Guyana Times - Tuesday, May 16, 2023

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Tuesday, May 16 – 01:30h –03:00h and Wednesday, May 17 – 03:00h – 04:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Tuesday, May 16 – 14:20h –15:50h and Wednesday, May 17 – 15:10h – 16:40h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

There will be thundery showers during the day. Expect light rain showers and drizzle at night. Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to North-Easterly between 2.23 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 14:26h reaching a maximum height of 2.51 metres.

Low Tide: 08:00h and 20:17h reaching a minimum height of 0.69 metre.

In an effort to further strengthen ties between Guyana and Qatar, President Dr Irfaan Ali has had a number of bilateral discussions with top officials of the Middle Eastern country since his arrival there on Sunday.

President Dr Irfaan Ali was accompanied by Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh, Guyana’s Ambassador to Qatar Safraaz Shadood and other officials. On Monday, he met with Qatar’s Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who holds the dual portfolios of

Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister.

Also attending the meeting was Qatar’s Minister of Finance Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari. During the meeting, they discussed various areas of mutual cooperation and how to develop and enhance such areas.

Meanwhile, according to the Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs, upcoming plans to formally open a Guyanese embassy in Qatar were also discussed. Guyana has for some time been making plans to establish embassies in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, for which money had been allocated in Budget 2021.

While Guyana and Qatar formally established diplomatic relations in 1996, there had only ever been a non-resident Ambassador. The embassy in Doha, Qatar, which has since been completed, is yet to be formally opened.

Bilateral discussions were also had between President Ali and Dr Singh and Qatar’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Qassim Al Abdullah Al Thani in Doha.

President Ali meanwhile also held bilateral discussions with Qatar’s Chamber of Commerce. The chamber was represented by its First Vice Chairman, Mohamed Bin Ahmed Bin Twar Al-

Kuwari, while President Ali was joined by Dr Singh. During the discussions, the various investment opportunities in Guyana were discussed.

The discussions focused on investment opportunities in Guyana in sectors that include oil and gas, infrastructure, tourism, services, hospitality, and agriculture. According to the chamber following the discussions, “Ali called on Qatari investors and businessmen to invest in his country and benefit from opportunities in many sectors, mainly in oil and gas, infrastructure, tourism, services, hospitality, agriculture and others.”

President Ali shakes hands with Qatar Chamber of Commerce Vice President Mohamed Bin Ahmed Bin Twar Al-Kuwari. Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh is also in the picture

President Dr Irfaan Ali and members of the Guyanese delegation having discussions with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani

Views

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Littering

Some time ago, Local Government and Regional Development Minister Nigel Dharamlall had called for there to be higher prosecution rates for persons caught littering, and this is needed to curb the callous and wanton disposal of garbage that is happening in Guyana. Littering has always been a major issue in Guyana, and as the Minister had said, it has been a predominant source of pollution, a dereliction embedded in the culture of Guyanese; so, the call for the City Constabulary to enforce the law against litterbugs is well received and supported. To quote the Minister: “Anyone who is found dumping garbage anywhere, they’re going to be prosecuted in the proper way, and there will be no obstacles in that prosecution.”

This brings us to recycling, an avenue that can help with littering and improper disposal of garbage which Guyana has been battling for years. Scientific research has suggested that due to the lifestyle patterns of citizens, the earth is being depleted of its resources too quickly to sustain a healthy balance. The earth’s natural resources are being consumed at a rate that reinforces the idea that we are living for today, and future generations will be paying for the consequences as a result of our lifestyle choices.

For years now, calls for citizens here to dispose of their waste in a responsible manner have fallen on deaf ears, and the issue of garbage build-up in and around the city continues to be repeated. Governments and businesses all over are realising how serious the problem is, and are taking steps towards putting policy mechanisms in place to ensure that the environment is protected from various forms of pollution, etc. Recycling, along with reducing consumption, has proven to be an effective way to counter the damage we have been doing to the earth for centuries.

A major part of recycling relates to how best we can recycle much of what we use, instead of turning it into unusable waste. For the sake of emphasis, recycling is important as a means of reducing poisonous emissions into the atmosphere, and also to spare our natural resources. Guyana has indeed taken some time to get “on board”, while many companies and individuals in other parts of the world are improving their recycling habits by coming up with more ways to reduce and reuse what they use.

In essence, while there has been much talk about the need to recycle certain products to save our environment from further damage; in a practical sense, the concept has not yet taken much root here. Only a handful of companies have shown that they are really serious about moving in this direction.

Guyana has indeed taken some time to get “on board”, while many companies and individuals, and businesses are willing to invest and set up recycling plants for plastics and Styrofoam.

However, we are not certain how far those companies have actually gone ahead with the actual implementation of the project’s ideas. That being said, if we are serious about maintaining a healthy and clean environment, consumers must demand that businesses engage in practices that are more eco-friendly. For example, consumers must be encouraged to purchase from companies that manufacture more eco-friendly products. In addition to the positive impacts on the environment, recycling brings in a lot of money for many countries.

Companies make huge sums from basically utilising the materials that would otherwise have been thrown away. We believe that there is a need for lifestyle changes among our citizens, and it would be very helpful if the schools, religious organisations, and the local Neighbourhood Democratic Councils and municipalities in every region start the conversation with citizens about recycling.

This should be done with the direct involvement of the decision-makers. Certainly, everyone prefers products that are manufactured in an eco-friendly manner and wants a better, cleaner and healthier environment.

The outcome of GPA elections

Dear Editor, Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that I would have to be writing to put on record the lack of decency, transparency, accountability, and fairness by the Guyana Press Association (GPA), an organisation that all citizens and my colleagues should trust as the guardians of such principles.

I was a contender for the role of the Presidency of the GPA at the elections of May 14, 2023, at the Theatre Guild in Georgetown. Before the elections, through a plethora of emails and posts in a WhatsApp Group of members, I raised many concerns that threatened to bring the GPA into disrepute if the elections were not conducted in a transparent and accountable manner.

Before I state these concerns, let me point out a few things for context.

When I announced my candidacy to replace Gordon Moseley as President in March 2015, I was unchallenged. When I completed my term, I nominated Nazima Raghubir for the post in January 2018 and there was no challenger. Hence, in those past two elections, there was no need to vote for the position – and therefore, no need for a challenger to demand to see a list of voters.

In those two elections I referenced, many persons were allowed to sign up for membership and pay their dues on the day of elections –and vote. Existing members were also able to pay outstanding dues – and vote. We did this because we realised that in between elections, media people are generally tardy in paying their fees

and we wanted the broadest participation possible.

On May 8, 2023, I emailed the remaining members of the Executive to see a copy of a list of eligible voters. I believe this was a fair request, given that Ms Raghubir was seeking re-election and that the Secretary, Mrs Svetlana Marshall-Abrams, and the two others on the Executive – Mr Rawle Toney and Mr Denis Chabrol – were open to nomination to once again sit on the Executive of the GPA.

In reply, Ms Raghubir said, “The elections for office bearers are conducted ‘conventionally’ for decades with the voting process laid before the AGM at the said meeting.” Nothing about a list.

Days later, after writing two other emails, Mrs Marshall-Abrams replied that “In the interest of fairness for all GPA members, the list of eligible voters will be read on Sunday to ALL members present.”

I replied that this could not be fair, taking into consideration that I, or any other potential candidate, would not be able to see the list and register any objections given that the executive retained control of the list and was also standing for re-election.

The Executive did not budge.

I raised this issue for fear that the list was padded. The Executive set up a deadline of May 6th by which members could pay their dues and be eligible to vote. When inquiries were made, new members of the media, who met the criteria for membership (three years of practice as a journalist), were bluntly told that their applications would be looked at by the new Executive. I protested this and Ms Raghubir’s re-

ply was that members were free to make their applications and that it would be processed.

I reached out to the Secretary to confirm if “processed” meant approval and she said this was not automatic. So effectively, many members of the media were disenfranchised and unable to vote.

However, checks with other media houses revealed that the Secretary simply walked into media houses where they presumed, they had support and signed up new members, even backdating their membership to reach the three-year requirement.

There was no committee on hand to vet applications, so to make it seem like approval depended on some lengthy process was a sorry excuse for the shenanigans afoot. Persons who did not meet the eligibility requirements for membership and voting were signed up.

The Secretary in statements at the AGM did admit she went on this “outreach” and signed up members on the spot. There was no committee or process to make a decision about who should gain membership. That process started and ended with Mrs Marshall-Abrams in a matter of minutes.

While this “outreach” was done at some media houses, it was not done at others where the Executive believe members would vote for me.

Again, this locked out participation in these elections to many. There was no outreach to colleagues in Berbice or Essequibo and they too were denied participation in the elections. In one case, a longstanding member of the GPA was denied vot-

ing for missing the May 6th deadline due to a mix-up. When she called to point this out and to pay, no concession was made and she was flatly denied voting rights. Days before the elections, the editors of 10 media houses sent a petition for a release of the voters' list and they were rejected. It was members of these media houses who were denied membership.

On May 12, in a last-ditch effort to secure some form of compromise and transparency, on behalf of these editors, I again wrote the Executive seeking an urgent meeting to discuss our concerns. The only reply I received was one asking for an agenda. I immediately provided this, giving the following options to be considered:

1. Publication of the list of eligible voters for the upcoming elections

2. Reverting to the convention of accepting applications on the day of the AGM

3. Extending the deadline for the processing and approval of new members to the GPA by Saturday at 4 p.m. and accepting dues of existing members by the said deadline.

I received no reply.

The list of “eligible” voters was only read out to the AGM just before the start of nominations. No copies were shared with anyone, even at that late moment, to make objections. In any case, the Returning Officer, Ronald Burch-Smith, had no powers to accept objections and strike anyone off the list. After I raised concerns, he did allow me to take photographs of the pages he was given with the members who could vote.

Photographer Taaj de Rushe captured vehicles boarding a pontoon at Mango Landing, Essequibo. The photo was submitted for the Tourism Ministry’s 57th Anniversary of Independence Photography Competition

E-Bike Act – A most asinine piece of legislation!

Dear Editor,

The amended act governing e-bikes is one of the most asinine pieces of legislation that the sitting Government has tabled. Is Guyana unique in the proliferation and use of e-bikes?

Other countries have no such requirement as is now the case with the passage of this Act. This is a very good example of using a hammer to install a thumb tack. While the sale, usage and maintenance of e-bikes require regularisation, there is absolutely no reason to categorise them as motorcycles.

These now ubiquitous bikes are the poor man’s mode of transportation. They are cheap, affordable and allow many at the lower rung of society to carry out their daily functions with ease.

Yes, the subject Minister stated that there

were seven fatalities involving e-bikes.

So what of the hundreds of other deaths that do not involve e-bikes? Yes, it’s unfortunate but there are many more fatalities involving pedestrians, cars, trucks, etc.

