar Bridge, adding that authorities want a free flow of vehicles.

He identified that just last Friday, President Irfaan Ali was in Region 10 where assurances were made to improve service to users of the current bridge. In that light, the Minister called for persons to desist from inciting political agitation.

“There is no need for politics to get involved in a matter that is purely technical and can be addressed at the technical level. Political agitation and political mischief should not be allowed to interrupt the lives of a community that is seeking to progress and develop.”

He added, “We have heard the voices of the aggrieved taxi drivers; some of them indicating that as a result of the damages, they will not be able to work for the day. We’re going to work

The Wismar Bridge (DPI photo)

with you to ensure we have these matters corrected soonest.”

Users were asked to proceed with caution during maintenance works, and move at the appropriate speed until the situation is remedied.

New Wismar Bridge

On Friday, the Guyana Government signed a contract to the tune of US$35 million for the construction of a new four-lane bridge at Wismar in Linden – a facility that will serve as a critical link in the road network that is being built out with the aim of making Guyana a

transport and logistic hub in the Region.

The new MacKenzie/ Wismar Bridge will be built by China Railway and Construction – the same company that is constructing the new US$260 million bridge across the Demerara River.

The contract has a twoyear timeline for the completion of the structure. This four-lane bridge will be a pre-cast structure running 220 metres long and will include vital safety features such as lighting and signs. It will boast a maximum horizontal clearance of 32 metres and a vertical clearance

of 11.5 metres.

The new bridge will land some distance away from the original single-lane bridge built by the Demerara Bauxite Company from 1965 to 1967.

Back in June 2023, Guyana signed a historic US$150 million loan with the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) to finance several transformational infrastructural projects in the country including the construction of the four-lane Wismar Bridge.

The agreement included a US$50 million loan for the long-awaited four-lane Wismar Bridge. (G12)

NEWS

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt collaborating with OAS to toughen efforts to combat illegal mining – AG …US, RSS also provided support to Guyana on AML/CFT

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he Government has been reaching out and partnering with multilateral organisations, including the regional Organisation of American States (OAS), to confront trans-national crimes including illegal mining.

During his year-end press conference, Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, spoke of the Government’s efforts to combat trans-national crimes. This includes illegal mining, and according to the Senior Counsel, the Government has partnered with the OAS, of which Guyana is a member.

“We have also partnered with the OAS, in training programmes to help us improve our capabilities to detect and investigate and convict in the area of illicit and illegal mining,” Nandlall explained.

“We had a massive workshop during the last week of November and the first week of December, where a team from the OAS and the US Embassy collaborated with Guyana’s national AML/CFT task force. And we had a protracted engagement.”

In July 2023, there were reports that Brazilian federal authorities had launched an investigation into a Guyanese businessman suspected of laundering millions worth of illegally mined gold into that country.

The probe was initiat-

Attorney General Anil Nandlall

ed after authorities discovered the involvement of an alleged Guyanese businessman with ties to the gold mining industry in Guyana, who conducts business in Brazil under suspicious circumstances.

Reports were that Federal Police agents suspected that the Guyanese businessman had a Brazilian partner who aided in the movement of funds through the companies.

The Government itself had also launched an investigation into whether gold smuggling/illegal trade is responsible for a disparity highlighted by dropping gold declarations that was at odds with the investments being made in the sector.

RSS

During Nandlall’s press conference, mention was also made of the Regional

Security System (RSS), another multi-lateral organisation Guyana is party to. According to the AG, Government is also working with the RSS to combat money laundering and financial crimes.

“We have partnered with the Regional Security System, RSS Asset Recovery Unit. And we have held a number of workshops in Guyana during the year 2023.

These workshops and training sessions have been attended by all the important players in our national task force on AML/CFT.” “They include the Judiciary, the Magistracy, the DPP, the Guyana Police Force, CANU, the Guyana Revenue Authority, the Guyana Gold Board, the Guyana Gaming Authority. And the Bank of Guyana,” the

File photo: The RSS team during its visit to Guyana last year, as they met with President Dr Irfaan Ali

Attorney General said.

The RSS was set up through an agreement within the Caribbean Community (Caricom) for the defence and security of the Eastern Caribbean region. Only in 2022, Guyana was asked to become a member of the steering group of one of the RSS’s operating arms.

Late last year, President Dr Irfaan Ali had received a visit from the leaders of the RSS team, who were in Guyana for an annual meeting. While hosting the delegation at State

House, President Ali had informed them of the importance of a regional approach to security when it comes to confronting conflicts and disasters.

The Head of State also highlighted to the RSS team, the importance of food and energy security, both of which Guyana has been prominent in promoting on the regional and international stages.

The Guyana delegation consisted of Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn, and National Security Advisor Captain Gerry

Gouveia. Meanwhile, the visiting delegation was led by the Executive Director of the RSS and Chief of Staff of the Barbados Defence Force, Errington Ricardo Shurland.

The RSS delegation also included Heads of the Defence Forces and Police Forces from St Kitts and Nevis, Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Lucia and Guyana (Chief of Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan, and Commissioner of Police (ag) Clifton Hicken). (G3)

Former US Secretary of State on visit to Guyana F ormer United States Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo is in Guyana for a private engagement.

This was confirmed by President Dr Irfaan Ali on Monday, who stated: “Secretary Pompeo played a very important role in ensuring that Guyana stayed the course of democracy which was very, very key when the last Government tried to steal an election and steal democracy.”

Ali also confirmed that there would be a courtesy engagement between himself and Pompeo.

In September 2020, Pompeo visited Guyana and during an engagement with President Ali said that Guyana and the US have been “friends” for over five decades, and while it is the first official visit of a US Secretary of State, he committed that “it won’t be another fifty years”.

Pompeo played a prominent role in pushing for democracy in Guyana, during

Former United States Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo

the tumultuous five months following the March 2, 2020 elections after there was an attempt to rig the elections.

This role included issuing statements urging the then President David Granger to adhere to the results of the elections.

It was Pompeo who an-

nounced visa restrictions against Guyanese officials responsible for undermining democracy. He had also urged the then President Granger, who at the time was being kept in power by virtue of court cases filed by his party supporters, to step aside.

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 202

Modern US$28M 12-storey Brickdam C

onstruction of the new 12-storey glass and concrete Brickdam Police Station is expected to commence today.

The US$28 million contract was awarded to local construction company R Basso and Sons construction in association with Qigjian Group Company, and is expected to be completed in 30 months.

The modern facility, which will have the capacity to house a total of 2000 personnel, will house central departments such a traffic, finance, impact base and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

The building’s design also caters for it to earthquake resistant, and consist of state-of-the-art fire protection and detection systems, advanced CCTV monitoring and access control systems, and a telephone and data connection system to provide 24-hour service.

During his remarks at the sod-turning ceremony on Monday, President Dr Irfaan Ali explained that the build-out of the new station will play a key role in transforming the country’s national security architecture, which is an initiative that aims to ensure Guyanese live in peace

and crime rates are low.

“And that is proactive policing and intelligent policing. It is how Police and the how the security architecture build a capacity to help the country in developing a culture of living in peace and that is far different from fighting crime. That is proactively engaging community through community initiative, through community policing, through deploying the intellectual capabilities of our security architecture to infuse in the population a new model of thinking,” the Head of State explained.

Further, when completed, all services being accessed at the Police Headquarters at Eve Leary will be moved to the Brickdam Police Station.

According to the Head of State, this will facilitate the development of Guyana’s first Police Academy.

“What we want to do is move as much of the services from Eve Leary into this new facility that we’re building here because we want to free up Eve Leary to be primarily the Police Academy…when I said our prosperity must lead to the Region’s prosperity this is what I meant. Building our capacity to be leaders not only in Guyana but in the Region so that we

have officer, we ca joining the Police Guyana and then w the Region” the Pre

Devasta

The Guyana Poli Police Division 4 at Brickdam, Geo stroyed by fire on The fire which sta in the upper flat of ing, spread to sev wooden buildings despite the efforts the Guyana Fire S quently managed control.

All the building have been complet the exception of ups, barracks and addition, a few Po slightly damaged, privately owned v detained in relation investigation have damaged.

All the prisoner tody in the station l ly evacuated and t loss of Police or civi

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24 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

m Station to become new Police HQ

an have youngsters Academy here in working throughout esident Ali stated.

ating fire

ice Force’s Regional A Headquarters orgetown, was den October 2, 2021. arted about 11:06h f an eastern buildveral other mainly in the compound, of the members of Service who subseto bring it under

gs in the compound tely destroyed with the station lockd impact base. In olice vehicles were while a number of vehicles that were n to matters under been destroyed or

rs, who were in cuslock-ups, were safethere has been no ilian life. However,

a few Police ranks received minor injuries during valiant efforts to save important records, equipment, furniture and arms and ammunition that have been relocated for safe-keeping, and have received medical treatment.

