Guyana Times - Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Govt addressed loopholes which allowed duplicate payments – Reg 5 REO tells PAC

Instances of possible duplicate payments and mismatched documentation on purchase vouchers were on Monday highlighted before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), with Region Five (MahaicaBerbice) saying it has since strengthened its systems to prevent these breaches from reoccurring.

During Monday’s sitting of the parliamentary committee, past and present officials from the Region Five Regional Democratic Council (RDC) were brought before the PAC re-

garding Auditor General Deodat Sharma’s findings in his 2019 report.

They were made to give account for the fact that 93 payment vouchers, totalling $37.4 million, were incorrectly processed back in 2019. When the PAC questioned officers, however, many of the senior officials distanced themselves from these transactions.

Former Regional Executive Officer (REO) Ovid Morrison, when questioned by the PAC, was repeatedly unable to give explanations even though

these transactions occurred during his tenure.

According to PAC member and Governance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Gail Teixeira, the PAC cannot accept explanations from senior officers that they did not know what occurred under their watch.

“There’s clearly a disjuncture in the region. The issue, as I said and Dr (Vishwa) Mahadeo said in the health sector, we are well aware of this, we know this, if there is a lack of drugs or shortage, the pro-

in vouchers

gramme head has to request permission from the REO, that is a shortage and they need to procure. There’s no evidence that this was done.

“I’m not here to defend any accountant or whatever. But if you’re getting requests to pay, you can’t fob it off to your juniors. The Head of department, whether accounts or any other, the buck stops there. And so, if you’re getting documents, you’re supposed to see all the documents,” Teixeira said.

According to the Minister, documents such as Request to Pay (RtP) and documents signifying delivery of the supplies ought to have reached the programme heads before they could be signed off.

“So, you can’t fob it off to a junior and say, well the junior did it, not me… so I’m not accepting that excuse from the accounting person, that it was a junior person and they didn’t check it. Therefore, they were not carrying out their responsibilities,” Teixeira said.

Her fellow PAC member, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill also criticised the lack of accountability among the regional officials, noting that they were essentially playing a game of ‘hot potatoes’ before the PAC. He further emphasised that the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act (FMAA) did not permit the State to purchase supplies on credit.

Meanwhile, outgoing REO Genevieve Blackman, who was appointed in 2020, was present at the PAC with Dwayne Adams, who has since been appointed as the new Region Five REO. Blackman did assure that

under her tenure as REO, better systems have since been put in place.

“Systems were put in place and this is reflective by the Auditor General’s reports for the subsequent years, where he would have noticed that audit queries are fewer. In general,” the former accounting officer said.

In his 2019 report, the Auditor General had flagged some cases in Region Five where payment vouchers had mismatched bill and requisition dates. In others, $22.7 million worth of bills were not cancelled after being paid, a situation that would result in duplicate payments. (G3)

Newly-appointed Region Five REO Dwayne Adams and his predecessor, Genevieve Blackman

PAC Member and Governance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Gail Teixeira

After two extensive days of mediation, the Education Ministry and Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) were successful in reaching an agreement on Monday – one that will see teachers returning to classrooms by March 6, thereby ending the protest for better pay.

At the High Court, Senior Counsels Edward Luckhoo and Robin Stoby – who were appointed by Justice Sandil Kissoon as mediators, exited the engagement after over six hours, signalling a thumbs-up that there was a favourable outcome.

When asked if the mediation process has ended, Stoby replied, “It has, indeed,” while Luckhoo added, “Successfully.”

Attorney-at-Law representing the Government, Darshan Ramdhani later told the media, “We are pleased to report that the children of the nation, those students who are in school will be pleased to know that the teachers will resume work on Wednesday, 6th March.”

Within 48 hours of the agreement, both sides will return to the table to discuss the requests of the Union, as well as those of the Ministry. However, it will take on a more ‘conciliatory approach’.

Initially, the Union had asked for everything to be on the table for discussions and seemingly ‘more than that’ during the mediation process, Ramdhani added.

The Attorney stated, “I believe good sense has prevailed in this process…It is a matter for them to present their list of matters when they turn up at the Ministry of Education to commence these discussions, and that will be dealt with when they present that. But I should add that either side will have the opportunity of putting forward matters that they want to engage on and discuss.”

Meanwhile, GTU President Mark Lyte told media operatives that the strike was officially over, and the financial matters were foremost on the agenda to be ventilated.

“We expect that our teachers return, being given … the assurance that the financial matters, as we were hammering them out, will be discussed Thursday…the matter with the financial deductions as well as the deduction of dues, remittance of dues, those are before the court so those were not placed on the table,” he explained.

Lyte added that matters from the multi-year agreement which will be discussed include housing and duty-free concessions.

The GTU official disclosed, “There are quite a lot of other things that are included in the proposal we presented, but finance is one of the critical ones that we will be pushing…It sets the framework for the process; the comments, collective bargaining. As you've heard, the Ministry of Education is saying everything is on the table. Our previous engagements were just policies in nature. Now, they are committing to deal with all the financial matters. So, we consider this to be an attempt to treat with collective bargaining.”

The signed agreement

from Monday’s mediation adds that, “The discussions shall take place at the Ministry of Education Boardroom…and will continue for a reasonable period of time.”

Interest of all workers

Meanwhile, President Dr

to deduct their pay for the days they were on strike.

Salary-related issues

Meanwhile, CEO Hussain has countered claims made by the GTU in its court proceedings that it was never engaged by the Education Ministry on salary-related issues for teachers.

The GTU said its General Secretary, Coretta McDonald, had wrote President Dr Irfaan Ali on April 18, 2023, requesting an urgent meeting to discuss the way forward for teachers. “She penned that the Guyana Teachers’ Union had shared its proposals for salaries and non-salaries benefits dated back to 2020, but they were not engaged at any level to discuss the same,” the court document stated.

In court documents filed by the GTU (applicant) in February 2024 against the Attorney General of Guyana

Irfaan Ali, in a social media post, after the successful mediation process, said, “Exactly what I have been saying all along, no different! Return to work and allow the process that was ongoing to continue. Why was this so difficult? The same request the Ministry of Education and Government have been making continuously. As a responsible Government, we will continue to work in the interest of all workers.”

Court proceedings

The GTU had filed court proceedings to block the Government from, among other things, cutting the salaries of those teachers who have been on strike since February 5.

During a hearing last week, the presiding judge, Justice Kissoon, named the Senior Counsels as mediators. This was done through the court invoking the Civil Procedure Rules 2016 Part 26 (Court Ordered Meditation).

Last month, the High Court granted Conservatory Orders for the Government to, among other things, continue paying teachers who were on strike until the court proceedings are determined.

Later, Chief Education Officer (CEO) Saddam Hussain was hauled before the court and ordered by Justice Kissoon to rescind a circular that was issued to Regional Education Officers to continue documenting the names of teachers who were absent from work in a bid

large number of mutually-beneficial decisions and measures being implemented,” the CEO stated.

In fact, Hussain outlined, in his affidavit, some of the specific requests of the GTU since 2020 and the number of these requests which have been favourably addressed by the Education Ministry as well as the Government.

“These range from wage increases, duty-free concessions, scholarships, hinterland benefits, conditions for re-employment, welfare matters, grants and house lots,” said the CEO, who submitted these as an exhibit to the court.

Hussain further explained that the MoE has “successfully and satisfactorily” addressed 30 of the 41 proposals made by the applicant in the past three years, and of the 11 outstanding requests, two are specifically only to benefit GTU executive members, while two others cannot be granted because they are contrary to the laws of Guyana.

(respondent), the union disclosed that only non-financial matters were discussed with the Education Ministry regarding its multi-year proposal for the period 2019-2023 that was submitted to Government in September 2020.

Hussain, in his affidavit to the court, pointed out in the court document that from August 11, 2020 until January 31, 2024, the GTU and the MoE met, on average, continuously once monthly – sometimes as many as three times per month. Those meetings, he noted, dealt with the demands of the applicant as well as demands of the MoE regarding the general welfare and well-being of teachers and the best interests of the education sector.

“These engagements were very constructive and led to a

The CEO went on to note in the Affidavit that the last engagement with the GTU on January 31, 2024 – a mere five days before the strike action commenced, was “very cordial and constructive and was conducted with an aura of camaraderie”. That meeting, he noted, concluded with a decision to reconvene on February 21, 2024.

“There was absolutely no animosity nor acrimony between the parties when they parted company.”

The legal proceedings filed by the GTU were to block the Education Ministry from cutting the salaries of those teachers who had been on strike for nearly five weeks as well as to reverse the MOE decision to stop deducting union dues from teachers’ salaries and remitting same to the GTU. (G12)

Attorney-at-Law Darshan Ramdhani speaking with media operatives

GTU President Mark Lyte

Mediators, Senior Counsels Edward Luckhoo and Robin Stoby exiting the successful engagement

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

“Invest in women: Accelerate progress”

Friday, March 8 is the United Nations-promoted International Women’s Day, with the theme for the year being “Invest in women: Accelerate progress”.

Anticipating that the connection of sustainable development and gender equality might be puzzling to some, the UN suggested five initiatives that could be undertaken by Governments and civil society to make that connection. Fortunately for us in Guyana, the Government has anticipated many of the initiatives in its drive to accelerate our development as we combat climate change.

The first exhortation is to “empower women smallholders” in farming. Some may not realise that women farmers comprise a very significant component of our agriculture sector, but they do. While this is true in some of the major crops like paddy, their presence is even more pronounced in the diversified cash crop area in which greater value is added than with commodities. The Government has undertaken – and is funding – several initiatives in this area and women farmers should be specifically targeted. Since their diversified crops are not among the 12 plant and 5 animal species that generate 75 per cent of the world’s food, encouragement in this area should help make the global food system more resilient to environmental shocks.

The UN advised: “At both the national and the community level, women’s representation and leadership appear to drive better environmental outcomes. Countries with higher percentages of women in Parliament tend to adopt stricter climate change policies, resulting in lower emissions.”

As such, it advises “support for women's leadership” and in this area, Guyana is very far ahead of most countries. We have one of the pioneering and most far-reaching national climate change plans in addition to having one of the highest percentages of female MPs and Cabinet members. Another area where we are ahead concerns Indigenous women, who “possess unique knowledge about agriculture, conservation, and natural resource management that make their voices indispensable in any decision-making process”. They were part of our REDD initiatives.

Thirdly, it is advised that we “fund women's organisations” and as we can observe almost daily in the press, women’s organisations are sprouting in almost every facet of national life – but especially in business to take advantage of the oil-induced growth explosion. As explained, “Government collaboration with women’s organisations can help ensure that climate policies meet the specific needs of women and girls and that such policies are effectively implemented. In vulnerable communities, women’s organisations often act as an informal safety net, bridging gaps in Government services and helping to provide emergency support. Empowering such community networks is a crucial way to build climate resilience at the local level.”

Fourthly, we should “protect women's health”. “Evidence suggests that women will bear the brunt of climate-linked negative health outcomes. Research indicates that climate change will have negative sexual and reproductive health impacts: higher temperatures are increasing the spread of diseases like malaria, dengue fever, and Zika Virus, which are linked to negative pregnancy and birth outcomes, and extreme heat itself appears to increase the incidence of stillbirth. As with other crises and disasters, climate change also increases vulnerability to gender-based violence.”

Guyana has an unacceptably high maternal death rate and the Government has announced the creation of a dedicated hospital for women and children.

Lastly and most germanely, we are advised to “Invest in care”. As explained, “The global economy depends on the unpaid and underpaid care work primarily carried out by women. But despite its essential nature – which we’ve seen more than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic – this work is not valued in accordance with its worth. Rather, care work (much like the environment) is treated like a limitless commodity that can be used without cost or consequence.

“Instead, Governments should treat care work like a collective good, expanding its availability and providing adequate support to those who do it. This includes investing in the expansion of care services, as well as increasing support for unpaid caregivers. There’s a role for the Private Sector as well, in supporting unpaid care work through paid family leave and flexible working arrangements.”

Is fact-checking an elusive goal for Guyanese commentators?

Dear Editor,

During a conversation on Guyanese politics one evening in February 2020, a good friend, a former WPA member, insisted that many “experts” will emerge on the “oil and gas,” the environment, climate change, the energy, and other sectors after the 2020 elections. They will exploit to the fullest the freedom of speech/expression afforded them under the Guyana constitution, subject to some restrictions like one cannot make hate speech nor defame others (Article 146, items 2 and 3 of the Guyana constitution) in the articulation of their concerns, whether real or imaginary, on aspects of Government’s policies/programs.

I never doubted my friend’s position, but I did indicate that for freedom of speech/expression to resonate well with people, it must be grounded on evidence/facts or sound logic. Platitudes and rhetoric are no substitute for evidence/facts and logic.

A content analysis indicates that much information placed in the public domain is not evidence or fact driven. Often, misleading, false, and distorted information find its way into the print media, radio, podcasts, and social media. Is fact-checking an elusive goal for many Guyanese commentators?

Another pattern of

writing that I detect is the propensity of some writers to proclaim their adherence to accountability, the upholding of morality; and their corresponding condemnation of discrimination in all forms. I have no issue with any of these positions, However, when stories of alleged violations in these areas surface, many writers are quick to render their judgment based on incomplete, distorted, or corrupt information and might even substitute speculation for facts.

One would expect that writers who embrace accountability and profess a lofty claim of upholding high standards of morality would not be “selective” to comment on cases they choose to report on, but rather to report on all perceived aberrations, especially those that adversely affect national institutions and policies. A little journey into our history could provide a few clues.

Popular social commentator and accountant Mr. Lallbachan Ram offers his opinions on almost every Government’s policy/ program. A few years ago (2015), in keeping with his moral compass and need to hold leaders accountable, he filed a private criminal case in April 2015 against the then leader of the Opposition Leader Dr Bharrat Jagdeo in which he accused him (Dr Jagdeo) of uttering offensive ra -

cial remarks in a March 2015 speech at Babu John, Port Mourant, Berbice. The case was called up at Whim Magistrate’s Court but was subsequently transferred to the High Court where it was dismissed.

The PPPC had filed several private criminal charges against APNU+AFC ministers. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) dropped the charges on technical grounds saying that such allegations must first go to the Police for investigation. In Dr Jagdeo’s case, why was the Police or ERC (Ethnic Relations Commission) not approached first? Was this a case of double standard? Did not our wise jurists say that justice must be fair, be uniform (consistent), be impartial, be rational, and be predictable?