The authorities ought to focus on the root causes of these fatalities. The most obvious of these are poor road conditions, speeding, dangerous/reckless and drunken driving, unfit, derelict vehicles, construction material, equipment, and machinery encroaching upon the roadways, overloaded heavy haulers, etc. This amended legislation merely allows the authorities to shift attention away from these factors that contribute to the many vehicular incidents, injuries, and fatalities.

It should be noted that the subject Ministers and the current and past GPF

Traffic Chiefs have issued numerous warnings to those who encroach upon the roadways. Those warnings have not been followed with any real effort muchless sustained enforcement. One can only conclude that those warnings were merely all bark and no bite. If anything, those so tasked, including the subject Ministers ought to be held to account for the mayhem (on the roadways) that are as a result of the less-than-stellar enforcement.

The buck stops with those who have direct responsibilities in these areas.

What the authorities ought to do is launch an educational campaign for all e-bike users and retracing for all road users. On the regularisation, it would be more fiscally prudent and responsible to establish and enforce a system where

the sale of e-bikes can only be transacted upon completion of a training programme on use, maintenance, rules of the road etc. Put the onus on the vendors to ensure that e-bikes are registered with GRA for a one-time fee.

There are many who have expressed gleefulness at the passing of this legislation. They do so while expressing among other things, a deep concern and disdain for the way and manner in which the e-bikes are used by some riders. Not all riders pose a danger to themselves or others.

This carte blanche endorsement of anything the Administration does is not healthy. It suggests a wilful blindness to the contributing factors and in some cases party politics.

Sincerely,

Jay Mobeen

When will this ridiculous behaviour stop?

Dear Editor, Climate change caused many unpredictable disasters of hit Guyana for several years, and as a result, it puts an economic dent into the average man and whilst help is offered, it cannot compensate for the losses incurred. In reality, there's always the expectation of heavy rainfall, and ironically, sometimes Mother Nature makes her own decision.

On Thursday, we experienced heavy rainfall, which causes many areas to be

flooded, and as a result of that, it affects us in many ways.

Editor, I expect to see the authorities manufacturing excuses to defend themselves from the responsibilities, but quite frankly, the excuse from the City Hall is very ridiculous.

They only figure out builders' waste was the cause of the flood after it occurs. What was affecting them from traversing around Georgetown, inspecting the drainage, ensure they are clean/pre-

The outcome of...

As per the Constitution of the GPA, a person is eligible for membership of the GPA if that person “devotes a major part of his/her time and earns a major part of his/ her income from journalism” with journalism being defined as “gathering, editing, presenting and commenting on news, information and events and editorial policy-direction of the content of newspapers, magazines, press or syndicated services, professional or business publications, radio, television, cinema and the teaching of journalism.”

As the Returning Officer read the list (before I took photos of the list), I immediately recognised and pointed out how the list was padded – a Bollywood show producer, a control operator, a media manager.

Under the constitutional provisions, their jobs make them ineligible for voting under the GPA constitution. With the photos of the list now with me, I quickly could

pared for the upcoming rainy season? City Hall has information about construction occurring around Georgetown, why aren't officials visiting the location periodically and ensuring proper disposal of waste materials is being practiced?

I find it very commercial that they said that they sent one man to clean the clogged drains of water materials for the whole of Georgetown. If it only re-

quires one man to do all of that work, it tells me quite a lot about their attitude towards the responsibility their jobs come attached with.

As I said before, many hold position/jobs that come with a lot of responsibilities but cannot handle them. When will this ridiculous behaviour stop?

Sincerely,

Sahadeo Bates

FROM PAGE 4

see others who do not qualify – a taxi driver, a farmer, and a handyman.

On the list too were former editors and media workers who no longer work or contribute to news gathering or dissemination in any way. There were certainly many who recently started working in the media and did not meet the three-year requirement to vote.

So there is no other way to say it – the GPA elections were rigged.

This was a shame and disgrace on us as journalists who seek to champion democracy, transparency, and accountability. Those elected on the basis of rigged elections have lost credibility to question anyone on such issues.

The credibility of the GPA has been severely harmed –and to me, that is the greatest shame.

Respectfully,

Neil Marks Journalist

CXC Questions: Maths

By Martin Carter

This is the dark time, my love, All round the land brown beetles crawl about. The shining sun is hidden in the sky Red flowers bend their heads in awful sorrow. This is the dark time, my love,

It is the season of oppression, dark metal, and tears.

It is the festival of guns, the carnival of misery. Everywhere the faces of men are strained and anxious. Who comes walking in the dark night time?

Whose boot of steel tramps down the slender grass?

It is the man of death, my love, the strange invader

Watching you sleep and aiming at your dream.

Questions: What type of poem is it? What is it all about? How did you know what it was about?

WORD SEARCH

Installation of subsea gas-toenergy pipes to start by next month

– as sub-contractor requests EPA licence for bunkering vessels

With a fleet of up to 20 vessels and barges, Dutch sub-contractor Van Oord Offshore and its Luxembourg partner Subsea 7 will begin laying subsea pipes for the gas-to-energy project by no later than next month.

It was explained in an application to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that Van Oord was seeking approval of a licence to store, transport and distribute fuel from their vessel, the Sayan Polaris, to their offshore fleet laying the pipes.

The company had been awarded the contract back in 2022 by Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), ExxonMobil’s subsidiary, to install 12.75” gas pipelines. The pipeline will measure approximately 195 kilometres from the gathering location to the landing location.

It was explained that implementing the project will start in the current second quarter, using shallow water pipelay vessels, pipe supply vessels, crane barges, survey and supply vessels, and specialised ships that will lower the pipeline below the sea bed.

Applications were also made for similar licences for the Ella F and Coastal Challenger by Van Oord. All

three vessels have certified fuelling stations on board, which will be used to provide fuel for the other ships.

The applications acknowledged the potential risk of an oil spill in offshore bunkering but noted that this was unlikely. According to the company, it will strive to maintain preventative measures and reduce the possibility of such a spill, through its management and mitigation measures.

“These measurements shall include but are not limited to the following: Project Spill Prevention Plan (provided in support of this application); Rigorous Hazard

Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA) for offshore bunkering; Bunkering procedure and checklist; Bunkering Manual (provided in support of this application); Induction and training of crew.”

“Van Oord’s objective is to minimise and prevent risks to the environment; However, in the highly unlikely event of a spill, the vessel Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan (SOPEP) provides spill response details and the Ella F along with all vessels in the fleet shall be equipped with SOPEP spill kits and equipment. Training drills

Pres Ali holds bilateral...

It was explained that during the discussions at the Sheraton Hotel, bilateral relations in the economic and commercial fields were reviewed and ways to enhance them were discussed. Additionally, the investment climate and available opportunities on both sides, as well as the role of the private sector in pursuing trade between the two countries were discussed.

Energy President Ali, accompanied by his Finance Minister, also met with Qatari Minister of State for Energy Affairs, Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi. Last October, Al Kaabi had led a delegation to Guyana to explore various opportunities here.

During Al-Kaabi’s visit, discussions between the two countries centred on potential collaboration in the areas of energy, food, infrastructure and aviation. In

April 2022, President Ali and his team also met with a delegation from the Qatari Investment Mission to advance discussions on investment opportunities in the country.

The Qatari Investment Mission representatives were the Group Chairman of Power International Holding, Moutaz Al Khayyat; the Group Chief Venture Officer of Power International Holding, Ali Kazma and the company’s Chief Business Development Officer, Mazen Alsbeti.

Also, in November 2021, President Ali had met with senior officials of the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) – the sovereign wealth fund of the Middle Eastern State.

The visiting team comprised of two QIA Executives, Abdulhadi F A Al-Hajri and Dany Farah Nakhoul. Their visit was a follow-up to talks started by President Ali and the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

During that meeting, the Guyanese Head of State had highlighted Government’s desire to make Guyana the hub for agriculture and food security within the Region and further afield. He also pointed to the numerous opportunities in other sectors that would promote the overall growth and development of Guyana.

The State of Qatar is among several Middle Eastern nations that expressed serious interest in investing in various sectors in Guyana during President Ali’s visit in 2021 for the Dubai World Expo.

In February this year, it was announced that Guyana would be receiving help with the oil and gas sector from Qatar. Specifically, Qatar would be helping Guyana create a gas utilisation and monetisation plan, which will be applicable when the gas-to-energy project is commissioned. (G-3)

will be conducted with all vessel crews with respect to spill prevention and response,” Van Oord further explained.

The scope of Guyana’s gas-to-energy project consists of the construction of 225 kilometres of pipeline from the Liza field in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana, where Exxon and its partners are currently producing oil.

It features approximately 200 kilometres of a subsea pipeline offshore that will run from the Liza Destiny and Liza Unity floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels in the Stabroek Block to the shore. Upon landing on the West Coast Demerara shore, the pipeline would continue for approximately 25 kilometres to the NGL plant at Wales, West Bank Demerara.

The pipeline would be 12 inches wide, and is expected to transport per day some 50 million standard cubic feet (mscfpd) of dry gas to the NGL plant. The pipeline’s

route onshore would follow the same path as the fibre optic cables and will terminate at Hermitage, part of the Wales Development Zone (WDZ) which will house the gas-to-shore project.

In Budget 2023, the gas-to-energy project received a $43.3 billion allocation. This allocation is in addition to the $24.6 billion injected into the start-up of the transformational project, which includes the construction of an Integrated Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) Plant and the 300-megawatt (MW) Combined Cycle Power Plant at Wales, WBD.

The NGL and 300 MW power plant components of the gas-to-shore project, are meanwhile expected to cost US$759.8 million and will be financed through sources that include budgets and loan financing.

The Sayan Polaris vessel – one of the many that Van Oord will be using during pipe-laying activities

Chief Magistrate and Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Colonel, Ann Mc Lennan officially retired on Monday, after a combined 37 years and nine months of service to the country. She was a graduate of the GDF’s Standard Officers’ Course 17.

Colonel McLennan was fortunate to have been afforded the privilege at a time when few officers were pursuing academics, to read for a law degree both at the University of Guyana and the Caribbean, the GDF said in a statement on Monday to mark her retirement.

She was admitted to the Bar in Guyana in 1996 after gaining her Bachelor of Laws Degree (Hons) from the University of the West Indies (UWI) (Cave Hill Campus, 1994), a Legal Education Certificate (LEC) from the Sir Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS), Trinidad (1996) and a Post Graduate Certificate in Diplomacy from the University of Guyana (UG). She then returned to the GDF and went on to hold several appointments including Trainee Welfare Officer, Admin Officer Ground Forces Group, Personal Assistant to the Force Commander, Commanding Officer of Medical Corps and Legal Services Department, Staff Officer 2 within the G1 Branch and Staff Officer to the Chief of Staff.

In 2007, enthusiastic to expand her legal career

and to give further service to the country, permission was granted for her to be seconded to the Judiciary to sit as a Magistrate in the Georgetown Magisterial District. She was later appointed Chief Magistrate in 2015.

At a recent cocktail reception held in her honour, Chief of Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan congratulated Colonel McLennan for her strong and dedicated service to Guyana. Colonel Mc Lennan recollected her years as an officer, still delighted by her decision to enlist.