The fire also damaged a business place located in Hadfield Street behind the Brickdam Police Station.

Arson

On October 7, 2021, 26-year-old Clarence Greene, who was arrested for robbery under arms, was remanded to prison for setting fire to the Brickdam Police Station on October 2, 2021.

He appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, where he was arraigned on two indictable charges of armed robbery and arson.

The first charge stated that on October 2, 2021, he robbed Chitrannie Ramkissoon of a cell phone valued $160,000 while being armed with a gun. He was later arrested by Police at Leopold Street, Georgetown.

That same day, while being a prisoner at the Brickdam Police Station lock-ups, he unlawfully set fire to the

Police station. The accused then reportedly raised an alarm and other inmates were evacuated from the lock-ups.

Initial reports at the time from the Guyana Police Force regarding Greene’s confession indicated that the suspect told the Police that he became frustrated after being detained for a long period of time, and he then decided to start the fire. The confession led Police to question all the prisoners at the Brickdam Station at the time of the incident.

Two informants were taken from the Brickdam lock-ups to the Sparendaam Station, where they were placed in a cell with the suspect. During that time in the cell, the suspect allegedly informed the men that it was he who had started the fire which destroyed the Police station.

The two men said the suspect allegedly told them that he took a piece of sponge, wrapped it on a piece of wire, and lit it with a cigarette lighter before pushing it through a ventilation hole in the cell.

Police Prosecutor Shellon Daniels had objected to bail and asked for the charges to remain indictable.

Photos compliments of President Ali's FB page

14 NEWS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Delay in bringing electoral fraud cases to trial a travesty – Nandlall …DPP seeks Chancellor’s intervention to expedite cases

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he intervention of Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards, has been sought over the slow pace at which the electoral fraud cases have been progressing through the Judiciary, which Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall has described as a travesty for the country.

It has been over three years since the 2020 General and Regional Elections and electoral fraud charges continue to languish in the Magistrate courts. During his year-end press conference, the Attorney General 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 misconduct of the electoral process by persons who have been appointed and paid by the tax payers of this country, to manage that process and ensure that the process meets the imperative of transparency, legality and fairness,” Nandlall explained.

The Attorney General revealed that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, has since sought the intervention of the Chancellor of the

Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards

Judiciary. He was hopeful that this would result in the cases being fast-tracked and specific Magistrates possibly being assigned to deal with these charges.

“I am aware that the Director of Public Prosecutions has written to the Chancellor of the Judiciary, requesting the Chancellor’s intervention.

The Chancellor has a supervisory authority over Magistrates in the country.”

The Attorney General opined that despite the matter being one of national importance, it was not being treated with the seriousness it deserves by the Judiciary. And he compared it to the time when he himself was charged with theft of law books, or when now President Dr Irfaan Ali was charged with fraud or when other senior officials in the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) were charged.

Nandlall noted that those cases against PPP members proceeded with alacrity,

Director of Public Prosecutions, Shalimar Ali-Hack

until they were either dismissed or discontinued.

“It behoves me to comment fairly, but critically on the reason why. Magistrates after Magistrates have found reasons that can’t withstanding scrutiny, for not proceeding to try these cases. And other related cases.

Magistrates have found reasons after reasons to recuse themselves. The law of recusal is clear.”

“Some of the reasons are, somebody is a member of a credit union, with one person. Or somebody serve in the army, with the husband of one of the defence counsel.

These are some of the reasons given in some of these cases,” Nandlall further pointed out.

In December, Senior Magistrate Leron Daly had scheduled January 15, 2024 to fix a date for a case management conference (CMC) for the electoral fraud cases, taking a step toward starting the trial into the more than two dozen fraud charges arising from the

March 2020 General and Regional Elections.

The defendants 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.

They are accused of a number of offences, includ-

ing misconduct while holding public office, presenting falsified documentation, and planning to manipulate Guyana’s voters by presenting an inaccurate vote total.

Shortly after GECOM had announced the election results on August 2, 2020, charges were brought against the individuals in question. The trials have not started after more than three years, prompting the voicing of concerns by a number of persons, including Nandlall.

The election report of former CEO Keith Lowenfield claimed that the APNU/AFC coalition garnered 171,825 votes, while the PPP/C 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 also highlighted that Mingo had heavily inflated the figures in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) — Guyana’s largest voting District — in favour of the then-caretaker APNU/AFC regime. In August 2021, GECOM voted to terminate the employment of Keith Lowenfield, Roxanne Myers, and Clairmont Mingo. (G3)

Wedding house robbery-murder

2 slapped with murder charge, remanded

Dead: Natram Persaud

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wo men, who invaded a wedding house on Old Year’s Day at Canal Number Two Polder, West Bank Demerara, and killed Natram Persaud during a robbery, were on Monday remanded to prison.

Otto Pitman called “One Dan” and Oliver Franklyn were slapped with a murder charge and appeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Vreed-En-Hoop Magistrate's Court.

Pitman and Franklyn were charged for the murder of Natram Persaud known as “Vishal” and the attempted murder committed of Manipual Ramberhak.

Police said that 35-yearold Pitman of Lot 50 School Street, Good Fortuin, West Bank Demerara, was arrested on January 3 and charged under Section 100 (1)(c)(i) of the Criminal Law Offences Act, Chapter 8:01 for murder, committed on Natram Persaud.

Pitman appeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Vreed-En-Hoop Magistrate's Court, where the charge was read to him.

He was not required to plea

Charged: Otto Pitman called “One Dan”

Charged: Oliver Franklyn

and was remanded to prison until 2024-02-07.

Taxi driver, Franklyn of Lot 276 Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, was arrested on January 1 and also charged under Section 100 (1)(c)(i) of the Criminal Law Offences Act, Chapter 8:01 for murder, committed on Natram Persaud. He too appeared before Magistrate McGusty at Vreed-en-Hoop Magistrate's Court.

They were both remanded to prison and the case will continue on February 7 at the Wales Magistrate's Court.

It was reported that the murder/robbery was committed by men, who were all dressed in dark clothing, and one of them was armed with a handgun.

Rambarhak was reportedly sitting at the western side of the entrance of the wedding house along with another friend when the bandits approached him during which one of them discharged two rounds at him and relieved him of his gold band valued at $250,000.

As the men were leaving, Persaud reportedly chased after them. He eventually caught up with the men and a scuffle ensued with one of them.

During the scuffle, a loud explosion was heard, after which Persaud fell to the ground. The bandits then made good their escape. As relatives rushed to assist Rambarhak and Persaud, they realised that they were shot.

They were picked up and taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where Persaud was pronounced dead on arrival.

Police said that Rambarhak sustained a gunshot injury to his stomach, which exited his lower back, while Persaud received a gunshot injury to the back of his head.

According to Police, three .45mm spent shells were recovered – one on the bridge area and two at the entrance of the yard. Several CCTV cameras were seen affixed to the building where the wedding function was held, and these were reviewed by detectives.

NEWS

15

TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Deadly Greenwich Park accident

Lorry driver to face Judge, jury over death of 5 persons

Dead: Margaret Kennedy

Dead: Olga Reddy

Dead: Vernon Prowell

38-year-old man is to stand trial in connection with the March 2023 collision at Greenwich Park

Public Road, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), which left five persons dead and several with seri-

ous injuries. Stewartville, West Coast Demerara (WCD) lorry driver, Ewart Stewart stands charged with five counts of the of-

A

Swan man gets 10 years’ jail time for killing Timehri teen

Dead: David Toney

R

ickland Bovell has been sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment in relation to the death of 18-year-old David Toney, whom he admitted to stabbing to death.

The 25-year-old cabbage farmer of Swan Village, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, had the sentence imposed on him on Monday by Justice Jo Ann Barlow at the Demerara High Court.

Bovell had come before the Judge in November 2023, having been indicted with Toney's murder which took place on April 19, 2019.

However, instead of a trial, he chose to enter a guilty plea to the lesser charge of manslaughter. He also acknowledged his guilt to the other accusation, which stated that he had injured Mark Toney, David's father, on the same day.

During Bovell's sentencing hearing on Monday, the presiding Judge decided that he would spend 10 years in prison for killing the teen and six years on the

Jailed: Rickland Bovell

wounding charge.

The 10-year and six-year jail terms will run concurrently.

In addition, Justice Barlow gave the Prison Service instructions to subtract from Bovell's sentence whatever time he was held in pre-trial custody.

It was reported that on the day in question, Toney, of Alliance Road, Timehri, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was fatally stabbed while his father and stepmother were injured during a brawl with a group of men at the Timehri Docks, EBD. Guyana Times had reported that the now dead teen and his stepmother, Judieth Hosea, intervened in a fight between his father, Mark, and a group of men, who were reportedly drunk.

Hosea had related that the fight stemmed from an argument over who would pack their truck with cabbages. She said after the argument broke out, one of the men attacked her husband and a scuffle ensued.