We got an important insight into Mr. Lallbachan Ram’s quest for accountability and morality through the prism of former PNC Prime Minister and Vice President of Guyana, Mr. Hamilton Green, who says nonchalantly: “If, as I told one of the groups that I met this (last Friday) morning they say he (LFS Burnham) rigged elections, I say we should keep rigging to save us from these devils, these bastards, these demons that we have.” Under persistent pressure Mr. Green apologized: “I openly apol -

ogize to my wife, family, friends, and detractors… for any discomfort I may have caused by my words.” (2/29/24). For what did Mr. Green apologize? His remarks on rigging or his racist remarks or both? At a time when the PNCR has been working hard to improve its image, this reckless but calculated assault on democracy has struck a severe blow to his party.

This was a huge story that could not miss a crusader in accountability and morality. How could Mr. Ram remain quiet when a top PNCR member advocates for the rigging of elections which strikes at the heart of democratic governance, and which could disfigure the people’s sovereignty?

Not only that, Mr. Green’s statement was also racist in nature indicating that his group should be ‘on tap.’ Guyana’s Attorney General condemnation of Mr. Green’s utterance is emphatic: “This is a racial attack against every other group.” (iNews: 2/23/24). Mr. Ram is visible literally everywhere: he questions the EMG (Exxon Mobil Guyana) asset valuation, and renders unconditional support for GTU’s strike, among other things. Is his silence a sign of ‘acquiescence?’ Let us hear what the civil society’s guru has to say?

Sincerely,

Dr Tara Singh

A Lance Corporal from the Alberttown Police Station interacting with teachers and pupils of the Bumblebee Learning Academy in Georgetown during a school lecture on road safety (GPF photos)

Dangers of acquiescing to this mediation

Dear Editor, I was flummoxed by the revelation that “The GTU on Friday submitted its proposal to court-appointed mediators outlining the terms under which the country’s teachers will end industrial action and return to the classroom” (4.03.24) as I was unaware that this was among the reliefs sought from the court by the GTU and is therefore covered by the court-ordered mediation. From media reports it seems the case is about payments to striking teachers and the deduction of union dues. It did not seek to resolve the strike. Indeed, with a collective bargaining agreement in place that stipulates arbitration to be the dispute mechanism of choice it would seem to me that the Court’s jurisdiction in this regard is ousted, most egregiously, Attorney General Anil Nandlall did not seem to point out this crucial point to the Court.

How then did the issue of teachers ending industrial action become the subject of court mediation?

According to a report in in the local media on 29/02/24 during the contempt hearing of Chief Education Officer, Saddam Hussien, Justice Sandil Kissoon ‘expressed concern for the nation’s chil-

dren and questioned why there had been no movement by either the government or the GTU, towards resolving the matter’ then Justice Kissoon proposed mediation. Note the word ‘proposed’ as this became ‘court-ordered’ mediation the next day. The Guyana Chronicle reported ‘The Judge stated that the court hopes that after today’s mediation, issues can be resolved, potentially leading to teachers going back to the classrooms as early as next Monday.’ If I am correct about the Court not having jurisdiction, then the question of judicial overreach and a breach of the separation of powers arises. There should be no doubt the settlement of this strike is a matter that is firmly with the Executive branch of Government.

Collective bargaining has at its core a set series of events that occur in a particular sequence, and it is clear that should negotiations break down or be declared a failure, the parties move to strike and/or arbitration; This happened in the 1999 strike, organized by the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), which ended with a move to arbitration, with public servants being awarded pay increases – 31.6% for 1999 and 26.6%

for 2000. Since ‘arbitration’ is the deliberate avoidance of court action by agreement of both parties to accept the decisions of an arbitrator/s, clearly this mediation has usurped the conventional(arbitration) process.

Editor, as noted earlier, Attorney-General Anil Nandlall is not without fault in this entire imbroglio, despite presenting logical, eloquent, and factual arguments that support the government’s positions on his Facebook page, the Attorney-General went to court and asked for more time to prepare a defense; going to Court to get a date treats the Court like Match. com and modern judges, quite understandably, won’t tolerate that; The Judge was left with little option but to issue the conservatory orders as he did, for as much as everyone knows the decision of Chief Justice Ian Chang in GPSU V Nanda Gopaul settles the law on the discretion of a government to deduct and pay forward union dues, a Judge needs that to be presented to the court, not on Facebook! Secondly, by not filing a defense, the AG left a void… a space, into which the Judge entered, unasked and unhindered.

Editor, I expected stren-

uous objections from the AG on this judicial adventure into ordered mediation of issues not before the court. The AG failed to argue this and allowed this mediation to proceed without strong protest; to compound the error, strange appeasement was offered “While the Government does not think that judicial intervention was necessary, having regard to the established industrial practices … the Government will participate in the process with the firm expectation that it will put teachers back into the classrooms …”. By becoming willing participants in this subversive process, government has ceded authority and has allowed a precedent to be set; suppose someone takes the Government to court over the rate of duty levied on a new vehicle, can the court then order mediation of the duties and tax rates set in the budget? This failure to recognize the dangers of acquiescing to this mediation and presenting a vigorous opposition condemns us as a nation of people ‘making it up’ as we go along without heed of principles or precedent. Quo Vadis?

Sincerely,

Robin Singh

Be cautious and realise preachers of doom have an agenda

Dear Editor,

If investors were to make a decision whether to invest in Guyana through reading the Kaieteur News, I don’t believe we as a country would ever move forward. While I support free speech in our country, I do believe we all have a responsibility to be fact based in our writings and analyses.

It’s easy to sit in an armchair and crunch away at the keyboard criticizing every action of the Government especially when policies and projects are implemented but not in the manner that they like. We read and listen to these people every day like Christopher Ram, GHK Lall, Vincent Adams and Glen Lall who are thirsty for relevance. This has been the trend for years from these regular preachers of doom, I guess seeing and hearing their writings and names in the news daily is enough to satisfy them.

Frankly, I would have respected these writers if their contributions were of substance backed by the necessary facts and analyses, but what’s the point of doing any serious research when you can quickly take a sound bite and write an epistle then name drop top officials to get traction? Guyanese deserve better from these naysayers.

The government on countless occasions mentioned that they welcome constructive debates in the public on policies and programmes but based on these writings the only conclusion is to stop all projects and progress. Nothing about what they would do differently in the same situation given the same resources. Why don’t they ask for a debate with the government on some of these matters? Probably, they need time to get feedback from others to do their little masterpiece of nonsense. I

doubt whether they can stand face to face and provide any arguments or solutions of substance.

I wouldn’t be surprised or disappointed if they come together and run for office. At least this way they may get a chance to put their writings and great ideas into action and we can finally see truthfully where they stand. However, maybe they know that Government work, management of the people and economy is not an easy task. Or maybe they lack depth and are not concerned with the development of Guyana but have a vendetta with an individual who is in Government. How hypocritical!

I hope they understand that they are doing a great disservice to their country when they make these inaccurate statements. But a man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still. Maybe we are

NY Guyanese remember Ghazal Maestro Pankaj Udhas

Dear Editor, Indian Guyanese and other lovers of Indian music in the diaspora remember ghazal maestro Pankaj Udhas who passed away last week at age 72. He had a golden voice and was a master at the harmonium, a great singer. He had several memorable hits. He was honored by the Government of India with a Padmashri.

His most famous ghazal was “Chitthi Aayi Hai”, a popular hit among the Indian diaspora and in India itself.

Pankaj ji brought Ghazal music to Guyanese. He was adored by Guyanese who had great memories of his performances at concerts in NY and Toronto. In fact, he was a favorite singer among Guyanese and Indo-Caribbean people. Guyanese and Trini tabla players accompanied him on tours in other cities several times. Several Guyanese businesses, including the late Ramesh Kalicharran group of companies, sponsored his performances in New York. And they also sponsored his recordings. He performed countless times for Indo-Guyanese and other Caribbean audience in New York, Toronto, and London including at several New York mandirs. He also performed in Guyana, Trinidad, and Suriname. He was in New York not too long ago singing

reading people who have mental disorders and ought to do a psychiatric evaluation. Imagine articulating a government position with justifications and still they write as if they are oblivious to the reasons.

To fellow readers like myself, we have to be cautious and realize these preachers of doom have an agenda and they are constantly campaigning in the newspapers peddling lies, half-truths, blatant inaccuracies and misconstruing for their own self-interest which seeks to segregate us and make us feel as if our country is not improving. We have to know the truth from credible sources and make these people accountable when they publish things that is damaging to the image of our nation.

Sincerely,

Name submitted

Jagdeo is a transformational leader, capable of overseeing oil sector

Dear Editor, I note the headline in one of the local press on March 04, 2024 of Christopher Ram pronouncing that Bharat “Jagdeo is unfit to oversee the oil sector”.

I wish to highlight the following to the members of the public:

1. Mr. Jagdeo was not the architect of the contract that governs the commercial terms of oil production in Guyana. This was the doing of the APNU/AFC administration of 2015-2020. Many of the people involved in that negotiation are suspected of receiving advice and guidance from Mr. Ram at

that time. The result was a lopsided contract.

2. Taking the above into consideration, Mr. Jagdeo is doing an excellent job in administering the contract and the oil sector to maximize the returns from Exxon given the limited hand he was dealt due to the incompetence of the predecessors.

3. The article gives the false impression that Mr. Jagdeo is the sole overseer of the sector. The public needs to be aware that between the Guyana Revenue Authority, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and the Ministry of Natural Resources, there are

teams of professionals more than 100 persons that are monitoring the activities of the sector on a daily basis.

4. Mr. Ram views on Economic Development has proven to be flawed on many occasions. Mr. Ram is a known anti-government critic that lacks a real understanding of how to get things done. Mr. Ram runs a small business that makes profits for himself. Mr. Jagdeo has delivered Economic Development and Mega projects, that are uplifting the lives of hundreds of thousands of citizens daily.

5. Guyana would be a

backward country that is economically depressed if the likes of Mr. Ram were entrusted with leadership of Guyana.

6. I am sure that the voters that placed Mr. Jagdeo and his party in office have high confidence in his vision, capabilities, and integrity to oversee any sector of Guyana’s Economic Transformation.

Editor, Jagdeo is a transformational leader and is more than capable of overseeing the oil sector.

Your sincerely, Name submitted

to large Indo-Caribbean audiences. His songs are hits in Mandirs and on radio; he will be missed.

His passing came as a shock to not just the music industry in Bollywood but also fans around the globe. Sad faces were observed among Guyanese and other IndoCaribbean people as they reminisced about his concerts. Condolences poured in from Bollywood celebrities as well as Indo-Caribbean singers and musicians. Guyanese remember him as a fantastic musician and singer. In addition, they spoke of how he was a quiet, soft-spoken gentleman who was worried about copyrights of the recordings of musicians and singers. He appealed to Guyanese and other Indo Caribbeans not to patronize duplicate recordings and to purchase original tracks of all artistes as a means to supporting them.

His coffin was draped with the Indian flag, and he was given a gun salute before his cremation.

Bollywood and sports personalities, including legendary Sunil Gavaskar, attended his cremation rites. Hindus, Muslims, Christians, dressed in white, came to the funeral.

Yours sincerely,

Vishnu Bisram

Poor comfort to family seeking justice

Dear Editor, An appeal in the disposed matter of one who allegedly exposed himself is being made. Can the same appeal principle apply in the disposed matter of the engineer who was accused of killing his fiancée? Can a closer look be taken of the case to see whether elements were missed that might just justify an appeal? It might be worth

the time and effort and at least some form of justice to the deceased might be given.

The frequent instances of persons going free because of poor investigations and prosecution is tantamount to justice denied. This is poor comfort to those seeking justice.

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

Page Foundation

Adding with negative numbers

In this fun and easy magic science experiment for kids, we’re going to see if we can put paper in water and keep it dry.

Materials:

Piece of newspaper

Glass

Sink or large bowl full of water

Instructions:

Crumple a sheet of newspaper up in a ball.

Push the ball of newspaper into the bottom of the glass tightly so it does not fall out when turned upside down.

Turn the glass upside down.

Hold the glass by the bottom and push it down into the water so that the glass is fully submerged.

Remove the glass after several seconds and check to see if the newspaper is wet.

How it works:

The air pressure around the cup is the same as the air pressure in the cup. When the cup is pushed into the water, the air molecules and the air pressure within it remain and acts as an air cushion. The trapped air acts as a cushion and blocks the water from entering and getting the paper wet.

Make this a science project:

Try different sized cups. Try using a straw or tubing to blow air into an upsidedown cup that is under water and full of water. (sciencefun.org)

March wind is a jolly fellow, He likes to joke and play. He turns umbrellas inside out And blows men's hats away. He calls the pussy willows And whispers in each ear, "Wake up you lazy little seeds, Don't you know that spring is here

WORD SEARCH

Confusion erupts as new elected management blocked from convening meeting

…former management writes Co-Op Officer claiming electoral breaches

An attempt by the Guyana Public Service Cooperative Credit Union (GPSCCU) to convene a meeting on Monday, quickly descended into chaos as one faction, led by former Chairman Karen Van Sluytman-Corbin, disrupted the meeting over claims of electoral breaches.

In a video seen by this publication, Van SluytmanCorbin and some of her colleagues from the former management committee could be heard banging on a table and

chanting “You all ain’t had a quorum, no valid elections,” and “Get out, get out” against the newly-elected management committee, which is led by former Chairman Trevor Benn. When the elections were held on Saturday, resulting in Benn’s slate being elected, concerns had been raised about electoral breaches. In fact, Van Sluytman-Corbin herself had objected during the very vote. Those concerns have, however, gone unaddressed up to the time

Monday’s meeting was called. It has prompted the former committee to seek the intervention of the Labour Ministry.

Alleged breaches Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton explained in an interview with this publication, that the former management committee has since written a letter to the Labour Ministry, specifically the Chief Co-Op Development Officer, claiming that the newly-voted-in management committee ben-

efited from breaches to the Co-Op laws via the manner in which the special meeting to hold the vote was convened.

As investigations continue into the death of 50-year-old businessman Mohamed Zaheer Sheriff and 26-year-old Donovan Washington, whose bodies were riddled with bullets during a daring robbery at Arimu Backdam, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum reported that several persons were being questioned.

He added that the investigations were being led by a team from the Major Crimes Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) that was dispatched to the scene.

He, however, could not divulge further information on the ongoing investigations.

It was reported that two masked men, on a red AllTerrain Vehicle (ATV), carted off 102 ounces of raw gold valued at $37 million and two licensed firearms (a .32 pistol and a 12-gauge shotgun), property of Sheriff, a father of three of Byderabo Road, Bartica.

Investigations so far revealed that Sheriff was the owner of a six-inch land dredge operation at Arimu Backdam and he had ‘washed down’ on Sunday morning. He then left the camp along with

Washington, also a father of three, of Seventh Avenue, Bartica, on an ATV. The men were en route to Bartica.