“I thank God for bringing

me through the rigours of the Standard Officer Course 17 and further, for allowing me to stand here today 37 years and nine months later a satisfied officer, fulfilled and happy that the military career choice that I made back then in 1985, as a teenager was an excellent choice, and if I had to do it all again, I cannot think of anything that I will change to trade for it,” she said as she addressed officers, soldiers, relatives and friends attending the event.

Of her military career, she said, “This profession is both noble and unique as it stands alongside the le-

gal profession as being noble but, the uniqueness is beyond any other and this is because the military profession is one upon which any other profession can be built. I on the other hand am privileged to belong to two noble professions, each of which was demanding as the other. My success as a judicial officer, if I may say so, was only because I had this military foundation.”

Colonel Mc Lennan has served under ten of the 12 Chiefs of Staff since the establishment of the GDF. She has lauded the progress of women within the Force and made reference to the female paratroopers and women now serving on border locations as impressive strides as women continue to work along with the men.

“Women have qualified themselves in almost every academic discipline alongside their men folk in the Force; lawyers, doctors, educators, chefs, football referees internationally at FIFA just to name a few,” she said. In this regard, she encouraged the members of the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) to continue to break glass ceilings.

She alluded to the fact that never were there two female full Colonels among the membership of the Corps; referring to herself and Colonel Lorraine Foster who currently commands the Training Corps. “To the male officers and other ranks, keep a watchful eye for the members of the WAC for there is so much more to come,” she said.

After 37 years, Colonel Ann McLennan expressed that she enjoyed every moment of her career journey where endurance, patience, and support from her mother and other family members were key factors.

“I am grateful to the GDF and by extension each Chief of Staff under whom I served for believing in me and for their guidance and support every step of the way, firstly to my Course Officer Maj Pickering and the Course Principal Instructors, one of whom is now the Honourable Prime Minister Mark Phillips, who was also a Chief of Staff, for believing that I was officer quality and seeing my potential.” Colonel McLennan proceeded on pre-retirement leave early last month.

Chief of Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan, senior officers, officers, warrant officers, senior non-commissioned officers, soldiers, and civilians of the Guyana Defence Force have wished her a happy birthday and a happy retirement.

Déjà vu...

…on elections

To your Eyewitness, looking on at the Guyana Press Association’s elections, he confirmed what the American baseball legend Yogi Berra – famous for his malapropisms – once said: “You can observe a lot by just looking”!! And what did he observe?? As another Yogism pithily declared, “It’s déjà vu all over again”!! What came to mind was the chaotic denouement of the 2020 March elections to decide who’d run Guyana. Here the stakes seemed to the incumbents just as high to decide who’d run our local Press Association!!

The elements were all there. Was the voters’ list “clean”?? Were there names of folks who weren’t supposed to be there?? Here, the GPA executive did one better than GECOM and refused to even show anybody the names on the list so they could be verified – or rejected – as being kosher!! Now your Eyewitness ain’t no lawyer, but surely this stonewalling to even the SOLE challenger to the GPA’s Head to see the names had to’ve violated some principle of fairness – not to mention due process??

But even if he WERE an ambulance chaser, your Eyewitness COULDN’T have raised questions of “due process”!! “And why, pray tell,” you asked, Dear Reader?? Well, just like with our national elections, the GPA elections had reached the Courts even before a single ballot had been cast!! One of the main purveyors of the new journalism –that’s confined to hyperspace and the Internet – was told in no uncertain terms that he wasn’t a Journalist!! Having the largest viewership of his news than any other Guyanese media entity – especially those of the various and sundry newspapers – the fella not unreasonably took umbrage!!

But the Chief Justice then declared he couldn’t take his umbrage to the Court!! She incredibly pronounced that the GPA was not a “body corporate”, whose bona fides and operations were subject to judicial review!! So, it would appear that the Executives of the GPA could do what they want!! Evidently, all they’d been doing for the decades they’ve been in existence was to register the name “Guyana Press Association” annually in the name of the incumbent president!!

So they were just like picking the teams in a schoolyard pickup cricket match: the fella who brought the bat could decide to walk away with it right after he was given out!! Anyhow, at the elections – which were appropriately held at the Theatre Guild – there was a surfeit of histrionics!! And just as with the Big Elections, there were shouting and screaming – with frequent appeals made to the Returning Officer. Luckily there were no SoPs and eventually, he declared the incumbent as the winner.

But as Yogi said, “It ain’t over till it’s over!!”

…on Venezuela

When it comes to dealing with other countries, it’s imperative we remember the golden rule: “There are no permanent enemies or permanent friends – just permanent interests”. Take this latest announcement by CAL that they’re resuming flights to Caracas. Sounds quite innocuous, doesn’t it?? But when you consider the US just broke its own sanctions against the dictator Maduro’s regime to allow Trinidad to develop the trillion-cubic-feet gas Dragon Field, it’s starting to add up, isn’t it??

This followed the US licensing Chevron to resume exploiting its oil concessions in Venezuela and, therefore, bringing in hard currency from oil shipments!! Gradually, Venezuela’s been brought in from the cold – and relations normalised. So, where does it leave us?? The question is, what’ll be Venezuela’s stance on our border – and Exxon’s exploitation of our oil? And the answer’s a no-brainer!

The Venezuelans will never back away from what they see as their historic right. So, the real question is whether 300 billion barrels of oil are more than 13 billion!!

…and new political movements

Have you noticed that in the space of two days, there has been the launching of two political movements?? Don’t bother with the one in Berbice calling itself “Volunteerist”. Remember the Red and Blue Caps??

“My success as a judicial officer was only because I had this military foundation” – Chief Magistrate

Chief Magistrate, Colonel Ann McLennan

Gas-to-energy project will help Guyana’s agri products better compete in int’l markets – PSC Head

...re-emphasises need for better access to capital

With works progressing on the gas-to-energy project, private sector officials are confident that when the initiative is ignited, it will bring tremendous benefits to all local industries, including agriculture –which is a key part of the Government’s efforts to diversify the economy.

This position was delivered by Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) Komal Singh during a social media programme, “The Guyana Dialogue” where he noted that from the cheaper electricity produced through the project, Guyana’s agricultural produce would finally be able complete internationally.

“One of our problems is:

our cost of production is so high and because of that you can’t do value-added products and that is why

Trinidad is ahead of us. But with the development of the gas-to-energy project, whereby we will see a reduction in our power cost, that’s going to reduce [the] cost of production in a very good way.”

“That will allow more people to go back to the farm, it will allow more people to invest in value-added products, especially in the agro-processing sector. I think that’s a good initiative we have seen from [the] Government, pushing to get that project out of the way as quickly as possible and it will have a rippling effect with farmers and the entire abundance of land that we have around the place, we will see more investors,” Singh emphasised.

Govt sets aside $2.7B to construct pump stations countrywide

With cheaper electricity in the pipeline, the PSC Head emphasised the need for better access to capital as well as for innovation.

“What we need to do however, when it comes back to access to capital and how much capital our local people have to develop those, to make sure we do it in a way where we have economies to scale, we mechanise the operations so you can compete on an international market when it comes to pricing.”

Singh, meanwhile, noted that the country has an abundance of undeveloped land which can be tapped into for agricultural purposes.

“Guyana has an abundance of land, and not just an abundance of land, very fertile land which was not developed over the last couple of years. And the lack of development especially from the agriculture side is

basically as a result of not having adequate market.”

“We have seen, outside of the sugar industry and the rice industry, a lot of people are moving away from farming because of marketing. Recently we have seen the development of largescale farming, especially on the soya side. Within a year, we have seen that aspect of the agriculture sector develop significantly.”

Nevertheless, Singh explained that Government’s renewed focus on the agriculture sector will catapult it into a modern industry.

The multibillion-dollar transformational gas-to-energy project includes the construction of an integrated Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) plant and a 300-megawatt (MW) combined cycle power plant at Wales, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

So far, Government has

spent $24.6 billion on the start-up of this project. This includes $400 million for the acquisition of private lands to facilitate the laying of pipelines in Region Three and the remaining $24.213 billion was a 15 per cent payment on the Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract, which was awarded to US companies CH4 and Lindsayca late last year. The total cost of the EPC contract is US$759.8 million.

In addition to the EPC contract, the supervision of the NGL and power plant components of the project will cost another US$23 million.

With a timetable to deliver the power plant by the end of 2024 and the NGL plant to be online by 2025, works are progressing on getting the gas-to-energy project off the ground.

East Bank Demerara for $865,182,752.

Additionally, the construction of a sluice and pump station will also be erected at Belle Vue, WBD. The cost for this project was not released.

Nevertheless, interested and eligible bidders may inspect the bidding documents and obtain further information from the procurement unit of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) during normal working hours.

In an effort to further alleviate flooding countrywide, the Agriculture Ministry has issued an invitation for bids in excess of $2.7 billion for the construction of several pump stations across the country. These areas include Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara, at a tune of $918,231,387; Pouderoyen Area, West Bank Demerara at a cost of $945,179,772 and at Jimbo, Grove on the

The tender document may be purchased for a non-refundable fee of $3000 each and must be deposited in the tender box at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) no later than 09:00h on Thursday, June 1, 2023.

Speaking with Guyana Times on Monday, subject Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha shared that these new stations are being constructed to ensure the drainage systems across the country are more effective.

New PSC Head Komal Singh

An artist’s impression of the gas-to-energy facility

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha

A recent flood that occurred at Charlestown, Georgetown as a result of faulty works at a koker

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Plantation Hope residents to soon receive land titles

…lands to be made available for farming – Mustapha

More than 50 families occupying lands at Plantation Hope (Enmore Grass Field), East Coast Demerara, began receiving their Agreements of Sale on Monday and also registered for their Certificate of Title.

The titles are slated to be handed over at the end of the week, thereby ending years of waiting.

Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal met with the residents in their community, where he made this announcement. The Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), Sasenarine Singh were also present at the meeting, which is in keeping with a commitment

of President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali.

Enmore Grass Field was initially identified as a livestock-rearing area for residents of Enmore Hope West. However, farmers began squatting in the area in the late 90s and regularisation commenced in 2011. Some 55 lots were created in the area and 52 persons were verified and issued with allocation letters.

Minister Croal explained that the process was delayed due to the land acquisition process, as the area would have been under the purview of GuySuCo and National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL). The legal transfer to CH&PA has since been activated, allowing the process to move forward.

Following the community meeting, the Housing and Water Ministry through CH&PA processed and handed over the Agreements of Sale to residents at its Croal Street, Georgetown Annex.

to allow those residents to move forward.

Since Government took office in 2020, there has been an aggressive drive to distribute house lots of titles to Guyanese. In fact, the Housing Ministry has

lishing about 16 new housing areas across Regions Three, Four, Five, and Six. Meanwhile, during the engagement with Enmore residents, cash crop farming, as well as other community-related concerns were addressed.