It was then, Hosea added, that she and her now dead stepson intervened to make peace but they too were attacked by the group of drunk men.

The woman recalled feeling a sharp object inserted into her left shoulder followed by another on her left hip. She then retreated but saw the group of men hitting the teenager about his body.

According to Hosea, she did not know David Toney was being stabbed until he ran a short distance away from the attackers and collapsed.

He was stabbed at least three times, twice to his abdomen and once to the chest.

Upon his arrival at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, David was declared dead by doctors.

In August 2019, four months after Bovell was charged, a Magistrate determined that there was enough evidence to have him stand trial by jury before a Judge for the teen's murder. (G1)

Dead: Elvis Charles

Dead: Stella Parhoo

Charged: Ewart Stewart

fence of causing death by dangerous driving.

Leonora Magistrate's Court Magistrate Zamilla Ally-Seepaul committed him to stand trial at the High Court of Demerara recently following a preliminary inquiry into the charges.

She determined that the prosecution had presented adequate evidence against him.

He is expected to go on trial by a jury before a Judge at the next practicable sitting of the Demerara Criminal Assizes. As it relates to the death by dangerous driving allegations, Stewart, who was initially charged on March 9, 2023, has not been granted bail.

He is a remanded prisoner.

Those who died were: Margaret Kennedy, 72, of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo (EBE); 57-yearold Olga Reddy of Parika, EBE; bus driver 50-year-

old Vernon Prowell of Bent Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown; 40-year-old Elvis Charles of Ruby, EBE; and 71-year-old Stella Parhoo of Parika, EBE. In relation to the other charges for driving an uninsured vehicle and driving an uncertified vehicle, Stewart was admitted to $200,000 bail after pleading not guilty.

He will also face trial for these two charges at the High Court.

Prowell was the driver of a minibus, BWW 8364, in which Parhoo, Kennedy, Reddy, and Charles were passengers. Several other passengers were seriously injured following that horrific accident which occurred on the morning of March 6, 2023.

Reports are that motor lorry GZZ 2285, driven by Stewart, was proceeding east along the northern

side of the Greenwich Park Public Road at a fast rate of speed behind motor car PWW 836.

The lorry driver alleges that the driver of the car made a sudden stop to allow a pedestrian to cross the road, and he swerved to the right to avoid a collision with the car, but, in the process, he collided with the minibus, which was proceeding from the opposite direction.

The impact of the crash also caused a Guyana Power and Light (GPL) pole to break and fall into a house in the area.

However, no one was injured in the home.

Following the accident, a party of Policemen visited the scene and carried out an investigation. A breath analysis carried out on the driver of the motor lorry showed a reading of .00%. (G1)

16 NEWS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Berbice River Bridge crossing

Govt to partner with private investors to lower tolls – Pres Ali P

resident Dr Irfaan Ali has announced that the Government is currently engaged in a plan that will see the tolls for the Berbice River Bridge being reduced.

The cost to cross the river by bridge has been an issue raised by several stakeholders, arguing that the current cost has resulted in commodities reaching Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) at significantly higher prices.

Producers have also been complaining about the bridge toll to get their produce to the capital city of Georgetown.

The Berbice River Bridge is the link between Region Five (MahaicaBerbice) and Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Speaking at the sod-turning ceremony for the new US$161 mil-

lion modern hospital in New Amsterdam, Region Six, President Ali said his Government is seeking to make it much cheaper to cross the Berbice River Bridge.

“We are in the process at the policy level of formulating a plan to work with the investors in the Berbice Bridge, to have the Government play a greater role because we have to carry the maintenance cost, and all of this is aimed to make it much easier and cheaper for you cross the Berbice Bridge.

That is coming very soon,” President Ali said.

While no timeframe was given, the Head of State said there are also plans to build a new Berbice River Bridge.

“We are accelerating the plans for a fixed high-crossing bridge across

Berbice River Bridge

the Berbice River just like the one we are building across the Demerara River,” the Head of State said.

In 2020, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo first publicly announced the Government’s plans to construct a new bridge across

the Berbice River.

Back then the Vice President, who was addressing members of the West Berbice Chambers of Commerce at De Edward, was speaking of the Government’s plans to construct a new road from Moleson Creek to the

Berbice River Bridge.

He pointed out that the new road will be the link from the soon-to-be-constructed Corentyne River Bridge which will bridge Suriname and Guyana.

Speaking on that issue on Sunday, President Ali said the Government is in the final stages of signing an agreement between Guyana and Suriname for the construction of a bridge across the Corentyne River.

In explaining the financing of the bridge, now Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had previously said that the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) had invested in Bond One of the project, $300 million. The scheme received (not principal payments) $270 million, a 90 per cent return on their investment. NIS also invested

in Bond Two, $760 million, and received $823 million in return. The company also invested $500 million for subordinate debt (loan stuck) $456 million and is now owed $207 million. Preference shares invested was $950 million.

They were paid back $163 million and are owed $507 million. Some $80 million was invested in common shares with zero returns so far.

This means that the ownership structure of BBCI is made up of ordinary share capital of $500 million owned by private investors and preference shares of $950 million owned by NIS. The bridge has a wide cross-section of investors including various pension schemes, insurance schemes, local banks as well as private companies and NIS. (G4)

Fire destroys Sophia house, ECD storage bond

The Sophia house on fire on Monday evening

T

wo fires of unknown origin have destroyed a used car storage bond at Good Hope village on the East Coast of Demerara and a B Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown house.

Reports are that about 14:00h on Monday, the fire started at the used car storage bond at Good Hope, leaving a trail of destruction.

The blaze engulfed the facility and surrounding buildings, causing extensive damage to the inventory of vehicles stored within.

Firefighters battled tirelessly to contain the inferno, but the flames posed a formidable challenge, leaving authorities puzzled about the cause of the fire.

Meanwhile, the son of the facility’s owner, Roshan Ali, told this pub-

Firefighters battling with the fire through smoke

The storage compound for used cars

lication that the facility was rented out to Chinese migrants, who operate a hardware store, and the back where the fire occurred was utilised as storage bond for old or used vehicles.

Meanwhile, just after

man and his 49-year-old wife.

While no one was in the upper flat of the building, the elderly man that was in the lower flat said he heard neighbours shouting for him to exit the building, and it was then that

18:00h also on Monday, a fire of unknown origin started at a house in Sophia.

Reports are that the owner of the property resides overseas but the lower flat of the building was occupied by a 64-year-old

he realised that the building was on fire.

The Guyana Fire Service has since launched an investigation.

The Fire Service is noting a spike in fires across the country after responding to several incidents

over the past week, with five of them occurring on Saturday.

Monday’s fires have brought the figure to 14 fires for the year already, which has resulted in the death of two persons and over 20 persons homeless.

NEWS

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Qatar’s PM among world leaders attending 2024 Guyana Energy Conference

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani

S

heikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, the Prime Minister of Qatar, has been confirmed among the growing list of

dignitaries and world leaders to attend and make presentations at the energy conference and expo in Georgetown, Guyana next month.

The Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo returns for its third instalment from February 19 – 22, 2024 with an impressive lineup of industry experts, policymakers and foreign officials who will offer insights as keynote speakers and through their participation in several panel discussions.

In a release on Monday, Chairman of the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo, Anthony Whyte said, “We are honoured to welcome the distinguished Prime Minister of Qatar as a featured speaker. His presence underscores the global significance of our event, highlighting the shared commitment to advancing sustainable energy solutions and fostering international collaboration

in the ever-evolving energy landscape.”

Sheikh Mohammed previously served as the country's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs since 2017 and 2016 to 2023, respectively, and Chairman of the Qatar Investment Authority from 2018 to 2023, where he provided leadership to the QIA Board of Directors and ensured QIA's sound governance framework through accountability and sound decision-making.

Additionally, as the Chairman of Qatar Fund For Development (QFFD), Sheikh Mohammed directs the fund's operations and the expansion of its activities to reach more than 70 countries around the world, notably in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.

Sheikh Mohammed

brings a wealth of experience and leadership in finance, investment, development and accountability. His participation highlights the international significance of the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo as a platform for fostering collaboration and sharing best practices.

Sheikh Mohammed was notably praised for his recent meeting with CIA Director William J Burns and Head of Mossad David Barnea in Qatar where they reached an extension of the ceasefire by two days and exchange of more than 100 Israeli hostages for 240 Palestinian prisoners in the 2023 Israel–Hamas war.

He will be joined by other world leaders, including the President of Guyana, Dr Mohamed

Irfaan Ali; the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr Keith Rowley; the Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Philip Davis; the Minister of Industry, Energy, and Technology of Newfoundland, Canada, Andrew Parsons along with several others to be announced at a later date.

To be held at the Marriott Hotel in Georgetown, Guyana, the conference is a premier gathering of industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders committed to shaping the future of the energy and supply chain sectors.

The Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo is poised to be a landmark event, facilitating discussions that will shape the trajectory of the energy sector in Guyana and beyond.

JTUM Head: Unity best Body found on WCB tribute for Panday dam identified

JTUM President General Ancel Roget (right) and union members raise their fists in salute to the late Basdeo Panday as the former Prime Minister and labour leader's body lay in state at the Southern Academy for the Performing Arts in San Fernando on January 8 (Lincoln Holder photo)

S

ince his passing, there has been national discourse in Trinidad about how the country should pay tribute to the late Basdeo Panday.

For the Joint Trade Union Movement's President General Ancel Roget the most fitting homage to the former Prime Minister's legacy should be unity among all to ensure a better standard of living. Roget was among hundreds of people who visited the Southern Academy for Performing Arts (SAPA), San Fernando, on January 8 to sign the condolence book and view Panday's body lying in state.

Since Panday's passing on January 1, there have been calls for the Piarco International Airport to be named after him and for him to be given the country's highest award, the Order of TT. However, Roget told reporters at SAPA these were off target for a man of

Panday's esteem.

"The most fitting tribute the country can give to the late, great Basdeo Panday, former Prime Minister and former labour leader is to unite to ensure that the people themselves get a better standard of living. The people themselves get a fair share of the economic pie, the salts of this earth which they are not now getting. The struggle against oppression, the struggle against the dictatorship that is taking place right now," he said.

"Once we unite, we will be able to live the legacy of Basdeo Panday. While all of those things are good, the reality, where the rubber hits the road, is where people's lives are improved. Once we get that message, we would be on the road to progress and that would make him smile from the heavens."

Panday, the country's fifth Prime Minister, served as the President General of

the All Trinidad Sugar and General Workers’ Trade Union from around 1973 to 1997. Viewing his body at SAPA, Roget and other JTUM executive members raised their fists to the former Prime Minister as a gesture of "power to the people".

In keeping Panday's legacy alive, Roget assured JTUM would continue to play its role in this fight. He added the current administration and Prime Minister should take a page out of Panday's book in leading the country.

"With so little, he did so much. Why? Because his was a care for the people of TT, a genuine care for the suffering masses, the downtrodden, the unemployed, the underemployed and those who were oppressed.

That is the legacy."

Panday's daughter and spokesperson for the family, Mickela, has since dismissed calls for the airport to be renamed, saying she believes he would not want that and would rather see constitutional reform. In March 2023, Panday, his wife Oma, former Cabinet Minister Carlos John and businessman Ishwar Galbaransingh were freed of corruption charges related to the construction of the Piarco International Airport, after two decades before the courts.

The Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha has also proposed renaming the Shiva Boys' Hindu College in Penal after the former Prime Minister once his family approves. (Trinidad Newsday)

…man died of drowning – PME

T

he body of a man which was found at El Dorado, West Coast Berbice (WCB), Region Five (MahaicaBerbice), has been identified as 51-one-year-old Shon Casey of Belladrum Village, WCB. The discovery of the body was made on Friday afternoon along a dam lead-

ing to the backdam.

Police had stated that at the time of the discovery, slime was seen coming from the mouth and a tube (urinary catheter) was inserted in the penis, but there were no marks seen on the body.

The Police had also stated that the body of the unidentified man was at Bailey Funeral Home

awaiting identification.

However, in an update on Monday, Regional Commander, Assistant Commissioner Kurleigh Simon said the man was identified by his sister, Perlean Wilson. As a result, an autopsy was performed on the body which gave the cause of death as asphyxiation due to drowning.

18

TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2024

guyanatimesgy.com

Regional

Ecuador declares state of Official funeral for former emergency amid prison chaos PAHO Director on Wednesday

M

E

cuadorean President Daniel Noboa on Monday declared a state of emergency for 60 days a day after the country's most-wanted prisoner disappeared from the jail where he was being held.

The state of emergency and surrounding events are among the first big security tests for Noboa, a young businessman who took office in November promising to crack down on soaring levels of violence in the South American country.

"I have just signed a state of emergency decree so that the Armed Forces have all the political and legal support for their actions," said Noboa.

"The time is over when drug trafficking convicts, hitmen and organised crime dictate to the Government what to do."

Ecuador's prison agency said there were "incidents" on Monday at six of the country's overcrowded

Police leave the El Inca prison after a security operation due to riots, following the disappearance of Jose Adolfo Macias, alias “Fito”, leader of the Los Choneros criminal group, in Quito, Ecuador, January 8, 2024 (Reuters/Karen Toro photo)

prisons, where clashes between rival gangs are frequent and have left more than 400 prisoners dead since 2021.

On Sunday, Adolfo Macias, leader of the Los Choneros criminal gang, disappeared from the prison where he was serving a 34-year sentence.

The state of emergency deploys the military onto the streets and into prisons, while setting a national nighttime curfew.

Previous Governments have resorted in recent years to states of emergency in efforts to boost security, but without major results. (Reuters)

ore than a month after she died of an apparent heart failure in the United States, the Dominica Government Monday announced that the former Director of the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), Dr Carissa Etienne Dr Carissa Etienne, will be given an official funeral on Wednesday.

According to a statement issued by the Cabinet Secretariat, the Government has accorded the 71-year-old Dr Etienne, who died on December 1 last year, an official funeral “in honour of her outstanding contribution to public health administration in Dominica and as Director of the PAHO from 2013-2023”.

It said that a Day of Mourning has been declared for Wednesday, January 10, the day of the funeral, and all State

PAHO Director, Dr Carissa Etienne

flags on all public buildings shall be flown at halfmast.

The official viewing on Wednesday morning will take place at the State House Conference Centre and public viewing will take place at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church for 45 minutes in the afternoon.

Dr Etienne had recently retired from PAHO and was declared DirectorEmeritus on September

30, 2022, at the 30th Pan American Sanitary Conference.

“From a little girl in Massacre, Dominica, walking barefoot, going to school, being as every other child was. If that child can rise to become Director of PAHO, then there is hope for every child that walks the streets of the Americas (including the Caribbean),” said Dr Etienne during the ceremony. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Brazil marks anniversary of Jan 8 attack on democracy New caravan forms in Mexico as frustrated

B

razilian authorities celebrated their country's democratic system on Monday, a year after a right-wing crowd invaded and vandalised its Supreme Court, Congress and presidential palace in protest against an election result.

Under a screen that said "Democracy Unshaken" Congressional leaders, Supreme Court Justices and Government officials led by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva recalled the day the capital Brasilia was stormed by protesters calling for a military coup.

"All those who financed, planned and executed the coup attempt must be exemplarily punished. There is no forgiveness for anyone

who attacks democracy," Lula said at the event held in Congress. "Forgiveness would sound like impunity. And impunity would be a free pass for more acts of terrorism."

"Democracy prevailed," said top court justice Alexandre de Moraes, who has led investigations to hold those responsible for the riots accountable.

A year ago, supporters of hard-right former President Jair Bolsonaro stormed the buildings that symbolise Brazil's democracy, a week after Lula had taken office.

They rejected his election victory and urged the military to overthrow him.

Bolsonaro, who never conceded defeat, had left the country for the United

States before the presidential handover to Lula.

The assault on Brasilia's main government buildings was the Brazilian equivalent of the attack on the US Capitol by supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump on January 6, 2021 after his election loss to Joe Biden.

About 2000 persons were arrested over the Brasilia attack, though most were later released.

Others have been convicted by the Supreme Court on charges of an attempted coup, among other crimes, following ongoing Police investigations into those who took part in the riots and who fostered or funded the attack.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Jamaican PM promises new measures, tougher penalties, and more support for victims of crime

J

amaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness is to put before the Cabinet, at its next meeting, a set of initial proposals and recommendations towards an institutional architecture to deal with crime and violence.

"The objective is to create a comprehensive, all-of-society enterprise to engineer a social and cultural transformation of the Jamaican society and culture away from crime and

violence. We are seeking to bring about a cultural revolution in Jamaica. I am confident we can make Jamaica a kinder, gentler, fairer, prosperous, and peaceful society," Holness told the Jamaica Observer.

"This year the Government will increase its focus on tackling violence as a public health concern. The social normalisation and increasing propensity to use violence requires a broader response beyond law [en-

forcement].

"It requires focus beyond the symptoms which manifest as crime and violence, to a far deeper analysis of the social, cultural, and historical factors that drive aggression, hate, lack of respect for authority, low socio-emotional regulation, antisocial behaviours, and a lack of value for the inviolability of the person and the sanctity of life," declared Holness. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

migrants complain about visa delays

A

new migrant caravan of approximately 2000 persons formed in southern Mexico on Monday, largely made up of people that have been on the move since Christmas Eve who say the Mexican Government's promises of transit visas last week never materialised.