According to the Police, the General Manager for Sheriff’s operation reported that about five minutes after his boss left camp, he heard several loud explosions which he suspected to be gunshots.

He said he went to investigate, and about 500 metres from the camp, found both Sheriff and Washington lying in the trail with gunshot injuries about their bodies.

Police said that the 39-year-old manager reported that he observed that both of Sheriff’s firearms and the gold were missing. He later made a report to the Bartica Police Station.

Sheriff’s body was examined, and Police said he was shot in his right upper chest, upper right thigh, upper right arm, and left upper back.

Washington’s body was also examined. He was shot to his lower abdomen, left chest, left shoulder, left hand, and left elbow, with four wounds to the right thigh, two to the left thigh, and one to his back.

The scene was processed and one .32 magazine with eight live matching rounds,

seven 9mm spent shells, and three .32 spent shells were found.

A close relative of Washington told <<<Guyana Times>>> that they received a call on Sunday morning that the duo was ambushed shortly after processing raw gold from the mining operations. The relative said that the family was still in shock at the man’s sudden death.

Autopsies were performed on the bodies of Washington and Sheriff by Government Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh on Monday, and he gave the cause of death as multiple gunshot wounds.

The bodies were subsequently handed over to the respective families for funeral.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA), in a statement to the media, related that it was deeply saddened by the robbery and cold-blooded killing of its member and his colleague.

In addition, the Association urged all miners to take full security precautions and called on the Guyana Police Force to take the necessary actions so that the miners could be safe in conducting their business.

“The GGDMA would like to, once again, express its condolences to the families and friends of the late Mohamed Sheriff (aka Zaheer) and his colleague Donovan Washington and calls on the authorities to have a proper investigation into this incident,” the GGDMA added.

Back in December 2022, Ricky Ambrose, a Sworn Land Surveyor and Ranger, was also robbed of a quantity of raw gold and cash and killed at Arimu Backdam.

“The (former) committee who was there, they have written the Chief Co-Op Development Officer based on several allegations they have made about breaches of the co-op laws in calling the meeting, specifically the co-op. So, the Chief Co-Op Development Officer is studying the letter,” Hamilton said.

However, the alleged breaches did not stop there. According to Hamilton, the former management committee also alleged that there were breaches during the actual vote, as well as breaches in the systems set up to accommodate said votes.

“They’ve written, accus-

ing the [one] faction of all of these breaches. The meeting was chaired by Mr [Patrick] Mentore, who used to be the Vice Chairperson. And they identified several breaches, so they’re asking the Chief Co-Op Development Officer to intervene and investigate. If the breaches that they identified did occur, then the meeting was not properly called. The last audit of the GPSU [Guyana Public Service Union] says they have 25,000 odd members.

“The rules talk about what the quorum must be. In this case, the quorum must be 6000 and odd members present, online and in person. Everything I saw about the voting, the maximum number of persons engaged at any time was, I think, 1900 persons. So, at no time

did they reach the threshold of what the quorum must be,” Hamilton said.

Another issue raised in the letter, the Minister noted, was the fact that polling stations were not set up in all the other regions, where membership was located, to cater for those without Internet access.

“The last time they had their Annual General Meeting, they had poll booths and poll boxes in every region. Secondly, at that time they had the Co-Op Department to supervise. So, we had placed at every place they had, a polling booth, a representative, a Co-Op Officer from the regions. This time there was no request,” Hamilton said.

“The Co-Op Development Officer, he has to look at the law and match it with the grievances and what they identified as breaches. So, that he can be guided. And, of course, he will engage our lawyers we have at the Ministry. And I want to believe also, they will engage the Attorney General’s Chambers for guidance and direction.”

Hamilton was meanwhile optimistic that by today, they would be in receipt of further information from the Co-Op Department on how they would proceed with the concerns raised by the former management committee. (G3)

A scene from the disrupted meeting. Standing at the head of the table is former GPSCCU Chairman Karen Van Sluytman-Corbin

Murdered: Mohamed Zaheer Sheriff Murdered: Donovan Washington

Cocaine bust at CJIA Man wanted by CANU surrenders to Police

Days after the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) issued a wanted bulletin for Tyrone Hamilton for questioning into the discovery of more than 100 pounds of cocaine at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), he reportedly turned himself in with his Attorney on Monday.

Guyana Times understands that Hamilton turned up at CANU headquarters with his lawyer, Nigel Hughes.

However, Gavin McKie of Lot 295 Republic Park, Peters Hall, East Bank Demerara (EBD) is still wanted by CANU.

CANU had stated that investigations led them to an address at Republic Gardens, EBD, where they contacted a lone female occupant.

“A search was conducted on the premises where traces of a suspected narcotic were found. Jessica McKie of the said address

Wanted: Gavin McKie

was escorted to CANU’s Headquarters and is assisting with the ongoing investigation,” CANU stated.

She was, however, released from custody after the 72-hour detention period had ended.

CANU had issued a wanted bulletin for Gavin McKie and Hamilton, urging persons with knowledge of their whereabouts to contact the agency.

Hamilton, identified as a businessman and retired national cyclist, was be-

Surrendered: Tyrone Hamilton

ing sought for questioning regarding his alleged involvement in transporting the cocaine-laden bags to the airport.

Reports indicate that CANU agents stationed at the CJIA observed two suspects retrieving four duffle bags thrown over the airport fence by an unidentified male. Upon interception, a search of the duffle bags led to the discovery of 64 brick-like parcels suspected to contain cocaine.

The suspects, identi-

fied as 26-year-old Travis Sealey, a shift leader at New Timehri Handling Service (NTHS), and 20-year-old Koby Bakker, a ground security coordinator at Secure Innovations and Concepts (SIC), both residents of Timehri, EBD, were apprehended and escorted to CANU Headquarters, along with the suspected narcotics.

Subsequent testing confirmed the presence of cocaine. The parcels weighed approximately 71.2 kilograms with an estimated street value of $64,000,000 locally. CANU stated that the narcotics were intended for transport on a British Airways flight bound for St Lucia, with a subsequent connection to the United Kingdom. The potential street value of the seized narcotic, had they reached their intended destination, was estimated at over £3,000,000, equivalent to approximately G$679 million.

Police destroy close to 170kg of ganja along Berbice River

Police in Regional Division 10 on Sunday destroyed close to 170 kilograms of cannabis during an operation at Ebibi, Berbice River.

Police stated that the narcotics eradication exercise lasted close to five hours and saw the destruction of approximately four acres of ganja that were under cultivation.

The ganja farm had com-

Tprised 132 beds, each of which had contained about 76 plants, ranging from 12 inches to five feet in height. A total of 10,032 cannabis plants, with a weight of 334.4 lbs or 151.681 kilograms, were found and destroyed. In addition, 34 lbs or 15.4 kilograms of dried ganja were set ablaze. A makeshift camp was also destroyed by the Police. At the time of the raid, no one was arrested.

Weapons found in bush at Cookrite Savannah

The guns that were found

Ashotgun and an air gun were on Sunday found in a clump of bushes at Cookrite Savannah in Corentyne, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Police stated that ranks, acting on information received, went to the location where they found the

two firearms. The ranks reportedly found the weapons in a clump of bushes about 400 metres away from the last camp in the savannah.

The guns were taken to the Whim Police Station. At the time of the discovery, no one was in the area. Investigations are ongoing.

…at Cheddi

omorrow’s the death anniversary of Cheddi – as he was known by all – and will be commemorated by many.

But, if the truth be told, mostly from his side of the aisle who’ll make the trek to Babu Jaan. Sadly it’s another reminder of the entrenched divisions in our country. Time hasn’t healed the 1950s split of the national movement as we keep regurgitating it ‘round elections time – which is around the corner!

So what’s different about Dr Jagan? First, there’s the dualism in his early life, plucked as he was from his ‘country-babu’ Port Mourant surroundings, to the elite Georgetown post-war bastion of privilege that was Queen’s College. In the 1930s, class and colour were sharply coincident and young Jagan would’ve had many a lesson in local social distinctions, in addition to the rural-urban one.

His departure for the US was also unusual since most of his contemporaries with professional aspirations would’ve moved on to the UK. It’s rather ironic that Jagan became a Marxist while studying in the US – the great bastion of capitalism! But maybe not really – since, as Marx predicted, the contradictions of capitalism is greatest in such locales. Especially living among the poor and powerless when Jim Crow still ruled the south where he was studying in a black University, Howard.

Unlike later immigrants from Berbice to the US from the seventies onwards – Jagan didn’t focus on accumulating money for “the house and car”, but on paying for his education. His perspective on life, therefore, was more dispassionate and he was deeply affected by the social and economic barriers to blacks and the poor. When 30 years later he referred to blacks as being at the bottom of the ladder, he was harking to his experiences from the thirties. But he was lynched by local blacks!!

When he returned to Guyana in 1943 with his even more radical Jewish wife, WWII was in full swing and the Americans had discovered Guyana with their creation of Atkinson Field – now CJIA. As a dentist, and his wife seen as “white” -- Jagan could’ve easily followed the path of other colonial professionals and tried to climb up the social ladder by becoming an “honorary” white.

But he didn’t. He identified with the toiling masses and was convinced their lot could only be improved by radically changing politics. This radicalism would be provided by Marxism – which had penetrated even staid Oxford University in England where T&T’s future PM had just finished his PhD thesis, “Capitalism and Slavery” under that influence.

Unfortunately, unlike Williams, Cheddi moved from Marxist ideas to taking Moscow as his model – when the Cold War had changed the political equation.

He bet on the right horse in the wrong race!!

…and forward

They say those who forget the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them. So what lessons can we learn from Cheddi’s career?? Right off the bat, we can see that it doesn’t matter in Guyanese politics whether you are “racist” or not. Once your supporters are from a particular ethnic/ racial group, you’ll be daubed with that brush! And how did that happen??

And the answer, of course, is Forbes Burnham!! Jagan had laid the groundwork by mobilising the up-to-then disenfranchised poorer Indians and Africans via the PAC and getting elected to the Legislature in 1947. But when the about-to-be-launched PPP made room for the just-returned Forbes Burnham, he demanded leadership or nothing. And split Africans from the PPP when he departed.

Some say Burnham was more “moderate” – they forget he was even more radical than Jagan in his pronouncements when he first returned!

His “moderation” was purely opportunistic and tactical –as history proved. And split Guyana forever.

…at Mash

Why is it Mash in Berbice gotta be a week late?? It inevitably ends up looking like a weak, shallow imitation of what already happened in Georgetown. And when you consider the GT event’s a weak, shallow imitation of T&T’s Carnival, that’s pathetic.

2020 election fraud cases

More delays as Defence Attorney requests GECOM’s meeting minutes

…Magistrate to make decision on request on Wednesday

The 2020 electoral fraud case has again reached another stumbling block as despite the State being ready to move forward and despite providing the defence with a plethora of evidence, a request from the defence for Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) minutes from that period has resulted in additional delays to the trial.

On Monday, the election fraud cases related to the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections were called before Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The State was going to call Local Government Minister Sonia Parag, Diaspora Unit Head Rosalinda Rasul, former Region Four Police Commander Edgar Thomas, and Forensic Investigator Rawle Nedd as witnesses.

However, Attorney-at-

Law Nigel Hughes made a last-minute request for minutes from GECOM on the grounds that this would help him prepare to defend his clients.

Hughes’ clients are former Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield, his former Deputy CEO Roxanne Myers and former Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo.

It is understood that the defence had previously been given Statements of Poll (SoPs) and Statements of Recount (SoRs), as well as other documents and video evidence including video-recorded interviews.

During Monday’s hearing, Special Prosecutor Darshan Ramdhani, KC, described Hughes’ request as a delaying tactic, since related disclosures were done over two years ago and Hughes had not requested the minutes then.

Further, Ramdhani argued that Section 140 of the Representation of the

People Act (ROPA) prohibits these documents from being disclosed.

However, Hughes cited Article 144 of the Constitution in arguing that his request was a reasonable one and went on to say that the Constitution supersedes ROPA. However, Ramdhani noted that he did not have the requested documents, nor did he have the authority to disclose them, but rather the High Court did.

Magistrate Daly eventually adjourned the case until Wednesday, March 6, when she will make a pronouncement on Hughes’ request. As the Magistrate informed the court, however, further approaches to the High Court may only serve to delay the case even more.

On October 25, 2023, Magistrate Daly had informed Ramdhani that she would not start the trial until the prosecution had arranged witness state-

ments, exhibits, and other trial-related materials in an orderly manner.

Prosecutor Ramdhani had at the time provided flash drives containing certified copies of the SoPs and SoRs, scanned documents as well as video interviews. Multiple bundles of paperwork were also turned in.

In addition to Lowenfield, Myers and Mingo, the other defendants are former People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Chairperson Volda Lawrence; PNCR activist Carol Smith-Joseph, and GECOM employees Sheffern February, Enrique Livan, Denise Babb-Cummings, and Michelle Miller.

They are accused of a number of offences, including misconduct while holding public office, presenting falsified documentation, and planning to manipulate Guyana’s voters by presenting an inaccurate vote total.

These charges stemmed from attempts to rig the 2020 General and Regional Elections in favour of the then ruling A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition. These accused persons are all out on cash bail. Last year, the prosecution had asked the Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards to assign a special court to hear the cases; her response is currently been awaited. This, in Ramdhani’s opinion, would have guaranteed that the cases be tried quickly.

Concerns regarding the unsatisfactory progress in these cases have been voiced by a number of persons, including Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC.

Shortly after GECOM had announced the election results on August 2, 2020, charges were brought against the individuals in

question.

The election report of former CEO Lowenfield claimed that the APNU/ AFC coalition garnered 171,825 votes, while the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (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 (Demerara-Mahaica) – Guyana’s largest voting district — in favour of the then-caretaker APNU/AFC regime.

In August 2021, GECOM voted to terminate the employment of Lowenfield, Myers, and Mingo. (G3)

Special Prosecutor Darshan Ramdhani, KC

Attorney-at-Law

Nigel Hughes

Guyanese company to supply over 500 model homes to Caricom countries

DuraVilla Homes

Guyana will be expanding its production of modular homes to countries in the Caribbean Community (Caricom) this year.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of DuraVilla Homes Guyana, Rafeek Khan said on Monday the interest for homes were expressed during the recently hosted third edition of the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo held in February at the Mariott Hotel.

Guyana Times was told that Caribbean leaders

from Trinidad and Tobago and St Lucia among those that expressed interest in purchasing modular homes to boost their housing drive.

Meanwhile, leaders from St Vincent and the Grenadines and Barbados expressed need to ramp up the production of homes being provided to them through DuraVilla.