Minister Mustapha reassured farmers of the Government’s commitment to developing the agriculture sector. The Minister told farmers that alternate systems are being put in place to ensure they can continue to farm.

The meeting came days after President Dr Irfaan Ali met with the residents who expressed concerns about developmental works that are ongoing in the village and how the farmers would be affected.

Persons living in Enmore East also raised land ownership concerns at the meeting, which Minister Croal stated will be addressed

been successful thus far in its quest to deliver 50,000 house lots by 2025.

The Ministry had also started the process of estab-

Minister Mustapha told farmers that lands will be made available and that a team from the GLDA, NAREI, NDIA, and GuySuCo will be working to identify lands. He also said that farmers will now be exposed to a more scientific way of planting as shade houses will be made available by the Ministry. NDIA engineers will also be working to enhance drainage in the farming area.

Minister Zulfikar Mustapha on the ground engaging Enmore residents

Residents of Plantation Hope at the engagement

Police issue wanted bulletin for suspects in Linden double murder

…Police seeking assistance to identity dead bandit

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has issued a wanted bulletin for two suspects in connection with the brutal murder of Johnson Bowen, 87, and Manuel Dos Santos, 58, at Wismar, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

The wanted men are John Ross also called “JR”, whose last known address is Five Corner Wismar, Linden, and 30-year-old Troy Bruce also called “Blacka” of Lot 26 Wismar Hill, Linden.

On Sunday, Police found the body of an unidentified man believed to be the third suspect in the brutal home invasion that left Bowen and Dos Santos dead.

The suspect was found dead with five chop wounds. The discovery was made in

the wee hours of Sunday at a house in Block 22 Wismar, Linden, where the unknown man was found on the floor covered in blood. A crime scene rank examined the body, and five chop wounds were seen – on the right shoulder, forehead, upper right back, centre of the back, and lower right back.

Commander of Regional Division 10, Assistant Commissioner Kurleigh Simon indicated on Monday that the Police are still trying to confirm the identity of the dead bandit.

It was reported that the family was attacked by armed bandits who were wearing black masks. Dos Santos’s wife told detectives that she was awakened by a loud sound in the living

room and as she went to enquire, she saw her elderly father being tugged by the invaders, while one of her sons lay helpless on the floor.

It was reported that Denzil Roberts, a nephew of Dos Santos, who lives next door, rushed to the scene in aid of his family members after hearing a commotion coming from the house.

Despite the odds, he managed to choke one of the attackers, while the now dead Manuel and Valdeir Dos Santos – Manuel’s son – armed themselves with cutlasses and fought off the others. The suspects were chopped in the process. The situation quickly devolved

into a chaotic bloodbath as the invaders opened fire indiscriminately causing panic and chaos.

The bodies of Dos Santos and Bowen were later found riddled with bullets. An injured Roberts was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was admitted and remains a patient.

Meanwhile, Police have asked members of the general public who may have information on the whereabouts of the wanted men to contact them at telephone numbers 225-6940, 2258196, 226-7476, 225-2317, 227-1149, or the nearest station.

Govt sets aside $2.7B to...

“We’ll build one at Belle Vue, Meten-Meer-Zorg [and] then we’re doing one at Letter Kenny on the Corentyne. What we have done is we are looking at the area now to put in these DNI infrastructures as the President would have said, that we are creating these infrastructures so that we can have more lands under cultivation and at the same time be more effective in our drainage system. Only last Friday the President commissioned a mobile pump in New Amsterdam and we will place another one in New Amsterdam, so these are pumps that we are building and also those mobile pumps that we are placing at different points in the country to alleviate flooding and make the drainage system more effective,” Mustapha explained.

The Minister pointed out that the Government has also placed a mobile pump in Crabwood Creek and is actively looking to have them placed in other vulnerable areas.

According to Mustapha, “Since we took Government in August of 2020, a number of pump stations were built and new pumps were placed at different places and a number of sluices also were rehabilitated across the country. So these are works that we are doing in an effort to bring relief to have more effective drainage.”

The Minister further added that given that the country is facing more

FROM PAGE 9

heavy rainfall than before, the Government has to cater to all possibilities of climate change.

Early last month, the Ministry inked a $1.3 billion contract for the rehabilitation of drainage catchment areas on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD), particularly at Liliendaal and Ogle.

The project, which falls under the World Bank’s US$26 million financing to support the ongoing Guyana Flood Risk Management Project, will improve the drainage in the coastal areas in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica), reducing their vulnerability to flooding.

The Minister shared that these catchment areas will benefit the entire eastern part of Region Four.

“This project…will help the entire…eastern part of Region Four and it will contribute to the easing of flooding in these areas,” Mustapha remarked.

He also made reference to the 2021 floods which affected every region in the country, noting that since that national disaster, the Government has made significant investments to improve drainage nationwide.

Since 2020 the Government has been making significant interventions to bring relief to citizens who have been affected by floods. These include donations of food hampers, sanitisation materials, cash grants as well as upgrades to infrastructures to remedy the situation.

Wanted: John Ross and Troy Bruce

Murdered: Johnson Bowen

3 feared dead following Cuyuni River boat mishap

Ahorrific boat collision along the Cuyuni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), on Monday resulted in the disappearance of three persons who are now feared dead.

One of the missing men was identified as Lloyd Obermuller, a 60-year-old labourer of Crane Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara (WCD), and of Eteringbang Landing.

Obermuller was reportedly operating a 19-foot wooden boat powered by a 75Hp Yamaha outboard engine while Crees Boyde was operating a 17-foot wooden

vessel powered by a 40Hp Yamaha outboard engine at the time of the collision.

The incident reportedly occurred between 03:47h and 04:30h. Police stated that Obermuller and Boyde would normally transport persons from Eteringbang Landing to San Martin Landing, Venezuela.

However, on Monday morning, Obermuller left Eteringbang Landing en route to San Martin with two passengers while Boyde had left San Martin, Venezuela, en route to Eteringbang Landing.

The two boats at the Eteringbang Police Station

“As they were both nav- igating across the river, the two boats collided, causing

NWD man nabbed with gun, empty magazine at Baramita

the passengers -- as well as Obermuller and Boyde -to be flung into the river,” Police stated.

As such, public-spirited citizens responded and managed to rescue Boyde. Neither Obermuller nor his passengers were found. Boyde was taken to a health centre in Venezuela where he was treated for severe injury to his right leg and minor injury to his hands.

Meanwhile, the identities of the passengers have not yet been ascertained. A search and rescue mission is underway.

Pedestrian dies after being struck by motor car along ECD highway

Arrested: Kelton Royden Mc Lennon

Kelton Royden Mc Lennon of Arakaka Compound, North West District (NWD), was arrested on Monday after he was found to be in possession of a .32 Taurus pistol and an empty magazine.

Police stated that at about 10:21h, ranks from the Baramita Police Station

acted on information received and went to a shop located at Return Village, Baramita, NWD, where the 29-year-old miner was searched and the weapon was found in his possession.

As a result, ranks conducted checks and confirmed that the suspect was not the holder of a Firearm Licence. Mc Lennon was placed into custody and is slated to be charged shortly.

A57-year-old pedestrian is the latest road fatality after he was allegedly struck down on Saturday evening while crossing the Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD) Public Road.

Dead is De’Castro of Mon Repos, ECD. The accident occurred at about 19:30h and involved motor car PAD 7001.

Police stated that the vehicle, owned and driven by a 41-year-old female of Enmore, ECD, was proceeding east along the highway

Dead: De’Castro

when she alleged that the victim suddenly walked into her path.

Despite attempting to avoid a collision, the left side front of her vehicle came into contact with the pedestrian.

De’Castro was reportedly flung onto the road, where he sustained injuries on his body. He was picked up in an unconscious state by public-spirited citizens and escorted to Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Investigations are ongoing.

US fugitive found hiding in Guyana extradited to face charges

United States fugitive Bobby Allen Stark, who was arrested in Guyana for alleged sexual assault in his country, has since been extradited to face charges.

The US Embassy in a missive to the press stated that officers of the Guyana Police Force’s Criminal Investigations Department, in a joint effort with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the United States Diplomatic Security Service, arrested the federal fugitive on

Extradited:

Friday last.

The 52-year-old fled the United States to seek shelter from justice in Guyana.

“The fugitive is wanted for criminal acts allegedly committed in the United States. Acting on the information received, Guyana Police Force Officers, in collaboration with Diplomatic Security Service, located the fugitive. The fugitive was escorted back to the United States by federal agents to face charges,” said the Embassy.

Miner stabbed to death at Puruni, suspect arrested

he was heading back to his camp.

Nevertheless, reports are that the suspect followed him into the camp, allegedly pulled out a knife from the waist of his pants and dealt John one stab to his chest.

The victim began bleeding profusely, thus causing him to fall to the ground and shortly afterwards, became motionless.

The Police were summoned and upon examining the victim’s body, a single stab wound was seen in the vicinity of the chest area.

Miner busted with ganja at checkpoint in Reg 7

APolice operation in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) led to the discovery of 560 grams of cannabis in a lorry.

Police stated that ranks were on duty at 70km Police Checkpoint, when they intercepted a motor lorry bearing registration number GLL 1703 that was at the time being driven by a 27-year-old from Itaballi Landing. There were five other occupants in the vehicle.

A24-year-old miner of Moruca Village, North West District in Region One (BarimaWaini), was in the wee hours of Sunday stabbed to death following an altercation with another miner –who has since confessed to the crime.

The Guyana Police Force on Monday identified the dead man as Raynold John. According to reports, the incident occurred at ‘Chiney Creek’ Backdam, Puruni

River.

Police stated that the victim and the suspect are known to each other as they worked in close proximity.

However, on Saturday evening at about 17:30h, John left his worksite and went over to a nearby camp that sells alcohol where he was seen imbibing with some friends, including the suspect.

While drinking, an argument ensued between them. The now dead man chose to leave and indicated that

Checks were made for the suspect, who was arrested at another camp some distance away. A knife suspected to be the murder weapon was found on a bench in the camp.

John’s body was escorted to Bartica Regional Hospital Mortuary while the suspect was taken to Bartica Police Station, where, under caution, he gave a confession. A video interview was also done in which he again detailed what happened.

Statements were taken, and the suspect remains in custody pending charges.

A search was carried out on the occupants and their personal belongings but nothing illegal was found. However, the ranks found a grey five-gallon bucket in the truck’s tray, which contained one red plastic bag with a quantity of cannabis.

The driver and occupants of the vehicle were questioned, when one of the occupants, Quacy Wright, replied, “Officer, I buy the

weed from a pusher man at Timehri”.

The suspected cannabis was weighed in the suspect’s

presence and amounted to 560 grams. Wright is expected to make his court appearance shortly.

US fugitive found hiding...

not seek or find refuge in Guyana to avoid prosecution.

AG

inspects

ongoing work on $447M Deeds Registry building in Essequibo

their properties and register their businesses.