The migrants, including some carrying young children, are walking to the southern Oaxaca town of Tapanatepec, about 800 kilometres (480 miles) south of Mexico City by road. They hope to reach Tapanatepec by nightfall.

The group of mostly Central American and Caribbean migrants are ultimately headed for the US border, the caravan's leader Luis Villagran said.

Last week, the group had dispersed after boarding buses to processing centres in the hope of receiving travel permits, which would allow them and their families free transport through Mexico.

However, Villagran said most migrants never received the permits.

"We were waiting for

Migrants walk in a caravan as an attempt to reach the US border, in Arriaga, Chiapas state, Mexico, January 8, 2024 (Reuters/Jacob Garcia photo)

two days for a response, and the third day immigration came," said one Salvadoran migrant, Rosa Vasquez.

"We signed the papers with an agreement with our lawyer... but they never gave a response."

"Immigration lied to us.

They just wanted to disperse the group."

Mexican immigration authorities did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

"Everyone knows what our situation is," said Carlos

Vera, from Ecuador, as he walked along the highway.

"We don't have another option."

Last year, record numbers of migrants attempted to cross the US-Mexico border illegally, which for many was the culmination of a long journey across the continent.

More than half a million migrants – double the previous year's record – crossed the dangerous Darien Gap from South America into Central America.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Tourist bus crashes in Brazil, killing 25

A

t least 25 persons are dead and six injured after a minibus carrying tourists from a coastal trip collided with a truck in Brazil's northeastern state of Bahia, local authorities said on

Monday.

The crash happened overnight on a federal road between cities of Nova Fatima and Gaviao in inland Bahia, the state's local fire department outpost said in a statement.

The injured were taken to nearby hospitals, it added.

Most of the victims were in the minibus, Bahia civil Police said, noting that the cause of the accident is under investigation. (Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2024

19

Around The World

Israel shifts to deadlier strikes OILNEWS OIL NEWS on Iran-linked targets in Syria I Oil falls over 3% as

Saudi price cuts add to demand doubts

O

il prices fell over 3% on Monday on sharp price cuts by top exporter Saudi Arabia and a rise in OPEC output that offset supply concerns generated by escalating geopolitical tension in the Middle East.

Brent crude settled down US$2.64, or 3.4%, at US$76.12 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures lost US$3.04, or 4.1%, at US$70.77 a barrel.

Both contracts climbed more than 2% in the first week of 2024 as geopolitical risk in the Middle East intensified after attacks by Yemen's Houthis on ships in the Red Sea. On Sunday, rising supply and competition from rival producers prompted Saudi Arabia to cut the February official selling price (OSP) of its flagship Arab Light crude to Asia to the lowest level in 27 months.

"That's raising concerns about demand in China and global demand as well," Price Futures Group analyst Phil Flynn said.

"The stock market is off to a weak start this year and this news from Saudi Arabia has caused the bottom to fall out."

A Reuters survey on Friday found that OPEC oil output rose in December as increases in Angola, Iraq and Nigeria offset continuing cuts by Saudi Arabia and other members of the wider OPEC+ alliance.

The boost came ahead of further OPEC+ cuts in 2024 and as Angola exited from OPEC starting this year, factors which are set to lower January output and market share.

"If we were just to focus on the fundamentals, including higher inventories, higher OPEC/non-OPEC production and a lower than expected Saudi OSP, it would be impossible to be anything other than bearish on crude oil," said IG analyst Tony Sycamore.

"However, that doesn't take into account the fact that geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are undeniably rising again, which will mean limited downside."

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held more talks with Arab leaders on Monday as part of a diplomatic push to stop the war in Gaza from spreading further.

The conflict has already sparked violence in the Israelioccupied West Bank, Lebanon, Syria and Iraq, and also led to Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping lanes.

Meanwhile, the oil price slide was tempered by a force majeure by Libya's National Oil Corporation on Sunday at its Sharara oilfield, which can produce up to 300,000 barrels per day. (Reuters)

srael is carrying out an unprecedented wave of deadly strikes in Syria targeting cargo trucks, infrastructure and people involved in Iran's weapons lifeline to its proxies in the region, six sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

The sources, including a Syrian military intelligence officer and a commander in the regional alliance backing Damascus, said Israel had shifted strategies following the Oct 7 rampage by Hamas fighters into Israeli territory and the ensuing Israeli bombing campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon.

Although Israel has struck Iran-linked targets in Syria for years, including areas where Lebanese armed group Hezbollah has been active, it is now unleashing

deadlier, more frequent air raids against Iranian arms transfers and air defence systems in Syria, the sources said.

The commander in the regional alliance and two additional sources familiar with Hezbollah's thinking said Israel had abandoned the unspoken "rules of the game" that previously characterised its strikes in Syria, and seemed "no longer cautious" about inflicting heavy casualties on Hezbollah there.

"They used to fire warning shots - they'd hit near the truck, our guys would get out of the truck, and then they'd hit the truck," the commander said, describing Israeli raids on arms transfers handled by Hezbollah before Oct 7.

"Now that's over. Israel is now unleashing deadli-

A member of Hezbollah mourns as he lies on top of the coffin of Hezbollah member Jaafar Serhan, who was killed while deployed in Syria with Hezbollah, during his funeral in Mashghara, Lebanon November 13, 2023

er, more frequent air raids against Iranian arms transfers and air defence systems in Syria. They bomb everyone directly. They bomb to kill."

The intensified air campaign has killed 19 Hezbollah members in Syria in three

months - more than twice the rest of 2023 combined, according to a Reuters count.

More than 130 Hezbollah fighters have also been killed

by Israeli shelling of southern Lebanon in the same period.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Ukraine-Russia war: Putin citizenship decree violates children's rights, Ukraine says

U

kraine has condemned a decree signed by President Putin making it possible to confer Russian citizenship on Ukrainian children moved to Russia.

Last March, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for President Putin over Russia's policy of forced child deportations.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry called the decree illegal.

However, Russia insists it is moving the children out of harm's way.

On January 4 Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a citizenship decree expediting Russian citizenship to foreigners and stateless people.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry singled out the passage saying that orphaned Ukrainian children or those deprived of parental guardianship can be fast-tracked to Russian citizenship by way of a presidential decision, or after a request by the institution holding them.

The decree states that a citizenship application for such a child can be submit-

ted by their legal guardian or the head of a Russian organisation responsible for the child.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry sees this as Russia's attempt to solve its own demographic crisis, describing it as a violation of Ukrainian and international laws and children's rights.

The decree is yet more evidence of Russia's policy of forced assimilation of Ukrainian children, and crimes against Ukraine in general, the Ministry added.

Ukraine's Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro

Lubinets, says Moscow is granting citizenship to the children so that they are not regarded as Ukrainians who have been transferred to Russia.

The Ukrainian authorities have identified over 19,000 Ukrainian children who have been deported to Russia since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Only 387 children have been brought back so far, according to the Ukrainian national database Children of war. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Blast in Pakistan kills France's Macron 5 Police officers during launches political Pope calls for universal ban polio vaccination drive reset with PM change on surrogate parenting, A F calls it 'deplorable'

P

ope Francis called on Monday for a global ban on parenting via surrogacy, calling the practice "deplorable" and a grave violation of the dignity of the woman and the child.

Francis' remarks are likely to antagonise pro-LGBT+ groups, since surrogacy is often used by gay or lesbian partners who want to have children, and follow his landmark decision to allow priests to bless same-sex couples.

"I deem deplorable the practice of so-called surrogate motherhood, which represents a grave violation of the dignity of the woman and the child, based on the exploitation of situations of the mother's material needs," he said.

"Consequently, I express my hope for an effort by the international community to prohibit this practice univer-

sally."

Francis, 87, made his comments in a 45-minute address to Vatican-accredited diplomats, which is sometimes called his "state of the world" speech.

There are few statistics on the number of babies born through surrogacy. Due to ethical concerns, the practice is illegal in many countries around the world, as well as in some US states.

Critics of the practice warn of the potential for a "poverty bias" against women who become surrogate mothers due to financial need.

But interest continues to grow as more women opt to postpone pregnancy until later in life when fertility wanes, and as more same-sex couples look for ways to start families when they can't conceive on their own. (Excerpt from Reuters)

t least five police officers have been killed and nearly two dozen others wounded after an explosive device targeted their vehicle during a polio vaccination drive in northwestern Pakistan.

Officials told Al Jazeera the blast took place early morning on Monday in Bajaur, a tribal district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province neighbouring Afghanistan, when Pakistan began its latest round of the vaccination campaign.

Five of those wounded were in critical condition and have been shifted to the provincial capital, Peshawar, about 133km (82 miles) south of Bajaur.

“The blast took place early in the morning when the Police team went out for the polio vaccination drive. We have shifted most of the injured to local hospital in Bajaur while critical patients were sent to Peshawar,” Bilal Faizi, spokesperson for the provincial rescue services,

told Al Jazeera.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.