As a result, DuraVilla Homes Guyana will be constructing 50 homes for Trinidad and Tobago, 500 for St Vincent and the Grenadines, 25 for St Lucia and 100 homes per month

for Barbados.

During a media briefing at the Marriott Hotel, Khan revealed that DuraVilla is now utilising 12 tropical hardwood species and concrete, among other methods to meet the demand.

“The toughest part of the journey has been engineering, has been identifying the supply chain, un-

derstanding pricing and understanding logistics. These have been solved now what we will have to do is probably perhaps help construct the homes faster in the Caribbean by maybe sending skills from Guyana to these islands to teach them how the homes can be constructed faster,” Khan explained.

The homes to be constructed in the Caribbean countries start at a cost of $10 million (US$50,000).

The wood work and engineering for the structures

are conducted in Guyana and shipped to these countries where it will be put together.

They include a variety of bedrooms, bath, vaulted ceiling, covered porch, hardwood cabinets, an open floor plan, among others for sustainable and contemporary living.

According to Khan, moderately priced modular homes will also be constructed for young professionals in Guyana.

He explained that the goal is to provide affordable

housing to new home- owners and aid in boosting government’s housing drive.

“This year we would like to make these homes towards home owners who wish to spend $8 million even up to $10 million dollars in building a two- or three-bedroom home like you see here at the energy conference…we would also like to make materials available to home-owners such as like I said the young professionals. The products that we’re exemplifying and showing here, we want to make these products available to the locals but first we must satisfy our existing customers in the export region but as we build up supplies, we will be ready to deliver locally,” Khan said.

In 2023, DuraVilla Homes Guyana invested US$3 million to expand its production of modular homes and eco-lodges.

Last year, the company set out to construct 1000 modular homes but only managed to deliver 135 of which 98 were exported to Barbados and St Vincent.

Further, 30 homes were expected to be completed for tourists during the hosting of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). Overall, the company contributed to 35 per cent of Guyana’s 2023 value added exports. (G1)

Modular home being displayed at Marriott Hotel

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of DuraVilla Homes Guyana, Rafeek Khan

3 new REOs appointed for Regions 1, 3, 5

The Local Government and Regional Development Ministry on Monday announced that three new Regional Executive Officers (REOs) have been appointed, with the appointments taking effect from March 1, 2024.

Among the new appointees is former Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) REO Devanand Ramdatt, who will now take the helm at Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara). Other appointees are Seewchand (only name), who has been appointed the REO for Region One (Barima-Waini)

and Dwayne Adams, who will take the executive reins in Region Five (MahaicaBerbice).

“The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development extends best wishes to the new appointees, and looks forward to working with them in the best interest of the people of Guyana,” the Ministry said in a statement on Monday.

Ramdatt previously served as the Regional Chairman for Region Two until his appointment to the Region Two REO post in 2020. In 2021, allegations arose from an “anony-

mous source” on social media, claiming that Ramdatt had been sent on leave owing to misconduct.

However, Ramdatt had hit back, claiming that he had gone on vacation and threatened legal action. It eventually emerged that Susannah Saywack was operating as the new Region Two REO.

Meanwhile, Seewchand is a former Deputy REO for Region 10. Adams served as a People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Councillor on the Georgetown Mayor and City Council.

$44M worth of foreign ganja found in boat on Essequibo Coast

Ranks from the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) made a major drug bust on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two when they unearthed 660 bricklike parcels of foreign marijuana, commonly known as “Creepy”.

Reports are that the ranks found the drug on Sunday at Fisher Village, Essequibo Coast, after they observed a multi-coloured

speedboat operated by two individuals.

According to CANU, the ranks pursued the boat, and it ran aground. The occupants subsequently made good their escape on foot.

A subsequent search of the boat revealed several bulky whitish salt bags containing suspected cannabis. The substance was taken to CANU’s Headquarters where it was tested and determined to be a foreign

marijuana commonly known as “Creepy”. It weighed 300kgs with a street value of $44,000,000.

CANU on Monday said that the narcotic would have been further shipped to other territories where the street value would have been much higher.

So far for 2024, CANU has intercepted 859kg of foreign marijuana entering Guyana for the purpose of transshipment.

New Region One REO Seewchand

New Region Three REO Devanand Ramdatt

New Region Five REO Dwayne Adams

Domestic dispute leaves father of 14 dead in Berbice

ADead is 42-year-old Godfrey Daniels, of Princess Elizabeth Road, New Amsterdam, Berbice.

Police said the incident occurred at his Lot 17 Princess Elizabeth Road

home about 22:30h on Sunday.

According to Regional Commander, Senior Superintendent Shivpersaud Bacchus, the labourer went to the Central Police Station in New Amsterdam and reported that he had been assaulted.

The Commander said ranks made checks and there appeared to be no in-

juries to the exposed parts of the man’s body and he was told by the officers at the station that there were no wounds on his body.

Commander Bacchus said Daniels was given a medical form and told to go to the hospital and to return after seeking medical attention.

According to the Commander, officers went on a routine visit to the New

WCB labourer found dead with chop wounds to head, arms

The decomposed body of a labourer from West Coast Berbice (WCB), Region Five (MahaicaBerbice) was on Monday afternoon discovered in the backlands of Number 41 Village, WCB.

Dead is 45-year-old Odit Persaud Thom of Number Five Village, WCB.

Reports are that Thom has been reported missing since March 2. About 12:30h on Monday, his body was discovered floating in a trench which separates the rice fields from the savannah.

Regional Commander, Assistant Commissioner Kurleigh Simon said in a release that Thom took care of cattle in the backdam for several persons and was staying at a camp located at Seafield Backdam.

On Sunday, a rice farm-

er impounded cattle which were under Thom’s care, this newspaper was told.

This caused the 28-yearold farmer, whom Thom was working for to go into the backdam in search of him. The man reported that he

did not find Thom at the camp. On Monday, together with other cattle farmers, he continued the search and eventually found the motionless body of Thom floating in the trench.

Commander Simon said the body was fished out by the Police and was in a state of decomposition. It was observed that the deceased had sustained chop wounds to both arms and the head.

At the time of discovery, there was a haversack on Thom’s back which contained toiletries and his ID card.

Police canvassed the area and a pair of slippers and cap were found on the dam in the vicinity where the body was floating.

The body is currently at Bailey Funeral Home awaiting an autopsy, and investigations continue. (G4)

Amsterdam Hospital, when they were informed that Daniels, who had a wound to his face, had died while seeking medical attention. He lived a stone’s throw away from the hospital.

Meanwhile, there are reports that Daniels was involved in an altercation with another man. It is not clear what might have caused the argument as there are several versions of the incident

surrounding his death.

The dead man’s son, Godfrey Daniels Jr, said his father’s body was picked up from the hospital by the funeral parlour and claimed that it was taken back to the scene. According to the son, this was the information that the funeral parlour attendants related to him.

He told the media that it was a close relative who works at the funeral parlour

who recognised his father and called him.

“I tell them that I didn’t know that my father get murder and that I coming over there just now. Then I get a next phone call from my brother saying that my brother-in-law broad side in his face,” the young man said.

The younger Daniels said there had been an ongoing feud between his father and his brother-in-law.

“Is a regular thing... we have to seek justice for he,” the son related.

The younger Daniels said his father lived with some of his relatives, including children, but none were around at the time of the incident.

Police have since arrested the dead man’s son-inlaw and a female friend.

Daniels was a father of 14. His body is at the mortuary awaiting a post-mortem. (G4)

T&T prime minister advocates for agribusiness ventures in Guyana & Suriname

Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley, returning from the CARICOM 46th Heads of Government summit, emphasized the untapped potential for agribusiness ventures in Guyana and Suriname during a media briefing at the Piarco International Airport.

Dr. Rowley highlighted the disappointment expressed at CARICOM regarding the lack of engagement from local private sectors in pursuing agribusiness ventures in Guyana and Suriname.

He noted that despite available land and incentives, including approximately 3,000 acres in Suriname, there has been minimal interest from CARICOM private sector representatives.

Acknowledging the importance of regional cooperation in bolstering food production, Dr. Rowley pointed out Trinidad and Tobago’s collaboration with Guyana.

Notably, Trinidad and Tobago has increased its rice production significantly, from 100 to 1,000 acres, with assistance from Guyana, resulting in a harvest of 340 tonnes for the season.

Additionally, efforts are underway to enhance coconut production through the acquisition of seedlings.

During his visit to Guyana, Dr. Rowley toured

President Dr Irfaan Ali and Prime Minister of T&T, Dr Keith Rowley

agricultural sites in regions such as Lethem, near the Brazilian border, where cattle, soya, and corn are cultivated.

While Trinidad and Tobago does not import beef from Guyana due to certain policies, Dr. Rowley suggested the need for policy review to maximize potential benefits and address outdated regulations.

Dr. Rowley acknowledged regulatory concerns regarding the importation of beef, including potential risks such as foot and mouth

disease.

However, he underscored the need to assess the comparative risks, highlighting the potential benefits of certified beef imports from Guyana over illicit activities such as cattle smuggling from Venezuela.

Dr Rowley said he would instruct the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries to address these situations moving forward.

Caricom has pledged to reduce its food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025. (caribbeannationalweekly.com)

Dead: 42-year-old Godfrey Daniels

Dead: Odit Persaud Thom

Guyana’s rising obesity rate linked to dietary habits, sedentary lifestyles – Health Minister

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony has linked rising obesity rates in the country with a number of changing lifestyle factors which the population have adopted, ranging from dietary choices to sedentary lifestyles.

Guyana joined the world on Monday in observing World Obesity Day under the theme: "Let's Talk About Obesity And...". It serves as a unified call to action to encourage a collaborative, cross-sector approach to combat obesity and to gain a deeper understanding of this complex health issue.

Looking at Guyana’s trends, the minister pointed out that obesity has led to numerous health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

“This alarming trend is mainly due to factors such as urbanisation, changes in dietary patterns, sedentary lifestyles, and socioeconomic disparities.

Obesity is a complex condition influenced by various

genetic, environmental, behavioural, and societal factors,” Dr Anthony disclosed.

In Guyana, dietary habits, physical activity levels, socioeconomic status, and cultural norms, are among the risk factors contributing to the high prevalence of obesity. The consumption of energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods, combined with a decrease in physical activity, is a significant driver of obesity in Guyana, he added.

The health ministry has said that it understands the importance of tackling obesity as a serious public health issue. To reduce the risks associated with obesity, various initiatives and interventions were introduced through its Disease Control Programme. One of these initiatives is to educate the public on how to calculate their Body Mass Index (BMI) to determine their weight status.

BMI is calculated by dividing a person's weight in kilograms by the square of their height in meters.

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony

Overweight is classified as a BMI of 25 to 29.9 kg/m2, while obesity is classified as a BMI of ≥30 kg/m2.

Severe obesity is defined as a BMI ≥40 kg/m2 (or ≥35 kg/m2 in the presence of other health problems). By teaching people how to calculate their BMI, they can use the information to determine what steps they need to take to maintain good health.

“There are several ways

“Spoil Child” remanded for illegal gun, ammo

Charged: Teon Allen, called “Spoil Child”

Forty-two-yearold Teon Allen, called “Spoil Child” of South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, who was apprehended at the Leonora stadium, West Coast Demerara (WCD) with an illegal gun and several live rounds of matching ammunition was on Monday remanded to prison.

He appeared before Magistrate Zameena AliSeepaul at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court where he was charged with the illegal possession of firearm and ammunition without being the holder of a licence.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges, and was remanded to prison until March 27, 2024.

Allen was arrested about 23:00h on Saturday by the Police Officers who were stationed for securi -

The gun and ammunition found in Allen’s possession

ty duty at the venue.

It was reported that upon observing Allen acting in a manner deemed suspicious, law enforcement officers intercepted him and conducted a search upon him.

They found an unlicensed 9mm pistol along with 18 live rounds of matching ammunition in his possession. According to Police, the encounter transpired at the main entrance of the stadium during an ongoing event. Allen was seen

entering with a black Gucci side bag, prompting officers to halt him for inspection.

Despite initial resistance, the Police successfully searched Allen, uncovering the concealed firearm and ammunition within the bag.

When questioned about possessing a licence for the firearm, Allen allegedly behaved disorderly, Police said. He was arrested and transported to the Leonora Police Station, where he was charged.

to combat obesity and related non-communicable diseases. One of them is promoting healthy eating, intermittent fasting and an active lifestyle through educational programs and awareness campaigns. These efforts help people make informed choices in reducing their risk for chronic non-communicable diseases,” the minister shared.

dition and its associated comorbidities. By strengthening the healthcare system's capacity to address obesity, the Ministry aims to improve early detection, intervention, and long-term management of the condition, reducing its impact on individuals and the healthcare system as a whole,” the Minister’s statement out-

able changes that encourage a healthy environment for all Guyanese.”

In recent years, the global prevalence of obesity has reached alarming levels, posing significant public health challenges worldwide.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), obesity is a ma-

lined.

Additionally, the Ministry has worked with different stakeholders such as schools, workplaces, and civil society organizations to create supportive environments that encourage healthy behaviours and foster a culture of wellness.

“The Ministry of Health has made it a priority to improve healthcare services for the prevention and management of obesity-related conditions. This includes screening and counselling services for obesity in primary healthcare settings, as well as specialised care for individuals with the con-

The ministry also indicated that it is committed to creating policy environments that support healthy choices and behaviours. To achieve this, they are in the process of developing nutrition and physical activity guidelines while enforcing regulatory measures to limit the marketing and consumption of unhealthy food and drinks while promoting the availability of nutritious ones.

“The Ministry aims to address the root causes of obesity by advocating for policies and collaborating with stakeholders. Ultimately, our goal is to create sustain-

jor risk factor for several non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular (heart) disease, stroke, and several types of cancer.

In 2021, obesity was responsible for 2.8 million deaths from NCDs in the Americas. In 2022, WHO statistics disclosed that around 37 million children under five globally were affected by being overweight, and over 390 million children and adolescents aged 5–19 years were overweight, including 160 million who were living with obesity. Out of these, 75 percent live in low- and middle-income countries. (G12)

A chart by the Centers for Disease Control highlighting the various BMI ranges

Guyanese businesswoman opens body goals store

After successfully operating two stores in Trinidad and Tobago, the owner of Get Your Body Goals, Keshia Woodman has returned to Guyana to champion the local market.

The 39-year-old businesswoman, who specialises in both surgical and non-surgical cosmetology, has set out to help Guyanese women achieve their desired weight goals while feeling and looking confident on a daily basis.