Over the years, it was recognised that due to the growing number of transactions and the need to expand commercial services, there was need for a permanent location with adequate space.

Nandlall in January 2021, had announced that the Deeds and Commercial Registry in the PomeroonSupenaam region would soon have its own building.

The United States Embassy lauded the Government, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, and the Guyana Police Force for their commitment and determination to maintaining the rule of law and ensuring foreign fugitives do

A report from The Gazette in March indicated that Stark was wanted on suspicion of sexual assault of a child by one in a position of trust, according to court records. The felony

charge suggests a pattern of repeated abuse.

Stark was arrested on April 30, 2022, in connection with the charge. However, he posted a US$25,000 bond and failed to appear for a scheduled jury trial in El Paso County in October.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall on Monday

inspected ongoing works being conducted on the Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority Building at Suddie, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

Upon completion, the four-storey building will house the operations of the Deeds and Commercial Registries, and living quarters for staff. The building will be equipped with an elevator, parking facilities and a storage vault for documents.

The contract for the construction of the building was awarded in October 2022 to the tune of $447.8 million to JAICAM Constructions and Services Inc.

Despite minor delays due to inclement weather and supply chain issues, the project is slated to be completed within the 12-month period.

The Attorney General was accompanied by Regional Chairperson Vilma

De Silva, Regional Vice Chairman Humace Oodit, Registrar of Deeds Azeena Baksh, Regional Engineer Kawan Suchit and the contractor.

In 2001, the Government of Guyana took the decision to expand the services provided by these agencies in Region Two, therefore making it easier for citizens to access information regarding ownership of their lands; process the transfer of properties held under transport, register powers of attorney, deed polls and other miscellaneous deeds; mortgage

The Deeds and Commercial Registry was established to efficiently and expeditiously administer the laws enacted by Parliament affecting land, whether by way of transport, leases, mortgages or any other alienation thereof.

The entity also deals with laws relating to trademarks, patents and designs, geographical indications, copyrights, trade unions, companies, partnerships, business names, powers of attorney, bills of sale contracts, and other deeds.

The body of Raynold John being examined at the scene

Ongoing work on the building

AG Anil Nandlall being updated on the construction

Mohamed’s Enterprise spearheads activities to honour mothers

Mohamed’s Enterprise in collaboration with Hadi’s World Inc, Innovative Mining Inc and Black Water Petroleum treated 40 mothers to lunch and also gifted them a monetary donation.

The initiative was hosted at Mohamed’s Enterprise stone depot at Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD), on Sunday.

During the event, businessman, Nazar “Shell”

Mohamed thanked the mothers for their selfless sacrifices and for all they have done for their respective families.

He also noted that their contributions to society are commendable and should be recognised hence, the event on Sunday. The businessman further encouraged them to support their children since they are the backbone of the family.

In addition, Brother Bob

Yusuff also expressed his appreciation and admiration for all the mothers and encouraged them not to be victims of abuse. In this light, he stated that any form of abuse should be reported to the relevant authorities.

The women were very appreciative and expressed their profound gratitude to the businesses for their generous gesture.

In addition, more than 450 hampers were dis-

tributed to senior citizens in Berbice. The initiative was organised by Team Mohamed’s in partnership with the Dr Rose Foundation.

The distribution benefit-

ted senior citizens from several villages including No 35, No 36, Brighton, Eversham, Kiltern, Epsom, Dingwall, Nos 41, 42, 43, and Bengal.

The special initiative was aimed at celebrating

the contributions of mothers to humanity, and the teams are delighted to have played a part in making this Mother's Day a memorable one for the residents of Berbice.

Winners of Mother, Daughter Pageant share experiences

athon pageant, Leanne Hernandez and her daughter Ja’nae copped the title of the junior category while Shanice Simon and Lé Shaunté were adjudged the winners in the middle category and Natasha Brandt and Jadiamond in the senior category.

After the pageant, Leanne Hernandez was elated to have won and stated that it was the first time she took part in the pageant. She added that the experience was amazing while adding that leading up to pageant night, it was challenging but she was grateful for the win. “We came out and do our best.”

Shanice Simon and Lé Shaunté, who copped first place in the middle category, also took part in the pageant for the first time. “We are still surprised, I feel really good, all the hard work and the rehearsals paid off.”

The 30th Annual Mother & Daughter Pageant was held on Saturday last at the National Cultural Centre under the theme “Year of

the Pearl, our Love is 30” which saw a total of 20 pairs competing in three categories – junior, middle, and senior.

At the end of the mar-

“It was good, a good experience! I would encourage other mothers and daughters to join. It helps to strengthen the bond between mothers and daughters.”

Her daughter, Lé Shaunté, added, “I would say that our reason for be-

ing here is to strengthen our bond. We really have fulfilled that and I’m really happy that we have because I’ve seen my mother and I, our relationship has gone to a new level. I not only want to say thanks to SupaStylistics for having us here but also the contestants for making it memorable too… and making new friends.”

Further, in the senior category, Natasha BrandtJohnson and Jadiamond Johnson outshore their competitors. After the crowning, the pair was ex-

tremely happy to have been awarded the first place.

Natasha indicated “It was great, a little overwhelming but it was great… the experience was great, we already had the bond but coming, meeting every day or every week for practice, it was exciting because we usually dress alike every time we come to practice.

Jadiamond added, “Also we make a few friends”

For the senior category, in third place were Marilyn Welch & Rashawna while Oneca DeSouza & Ariana

came copped second place. In the middle category, in third place were Yulisa Douglas & Gabrielle with Sheina Carter & Kelly coming in second.

Meanwhile, Ashley Semple and Gabrielle were awarded second place in the junior category while Celestine Tyrell & Talia came in second.

Among the attendees were First Lady Arya Ali; former First Lady Shandra Granger and Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Charles Ramson Jr.

Some of the senior citizens during the hamper distribution

Businessman Nazar Mohamed and the mothers on Sunday

The winners of the Junior, Senior and Middle categories

The duo behind the Mother and Daughter Pageant, Ingrid Fung and Dr Sulan Fung

Ruling on oil spill insurance coverage Judge sets May 29 to hear arguments on whether EPA’s appeal has prospect of succeeding

…rejects request to suspend High Court orders

The Court of Appeal intends to apply the merit test to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) appeal against High Court Judge Sandil Kissoon’s ruling for ExxonMobil (Guyana) to provide unlimited insurance for offshore oil operations it is engaged in with its co-venturers in the Stabroek Block.

In light of this, Justice

Fredericks Collins, and Guyanese citizen Godfrey Whyte.

Datadin’s application for the judgement to be suspended pending the hearing and determination of the appeal was, however, refused, with the Judge indicating that he intends to hear arguments on the reasonable prospect of success and render his ruling before June 10—the last day for compli-

of Appeal Rishi Persaud has fixed May 29 at 10:00h to hear arguments on whether the appeal has a reasonable prospect of success.

In the lead-up to this very important hearing, Justice Persaud held a Case Management Conference (CMC) on Monday during which he fixed strict timelines for when the parties must file and serve written submissions in this regard.

With the deadline for compliance with Justice Kissoon’s orders fast approaching, EPA’s lawyer Sanjeev Datadin asked for a stay of the May 3 order directing the EPA to issue ExxonMobil’s local affiliate, Esso Exploration and Production (Guyana) Limited (EEPGL), with an Enforcement Notice on or before May 9, for the company to provide, within 30 days, unlimited Parent Company Guarantee Agreement and/or unlimited liability Affiliate Company Guarantee, together with environmental liability insurance, as is customary in the international petroleum industry.

Non-compliance will result in the suspension of the company’s Environmental Permit.

“We’re opposing any order for a stay,” said Senior Counsel Seenath Jairam, one of the lawyers representing the respondents, President of the Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc (TIGI),

ance with Justice Kissoon’s ruling.

Meanwhile, last week, the EPA issued a statement in which it noted that it has confidence in winning the appeal.

In September 2022, Collins and Whyte moved to the court to get the EPA to implement the liability clause in the permit issued to ExxonMobil for its operations. They wanted the court to ensure EEPGL takes full financial accountability in the case of harm, loss, and damage to the environment from a well blowout, oil spill, or other failures in the Stabroek Block.

On the issue of whether the EPA acted in breach of its statutory duty and unreasonably permitted Esso to carry out petroleum production operations in the absence of compliance with the terms of the permit, Justice Kissoon ruled that the EPA has committed an illegality, acted unlawfully, ultra vires, unreasonably, in defiance of logic, irrationally, and without any jurisdiction.

He inter alia, found that Esso was engaged in a “disingenuous attempt” which was calculated to deceive when it sought to dilute its liabilities and settled obligations stipulated and expressed in Condition 14 of the permit, while simultaneously optimising production in the Stabroek Block.

“The insurance obtained by the EEPGL from its

Affiliate Company AON UK Ltd, both for the Liza Phase 1 and Phase 2 Projects, does not satisfy the stipulation and obligation set out at Condition 14:5 of the Environmental Permit, or even what is considered environmental liability insurance according to international standards of the petroleum industry,” he held.

In the end, EPA and Esso were ordered to pay Whyte and Collins $1.5 million in court costs.

Several days after the High Court ruling, EPA filed a Notice of Appeal in which it advanced several grounds on which it is seeking to set aside the ruling, among them being that the lower court’s reasoning was flawed and that the Environmental Permit was in keeping with the law.

“The trial court erred in law in its interpretation, consideration, and application of the combined effect of Clause 14 of the Environmental Permit… and erroneously concluded that the financial assurance to be provided by the third respondent herein, EEPGL, in relation to the said permit was unlimited,” one of the agency’s grounds of appeal outlined.

Another ground states, “The trial court erred in law and misconstrued the Environmental Protection Act and its regulations to determine that the appellant [EPA], a statutory body, had specific statutory powers which in fact it did not have.”

Another contention of the EPA is that the court wrongly ascribed meaning to the Environmental Protection Act that was contrary to specific provisions in that very

the agency, there would be severe disruption to the national economy if the order is allowed to stand.

EPA has been keen to point out that the very permit at the heart of the case is critically important to Guyana’s economic growth. It argued that should the permit which pertains to the Liza 1 and 2 fields be cancelled, this would have catastrophic consequences on the economy.

unlimited Parent Company Guarantee Agreement and/or Affiliate Company Guarantee Agreement.

Act.

It is also contended that the court “in effect substituted its own discretion as the decision of the appellant when the appellant, at all material times, had exercised its discretion and acted well within its statutory and regulatory powers.”

According to the EPA’s legal documents, the orders granted by Justice Kissoon are coercive and entirely remove the EPA’s discretion, which would have severe consequences. According to

“Guyana as a nation now earns billions of dollars annually from the petroleum activities conducted on the Liza 1 and Liza 2 fields, both of which are subject to the permit. The suspension or cancellation will have a catastrophic effect on national funds for development, and also the private sector which supports the activities on the said Liza 1 and 2 fields,” EPA averred.