In recent years, the Pakistan Taliban, also known by the acronym TTP, has killed dozens of polio vaccination workers and security officials in Pakistan.

Resistance to the polio immunisation drive grew in Pakistan after the CIA, the intelligence agency of the United States, organised a fake vaccination drive to track Osama bin Laden, who was killed in the Pakistani garrison town of Abbottabad in 2011.

Religious leaders in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region also spread misinformation that the vaccine contained traces of pork and alcohol, which are forbidden in Islam.

Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries yet to be declared free of the wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) disease. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

rench Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne resigned on Monday, as President Emmanuel Macron seeks to give a new impetus to his second mandate ahead of European Parliament elections and the Paris Olympics this summer.

Macron did not immediately name a successor for Borne, who will stay on as a caretaker along with the rest of the Government until a new one is formed, the presidential palace said in a carefully choreographed move.

The change was made after a year marred by political crises triggered by contested reforms of the country's pension system and immigration laws.

The move will not necessarily lead to a shift in political tack, but rather signal a desire to move beyond the pension and immigration reforms and focus on new priorities, including hitting full employment.

In her resignation letter,

Borne said she and Macron agreed in their last meeting that "it was more necessary than ever to push on with reforms".

European Parliament elections are scheduled to take place in June, with eurosceptics expected to make record gains at a time of widespread public discontent over surging living costs and the failure of European governments to curb migration flows.

In France, opinion polls show Macron's party trailing that of far-right leader Marine Le Pen by some eight to ten percentage points ahead of the elections.

Speculation of a Government reshuffle had been rife in the weeks since the French Parliament narrowly adopted toughened immigration rules, a battle that exposed deep cracks in Macron's centrist majority.

Macron promised a new political initiative. (Excerpt from Reuters)

20

TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2024

guyanatimesgy.com

DAILY HOROSCOPES

ARCHIE

Learn how to better manage your money. Don't buy into a gimmick that promises the impossible. Look for a way to improve your income, secure your position and boost your confidence.

(March 21-April 19) Embrace change and explore new possibilities. An opportunity to use your skills differently will offer insight into exciting pursuits. Consider taking courses or expanding your skills.

PICKLES (April 20-May 20)

Backing the wrong person will put you in a vulnerable position. Refrain from giving anyone control or influence over what you do next. Think for yourself and stand up for what's right.

(May 21-June 20) Get moving, try something new and expand your mind, skills and connections. A change regarding a partnership will turn out better than anticipated. Do things your way.

PEANUTS (June 21-July 22)

Do things that please you. Surround yourself with people who enlighten you.

Too much of anything will drag you down. Concentrate on personal improvement and meaningful relationships.

(July 23-Aug. 22) Say little, do a lot. Bring about positive change and participate in events and activities that stretch your imagination. What you learn will encourage new beginnings.

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

Choose your battles wisely. Enter the ring only if your facts are straight and your intentions are honorable.

Don't expect to keep the peace or please everyone.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

Pick up the pace and make things happen. A change will offer a unique perspective regarding possibilities.

Surround yourself with hardworking individuals who share your values.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Confiding in others will result in disappointment. Refuse to let your ego lead the way. Let your actions and the results you get be your calling card. Do and be your best.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Take charge and make things happen. Don't share secrets, gossip or get involved in events or activities that might jeopardize your reputation, emotional well-being or health.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Pay attention to detail and keep tabs on what everyone around you is doing.

Don't take on too much or put yourself in a negative position due to someone else's stubbornness.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Pay attention to investments and debt. Keeping your finances in order will relieve stress and give you more options when an opportunity presents itself.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2024

21

Raducanu reunites with childhood coach before Australian Open E

mma Raducanu has reunited with childhood coach Nick Cavaday in time for the Australian Open where she will play her first Grand Slam for a year.

The 2021 US Open champion, sidelined for much of 2023 after ankle and wrist surgeries, has been working with a series of Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) coaches since returning to the practice courts in October.

The 21-year-old has had a sequence of short-lived coaches since turning professional, but it is understood both she and Cavaday have the desire to work together beyond the Australian Open.

She and Briton Cavaday have begun working together in Melbourne before today's charity match against Naomi Osaka.

Raducanu practised for two

Emma Raducanu and Nick Cavaday were on court together in Melbourne on Monday

hours, with the help of a hitting partner, under the roof of the Rod Laver Arena on Monday after a second consecutive day of persistent rain in Melbourne.

Cavaday, who was Head Coach of the LTA's

Loughborough Academy until April of last year, also spent time on court with Raducanu in London before Christmas.

But the decision that the 37-year-old would fly out to Melbourne to coach Raducanu

at the Australian Open was only made in the last week.

"I've known Nick since I was 10 years old and he was helping me out the last week at the NTC [National Tennis Centre].

Before that the LTA helped me a ton," Raducanu said while competing on the WTA Tour in Auckland last week.

Like Jane O'Donoghue, who assisted Raducanu in Auckland last week, Cavaday worked with the former British number one when she was a junior.

A former Futures Tour player, Cavaday coached British players Aljaz Bedene (who later reverted to Slovenian nationality) and Dom Inglot before spending four and a half years at the Loughborough Academy.

Since leaving in April, he has been coaching British 18-year-old Ranah Stoiber.

Cavaday is a big believer

in the development of a player, and in carefully tailored programmes to deliver long-term improvement.

Raducanu, who parted ways with German Coach Sebastian Sachs shortly after having three operations on her hands and left ankle in May, only started seriously to consider coaching options in December, once a return to the tour in Australia seemed very likely.

She will not need to qualify for next week's Australian Open, having gained direct entry after the withdrawal of the American Lauren Davis, and so has taken the chance to play two exhibition matches.

This evening's match with Osaka will be the first of a series of charity matches at the Rod Laver Arena this week.

And then on Thursday,

Raducanu will play 16-yearold Mirra Andreeva, who reached the fourth round of last year's Wimbledon, at the Kooyong Classic to the east of Melbourne.

In Auckland last week, Raducanu took last year's Wimbledon semi-finalist Elina Svitolina to three sets, having beaten Elena-Gabriela Ruse in her first match since April.

"The biggest goal I have going forward is just being healthy, being injury free," Raducanu said last week when asked about her goals for the season.

"And then tennis-wise I think it's really important for me to approach it with the identity of how I want to play tennis and not let anything dictate that. And then, results-wise, I want to be more consistent."

(BBC Sport)

Liyanage, Theekshana, tailenders give Sri Lanka thrilling win S

ri Lanka's ninth-wicket partnership snuck their team home in the Colombo rain, battling off a spirited Zimbabwe bowling and fielding performance led

by Richard Ngarava.

Defending only 209, Ngarava took early wickets, and finished with 5 for 32 from his 10 overs, as the likes of Sikandar Raza and Blessing Muzarabani produced menacing spells of their own.

And together they had repeatedly had Sri Lanka on the

ropes in their chase, particularly when No 9 Dushmantha Chameera and No 10 Jeffrey Vandersay came together with Sri Lanka needing 37 to win off 45 balls. But the pair batted sensibly. Ngarava had already been bowled out at this stage, and Muzarabani was the last remaining threat – Craig Ervine having used his most-threatening bowlers up early in his quest for wickets.

Together Chameera and Vandersay whittled down the

SCOREBOARD Zimbabwe (50 ovs maximum) Joylord Gumbie † b Theekshana 30 Tinashe Kamunhukamwe c †Mendis b Madushanka 0 Craig Ervine (c) c Samarawickrama b Chameera 82 Milton Shumba c Arachchige b Theekshana 26 Sikandar Raza c Liyanage b Vandersay 1 Ryan Burl b Chameera 31 Clive Madande lbw b Vandersay 14 Faraz Akram lbw b Theekshana 1 Richard Ngarava not out 5 Blessing Muzarabani run out (Vandersay/†Mendis) 0 Tapiwa Mufudza b Theekshana 1 Extras (b 1, lb 8, nb 1, w 7) 17 TOTAL 44.4 Ov (RR: 4.65) 208 Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, 0.3 ov), 2-61 (Joylord Gumbie, 11.4 ov), 3-114 (Milton Shumba, 24.2 ov), 4-115 (Sikandar Raza, 25.1 ov), 5-182 (Craig Ervine, 36.5 ov), 6-190 (Ryan Burl, 38.5 ov), 7-202 (Clive Madande, 41.6 ov), 8-202 (Faraz Akram, 42.1 ov), 9-202 (Blessing Muzarabani, 42.3 ov), 10-208 (Tapiwa Mufudza, 44.4 ov) • BOWLING O-M-R-W Dilshan Madushanka 7-1-24-1 Dushmantha Chameera 8-0-44-2 Maheesh Theekshana 9.4-1-31-4 Janith Liyanage 2-0-11-0 Dasun Shanaka 4-0-14-0 Sahan Arachchige 2-0-10-0

Jeffrey Vandersay Charith Asalanka

requirement, before in the penultimate over, Vandersay scooped Faraz Akram over his shoulder, and then drove him through the covers for four next ball, in what were the final dramatic moments in a match that had swung in either direction repeatedly.