Services include liquid liposuction, hyaluronic acid-based fillers to lift the butt, skin tightening treatment, electronic therapy, laser hair removal, and body waxing.

Woodman also provides consultation services for the tummy tucks, breast augmentation, breast re-

ductions and Brazilian butt lifts, which are conducted by certified specialists in Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and Miami.

During an interview with <<<Guyana Times>>>, Woodman disclosed that the influx of Guyanese clients inspired her to return to her hometown and open a third store.

This will allow her to provide proper aftercare to clients, especially those that travel for surgical procedures.

On this point, the 39-year-old businesswoman explained that while her business promotes cosmetic surgery, it is paramount for her clients to be healthy and as such, all her clients are encouraged to incorporate physical activity and healthy eating into their daily routine.

“I always promote gym and dieting…even when you’re finished doing your surgical procedure, you

have to diet to maintain it because it’s not like you’re just going to go and get a tummy tuck done and that’s it. You have to gym and diet to maintain it, because you could gain back the weight… You don’t have to be like a Barbie doll, it’s just where you were to where you’re at

now in terms of taking care of yourself. It’s not about looking good alone, for me; it’s about feeling healthy,” Woodman explained.

Woodman added that while her business is geared towards helping women achieve their desired physical appearance, she also

provides her services to men.

Additionally, for persons who may not want to undergo surgical procedures, Woodman produces a wide variety of products to aid in reducing skin hyperpigmentation and acne on the face.

“We also provide feminine products, you can come and pick up your detox tea, waist trainer, anything for breakouts, the turmeric soap, the Kojic soap and stuff like that…I know my service is affordable; the prices are affordable and even if, I meet mommies half way, because like I said I have been there and I can relate to certain things,” Woodman said.

Get Your Body Goals is located at Norton Street, Georgetown. (G1)

Security measures to be improved at prisons

The Guyana Prison Service (GPS) will implement stronger measures and heightened security to prevent contraband items from entering the various prisons across the country.

During a recent interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI), Director of Prisons, Nicklon Elliot stated that this was in keeping with the developmental plans for the prison system.

The Director said the GPS would be looking to install additional scanners, especially detailed systems that could detect and locate forbidden objects concealed under a person’s clothing.

Director of Prisons, Nicklon Elliot

Additionally, the GPS is also considering the im-

plementation of canine and drone patrols.

“There will be no excuse for contraband entering the prison because physical infrastructure itself will create that atmosphere where we will be having all the necessary security checks and security layers in place to prevent and to reduce contraband,” Elliot stated.

He added that indicators such as prison escapes, as well as training and rehabilitation of prisoners, are used to assess the work of the organisation, and there have been noticeable improvements.

Last year, prisoners benefited from several training programmes in vari-

ous skilled areas, providing them with the necessary coping skills to effectively manage themselves while in prison and prevent reoffending.

“Because of these training programmes offered to them, we would have seen a significant reduction in prisoner-to-prisoner violence in

the institution,” the Prisons Director disclosed. He noted too that the Prison Service was seeking to recruit qualified persons who will remain on the job.

Addressing challenges from a policy perspective, Elliott said the organisation is working to improve conditions of service and job sat-

isfaction by providing more opportunities for training, as well as enhancing salaries and allowances.

The GPS recently concluded its Annual Officers Conference, where several topics were discussed, including challenges via case studies, best practices, and addressing those challenges.

UN team says Hamas likely carried out sexual violence in Israel on October 7

AUN team has concluded there are "reasonable grounds to believe" sexual violence, including rape and gang rape, was committed during the Hamas attacks in Israel on 7 October.

They also said there was "convincing information" that hostages had been subjected to sexual violence.

The trip was led by Pramila Patten, the UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict.

Hamas has denied its gunmen sexually assaulted women during the attacks.

"The mission team found that there are reasonable grounds to believe that conflict-related sexual violence occurred in multiple locations during the 7 October attacks," the UN report said.

These happened in at least three locations - the Nova music festival site and its surroundings, Road 232, and Kibbutz Re'im, it added.

On 7 October Hamas gunmen infiltrated southern Israel, where they killed about 1,200 people and took 253 others hostage.

Israel responded by launching a military campaign in Gaza, during which 30,500 people have been killed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

Reports of sexual violence carried out by Hamas - which is proscribed as a terrorist organisation by Israel, the UK

and others - began to emerge soon after 7 October and have accumulated steadily ever since.

The BBC has also seen and heard evidence of rape, sexual violence and mutilation of women.

Warning: Contains graphic descriptions of rape and sexual violence

In the report, the UN said it had "found clear and convincing information that sexual violence, including rape, sexualized torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment has been committed against hostages".

It also said it "has reasonable grounds to believe that such violence may be ongoing against those still held in captivity".

The UN team visited Israel between 29 January and 14 February.

The mission made up of Ms Patten and nine experts and was not investigative in nature, but designed to gather and verify allegations, the UN said.

It added that 33 meetings were held with Israeli representatives, and more than 5,000 photographic images were examined as well as 50 hours of video footage.

The report said that "despite concerted efforts to encourage" victims to come forward, the team was unable to interview any of them.

Some allegations of rape

and sexual violence could not be verified or were "unfounded", the report explained, including the graphically publicised case of a pregnant woman whose womb was reportedly torn open and her foetus stabbed.

It also said it had not been able to establish a discernible pattern of genital mutilation.

The UN team said it also received information about sexual violence against Palestinian men and women in detention settings, during house raids and at checkpoints after 7 October.

Israel has rejected similar allegations made previously by a panel of independent UN experts as "despicable and unfounded".

Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz has accused the UN of trying to "keep quiet the serious UN report".

He criticised UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres for not convening the Security Council to discuss the findings and in order to declare Hamas a terrorist organisation.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that Mr Guterres "has fully supported" Ms Patten's work in her visit to Israel.

"In no way, shape or form did the secretary-general do anything to keep the report 'quiet.' In fact, the report is being presented publicly today," Mr Dujarric said.(BBC)

Owner of Get Your Body Goals, Keshia Woodman

Refugees, migrants in Latin America and Caribbean benefit local economies – new studies

Forcibly displaced people in Latin America and the Caribbean can contribute significantly to the economies where they live if they have the opportunity, according to two new studies released by the World Bank (WB), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR.

Refugees and migrants are filling important gaps in local labour markets and boosting the demand for goods and services, which may increase tax revenues and raise the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of receiving countries. However, they often find themselves in vulnerable situations.

Although the majority of this population is of working age, has a high level of education and is in employment, they are frequently overqualified for their jobs and engaged in informal activities, limiting their wages, and exacerbating their food insecurity.

The studies, “Venezuelans in Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru – A Development Opportunity” (WB and UNHCR) and “SocioEconomic Integration of Forcibly Displaced Populations in Latin America and the Caribbean” (IDB, OECD,

and UNHCR), are part of inter-agency cooperation to respond to the needs of forcibly displaced people. They highlight how targeted policies can ease access to formal labour markets and basic services, such as education and healthcare, to enable refugees and migrants to better contribute to their host countries.

“Population movements can benefit host communities and countries if the right policies are implemented,” says Carolina Mejía Mantilla, author of the study conducted by the World Bank and UNHCR. “Targeted policies that promote their economic inclusion in labour markets, grant them access to basic services, and foster their social inclusion are essen -

tial to materialize these benefits,” she adds.

Studies estimate GDP growth among the largest recipient countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to be an average of 0.10 to 0.25 percentage points a year between 2017 and 2030.

“The Venezuelan exodus appears to have had a positive effect on economic growth in the region, thanks to additional labour supply and the boost to demand,” reports the World Bank-UNHCR study.

The flow of displaced people across the Americas has surged as violence, insecurity, inequality, and human rights violations persist. As of mid-2023, according to UNHCR, there

St Vincent court orders deportation of Grenadian fugitives

St Vincent magistrate’s court Monday ordered that three Grenadian fugitives, who are suspected of murdering two United States sailors after escaping from a police station in Grenada be repatriated to their homeland.

Ron Mitchell, 30, Trevon Robertson, 25 and 23-year-old Atiba Stanislaus, all of Paradise, St. Andrew, Grenada, are suspected of killing Ralph Hendry and Kathy Brandel after hijacking

their yacht and sailing it to St. Vincent following their escape from a police station in St. George’s on February 18.

The men were charged jointly with one count of robbery with violence. Additionally, Mitchell was charged separately with one count of rape, three counts of attempted rape, two counts of indecent assault, and causing harm.

They were arrested in Petit Bordel, a village on the island’s northwest coast on February 21, with

Mitchell suffering a gunshot wound to the leg allegedly after he began wrestling with officers, an allegation he denied in court on Monday.

The men reappeared in court on Monday, one week after pleading guilty to four immigration charges.

Senior Magistrate Colin John, who had remanded them in custody pending the sentencing, ruled that repatriating them would best serve the course of justice. (Excerpted from CMC)

were 22.1 million displaced people in the Americas. Latin America and the Caribbean accounted for approximately one third of all new individual asylum applications globally.

Encompassing forcibly displaced populations in Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, and Peru, the study by IDB, OECD and UNHCR reveals that forcibly displaced youth have more difficulty than their native-born counterparts in remaining in education

and finding jobs. Displaced children attend school at lower rates and drop out more frequently than nationals, which has implications for generational integration. Additionally, women have lower employment rates than men, both native-born and displaced.

As part of this inter-agency cooperation, the studies undertaken are a good example of how international financial institutions and development actors have the influence, technical expertise, and financial resources necessary to enhance public services and employment prospects in countries hosting forcibly displaced populations. These publications represent a critical step toward fostering solutions and ensuring the full socio-economic inclusion of this population in host countries.

The studies also highlight how xenophobia and discrimination may negatively impact on the socio-economic inclusion of refugees and migrants and can diminish their ability to participate in host communities.

The study by the World Bank and UNHCR found that the majority of

Venezuelans desired to remain in their host country. However, their participation in the community was limited primarily to religious activity - despite shared language and cultural ties. In the four host countries, 26 to 40 per cent of Venezuelans reported instances of discrimination, particularly women and youth.

This was also reflected in the IDB/OECD/UNHCR study, which found that in Chile, Colombia, and Peru, approximately 30 per cent of displaced individuals reported discrimination based on their origin. The World Bank/UNHCR study recommended that government policy promote social cohesion, prevent exclusion, and minimize adverse impacts on local populations.

Although these studies serve as the most comprehensive available source that compares refugees and migrants with the native-born population, more systematic inclusion of refugees and migrants in official data collection exercises is imperative to effectively inform and improve public policies.

(caribbean.un.org)

Gabriela, a Venezuelan entrepreneur, runs a pastry business in Ecuador that provides jobs to refugees, migrants, and nationals, contributing to the country’s economy

Ron Mitchell, 30; Trevon Robertson, 25 and Atiba Stanislaus, 23

Regional Apology not accepted – J'ca Information Minister Nesta Morgan sued for alleged defamation

Just over two weeks after being forced to apologise and withdraw defamatory comments he allegedly made on an online platform, Information Minister Robert Nesta Morgan has been sued in the Supreme Court of Jamaica.

His accuser, former Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) special agent and attorney Wilfred Rattigan, has made good on his threat to seek redress in the courts on the matter, instructing his attorney Isat Buchanan to file the suit on February 26, 2024.

The lawsuit includes claims for damages, damages for defamation, and damages for negligence. It also seeks: “Interest at such rate and for such period as this honourable court deems just pursuant to the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act or at such rate for such a period as the court sees fit.”

Rattigan, a fiery Jamaican-American, is also seeking costs against minister Morgan as well as any such further relief as the Supreme Court may deem fit. The suit did not mention any monetary amount as a settlement.

The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), out of which Morgan operates as

people, made defamatory

minister without portfolio with responsibility for information, and the attorney general of Jamaica have been listed as defendants in the case.

Rattigan is claiming in his suit that Morgan on January 21, 2024, while engaged on a local talk show CHOPPSMEDIA, which broadcasts to thousands of

Haiti violence: Gangs demand PM resign after mass jailbreak

Haiti's government declared a 72-hour state of emergency on Sunday after armed gangs stormed a major prison. At least 12 people were killed and about 3,700 inmates escaped in the jailbreak.

Gang leaders are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, whose whereabouts are unknown since he travelled to Kenya.

Gangs control around 80% of the capital, Port-auPrince.

Gang violence has plagued Haiti for years.

A government statement said two prisons - one in Port-au-Prince and the other in nearby Croix des Bouquets - were stormed over the weekend.

It said the acts of "disobedience" were a threat to national security and said it was instituting an immediate night-time curfew in response, which started

at 20:00 local time (01:00 GMT on Monday).

Haitian media reported that police stations were attacked, distracting authorities before the coordinated assault on the jails.

Among those detained in Port-au-Prince were suspects charged in connection with the 2021 killing of President Jovenel Moïse.

In the capital, gangs have erected barricades to prevent security forces from encroaching on their territory, while their strongholds in Port-au-Prince's vast shantytowns are still largely on lockdown.

Schools and many businesses are closed, and there are reports of looting in some neighbourhoods including Delmas, Croix des Bouquets and Clercine.

People are scared and the streets are empty, Boby Sander from the humanitarian aid organisation Food for the Hungry told the BBC.

Since Friday, 15,000

people have been displaced from their homes and many are now staying in a school building in the centre of Port-au-Prince, Mr Sander said.

His organisation has only been able to provide them with hygiene kits to last a few days. "We don't have the adequate capacity to deal with the complexity of the need increasing," he added.

People have fled their homes in neighbourhoods taken over by gangs, Mr Sander said, adding that he let his staff go home early for their safety.

The latest upsurge in violence began on Thursday, when the prime minister travelled to Nairobi to discuss sending a Kenyaled multinational security force to Haiti.

Gang leader Jimmy Chérizier (nicknamed Barbecue) declared a co-ordinated attack to remove him. (Excerpt from BBC News)

statements against him.

The claim alleges that in the defamatory statement Morgan stated that Rattigan was “dishonourably discharged from the FBI and has never served in Jamaica as claimed”. The claim noted further that:

“The context of the conversation which the 1st defendant had on the broadcast was done in such a way to discredit the claimant. The first defendant has sought to disparage the claimant and ruin his reputation by the nature of his

false statement.

“The said defamatory statements were calculated and/or intended to and did cause injury to the claimant’s goodwill; the statement did expose the claimant to hatred, contempt and ridicule.”

According to the suit, “The claimant suffered loss and damage to his reputation, as well as negative opinions and disapproval of and refusal to do business with the claimant.”

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Cuba turns to World Food Programme for milk supply as crisis deepens

Cuba on Monday confirmed it had sought help from the World Food Programme to guarantee the supply of subsidized powdered milk for children, according to a report in staterun media, a sign of deepening economic woes on the communist-run Caribbean island.