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC, had pointed out after the ruling that the Environmental Permit imposes no obligation on the permit holder to provide an

The AG also pointed out that this ruling can have profound ramifications and grave economic as well as other impacts on the public interest and national development. He noted that the EPA and EEPGL had spent almost a year negotiating a Parent Guarantee and Indemnity Agreement to the tune of US$2B in liability coverage, in compliance with EEPGL’s financial assurance obligations under the Environmental Permit and the Environmental Protection Act.

“These negotiations only concluded [recently]. These negotiations and their material details were placed before the court for its consideration, but unfortunately to no avail,” a statement from the Attorney General’s Chambers had disclosed.

There are several court cases challenging various aspects of ExxonMobil’s operations offshore Guyana.

Justice of Appeal Rishi Persaud

Pres Ali confident of ‘One Guyana’ pilot project in New Amsterdam

– believes cross-overs will determine outcome of LGE

ground and with your energy and your commitment, we will be able to break the ground…once we can break this ground, we will be proving to all of Guyana that we are all capable of uniting and coming together in the interest of Guyana.”

President Ali explained that his Administration is focusing on the bigger picture even though much attention is being placed on changing the political dynamics of New Amsterdam.

“What you are doing is much more than New Amsterdam. This is changing stereotypes. This is changing narrative and propaganda. This is digging deep and hard into paving a new path and that is the ‘One Guyana’ path.”

President Ali also addressed the criticisms being meted out against those candidates who are now supporting the PPP.

“They did not commit any crime. They exercised a dem-

ocratic choice to join a party that they believe can do something for the country. We are not going to beat anybody up in exercising your choice. We have been able to bring together a strong team.”

“They all came because they wanted the best for New Amsterdam…they want the people of New Amsterdam to have a better life and…they want Region Six to be the best it can be,” President Ali said.

Decomposed body of elderly woman found in bedroom – mentally-ill son was reportedly living with corpse

President Dr Irfaan Ali said New Amsterdam, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) is being used as a pilot project in furthering a ‘One Guyana’ agenda and he is confident this will show at the upcoming Local Government polls.

Six of the seven constituency candidates contesting the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE) under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) banner in New

Amsterdam, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) formally supported A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).

New Amsterdam has historically been under the control of the PNC-led APNU.

The Town Council currently has three seats occupied by the PPP, ten by APNU, and one by the Alliance For Change (AFC).

The PPP is aiming to take control of the 14-member Council this year. While in Berbice on Friday, the Head

of State along with the party’s candidates visited communities that traditionally threw their support behind APNU.

During those visits, President Ali and the team received warm welcomes.

“This slate for New Amsterdam is a demonstration of what ‘One Guyana’ can be and will be,” Ali remarked during one of those visits.

“This is a pilot project because once we break the

The decomposed body of an elderly woman was on Sunday found in her home at Johanna, Black Bush Polder, Berbice, and it has since been revealed that her mentally-ill son had been living in the house for the past few days without reporting his mother was dead.

Police stated that 60-year-old Cecilia Ramsook, called “Sisto” of Lot 41 Johanna North, Black Bush Polder, Corentyne, Berbice, was discovered dead by neighbours who then contacted the Police.

She was reportedly last seen alive on May 9 at a 'wake house' at Mibicuri. Upon the discovery, the body was checked for marks of violence, but according to the Police, the advanced stage of decomposition made this impossible to determine.

Police, in a statement, said the woman had been consuming alcohol and that she suffered from high blood pressure.

Parbattie Diyal was one of the last women who saw Ramsook alive. She recalled that on the evening of the wake, Ramsook was lagging behind as they were heading home and upon enquiring, was told that she was not feeling well.

“By the time we walk and meet by the street, they get a lady living there and she stop there. So I tell her to sit

down and rest and when you rest enough you can come.”

She said that was the last time she saw her neighbour alive.

Meanwhile, a neighbour told Guyana Times that while concerns mounted over the whereabouts of Ramsook, a foul stench wound through the community.

According to Babewattie Ravindranauth, she thought it might have been a small animal which one of her dogs killed in the yard. However, after her granddaughter searched the yard and did not find anything, she realised the stench was coming from the opposite side of the road where Ramsook lived.

Ravindranauth said it was the woman’s mentally-ill son, who is in his 30s,

who eventually revealed to neighbours that the woman was dead.

According to the woman, she had enquired from Romsook’s son about the whereabouts of his mother and was told that she had gone to visit his sister.

“But yesterday [Sunday] morning a boy was passing and he tell the boy that “Sisto” dead and in the house. So the boy come and tell me so I tell him ‘you mad just like “Cook-up”’. After I come into the house I decide to go over because is a few days since I didn’t see the old lady. I call the girl living next door and tell her for us to go.”

She said she eventually persuaded her neighbour to accompany her to Ramsook’s house.

“When we meet halfway, she run and go and by the time I meet at the house she meet upstairs and come dawn back and she tell me not to go because I would fall down,” she related.

Family members subsequently contacted the Police but by the time they arrived at the scene, the Police were already there and had cordoned off the area.

An autopsy is expected to be conducted on the body on Wednesday. “Sisto” was the mother to five children, including the mentally-ill son. (Andrew Carmichael)

President Dr Irfaan Ali along with the PPP candidates contesting the upcoming LGE for New Amsterdam

Dead: Cecilia Ramsook

The house in which the woman’s body was found

Over $600M injected to drill wells in Reg 9 this year

2025 strategic plan, as part of its initiatives to increase access to clean water and upgrade water supply infrastructure nationwide.

Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal said the Government’s intervention in the water sector for the entire region will further enhance water coverage.

Residents of Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo) will soon have enhanced access to potable water and service, with the drilling of 14 wells and expansion to several water distribution systems. Areas to benefit include Aishalton, Awaruwaunau,

Maruranau, Semonie, Quiko, Rupertee, Fairview, Hiowa, Quatata, Shiriri, Katoonarib, Sand Creek, Potarinau, and Kaicumbay.

Some communities will also benefit from expansion to distribution networks and installation of photovoltaic systems.

These include Aranaputa, Moco Moco, Sand Creek, Karasabai, Woweta, Quiko, Massara, Baitun, Potarinau, Crash Water, Katuur, Tiger Pond, Karaudarnau, Kumu, Kaicumbay, Cracrana, and Baishaidrum.

This is in keeping with the Government’s 2021 to

“We have over $600 million by GWI that is being invested for the drilling of a number of wells and expansion of distribution networks. By the end of this year, Region Nine will see somewhere around 95 per cent coverage of water to all the villages in the entire region,” Minister Croal disclosed

Further, he also urged the residents to take advantage of the training programmes offered by the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) to be upskilled, which

Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal

will enable them to have sustainable incomes.

“We want to quickly move so that the benefits, the services, and the better quality of life that you see elsewhere you could benefit. We want to ensure that we also create employment so that many persons can make use of the opportunities in various ar-

eas,” the Minister added This year, the Government injected $17.7 billion for the water expansion and management of the sector, with $1.4 billion going towards upgrading and extending water supply systems in hinterland communities across Regions One, Two, Seven, Eight, and Nine.

Stricter penalties being examined for ticket fee defaulters – Min Benn

– road safety to be incorporated into schools’ curriculum

tance from teachers and other relevant stakeholders.

“Whether it’s a private school, we would like to see every teacher in the country trained. It’s going to bring awareness to the kids, they will have to actually go and do research [on road safety],” the coordinator pointed out.

Already, 61 teachers of Linden, Region 10, have completed the programme. Similar sessions will be held in Region Six from May 19.

The Home Affairs Ministry will be engaging the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to implement stricter penalties for road users who have not paid their ticketing fees.

This was revealed by Minister Robeson Benn, who related that the move to introduce a robust framework of stringent penalties is necessary, especially since there is an urgent need to hold individuals accountable for traffic offences.

He made the statement on Monday during the launch of the 7th United Nations Global Road Safety Week, which is being observed from May 15 to 21 under the theme “Rethink Mobility”.

“Many of them have a large number of tickets I believe accumulated for which they haven’t paid…I am going to enjoy a conversation with the Guyana Revenue Authority for persons after a certain number of tickets which haven’t been paid; we’ll not only suspend their licences but hold their vehicles,” Minister Benn disclosed.

The Guyana Police Force will be procuring an additional 300 wheel clamps to detain vehicles obstructing the flow of traffic. Passengers are also being urged to speak out against errant drivers.

“If we jump in the minibus, we are fearful to say you’re going too fast…we need to speak out some more

and to stand our ground in relation to when we use public or private transport. We have to have the courage to speak out,” the Home Affairs Minister emphasised.

He said the country must work towards bringing more awareness on the issue at all levels and has assured that his Ministry will work harder to end road carnage.

“We have to get together on the issue to save lives and to avoid the distress, the deaths, the inability to work and provide for your family anymore…we cannot continue in this way,” he pointed out.

In addition, Traffic Chief (ag) Superintendent Dennis Stephen revealed that in five years, some 147 pedestrians lost their lives, and another 11 persons have lost their lives while on electric bicycles, in two years.

From January 2023, a to-

tal of 16 cyclists inclusive of pillion riders lost their lives. The Home Affairs Ministry has distributed 300 helmets to the Traffic Department to share with cyclists, to ensure their protection.

“I am imploring all road users to obey the rules of the road, look out for the vulnerable group, persons above age who cross the road slowly, drive within the safe speed limit, look out and observe,” the Traffic Chief urged.

Meanwhile, several teachers across Guyana will benefit from a train the trainers programme through the Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNRSC), allowing them to incorporate road safety into their teaching sessions.

The initiative is geared towards increasing awareness of the importance of road safety at the nursery, primary and secondary levels.

This was disclosed by GNRSC’s Coordinator, Ramona Doorgen, during an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI) on Monday.

Doorgen explained that the undertaking is part of a three-component training programme that targets teachers, Police officers and councillors from the various road safety councils in every region.

Modules have already been developed with assis-

“We have to train the teachers to integrate road safety into the curriculum, but then we have to train the Police officers and the Road

Safety Council, how to monitor and evaluate the programme,” Doorgen further explained.

This is among several collaborations aimed at reducing and eventually ending road carnage.

Trial into 2017 murder of labourer continues

The trial into the 2017 murder of Uitspa Village, Demerara River labourer Dhanpaul Dookie continued on Monday before Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and a jury at the High Court in Demerara.

Three men, Chandrapaul Persaud, also called “Raju” or “Duffy”; Heralall Ramdhan, also called “Baba” or “Roshan”; and Jagishwar

Dhanai, also called “Toto”, are accused of the murder.

They have pleaded not guilty to the indictment which stated that they murdered Dookie, 51, between July 24 and 26, 2017, during the course or furtherance of a robbery. All of them are represented by legal counsel.

The trial continues this morning. Police have stated that Dookie, a farmer, was found dead in his home with

stab wounds to his abdomen, lower back, hip, forehead, and right eye.

After committing the act, the perpetrators reportedly made their way into the man’s home, from where they raided money and jewellery, among other items, before escaping.