That these last blows came in the rain, which had earlier caused a significant delay, only added to the theatre. That this partnership had been forged after the departure of Janith Liyanage, who hit 95 off 127 balls, thus providing the most substance

82 off 102, was the first to depart in that sequence, having been caught athletically by Sadeera Samarawickrama at backward point.

It was Liyanage's innings that ended up defining the match however; and he who was most responsible for pushing the game deep as the other batters fell around him. (The next-highest score on the Sri Lankan card was 21.) Although he too struggled against Ngarava's newball bowling, he was patient until the hittable balls came, crashing Ngarava to the cover

10-1-47-2 2-0-18-0

Sri Lanka (T: 209 runs from 50 ovs) Avishka Fernando c Gumbie b Ngarava 4 Kusal Mendis (c)† c Burl b Ngarava 17 Sadeera Samarawickrama c Ervine b Ngarava 4 Janith Liyanage c Ngarava b Muzarabani 95 Charith Asalanka c †Gumbie b Ngarava 0 Sahan Arachchige lbw b Sikandar Raza 21 Dasun Shanaka c †Gumbie b Sikandar Raza 7 Maheesh Theekshana c Faraz Akram b Ngarava 18 Dushmantha Chameera not out 18 Jeffrey Vandersay not out 19 Extras (lb 2, nb 2, w 4) 8 TOTAL 49 Ov (RR: 4.30) 211/8 Did not bat: Dilshan Madushanka Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Avishka Fernando, 0.5 ov), 2-16 (Sadeera Samarawickrama, 2.2 ov), 3-51 (Kusal Mendis, 13.5 ov), 4-53 (Charith Asalanka, 15.6 ov), 5-90 (Sahan Arachchige, 26.3 ov), 6-112 (Dasun Shanaka, 30.5 ov), 7-168 (Maheesh Theekshana, 41.3 ov), 8-172 (Janith Liyanage, 42.3 ov) • BOWLING O-M-R-W Richard Ngarava 10-3-32-5 Blessing Muzarabani 10-0-41-1 Faraz Akram 10-0-43-0 Sikandar Raza 10-1-32-2 Tapiwa Mufudza 7-0-38-0 Ryan Burl 2-0-23-0

Craig Ervine's half-century held the innings together

to this innings, made the finish even more riveting.

Of all the regrets Zimbabwe will have from this match, however, none will be greater than their collapse from the 37th over onwards. Having been 182 for 4, and headed towards a score of around 250, they lost their last six wickets for 26 runs.

Captain Ervine, who had made

boundary to start the seventh over, before pulling him neatly behind square several balls later, when Ngarava bowled short.

With the surface somewhat tacky, his innings was mostly a slow grind. He'd hit only three boundaries after 82 balls, although he was forced to enter a more aggressive mode when the tail came in.

Janith Liyanage kept one end steady for Sri Lanka

He hit two sixes, both off spin and both on the legside, and forged an important 46-run seventh-wicket stand with Maheesh Theekshana, who contributed 18.

Having earlier completed his half-century off the 85th ball he faced, Liyanage seemed headed for a maiden One-Day International (ODI) ton in only his second game. But with rain coming down in the 43rd over, and Sri Lanka behind the DLS rate, Liyanage attempted to thump Muzarabani over long off for four, and wound up only miscuing it to the fielder. Zimbabwe smelled victory and employed attacking fields with both Vandersay and Chameera yet to get off the mark. But those two tailenders' cool heads would defy Zimbabwe.

But it had been Ngarava's tenacity in his first spell that set the tone for what became an intense defence of their modest total. He claimed Avishka Fernando's wicket fifth ball with a back-of-alength delivery just outside off stump, which Fernando inside-edged through to the keeper.

In Ngarava's next over – another edge. Samarawickrama

flashed at a fullish wide ball, and sent it to Ervine at second slip. Zimbabwe would get only these two wickets in the first powerplay, but having been 16 for 2, Sri Lanka were forced to bat with more caution. In his next spell, he also dismissed Kusal Mendis and Charith Asalanka, having built further pressure with more back-of-a-length bowling.

And though there were mistakes in the field, and with the ball (Muzarabani bowled Mendis off a no-ball, for example), it was their nosedive with the bat that prevented Zimbabwe from posting a competitive score. Ervine had driven beautifully through the course of his innings, and had struck up half-century partnerships with Joylord Gumbie, and Ryan Burl.

But when he cut a Chameera ball too close to Samarawickrama, who flung himself explosively at the ball to intercept it, Ervine left the lower middle-order exposed, and they succumbed rapidly to the spin of Theekshana and Vandersay. Theekshana picked up 4 for 31 in the innings.

Vandersay and Chameera took two wickets apiece. (ESPNcricinfo)

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2024

Sport facilities taking shape in Berbice T

he construction of several sport facilities in the ancient county of Berbice is coming along quite nicely, based on updates disseminated over the weekend.

At what was Burnham Park, New Amsterdam, the New Amsterdam Synthetic Track has seen the installation of its international-standard lighting system, while the facility’s first stand is nearing completion.

This is according to an update from the Region Six Regional Democratic Council (RDC).

“Works are moving apace at the New Amsterdam Synthetic Track, which will be the venue for track and field and other major sporting events when completed.

“Already, the FIFA-

President Dr Irfaan Ali gets an update on the Palmyra site

standard floodlights have been installed while works are in progress on the ground and pavilion. The synthetic materials have also been purchased and are awaiting installation,” the Region Six RDC shared in

Farooqi, Mujeeb, Naveen to get limited NOCs as ACB modifies sanctions

a social media post.

Meanwhile in the county on Sunday, President Dr

Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Naveen-ul-Haq celebrate a wicket

A

"We really hope the players avoid making similar inconveniences in the future as we expect them to represent the country in the best of manners," ACB chief Mirwais Ashraf said. "The ACB and the rules are above all of us and it's important to adhere to the regulations, because there are no exceptions for anyone in this regard. However, such cases of a similar nature would be dealt with more strictly as we prioritise the prestige of the Afghanistan Cricket and the organisation."

The ACB's hardline stance stands in contrast to the approach taken by most national boards in recent years, with the majority opting to allow their players flexibility to fulfil lucrative contracts in overseas leagues even if they turn down central contracts.

Farooqi and Naveen fronted up for Afghanistan during the recent three-match T20 International series against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after "demonstrating strong desire to represent country", and the two have also been named in the squad that will travel to India for three T20Is. Mujeeb has also been named in the squad, having missed the UAE tour as he was still at the Big Bash League (BBL) with the Melbourne Renegades at the time. The T20Is in India will be Mujeeb's first since July 2023. (ESPNcricinfo)

A look at the ongoing works at the New Amsterdam Track and Field Facility

The piles that were driven for the Stadium at Palmyra

Irfaan Ali took the opportunity to assess the works at the

fghanistan's reintegration of Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Naveen-ul-Haq is nearly complete following a brief period in which the Board and the players did not see eye to eye.

Last month, all three of them expressed a wish to be released from their central contracts so that they may pursue other opportunities on the T20 franchise circuit, for which the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) punished them by revoking their existing No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) and denying them further NOCs for a period of two years.

Following "a comprehensive investigation" after Farooqi, Mujeeb and Naveen approached the Board and expressed "a strong desire to represent the country again", the ACB has relaxed their initial position, allowing the players a "limited" number of NOCs to play in franchise T20 leagues and clearing them to avail central contracts. All three have also been served with a "final warning" and wage cuts from their monthly salary and/or their match fees.

The ACB press release with these details also said it may grant them central contracts, which were delayed when the initial sanctions were imposed, "while strictly monitoring their performance and discipline in events".

synthetic track at the Bayrock Community Centre Ground, Wismar, Linden, awarded to Builders Hardware and Supplies to the tune of $179 million. The contracts for the Linden and Berbice tracks were awarded at the same time.

Meanwhile, the Palmyra Stadium is a project of the Greater Guyana Initiative partners (ExxonMobil, HESS and CNOOC), to the tune of $3.7 billion, and it has a 2025 completion date. The Stadium is set to be a multipurpose facility.

Stadium at Palmyra.

This update also came via social media, with the

President’s page sharing, “President Dr Irfaan Ali received an update on the construction of the stadium at Palmyra, Berbice, today.

Currently, piles are being driven for the stands.

President Ali emphasised the need for a timely completion of the multipurpose facility during the visit.”