Cuba first announced in February that it was struggling to shore up milk supply as domestic production falters, the latest shortage to strain a decades-old subsidies scheme created by the late Fidel Castro. "Cuba requested (World Food Programme) assistance for the purchase of powdered milk in order to guarantee supply to Cuban boys and girls," state-run me-

dia outlet CubaDebate reported on Monday.

A ship carrying 375 tons of powdered milk is set to arrive in the coming days from Brazil as a result of Cuba`s request to the World Food Programme, CubaDebate said.

Spanish news agency EFE first reported Cuba`s decision to seek aid from the World Food Programme last week. Cuban officials said in February the country had also run short of wheat, forcing it to slash the supply of subsidized bread.

Both bread and milk for children are key components of Cuba`s "rationbook" system introduced after Castro's 1959 revolution to provide subsidized staples for all.

The system however has fallen into disarray as economic crisis handicaps the communist-run government's ability to make good on its commitments, prompting shortages in food, fuel and medicine. Cuba blames the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic and stiffened sanctions against the island implemented under former U.S. President Donald Trump for fueling economic crisis and handicapping its purchasing power on global markets.

Cuba nonetheless said on Monday it had also purchased 500 tons of milk from the United States, under exceptions that allow for the sale of agricultural products, as well as from Canada and Brazil. (Reuters)

Direct flights between T&T, Dom Rep likely

More direct flights between T&T and the Dominican Republic may be in the offing as this country is pursuing new opportunities with the DR in a number of areas.

This was revealed by acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Paul Gopee-Scoon, who shared some of details of the relationship between the countries at the National Day of the Dominican Republic which took place on Tuesday evening at the Club Room, The Renaissance at Shorelands.

In recognizing the continued importance the DR plays in this country’s economic and bilateral relations, Gopee-Scoon, whose substantive post is Minister of Trade and Industry, noted that there are other avenues that could bring tangible benefits to T&T and the Dominican Republic.

“There are several areas that we are keen to pursue, including closer ties in our tourism and agricultural sectors. Most importantly, more direct journeys between our two countries will significantly bolster exchanges in these and other areas of cooperation,”

Gopee-Scoon said. She added that this, together with other agreements, remains under active consideration by relevant authorities, given the benefits that may accrue through closer collaboration.

Further, Gopee-Scoon identified that this country’s commercial attaché based in Kingston, but assigned to also deal with trade relations with the Dominican Republic, has taken up duty and will be working toward dedicatedly deepening this relationship.

On the diplomatic front, Gopee-Scoon revealed that T&T’s Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Deryck Murray, presented his Letters of Credence to President Abinader in November 2023.

“Following his fruitful visit, Ambassador Murray has indicated specific areas of focus between Trinidad and Tobago and the Dominican Republic and we are keen to continue the momentum in exchanges going forward,” GopeeScoon stated.

She further noted that T&T and the Dominican

Republic continue to work together in multilateral fora where collaboration on significant matters including climate change and climate financing takes place which remains crucial to sustainability and development.

In this vein, the minister said both countries look forward to continuing this engagement at the United Nations and Cariforum, amongst other platforms.

In commending the Dominican Republic ambassador to T&T, Wellington Darío Bencosme Castaños for his “very active efforts” toward deepening the relationship between the two countries, Gopee-Scoon advised that it is essential that, as neighbours in the Caribbean Sea, that the region continues to be a zone of peace and to build the prosperity of all the citizens.

Bencosme, in his remarks, also acknowledged the challenges faced in terms of connectivity in the region, as he too recognised the need to have a direct flight between this country and the Dominican Republic. (Excerpt from T&T Guardian)

Information Minister Robert Nesta Morgan

Former FBI Special Agent Wilfred Rattigan

Tyres were set on fire outside the main prison in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince

Around the World

OOIL NEWS

Oil settles lower on weak demand despite OPEC+ cut extension

il prices settled slightly lower on Monday, as demand headwinds counterbalanced a widely expected extension of voluntary output cuts through the middle of the year by the OPEC+ producer group.

Brent futures settled down 75 cents to $82.80 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) settled down $1.24, or 1.5%, to $78.74 a barrel.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies (OPEC+) are extending their voluntary oil output cuts of 2.2 million barrels per day (bpd) into the second quarter to support prices amid global growth concerns and rising output outside the group.

However, the end of a warm winter across the northern hemisphere is weighing on oil prices despite the OPEC+ announcement, said John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital LLC in New York.

"We would have needed sustained heating oil demand to keep the complex up," Kilduff said.

U.S. product supplies of distillate fuel oil, which includes heating oil, declined in December to 3.61 million barrels per day (bpd), down about 10% from November and the lowest since June 2020, data from the Energy Information Administration showed last week.

As market expectations for a rollover had grown more apparent recently, the OPEC+ reduction extension may have been increasingly priced in, said Walt Chancellor, an energy strategist at Macquarie.

"With OPEC loadings appearing steady and aggregate OPEC supply potentially showing little effect from incremental voluntary cuts implemented in Q1, we do not view the extensions from the broader group as particularly impactful," he said.

Still, Russia's announcement that it was cutting its oil output and exports by an additional 471,000 bpd in the second quarter surprised some analysts.

Russia's additional cut is closely correlated with a 400,000 bpd drop in its refinery runs, largely stemming from Ukrainian drone strikes on refining assets across Russia, lead crude oil analyst at Kpler Viktor Katona said.

While there has been little price movement because the OPEC+ decision had been expected, low-sulphur, or sweet, crude markets are tightening, widening Brent spreads, traders said. (Excerpted from Reuters)

Children starving to death in northern Gaza hospitals – WHO chief

An aid mission to two hospitals in northern Gaza found horrifying scenes of children dying of starvation, amid dire shortages of food, fuel and medicines, the World Health Organization said Monday.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the agency’s visits over the weekend to the Al-Awda and Kamal Adwan hospitals “were the first since early October 2023 despite our efforts to gain more regular access to the north of Gaza”.

The findings were “grim”, he said on X, adding that “the situation at AlAwda was particularly appalling, as one of the buildings is destroyed”.

The Kamal Adwan hospital, the only paediatrics hospital in northern Gaza, was overwhelmed with patients, he said.

“The lack of food resulted in the deaths of 10 children,” Tedros said.

Palestinians line up for a free meal in Rafah, Gaza Strip, Thursday, December 21, 2023. International aid agencies say Gaza is suffering from shortages of food, medicine and other basic supplies as a result of the war between Israel and Hamas

In all, the Gaza health ministry has said at least 16 children have died of malnutrition in aid-deprived northern Gaza. The United Nations warned last week that famine in the Gaza Strip was “almost inevitable” because of the war that has been raging in the Palestinian territory since Hamas militants carried out an unprecedented attack inside Israel

on October 7. That attack resulted in the deaths of about 1,160 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official figures.

It also saw the militants abduct 250 hostages, of whom 130 remain in captivity, including 31 presumed dead, according to Israel.

Israel’s retaliatory offensive against the Palestinian territory has killed more than 30,500 people, most-

ly women and children, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza.

In addition to the dire lack of food at the two northern hospitals, Tedros also cautioned on X that “the lack of electricity poses a serious threat to patient care, especially in critical areas like the intensive care unit and the neonatal unit”.

During the weekend mission, the UN health agency delivered 9,500 litres of fuel to each hospital, along with some essential medical supplies, he said.

“This is a fraction of the urgent lifesaving needs.”

The WHO chief reiterated an appeal to Israel to “ensure humanitarian aid can be delivered safely, and regularly”.

“Civilians, especially children, and health staff need scaled-up help immediately,” he said, stressing though that “the key medicine all these patients need is peace. Ceasefire.” (AFP)

France makes abortion a constitutional right

France has become the first country in the world to explicitly include the right to abortion in its constitution.

Parliamentarians voted to revise the country's 1958 constitution to enshrine women's "guaranteed freedom" to abort.

The overwhelming 78072 vote saw a standing ovation in the parliament in Versailles when the result was announced.

President Emmanuel Macron described the move as "French pride" that had sent a "universal message".

However anti-abortion groups have strongly criticised the change, as has the Vatican.

Abortion has been legal in France since 1975, but polls show around 85% of the public supported amending the constitution to protect the right to end a pregnancy.

And while several other countries include reproductive rights in their constitutions - France is the first to explicitly state that an abortion will be guaranteed.

It becomes the 25th amendment to modern France's founding document, and the first since 2008.

Following the vote, the Eiffel Tower in Paris was lit up in celebration, with the message: "My Body My

Choice".

Before the vote, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal told parliament that the right to abortion remained "in danger" and "at the mercy of decision makers".

"We're sending a message to all women: your body belongs to you and no one can decide for you," he added.

While resistance from right-wingers in parliament failed to materialise, President Macron has been accused of using the constitution for electoral ends.

Critics say the revision is not necessarily wrong in itself, but unnecessary, and accused the president of trying to use the cause to

boost his left-wing credentials.

Since 1975 the law has been updated nine timesand on each occasion with the aim of extending access.

France's constitutional council - the body that decides on the constitutionality of laws - has never raised a query.

In a 2001 ruling, the council based its approval of abortion on the notion of liberty enshrined in the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man, which is technically part of the constitution.

So many jurists say abortion was already a constitutional right. (Excerpted from BBC News)

US Supreme Court rules Colorado cannot ban Trump from presidential ballot

The US Supreme Court has struck down efforts by individual states to disqualify Donald Trump from running for president using an anti-insurrection constitutional clause.

The unanimous ruling is specific to Colorado, but it also overrides challenges brought in other states.

Colorado had barred Mr Trump from its Republican primary, arguing he incited the 2021 Capitol riot.

The court ruled that only Congress, rather than the states, had that power.

The top court's decision clears the way for Mr Trump to compete in the Colorado primary scheduled for Tuesday. Mr Trump is the front-runner for the Republican nomination

and looks likely to face a rematch with Democratic President Joe Biden in

November's general election.

On Monday, the ex-president immediately claimed victory following the ruling, taking to his Truth Social media platform to claim a "big win for America". The message was quickly followed by a fundraising email sent to supporters of his campaign.

Speaking from his estate in Mar-a-Lago, Florida soon after, he said that the decision was "very well crafted" and will "go a long way towards bringing our country together, which it needs".

"You can't take someone out of a race because an opponent would like it

that way," Mr Trump added.

Colorado's Secretary of State, Jena Griswold, said that she was disappointed by the ruling and that "Colorado should be able to bar oath-breaking insurrections from our ballot".

Additionally, the watchdog group that brought the case in Colorado, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (Crew), said in a statement that while the court "failed to meet the moment", it is "still a win for democracy: Trump will go down in history as an insurrectionist".

Two other states, Maine and Illinois , had followed Colorado in kicking Mr Trump off the ballot on

similar grounds.

The efforts in both states were put on hold while his challenge to the Colorado ruling was escalated to the Supreme Court.

"We conclude that states may disqualify persons holding or attempting to hold state office," the court's opinion says. "But states have no power under the Constitution to enforce Sections 3 with respect to federal offices, especially the presidency."

The nine justices ruled that only Congress can enforce the 14th Amendment's provisions against federal officials and candidates. (Excerpted from BBC News)

Former US President Donald Trump

SUDOKU

(March 21-April 19)

(April 20-May 20)

(May 21-June 20)

(June 21-July 22)

(July 23-Aug. 22)

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

Learn from your mistakes. Don’t trust hearsay or give in to pressure tactics. Surround yourself with those who have something to offer, and share your concerns and feelings.

Expand your interests, learn something new and keep up with the times. How you hone your skills to accommodate what’s trending will help you stay on top of your game.

What you want to achieve will require more than intellect. Doing things yourself will ensure success. Expect someone you trust to let you down. Don’t believe everything you hear.

Examine relationships. Adjusting how you divvy up your time will allow you to take the path that stimulates you most. Don’t feel obligated to put someone else’s needs ahead of yours.

You can have fun without overspending. Say no to shared expenses and joint ventures. Someone will take advantage of your generosity if you aren’t careful. Put your energy into self-improvement.

Initiate the changes you want to make without hesitation. Stopping to accommodate someone else will cost you. Put your needs first. Don’t be afraid to turn something down.

Put your head down and don’t look up until you complete what you are doing. Concentration and determination will help you outmaneuver any challenge you face. Be good to yourself.

Don’t act prematurely. Gather facts, evaluate your situation and recognize the best place to channel your energy. Don’t let anger take the reins. Rely on your intuition.

Keep an open mind, but don’t let anyone push you in the wrong direction. Being able to say no will empower you to take charge and do what’s best for you. Worry less about what others think.

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Make changes that help you build equity. You’ll discover that you have more to work with than anticipated. Sell off what you don’t need and invest in yourself and your quality of life.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

Take it down a notch and give yourself a chance to breathe. If you act in haste, you’ll have a mess to clean up and questions to answer. relying on experts will help you keep things balanced.

Rely on yourself and lend a helping hand, and you’ll open a door that leads to opportunities. Voice your opinion; your words will resonate with someone who will become instrumental in your journey forward. Don’t hold back; be the one to make things happen.

PEANUTS

CALVIN AND HOBBES

PICKLES

ARCHIE

TAU honours Grandmaster Anand at chess festival in Guyana

Texila American University (TAU) proudly hosted a prestigious chess festival organised by the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF), with special guest Grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand, on

Officer (COO), Dr Ajay Kumar Singh Rajput warmly welcomed Grandmaster Anand and expressed gratitude for his participation in the festival. Grandmaster Anand was also treated to a presentation about Texila

the university campus. The event was generously sponsored by TAU, and was aimed at promoting the game of chess among students and youth in Guyana. Grandmaster Anand, a renowned figure in the world of chess, interacted with students, professors, and attendees, sharing his valuable insights and experiences in the game. He also had the opportunity to witness 200 children from various schools across Guyana participating in chess matches, inspiring and motivating them with his presence.

TAU Chief Operating

in the boardroom, showcasing the institution's commitment to excellence in education and community engagement.

GCF President Anand Ragnauth was also present at the event, further highlighting the collaborative efforts between the Federation and Texila in promoting chess in Guyana.

TAU President and

GCB receives big boost for youth cricket

As the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) continues its aggressive marketing strategy, Vibrant Capital Partners Inc, a USbased company, has contributed the significant sum of US$10,000 towards the development of young cricketers in Guyana.

The company provides investment services and is located at 350 Madison Avenue, Floor 17, New York, NY 10027, USA. It is owned by active partners and employees, and is specialised in structured credit and syndicated credit including Collateralised Loan Obligation (CLO) management.