The man’s decomposing body was found by persons who had gone to check on him.

The three murder accused at court on Monday

GNRSC’s Coordinator Ramona Doorgen

Officials and children at the launch of the 7th United Nations Global Road Safety Week

The modules that will be incorporated into schools’ curriculum

Brazil confirms 1st-ever avian flu cases in wild birds

Brazil, the world's top chicken exporter, has for the first time confirmed Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), the Agriculture Ministry said on Monday.

Two cases were detected in wild birds and should not trigger a ban on imports of Brazilian poultry products as per guidelines from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), according to the Brazilian Government.

The avian influenza virus can kill entire flocks of birds and cause losses for the farming sector. Brazil's chicken exports rose by 27 per cent last year to US$9.76 billion as other countries reeled from a global outbreak of the virus, yet the South American country had never registered a case until now.

The Brazilian Government confirmed the detection of H5N1 subtype of the influenza virus on

two birds migrating off the coast of Brazil's southeastern state of Espirito Santo. Brazil's main poultry producing states are in the far south and centre-west.

The Agriculture Ministry said that because the cases were detected in wild animals, Brazil's status "as a country free of HPAI" was not affected.

Miguel Gularte, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Brazil-based BRF, the

Euadorean authorities detain former Energy Minister in bribery probe

Ecuadorean authorities have detained a former Energy Minister amid an investigation into alleged bribery linked to State oil firm Petroecuador, the Attorney General's office said on Monday.

An investigation of Xavier Vera, Ecuador's former Minister of Mines and Energy, began last October following several corruption allegations, including that he arranged jobs at Petroecuador in exchange for bribes.

gation for alleged bribery," the Attorney General's office wrote in a message via Twitter, referring to Vera.

Vera, who served for six months before resigning last October, has denied the accusations, calling them slanderous and an effort to discredit the Government of President Guillermo Lasso.

arraignment hearing, without giving further details.

world's largest chicken exporting company, told a press conference he was not surprised by the case of highly pathogenic avian influenza, adding the company is prepared for any scenario. The executive reiterated WOAH's recommendations that no members of that organisation impose import bans because of cases detected in wild animals.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

T&T PM talks energy with US officials

Trinidad and Tobago

Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley and Energy Minister Stuart Young discussed energy security with US officials on Monday.

The meeting was held at the White House, Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, DC.

In a release, the Office of

the Prime Minister said Dr Rowley and Young met with a special presidential adviser for the Americas Chris Dodd, State Department senior adviser for energy security Amos Hochstein, special assistant to the President and NSC senior director for the Western Hemisphere Juan Gonzalez, and Eric Jacobson of the Office of Vice President.

The release said, "The talks featured extensive discussions which surrounded progressing TT’s energy security and the potential effects of same on Caricom and the wider Americas.

"Parties agreed to continue working together to secure energy stability for the region." (Trinidad Newsday)

"The Attorney General's office, with the support from (Ecuadorean Police) executed an arrest warrant against Xavier V, within an investi-

He resigned hours after Prosecutors raided his properties in capital Quito and coastal city Guayaquil, as well as his office and a Quito hotel where another person linked to the case had been staying.

In the tweet, the Prosecutor's office said it had arrested Vera in order to ensure he appear at his

"The former Minister has left the country more than once since these processes began. He isn't running away from the investigation, he isn't running away from the process," Vera's lawyer, Carlos Sanchez, told local television channel Ecuavisa.

Vera's detention comes as Opposition lawmakers push for impeachment proceedings against Lasso for alleged embezzlement in connection with a contract at State-owned oil transportation company Flopec, which could lead to his removal from office. (Excerpt from Reuters)

United Nations

Secretary General António Guterres joined forces with Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Monday to reiterate their call for greater support from the international community in addressing the worsening crisis in Haiti.

Guterres and Holness made the call at a press conference following bilateral discussions between the two world leaders at the Office of the Prime Minister in Jamaica.

“We lamented that there has not been more action to address the situation in Haiti,” Holness told reporters.

“We repeat our call for greater attention to be paid by the international community to the very urgent security and humanitarian situation in Haiti,” added Holness, who noted that while the Caribbean Community [Caricom] was doing its part to assist,

more support was needed.

Holness earlier this year said Jamaica stands ready to send members of the security forces to Haiti as part of an international effort aimed at restoring stability to the violence-torn Frenchspeaking Caribbean nation.

According to UN figures, there was a 20 per cent increase in killings in Haiti from January to the end of

March, compared with the last quarter of 2022. There were 637 kidnappings over the period, a 63 per cent increase compared with the last three months of 2022.

More than 100,000 Haitians have had to flee their communities as gangs break into homes and set them ablaze, and kill people in territory held by rival gangs.

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Colombia's ELN

Colombian leftwing guerrilla group the National Liberation Army (ELN) on Monday said peace talks with the Government were in crisis due to comments made by President Gustavo Petro.

The declaration from the ELN represents the most recent setback to the negotiations, which Petro restarted last year as part of efforts to end the rebel group's role in Colombia's almost six decades of conflict.

Petro had questioned the unity of the group's leadership and ordered Colombia's military to target illicit activity such as drug trafficking that finance illegal armed groups.

"The peace talks cannot be subject to the fluctuations in the public statements of the President," the ELN said in a statement.

"The negotiations have entered into a crisis and clarity is needed from the Government, so that the path towards peace is cleared and so that we might speak in plain lan-

guerrilla

group warns of peace talks 'crisis'

guage to the country and the world," the statement added.

In response, the Government said: "It's imperative for us to answer to (affected) communities and establish ... a cessation of hostilities between all parties in the conflict, protection measures for civilians, and the participation of civil society as key pillars."

The ELN, founded in 1964 by radi-

cal Catholic priests, has some 5850 members, including 2950 combatants. The Government says the group finances itself through drug trafficking, illegal mining and kidnapping.

Negotiations with the ELN under previous Administrations faltered on the group's diffuse chain of command and dissent within its ranks.

(Reuters)

Mexico asks Texas to halt costly cargo inspections; will file USMCA complaint

Mexico's Economy Ministry is urging the US state of Texas to remove inspections of cargo crossing the border, which it said in a statement on Monday is causing millions of dollars in losses for US and Mexican firms.

The Mexican Government will file a complaint with the trade facilitation committee under the United StatesMexico-Canada (USMCA) free trade agreement, which came into effect in 2020.

Earlier this month, Texas started inspecting commercial vehicles crossing into the state from Mexico at a bridge connecting the Texas city of Brownsville with the Mexican city of Matamoros.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered similar inspections before. In April 2022, cargo inspections prompted significant supply chain disruptions until Abbott reached a deal with the Governors of four neighbouring Mexican states to increase

security efforts.

The current inspections are causing costly delays of 8 to 27 hours, which are mainly impacting perishable foods and are generating millions of dollars in losses for both US and Mexican companies, Mexico's economy ministry said in the statement. Abbott, a Republican, has frequently criticised Democratic US President Joe Biden's efforts to stop the smuggling of people and contraband across the US-Mexico border. (Reuters)

Mexican Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard, Otty Patino, head of the negotiation team of the Colombian Government; Pablo Beltran, head of leftist guerrilla group National Liberation Army (ELN) and Aureliano Carbonell, ELN negotiator, pose for a group photo, as they attend a cycle of peace dialogues, during the InterAmerican Conference on Social Security (CISS) in Mexico City, Mexico February 13, 2023 (Reuters/Raquel Cunha file photo)

Holness joins UN chief in call for global community to step up response to Haiti crisis

Ducklings are seen inside a poultry farm in Castelnau-Tursan, France, January 24, 2023 (Reuters/Stephane Mahe)

Prime Minister Andrew Holness (seventh right) and United Nations Secretary General António Guterres (ninth left) are flanked by members of the Cabinet, just before holding bilateral talks at the Office of the Prime Minister on Monday, May 15, 2023 (Photo: JIS)

Around The World OIL NEWS

Ukraine hails gains in Bakhmut as Zelenskiy wins more weapons in Europe

Oil gains over 1%, ends losing streak on tightening supplies

Oil prices rose a dollar a barrel on Monday after three straight sessions of declines, boosted by the prospect of tightening supplies in Canada and elsewhere, although recession fears kept pressuring the market.

Brent crude futures rose US$1.06, or 1.4% to settle at US$75.23 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate crude settled at US$71.11 a barrel, up US$1.07, or 1.5%.

Wildfires raged in Alberta, Canada, shutting in large amounts of crude supply, and prices rose on fears they could worsen, said Mizuho analyst Robert Yawger.

At least 300,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd) production was shut in last week in Alberta. In 2016, wildfires knocked more than a million boepd of production offline there.

Global crude supplies could also tighten in the second half as OPEC+ - the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia - plan additional output cuts.

"The OPEC+ cuts are likely to have a greater impact as we move through the summer, as previous attempts to balance the markets were offset by seasonal weakness and the release of strategic reserves," said Third Bridge analyst Peter McNally.

The US could start repurchasing oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve after completing a congressionally mandated sale in June, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm told lawmakers on Thursday.

Fears of a slowdown in the global economy limited gains in oil prices.

Last week, oil benchmarks fell for a fourth consecutive week, the longest streak of weekly declines since September 2022, over fears of a US recession and risks of a historic default on government debt in early June.

"If credit conditions ease over the coming months, allaying economic fears for the world's largest economy, oil prices could bounce back without assistance but it seems a little premature at this point," said OANDA analyst Craig Erlam. (Reuters)

China launches projects to build 'new-era' marriage, childbearing culture

China will launch pilot projects in more than 20 cities to create a "new-era" marriage and childbearing culture to foster a friendly child bearing environment, the latest move by authorities to boost the country's falling birth rate.

China's Family Planning Association, a national body that implements the Government's population and fertility measures, will launch the projects to encourage women to marry and have children, state backed Global Times reported on Monday.

Promoting marrying, having children at appropriate ages, encouraging parents to share child-rearing responsibilities, and curbing high "bride prices" and other outdated customs are the focus of the projects, the Times said.

Cities included in the pilot include the manufac-

Ukraine on Monday hailed its first substantial battlefield advances for six months as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy won pledges of new long-range drones in Britain to add to a haul of Western arms for a counteroffensive against Russian invaders.

Since last week, the Ukrainian military has started to push Russian forces back in and around the embattled city of Bakhmut, its first significant offensive operations since its troops recaptured the southern city of Kherson in November.

"The advance of our troops along the Bakhmut direction is the first success of offensive actions in the defence of Bakhmut," Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander of

Ground Forces, said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app.

"The last few days have shown that we can move forward and destroy the en-

emy even in such extremely difficult conditions," he said. "We are fighting with fewer resources than the enemy. At the same time, we are able to ruin its plans."

In its evening battlefield update on Monday, Ukraine's army General Staff said Russian forces were pressing efforts backed by heavy shelling to gain ground but had failed to advance around the village of Ivanivske on the city's western fringes.