The contract for the New Amsterdam synthetic track was awarded to BK International Inc back in 2018, to the tune of $141 million and was set to complement the existing National Track and Field Facility on the West Coast of Demerara and the construction of another

Banks DIH launches Berbice leg of GT Beer 5/5 tapeball tournament

B

anks DIH Limited on Sunday launched its Berbice leg of the 5-5 tapeball tournament which is being played nationally.

The company says it is hoping to have more communities participating by limiting each team to seven players.

The Bank DIH Limited 5/5 tapeball competition has a first prize of $1 million. The tournament is being run countrywide.

The launching ceremony for the Berbice leg took place on Sunday at the Port Mourant Community Centre, one of the three venues in the region where matches will be

played.

GT Beer Brand Manager Dwayne Bristol explained that the idea behind limiting each innings to five overs is to allow for more participation in the tournament.

“The concept behind it being a 5/5 rather a 10/10 is that we wanted the games to be shorter and more exciting and

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Some of the silverware up for grabs in the Banks DIH-powered tournament

also we wanted to have a wider scope of teams participating; not just the regular cricket clubs but community cricketers – the average person. That

is why we made it five overs, so anybody on a good day can put up good score or probably defend a low score, because it is just five overs and on the playing day just seven persons per team,” he explained.

This, he said, will make it convenient for an average group of players in a community to form a team thus al-

lowing those who are not into club cricket to participate in the tournament.

As from Sunday last, teams could have started registering. Registration will close on Friday and interested teams can contact any of the following: Omesh at 6772826, Benga on 667-4121, Pinky on 615-2493, or Abby on 614-3373.

“Or you can contact Banks DIH outlet in New Amsterdam – we are doing registration there,” he added.

“We have $400,000 in cash prizes along with trophies and bragging rights. The winner of the tournament will get $200,000 and with winning this leg of the tournament awards the team a place in the national finals where teams will be battling for $1 million in prizes.”

Play in the Berbice leg commences on January 14, and matches will be played every Sunday until the Berbice finals. (G-4)

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23

Monedderlust upset Slingerz en route to Elite League spot O

ne of the biggest upsets in recent football history went down on Sunday night, as the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Elite League Promotional Playoff tournament concluded in exhilarating fashion at the Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground, Carifesta Avenue.

It was a win for the underdogs on Sunday night, as Berbice Football Association’s Monedderlust Football Club needled the heavily-touted tournament favourites Slingerz Football Club 1-0.

With a spot in this year’s Elite League on the line, West Demerara Football Association’s Slingerz looked unlike their usual dominating selves, while Monedderlust appeared to

A routine throw-in from near the top of the box was intercepted and prevented from going out of bounds with a head from a Monedderlust striker. Thereafter, the ball fell squarely at the feet of Bretnol Frank, who was positioned inside the box. Frank’s textbook tap-in evaded the grasp of Slingerz keeper Akel Clarke, going just between Clarke and the goalpost.

Monedderlust continued with their intensity, as Kevin Cottoy, running wildly on his lonesome, came close to making it a 2-0 game in the ensuing minutes, but his shot was off target, missing out on the opportunity.

The Berbice outfit did well to contain the star-studded Slingerz team,

A scene from the Elite League Promotional Playoff final between Monedderlust (grey) and Slingerz (orange)

be a team with a concise plan.

From the onset, Monedderlust were hungry, playing an attacking game that would pay off in quick time, as the Berbicians secured what would eventually become the game winner, just four minutes after the first whistle was sounded.

ensuring that the first half would end 1-0.

In the second segment, though Slingerz looked more aggressive, the cracks in their midfield continued to show and they were still unable to finish well.

It was as though Slingerz’ midfield was completely absent, with the sloppy pass-

ing in this area adding to their woes. As we would later find out, shutting down the Slingerz middle was all part of Monedderlust Coach Jamal Johnson’s plan, which continuously paid dividends throughout the 90 minutes.

As time winded down, tensions flared as questionable calls from the referee in the middle and an appar-

A look at the Women’s Division One encounter between GDF FC and GPF FC

Raynel Frank receives one of his two accolades (MVP and Best Keeper) from GFF General Secretary Ian Alves

ent lack of coordination with his assistants, denied a desperate Slingerz, and on occasion Monedderlust, of opportunities.

But Slingerz had their chances, though not many, to turn the tide of the game.

First, it was Hector Azacon positioned squarely in front of goal, with a clear shot, but he put too much power into the kick, sending the ball sailing over the top.

Then it was Simeon Moore, in a similar position, who once again put too much into the shot, as it ballooned and connected with the top corner of the crossbar, before Monedderlust’s keeper Raynel Frank had the opportunity to gobble it up.

Nonetheless, time expired with the score still fixed at 1-0 in Monedderlust’s favour.

Motie ends 2023 with best match figures in Tests

G

uyanese left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie ended 2023 with the best match figures in Test cricket with his 1399 against Zimbabwe in February in Bulawayo.

The 28-year-old took figures of 7-37 from 14.5 overs in the first innings and 6-62 from 17.3 overs in the second innings to set up an innings and four-run victory for the Windies.

Motie also took six wickets in the first match of the two-match series to finish with 19 in total, being named Player of the Series in the process.

Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin had the second-best match fig-

Gudakesh Motie walking off the field after taking 7-37 against Zimbabwe in February

ures of 2023 with his 12131 against the West Indies in Dominica in July while Australian off-spin-

For, individual prizes, Monedderlust’s goalkeeper Frank was both the tournament’s best goalkeeper and Most Valuable Player (MVP), while Georgetown Football Association (GFA) Beacon FC’s Anthony “Awo” Abrams was the highest goal scorer, with seven strikes in the tournament.

On the matter of the additional playoff that will now

ner Nathan Lyon was third with his 11-99 against India in Indore in March.

(Sportsmax)

be contested by Slingerz FC and Victoria Kings FC for the latter’s spot in the Elite League, an official close to the Federation has disclosed that the game would be played as soon as possible, possibly even this weekend.

However, the Federation is yet to confirm the play-off date.

Meanwhile, prior to the promotional playoff final, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) women’s team and the Guyana Police Force

(GPF) Women battled in the GFF Women’s Division One League.

Glendy Lewis found the back of the net first for GDF in the 20th minute, but Police’s Analisa Vincent equalised in the 36th minute, capitalising on a kick from the corner.

In the second half, a 52nd minute strike from Jalade Trim across the face of the goal handed GDF the lead and eventually the 2-1 win.

(Jemima Holmes)

Head rested by Cricket Australia ahead of Windies Test series … Khawaja, Labuschagne and Carey available for BBL cameos

U

sman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey have been made available for their club's next Big Bash League (BBL) matches in the small window between the Pakistan and West Indies Test series, but One-Day International (ODI) World Cup final hero Travis Head has been rested.

Khawaja and Labuschagne are both set to feature for the undefeated Brisbane Heat against Perth Scorchers at the Gabba on Wednesday while Carey will line up for Adelaide Strikers against Hobart Hurricanes the day before.

Steven Smith is also expected to feature for Sydney Sixers against Sydney Thunder on Friday, with David Warner planning to helicopter to the game after his brother's wedding.

The availability of Khawaja and Labuschagne, who featured in the first game of the season against Melbourne Stars, will lead to some tricky selection decisions for Heat, who have been the standout team so far this season with six wins in eight matches and are already assured of at least a top-three finish in the regular season.

Their remaining two games are against defending champions Scorchers, with those fixtures likely to determine who will finish top and host the Qualifier final on January 19.

"It will be good for the group to have Usman and Marnus back around the team, especially as we get into the business end of the com-

Travis Head has been rested ahead of the Test series against West Indies

petition," Heat Coach Wade Seccombe said.

Carey's return is a boost for the struggling Strikers, who are currently sixth with just two wins and will likely need to win their remaining three games to stand a chance of progressing.

A Strikers statement added: "In consultation with Cricket Australia medical staff, Travis Head will not be available for Big Bash selection during the break between international Test series."

It has yet to be confirmed whether Carey will be available for the return fixture against Hurricanes in Hobart on Thursday. Mitchell Marsh will not be available for Scorchers against Heat in Brisbane on Wednesday.

Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc signed as marquee supplementary players with Thunder and Sixers respectively this season so they can have a role promoting the

competition, but have never been in line to play. Cameron Green does not have a BBL deal having opted not to take one this season due to a combination of the schedule and to focus on red-ball cricket.

Lance Morris (Scorchers) and Scott Boland (Stars) have previously been released from the Test squad to play in the BBL. Nathan Lyon will not be able to debut for Melbourne Renegades this season with their next game on Saturday, the day the Test squad is due to gather in Adelaide ahead of the first Test against West Indies from January 17.

There is set to be a far larger window for Australia's Test players to feature in the BBL next season with the Sydney Test against India in the first week of January to be the last of the home summer. This season's schedule was pushed to a later start due to the ODI World Cup. (ESPNcricinfo)

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