At a simple but significant ceremony held last Friday evening at the Princess Ramada Hotel, Anita Kallicharran of Vibrant Capital Partners Inc presented the donation to Dr Brian Sukhai, Treasurer of the GCB. Kallicharran, the wife of

Derek Kallicharran, former Berbice, Guyana and West Indies B all-rounder, said that she was really impressed with the work of the GCB and its focus on the development of young cricketers, hence the support of her company.

Dr Sukhai, in reply, was very grateful for the contribution towards the develop-

ment of young cricketers in Guyana, and encouraged other companies and private individuals to come on board. He made a commitment to place the company’s logo on the uniforms of the national Under-19 team which will participate in the regional youth tournament to be held later in the year.

Founder Saju Bhaskar expressed his enthusiasm for sponsoring such initiatives that encourage intellectual development and sportsmanship among the youth. Despite his absence due to prior commitments, Bhaskar's vision for promoting education and extracurricular activities remains steadfast.

The chess festival

serves as a testament to the importance of fostering intellectual pursuits and community engagement, with Grandmaster Anand's presence adding prestige and inspiration to the event.

About Texila American University:

Texila American University is an interna-

tional medical school located in Georgetown, Guyana, dedicated to providing quality education in medicine, management, public health, and information technology. With a commitment to excellence and innovation, TAU aims to produce highly-skilled healthcare professionals equipped to address global health challenges.

RHTY&SC/Food For The Poor/Superbet Tribute To Heroes... Port Mourant Hospital staff honoured by RHT Town Pepsi U23

As they prepare themselves for the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB)/ Dior's Bits and Pieces Under-23 cricket tournament final, the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sport Club (RHTY&SC) Pepsi Under-23 team took time out of their busy schedule to host their annual tribute to medical heroes programme for staff of the Port Mourant public hospital on Friday last.

The ceremony launched the RHTY&SC Tribute To Heroes programme for 2024, and a total of 60 persons are expected to be honoured during the year.

Club Secretary Hilbert Foster stated that the Pepsi team first hosted their medical tribute programme in 2014 and have successfully hosted it every year since then. Over the last 10 years, a total of 70 staff of the hospital have been honoured. The idea for this tribute programme came about after the Secretary was a patient at the public hospital in 2014 and was very impressed with the professionalism of the staff. The objectives of the tribute to the medical workers programme are to honour outstanding staff of the hospital, to identify role

models for others to emulate, and to inspire the entire staff to give their best service to the general public.

Those honoured were Yonette Saw of the therapy unit; Greg Yaw Poter, Melissa Saul Nurse and Diane McDonnell of the dental unit and Sita Sookshine of the laundry department. They all received a Superbet trophy of excellence, medals of excellence, framed certificates and a combined $400,000 worth of prizes from the team. Among the gifts that were donated by the club’s partner Food For The Poor Guyana Inc were three extra-large outdoor swimming pools and two large ice boxes/coolers. The awardees also received a special collection of prizes in a Mike’s Pharmacy gift bag.

Foster, the former BCB President, urged the awardees to always strive for excellence and to treat all the persons seeking medical care with respect and dignity. He noted that the club was very delighted to be a partner with the hospital and pledged that it would continue to assist in the future. The cricket teams of the RHTY&SC, apart from hosting the programme, have also made numerous dona-

tions to the hospital. Among the items donated were exercise equipment, electric fans, office equipment, clocks, food hampers for staff, medical supplies, and therapeutic items. Administrator of the hospital, Shaneeza Nabi expressed thanks to the Pepsi team and their management, and all of the RHTY&SC for their continued support. She congratulated the staff on a job well done and urged them to continue working as a collective body so that the residents of Berbice would benefit.

Meanwhile, the club also honoured the staff of the therapy unit of the hospital during the ceremony. Each staff member received a trophy and a Mike’s Pharmacy gift. The awardees all expressed gratitude to the club and the team while wishing them success on and off the cricket field in the future. The team include players like Kevlon Anderson, Junior Sinclair, Jonathan Rampersaud, Matthew Pottaya, Ramzan Koobir, Sohil Mohammed, and Ramesh Bharrat. The club officials in charge of the Pepsi team are Robby Kissoonlall, Keith Hicks, and Tyrone Pottaya.

Scenes from the chess festival at which Grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand was honoured by TAU

The awardees pose with hospital and RHTY&SC officials

The donation being presented to the GCB by Vibrant Capital Partners Inc

Briton, Alexander, Segun and Junior cope victories

The first leg of the Cheddi Jagan Memorial road race was held on Sunday on the West Demerara roadway which saw a glimpse of cycling action from experienced cyclists and juniors.

The 41-mile race started at Schoonord and the cyclists then proceeded to Bushy Park, Parika before returning to the point of origin for the finish.

Briton John won the Senior/Open race ahead of Christopher Griffith, Segun Hubbard, Alexander Leung, Kwame Ridley, and Aaron Newton, in that order; in the Junior category, Leung won ahead of Newton and Nivone Wilson.

Hubbard was the top rider in the Veterans Under-50 division, winning ahead of Ridley and Roy Mangru, while Junior Niles, Mark Spencer, and Ian Jackson took 1-2-3 respectively in the Veterans Over-50.

Abigail Jeffrey was the lone female rider.

Present to award the top riders were Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal; Minister within the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry Anand Persaud

Alexander Leung receiving his first-place prize for the junior category

and long-standing People’s Progressive Party (PPP) member Neil Kumar.

The second leg of the Cheddi Jagan Memorial road race will be held on March 10 in Berbice start -

ing at Freedom House, New Amsterdam, at 08:00h, before cyclists proceed to Springlands Police Station, and then return to Port Mourant for the finish, covering a distance of 70 miles.

Jahshii joins Slingerz FC for training

…former Elite League champions in action tonight against Fruta Conquerors

DBCB/Dior’s Bits and Pieces U23… RHT Pepsi roll over Albion to lift 2023 title

…Matthew Pottaya named Man of the Match

Abrilliant all- round performance by national Under-17 Vice Captain Matthew Pottaya spearheaded his team Rose Hall Town Pepsi to defeat Albion in the final of the Berbice Cricket Board/ Dior’s Bits and Pieces Under-23 tournament.

The final was played at the Bush Lot Sports Club Ground in West Berbice in steamy weather before a fair-sized crowd.

Albion, led by former national Under-19 player Kelvin Umroa, elected to bat first against the Kevlon Anderson-led Rose Hall Town Pepsi.

were Afraz Budhoo (5); Gaurav Ramesh (0); Leon Cecil (15) and Umroa (1) while Pottaya got rid of Devin Lalbehari (3) and Nazeem Khan (0).

Amazon Warriors all-rounder Junior Sinclair got rid of Arvin Jawarhir, who scored 18 including two boundaries. Sandia

Jawarhir, but level-headed batting by Sandia took Rose Hall Town Pepsi to victory with 13 overs remaining. Victory was achieved via a wide delivery to Sohil Mohammed. Jawarhir took 2 for 23 and Cecil 2 for 18. They were the best bowlers for Albion while Nazeem Khan, Umroa and Gourav

A

ancehall sensation Jahshii, celebrated for his dual talents on stage and the football field, joined Slingerz FC for their recent training session at the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) National Training Centre (NTC) in Providence.

Tonight, Slingerz FC will kick off a double-header at the NTC in the GFF/ GFC Elite League, facing off against Fruta Conquerors at 18:30h (6:30pm), while Den Amstel take on Santos.

Mluleki Clarke, aka Jahshii, honed his football skills at Excelsior High School before pursuing his music career.

After finding success in music, he rekindled his passion for football, competing in Jamaica’s Wray & Nephew KSAFA Championship with Constant Spring FC and now with Shortwood FC.

Slingerz FC Coach Alex Thomas was delighted to see Jahshii arrive first at the training venue, noting his full engagement in the ses-

sion.

Thomas and the Slingerz FC squad were thrilled to host the acclaimed Dancehall artiste, who recently performed alongside fellow Jamaican star Masicka during Slingerz Entertainment’s West Side Mashramani Weekend celebration.

In their return to the Elite League, Slingerz dominated with a 7-0 victory over Monedderlust, led by Marcus Tudor's remarkable five-goal performance.

Albion were given a flying start with Ari Arizal Kadir tearing into Anderson and Raj Tika. They lost Tameshwar Mangal caught behind by Sohil Mohammed off Anderson at 29 for one in the third over. Damian Cecil joined Kadir at the crease and they added 26 for the second wicket before Cecil was trapped lbw by national Under-19 off spinner Jonathan Rampersaud for 14. Kadir was then dismissed to leave Albion at 65 for three

ended with four for 18 from seven very impressive overs while Pottaya had 2 for 1, Rampersaud 2 for 17, Sinclair 1 for 17, and Anderson 1 for 33.

With their team needing to score 119 from their

in the 12th over. The introduction of national youth spinner Jeremy Sandia and Matthew Pottaya caused several headaches for the Albion team as they lost their last seven wickets for just 53 runs to be dismissed for 118 in the 31st over. The batsmen dismissed by the left-arm spin of Sandia

allotted 40 overs to lift another Berbice championship, Rose Hall Town Pepsi openers Sinclair and the promising Romesh Bharrat added 29 before Sinclair was caught off Jawarhir for 12. Bharrat soon followed Sinclair at 36 for 2 in the sixth over when he was also dismissed by

Ramesh each took a wicket. Berbice Competition Committee Chairman Leslie Solomon hailed the tournament as a success and expressed thanks to Sandie Ross for her support of Berbice cricket.

BCB President Cecil Beharry congratulated both teams on a competitive final, and pledged that his administration would continue to organise similar tournaments in the future.

Dior’s Bits and Pieces representative Ranjiv Kishan stated that Sandie Ross was very happy to sponsor the tournament. He expressed satisfaction with the way the tournament was organised by the Dr Beharry administration. The winning team received $100,000 and the championship trophy while Albion took home $50,000 and a trophy. The Man of the Final, Pottaya, also took home a financial prize and a trophy. Rose Hall Town Pepsi Captain Anderson dedicated his team’s victory to the management and staff of the Demerara Distillers Limited, especially the marketing representative of Pepsi.

Members of the Slingerz team take a photo opportunity with Dancehall star Jahshii

look at Jahshii in action on the football pitch

The winning Rose Hall Town Pepsi team

Man of the Final Matthew Pottaya receives his prize

Rose Hall Town Pepsi Captain Kevlon Anderson receives the trophy from Dior’s Bits and Pieces representative Rajiv Kishun

Essequibo schools benefit from GBA visit, Shuttle Time programme

On Friday last, the Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) visited Region Two’s Essequibo Coast to introduce and demonstrate badminton to three secondary schools in the region – Aurora Secondary, Abram Zuil Secondary and Anna Regina Multilateral School – and also donated equipment through the Shuttle Time Programme to promote and develop badminton in Guyana.

LGC hosts successful Survival Annual Golf Tournament …

Ganpat emerges victorious

The Shuttle Time Programme was introduced to some schools in the Berbice region in 2019 and a follow-up was done in 2023 producing athletes who compete in the GBA tournaments. In 2023, during the National Junior Tournament, sponsored by the National Sports Commission, the Director of Sports, Steve Ninvalle challenged the GBA Executives to take the sport of badminton to Region Two. The GBA is happy to report that the challenge was accepted and the Shuttle Time Programme was implemented in the Cinderella County. It will now follow up with the PE teachers, and visit the schools as well as assist with equipment whenever it can.

The Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) proudly hosted the highly-anticipated Survival Annual Golf Tournament, showcasing the exceptional talent and sportsmanship of golfers from across the region. With a day filled with excitement and camaraderie, participants put their skills to the test in a thrilling display of precision and technique.

The overall winner of the Survival Annual Golf Tournament was Hardeo Ganpat, who achieved an impressive best net score of 63. Ganpat's remarkable achievement underscores his mastery of the game and serves as a testament to his dedication and perseverance on the course.

and determination, securing the first-place position. Ganpat's stellar performance highlighted his talent and ability to rise to the occasion under pressure.

In the fiercely-contested 0-13 flight, Mohanlall Dinnauth emerged victorious, demonstrating outstanding prowess and strategic play throughout the tournament. Dinnauth's exceptional performance earned him the coveted first-place spot in his division, showcasing his dedication and commitment to the sport.

Meanwhile, in the 1436 flight category, Ganpat showcased remarkable skill

LGC President Patanjilee Persaud said, “"We are thrilled to have hosted another successful edition of the Survival Annual Golf Tournament and we would like to thank Survival for their unwavering support. Congratulations to Mohanlall Dinnauth and Hardeo Ganpat for their outstanding performances in their respective flights. Their skill and sportsmanship are truly commendable."

The success of the Survival Annual Golf Tournament would not have been possible without the dedication and support of the participants, sponsors, and organisers. As the golfing community looks forward to future events, the spirit of camaraderie and competition continues to thrive on the greens of the LGC.

The results for the tournament are as follows:

0-13 Flight

1st: Mohanlall Dinnauth – Gross 74, HC 7, Net 67

2nd: Patanjilee Persaud – Gross 83, HC 13, Net 70

3rd: Feroze Barkat –Gross 83, HC 11, Net 72

4th: Daso Ramsundar –Gross 85, HC 11, Net 74

14-36 Flight

1st: Hardeo Ganpat –Gross 89, HC 26, Net 63

2nd: Eureka Giddings –Gross 87, HC 23, Net 64

3rd: Anasha Ally – Gross 93, HC 25, Net 68

4th: Jason Clarke –Gross 89, HC 21, Net 68

* Overall Best Net –Hardeo Ganpat (63)

* Longest Drive – Feroze Barkat

* Nearest to Pin –Maurice Solomon

In 2012, Badminton

programme

World Federation (BWF) launched Shuttle Time globally. Shuttle Time is a schools’ badminton programme supporting the principle that children should lead a healthy and active life, both in and out of school. BWF’s goal is to make badminton one of the world’s most popular and accessible school sports.

Shuttle Time offers school teachers access to resources, training and equipment, which support the teach-

ing of enjoyable, safe and inclusive badminton activities to children aged 5-15 years old. Shuttle Time lessons are designed to provide children with a positive image of badminton through many opportunities to have fun, engage with others, and experience success.

Shuttle Time is currently being implemented in more than 140 countries in partnership with BWF’s Continental Confederations and Member Associations.

Special thanks from the GBA were extended to Saeed Zameen and Nicholas Fraser of the Allied Arts Unit of the Education Ministry, and the Principals and PE teachers of the schools for making this activity a success.

The equipment was handed over to the PE teachers by the members of the GBA. Senior national badminton players Priyanna Ramdhani, Akili Haynes and Nkosi Beaton taught the students a few drills to improve their technique on court.

McKinnon calls for unified backing of U20 team

…post CONCACAF Qualifiers

Guyana Under-20 Men’s National Team Head Coach, Kayode McKinnon has stressed that the future success of the team hinges on a collective commitment from all stakeholders, including officials, clubs, players, parents ,and fans.

In a post Under-20 CONCACAF Championship Qualifiers interview, McKinnon said: “We must now reflect and create a system that’s not just for the present. To create successful football within our nation, I think it must be the collaboration of every single person involved – the communities, the families, parents and clubs.”

Guyana wrapped up their February campaign with a mixed performance in Group B, tallying two losses against Antigua and Barbuda and Suriname, a draw against El Salvador, and a victory over Turks and Caicos.

Claiming the group's top position, El Salvador secured a spot in the 2024 CONCACAF Men's U-20

Championship scheduled for later this year.

The Head Coach added that it was “a great experience first and foremost for all of us. We were intentional about how we wanted to represent Guyana...for those that are coming behind, they will be given equal opportunities and will be seen as just as good as anyone else.”

“Everybody must have a collaborative agenda to really help our players and more so help our nation. Once we do that, we create an environment that will be conducive for growth, conducive for development and obviously progress.”

The Junior Golden Jaguars roster comprised a blend of former Under-15 national players, local talents who took part in the 2023 NAMILCO Under-17 National Academy Playoffs, and players based in both Trinidad and the United States.

The squad included goalkeepers Duquain Samuels,

Emmanuel Lewis and Julien Casimir; defenders GerryMayer Burnette, Jaden Thom, Jayden Culley, Kyle Reid, Tyler Lyle, Tyrel Stephen and Tyrese Lyle; midfielders Hemant Brandon Khedoo, Bryan Wharton, Ezekial Rowland, Kvist Paul, Kymani Sealey, Nathaniel Pydana, Rondesio Tudor, Shemaiah Samuels and Solomon Austin; and forwards Matrim Martin and Perry Jr Gaul.

Guyana Football Federation (GFF) President Wayne Forde said he was proud of the team's show of commitment and dedication throughout the tournament, adding that “the Federation will continue to invest in the national team programme because we have faith in the talents of our young players”.

“We call on the people of Guyana to keep supporting our emerging footballers.”

The Under-20 CONCACAF Championship Qualifiers saw intense clashes among 27 teams from February 23 to March 2.

The schools in Essequibo were presented with equipment through the Shuttle Time

The entire U20 national team outfit prior to last week’s CONCACAF Qualifiers

The winners’ row

Hardeo Ganpat won the overall tournament and the 14-36 flight

Massy WCPL sets new viewership record

The Massy Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) set a new record for viewership numbers in 2023.

The total broadcast and digital viewership for the 2023 tournament reached 36.2 million for the expanded tournament, which took place in Barbados and Trinidad.

The Massy WCPL had a 45 per cent rise in viewership in 2023, with a huge increase in the number of fans tuning in around the world for the second season of the event.

The seven-match tournament concluded with the Barbados Royals beating the Guyana Amazon Warriors to claim the title, with the final at the Brian Lara Cricket

Academy being the most watched match.

The tournament saw some amazing performances, with New Zealand’s Sophie Devine finishing as the leading run scorer and breakout Indian star Shreyanka Patil claiming the most wickets. West Indies all-rounder Hayley Matthews was the Player of the Final with a brilliant 82 runs and two wickets as the Barbados Royals emerged victorious.

CPL’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Pete Russell, said: “We are delighted with the viewing figures in 2023 as global interest in the women’s game continues to grow. The second edition of the WCPL surpassed all expectations in terms of inter-

est and the quality of cricket, and we are already looking forward to the 2024 event, which we are certain will be even more successful.”

Cricket West Indies (CWI) CEO Johnny Grave said: “The growth in the interest and opportunities in women’s cricket in the Caribbean in recent years has been incredible, and Cricket West Indies are very pleased with the impact WCPL has had on giving opportunities to our players to further develop their skills. To see the WCPL already showing such fantastic growth in year two is very pleasing, and we are looking forward to seeing the tournament go from strength to strength in 2024 and beyond.” (CPLT20)

Former players honoured at “Legends” cricket match

“ADay with the Legends” took over the Everest Cricket Club Ground on Sunday, as the venue became a hive of activity when a number of former cricketers who steered Guyana to the Shell Shield and Geddes Grant/Harrison Line Cup in 1983 suited up alongside their younger peers for a memorial match in honour of the late Clyde Butts.

Ramnaresh Sarwan led the ‘Challengers’ team to a two-run victory over Leon Johnson’s Champions.

With contributions of 20, 18 and 10 from Sarwan, Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr and President Dr Irfaan Ali respectively, the Challengers got to 134-5 in their 20 overs.

In reply, the Champions, featuring the likes of Roger Harper, could only muster 132-6, with Sewnarine Chattergoon slamming 35 and Matthew Nandu 21.

Ming makes history at Games of the Future 2024

Guyanese racing prodigy Calvin Ming blazed a trail at the Games of the Future 2024 in Russia in a groundbreaking fusion of virtual and real-world motorsport. Ming, alongside his Mexican teammate Cristian Cantú, competed in this innovative hybrid motor-racing event, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of motorsport.

The Games of the Future 2024 introduced a revolutionary format where drivers must navigate 25 laps on a simulator and a track simultaneously, swapping positions with their teammates midway through the race. Ming and Cantú, representing the Quetzales America team, embraced the challenge with determination.

Of 28 drivers hailing from 12 countries, Ming and Cantú piloted the Italian-made Tatus Formula 4 cars with precision and finesse. Despite the fierce competition, the duo displayed exceptional skill and teamwork, qualifying for the eighth position.

Race day at the famed Sochi Autodrom, a circuit steeped in Formula 1 history, witnessed Ming and Cantú elevating their performance. Negotiating the demanding 100-lap challenge, the pair showcased their prowess behind the wheel, ultimately clinching a commendable sixth place overall.

Reflecting on this extraordinary experience, Ming expressed enthusiasm for the innovative blend of simulator and real-world racing. He

emphasised the potential for drivers to seamlessly transition between the virtual and physical realms of motorsport, hinting at future endeavours in this groundbreaking arena.

Ming’s racing career spans various prestigious series across the globe, including the F1600 Championship Series, NACAM Formula 4

Championship, US F2000 National Championship, and the Radical SR3 Caribbean Cup. Notably, he secured the NACAM F4 Championship title in 2016/17, etching his name in Guyanese motorsport history as the highest-achieving driver in a Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA)-sanctioned event.

Reflecting on the day’s activities, President Ali underscored the importance of transfer of knowledge and relationship build- ing that can come from the match.

“This activity is tremendous, to see all our greats and the future on the same field. In the business world, we talk about transfer of knowledge, transfer of technology. This is transfer of experience, transfer of technique, transfer of teamwork, and it’s building a network. A lot of these youngsters need the experienced heads to rely on and to talk to, and I hope they use this opportunity to connect with these guys and build a relationship, a network through which they can have counselling, coaching guidance. That is what is important,” the Head of State said.

toric double whammy, Norman McLean, expressed that a lot of planning and effort went into the team’s success.

“You know, it was 41 years ago, 1983, and we really put a lot into making us successful at that time. In fact, we brought in a combined team from the Caribbean and we played four matches in preparation for the Shell Shield tournament and the Geddes Grant/Harrison Line. I think we had two at Bourda, one at Hamilton court and one at Albion; we won three of the four and that, I think, had us prepared for that tournament and we were very successful,” McLean reflected.

He further stated, “I think it was the teamwork and the preparation. Because we had Roger Harper, he toured India with me in 1987, I think. We had Clyde Butts, he wasn’t very successful in India, but was always a very successful player for Guyana. So, we had very good all-round performances when it was needed. Quite a lot of the other players chipped in and they came at the right time.”

The likes of Clive Lloyd and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo were also present to witness the game.

On the other hand, Ramson Jr cited cricket’s rich history as he voiced appreciation for the way the 1983 team was honoured.

Ramson Jr shared, “The cricket culture runs deep throughout the West Indies and it’s something that if you take that element away from our evolution as a society, the entire region is just not the same region anymore.

“I think it’s bigger than just the activity, it’s the fact that we were able to honour the victory we had in 1983, 41 years since. First time ever that the country was able to lift the Geddes Grant and the Shell Shield, which back then was big as the CPL. So, just imagine what that was like. It’s a privilege to be able to share the same cricketing space,” the Sport Minister added.

Former President of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) at the time of Guyana’s his-

Barbados Royals women’s team are the reigning WCPL champions

Scenes from the “Day with Legends” match

Calvin Ming in action at the Games of the Future

Smith, Persaud return to GHE camp ahead of Rounds 4 and 5

Guyana

Guyana endured a mixed start to the tournament, with a no-result, followed by a win in the third round before the break.

With action resuming in a matter of days, teams will look to regroup and re-shift their focus to the middle stages of the competition.

Persaud, who is set to play his first match this season, will add depth to the team’s batting given his form this year, while his part-time spin could also come in handy.

The experienced Smith, who has recovered from his

Nial Smith returns to the GHE squad after an injury

injury, will rejoin the squad as he and Isai Thorne, along with Ronaldo Alimohamed, will be seeking to reform the Eagles three-man pace attack.

Tevin Imlach will resume his role as Captain while middle-order batsman Kevlon Anderson will continue his role as deputy, as the Eagles look to turn their

Inaugural Caricom Chess Classic underway in Guyana

Running up until March 9, the Caricom Classic Team Chess Tournament will take centre stage at the Princess Ramada Hotel, Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD) this week, with several teams from across the Caribbean competing.

Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) President Anand Raghunauth shared a bit of the origin and vision for the tournament, the first of its kind for the Region, during the launch on Sunday evening, at the same venue.

Raghunauth enlightened, “The idea was continuously developed, it was brought to the CCA, it was brought to the world body and it was embraced. It seems as though everybody had the same idea, but it was the Guyana Chess Federation that executed it. We took that bold step; we ran with the idea and our team made it happen.”

The GCF President went on to add, “We would like this tournament to be yearly or biannually. We would like this tournament to develop our young players. We would like this tournament to be the target for every Caribbean territory team to become champions of the Caribbean.”

International Chess Federation (FIDE) Vice President and fivetime World Champion, Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand added to the vision for the tournament, expressing hope that it could be transformative for the sport.

“Every region has to have a beginning, and in India it would’ve been some of the annual chess tour-

naments we used to have, where we would face Soviet Grandmasters [who] would come and challenge us. I’m talking about 40 years back. And I believe in the Caricom region; I hope this Caricom team Chess championship will prove to be such a catalyst,” Anand opined.

Caricom Deputy Secretary General Armstrong Alexis, in revealing that the tournament is part of Caricom’s 50th anniversary celebrations, articulated a hope for regional integration.

“This tournament is taking place on the heels of the 46th Conference of the Caricom Heads of Government, where Caricom leaders emphasized the importance of sports through the weaving of the Caribbean fabric of integration, togetherness and progress. It is my hope that the friendly rivalry that will dominate these coming days will help build camaraderie, friendship and a deepened sense of Caribbean identity,” Alexis envisioned.

campaign around when action resumes on March 13 against Barbados Pride at the Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua and Barbuda.

Guyana Harpy Eagles

4-Day team reads: Tevin Imlach (Captain); Taganarine Chanderpaul; Matthew Nandu; Kevlon Anderson (Vice Captain); Raymond Perez; Kemol Savory; Kevin Sinclair; Ronaldo Alimohamed; Gudakesh Motie; Veerasammy Permaul; Isai Thorne; Nial Smith and Akshaya Persaud.

CG United Women’s Super50… Millington, Latchman help Guyana thump Leeward by 56 runs

Guyana’s Women bowled their way to an opening victory in the CG United Women’s Super50 Cup when the 2024 edition of the tournament bowled off on Monday.

Plaffiana Millington and Niya Latchman were the shining stars with the ball, taking seven wickets between them to ensure the Leewards Islands women would come up 56 runs short of their target after the Guyanese women had a lessthan-stellar performance with the bat.

ularly for Leewards, as the Guyanese bowling picked away at their batting lineup.

Divya Saxena had the highest score for Leewards with 19 from 86 balls, and Reniece Boyce provided support with 16 off 36 deliveries. While the top half of the Leewards line-up managed to get to double figures, none of the last six batters went past five runs.

Thinking along similar lines was Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr, who also encouraged players to seize the opportunity of the Grandmaster’s presence.

Ramson stated at the launch, “I think that we need to take more of the opportunity that we have by having him here, because all of you, every single one of you who are participating in this tournament and it’s a great tournament, not just for yourselves but for regional integration.”

“And I would like to commend Caricom for sanctioning this tournament as part of the calendar of events. Improving regional integration is something that our Government is committed to and I hope we were able to manifest and demonstrate that in the last week,” the Sport Minister added.

The tournament has also received backing from ExxonMobil; Republic Bank (Guyana); NEW GPC INC; KFC; Guyoil; Sterling Products Ltd; Marics & Co Ltd and Topco, among others.

Leewards won the toss and opted to bowl first. The Guyanese got off to a rocky start, as the number two and three batters Mandy Mangru and Naomi Barkoye went back to the dugout for ducks off seven and eight balls respectively.

Shabika Gajnabi pressed on, but only got to 20 from 26 balls before falling to Tonya Martin. Captain Shemaine Campbell contributed 13 off 26 before meeting a similar fate off Shebani Bhaskar’s bowling.

Eventually, the highest score on the Guyanese scorecard came off the bat of Realanna Grimmond, who constructed 37 from 66 balls, to keep the Guyanese women a float in the middle overs. She was assisted by Kaysia Schultz with 17 off 36 deliveries, to take the local team up to 134 all out in 36.3 overs.

The experienced Shawnisha Hector claimed the most wickets for Leewards, 3-11 from 6.3 overs, while Rozel Liburd and Jahzara Claxton claimed 2-17 from 8.1 overs and 2-29 from 5 overs respectively.

In the chase, Leewards

Niya Latchman took three wickets

appeared strong after a fumble at the start when Bhaskar was removed for 1 by Cherry-Ann Fraser.

However, wickets fell reg-

Millington claimed 4-10 from 9.5 overs, while Latchman took 3-27 from 8 to rout Leewards for 86 in 36.5 overs.

Guyana’s women will take on Windward Islands Women next on Wednesday, March 6 and thereafter, Barbados’ Women on Friday, March 8.

Akshaya Persaud will also make a return

FIDE Vice President and five-time World Champion, Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand

Caricom Deputy Secretary General Armstrong Alexis