The battle for Bakhmut has become the longest and bloodiest of the war and has totemic significance for Russia, which has no other prizes to show for a winter campaign that cost thousands of lives.

Over the past half year, Kyiv has dug in on the defensive while Moscow mounted its campaign, sending hundreds of thousands of fresh reservists and mercenaries into Europe's bloodiest ground combat since World War Two. (Excerpt from Reuters)

New Zealand hostel fire: At least 6 dead and more missing in Wellington

At least six people have died and others remain unaccounted for following a fire in a hostel, New Zealand's Prime Minister has told local media.

Emergency services were called to the four-storey building in Wellington just after midnight local time (12:30 GMT) to reports the building was alight.

Dozens were rescued from the building, but Police said a number of people remained unaccounted for.

Chris Hipkins warned the number of dead was likely to increase.

Upon arrival at the blaze, firefighters found the top level of the building

Hipkins described the fire as "tragic" to TVNZ and paid tribute to local firefighters "who have put themselves in harm's way over past hours to get people out of the building and put the fire out", the NZ Herald reported

ablaze. By 04:00 at least 20 fire trucks were involved in helping extinguish it.

Fire and Emergency District commander Nick Pyatt described the fire as

Wellington's "worst nightmare".

Police warned they could not be more specific on the number of deaths until they could access the building.

Pyatt also said the building contained asbestos and urged locals to wear a face mask and keep their windows closed to avoid inhaling the smoke, the New Zealand Herald reported.

Authorities rescued at least five people from the roof of the burning building and one person sustained serious injuries after jumping from the third floor of the building to escape the flames, local media reported.

The cause of the blaze is currently unknown, but local media reported that Police were investigating whether it was deliberately lit. (Excerpt from BBC News)

turing hub Guangzhou and Handan in China's Hebei province. The association already launched projects in 20 cities including Beijing last year, the Times said.

"The society needs to guide young people more on the concept of marriage and childbirth," demographer He Yafu told the Times.

The projects come amid a flurry of measures Chinese provinces are rolling out to spur people to have children, including tax incentives, housing subsidies, and free or subsidised education for having a third child.

China implemented a rigid one-child policy from 1980 until 2015 - the root of many of its demographic challenges that have allowed India to become the world's most populous nation. The limit has since been raised to three children. (Excerpt from Reuters)

DeSantis bans funding for Florida college diversity programmes

Republican Florida

Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a Bill to block federal and state funding to programmes that aim to ensure diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) at public universities, boosting a conservative push against such initiatives.

DeSantis approved the measure on Monday, decrying DEI programmes as part of a “relatively recent” push to impose an “ideological agenda” on educational institutions in the United States.

“DEI is better viewed as standing for discrimination, exclusion and indoctrination. And that has no place in our public institutions,” DeSantis said during a news conference.

The law marks the latest effort by DeSantis, who is expected to announce a

presidential run in the coming weeks, to champion conservative social causes, including in education.

DeSantis is widely seen as former President Donald Trump’s most seri -

ous challenger for the 2024 Republican nomination, but his poll numbers have faltered in recent weeks.

The Florida Governor also has pushed greater restrictions on abortion and

helped impose limits on discussions of sexuality and gender identity in classrooms.

Over the past few years, many US universities have embraced DEI programmes and training to bolster diversity in their ranks and better address the needs of minority students and faculty.

Monday’s measure bans curricula that teach “identity politics” or “theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States and were created to maintain social, political, and economic inequities”.

The legislation is aimed at curtailing education that looks at US history through the lens of racism, a view known as critical race theory. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

A Ukrainian soldier gives water to a captured Russian army serviceman, according to them, on a position recently gained in offensive, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, near the frontline city of Bakhmut, in Donetsk region, Ukraine May 11, 2023

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is seen as Donald Trump's top challenger for the Republican US presidential nomination in 2024 [Scott Audette/Reuters]

DAILY HOROSCOPES

Face emotional discord head-on. The adjustments you make should save you money and give you more time to follow your heart. Clear your life of strife and relationships that bring you down.

PICKLES

(March 21-April 19)

Look at the possibilities and be practical. Take control of your life and plan your journey to meet your needs. A kind word or gesture will pay off. Hone your skills.

(April 20-May 20)

(May 21-June 20)

Making an unexpected move will backfire. Have a backup plan in case someone reneges on a deal. Being independent is in your best interest, especially if you can't trust others to do as they say.

Helping others is admirable, but it's also easy to be taken advantage of if you aren't careful. Read between the lines, ask questions and find out what others expect of you.

(June 21-July 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(July 23-Aug. 22)

Simplify your life. Be direct, honest and practical. Common sense will lead to opportunities. Change what's necessary, and don't spend more than you can afford. Choose knowledge and experience.

Put energy behind your ideas, and positive change will occur. Be open to suggestions. Focus on stabilizing your personal and professional lives. Romance is favored.

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Slow down, gather facts and be observant. Refuse to let your emotions call the shots when common sense and practicality will serve you better. Make affordable home improvements.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

Control your emotions and focus on learning new things. Personal growth will help you see things differently and relate better to the people you love. Be sure to get your facts straight.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Outline what you are willing to offer others and how much you are ready to spend. Get involved in events that speak to you. Take care of investments, possessions and responsibilities.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Put your emotions on the shelf and take care of personal business. Focus on your home and what you can do to lower your overhead or make your surroundings more enjoyable. Evaluate relationships.

Avoid conversations with people who aren't reliable. Don't let anything jeopardize your emotional or physical well-being. Use common sense. Figure out how to succeed while doing what you most enjoy.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

Strive to get things done and live up to your promises. Sign up for events that will help you secure your position and maintain your lifestyle. Choose peace and love over chaos and discord.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

Jamaica's Hibbert believes his best is yet to come

…after lifetime best 17.87m and TJ world lead

Jaydon Hibbert, the University of Arkansas' SEC Freshman of the Year and reigning World U20 champion, has set the bar high for his competitors after an outstanding performance in the men’s triple jump at the SEC Championships last weekend.

Hibbert believes that despite his world-leading 17.87m jump, his best is yet to come this season.

Speaking after his re-

markable performance at LSU’s Bernie Moore Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana Hibbert revealed that his target for the meet was nowhere close to what he eventually unleashed. “The mark that I came out here with was 17.4/17.5 at max,” he said. “When I saw the 17.8, I just said ‘Okay, that’s it for me today,’ It’s all about trusting the process. God has shown me in plenty ways that I am talented. I am obviously favoured. I do

put in the hard work, but I have to give this one to God, because I don’t think there is any 18-year-old that does the stuff that I do.”

set a World U20 and US National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Indoor record of 17.54m this season, believes that he needs to stop putting limits on himself. “I am going to reset, refocus, get ready for regionals. I don’t even know if I’m going to peak until World Champs

than the previous world lead of 17.81m set by Portugal’s Hugues Fabrice Zango on May 5, and is also a World U20, NCAA, and facility record. Hibbert's jump is the

set in Odessa, Texas in May 1995, by a mere five centimetres.

Despite his success, Hibbert is remaining hum-

ble, stating, “That’s a mark amongst the greats. I am just an 18-year-old that started the event like three years ago, so, I don’t even know what to say. It’s still

itors will have to contend with the prodigious young athlete, who is likely to make his debut as not only a medal contender but a gold medal contender at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest. (Sportsmax)

Gill and Shami seal top-two finish for Titans

Gujarat Titans stormed to a top-two finish for the second time in a row with a 34-run win against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Ahmedabad on Monday. With 18 points from 13 matches, the defending champions are the first team to seal a playoff berth, en route knocking Sunrisers out of contention.

Shubman Gill's maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) hundred and Sai Sudharsan's 47 propelled Titans to 188 for 9 after being put into bat. That set the stage for Mohammed Shami, Yash Dayal, and Mohit Sharma to trigger a Sunrisers collapse very early in the chase and that was basically that. Despite Heinrich Klaasen's fighting fifty, too much was left too late to chase down.

It was also a night when pacers called the shots, accounting for 17 of the 18 wickets to fall on the red-soil pitch at Motera Stadium. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was one among them, who shone the brightest by taking a five-wicket haul, however, it was not enough for Sunrisers who now have nothing to play for but their own wounded pride.

Gill and Sudharsan turn it on Wriddhiman Saha's stay was short-lived as he nicked an outswinger from Bhuvneshwar to be out for a duck off the third ball of the innings. From there on, it was the Gill-Sudharsan show as the duo put on 149 runs for the second wicket. Barring them, none of the Titans' batters even touched double-figures.

Both Gill and Sudharsan's innings were filled with fours –13 to the centurion and six to the almost half-centurion. They hit 10

fours in the powerplay with four of them coming back-to-back in the fourth over bowled by leftarm quick Fazalhaq Farooqi. A pull, a short-arm jab, a cover drive, a scoop, you name it, Gill played it.

From 65 for 1 after six overs, the total touched 100 in the next four as the Titans kept accelerating. Interestingly, the first six of the innings came only in the 11th over, off Sudharsan's bat when he scooped left-arm seamer Marco Jansen over fine leg.

Having reached his first fifty, with nine fours and no sixes, in 22 balls, Gill slowed down a bit, needing 34 more to bring up his hundred.

Sudharsan, who replaced Vijay Shankar to play his first match in almost a month, looked solid in terms of technique, finding gaps and putting away loose balls. He did, however, benefit from two dropped catches.

Five-star Bhuvneshwar

It all began in the 15th over bowled by Jansen, who had missed Sunrisers' last few games. By that time, the left-arm pacer had conceded 32 runs in his three overs and had bowled four wides and two no-balls. Yet Aiden Markram backed him and the bowler repaid that faith. He dismissed Sudharsan with his first delivery of the over when T Natarajan ran from backward point and took an excellent catch.

In the next over, Bhuvneshwar had Hardik Pandya caught at backward point. Natarajan came on for the 17th over and he picked up the wicket of David Miller. It was then Farooqi's turn to dismiss the IPL debutant Dasun

Shanaka. Then came the final over where Bhuvneshwar went W, W, W, 1, W, 1b to close things out. He scalped three wickets and effected a run-out to finish with excellent figures of 5 for 30.

Titans strangle SRH upfront Sunrisers could not handle the pace of Shami, Dayal and Mohit, who combined to take all nine wickets that fell in the chase.

In the first over, Anmolpreet Singh top-edged a back-of-thelength ball and was caught by

Rashid Khan, running across from deep third. In the second, Dayal induced an outside edge to send Abhishek Sharma back. Then came steaming hot Shami, who was too good for both Rahul Tripathi and Markram. At that stage, he seemed almost unplayable – three wickets for five runs in 10 balls.

Sunrisers' 29 for 4 became 59 for 7 when Mohit picked up three wickets in his first two overs.

Klaasen, the lone warrior Losing regular wickets at the

other end did not stop Klaasen from looking for quick runs. In an otherwise forgettable season for Sunrisers' batters, the South African was the only one to cross the 300-run mark this season. On Monday, though he started patiently by scoring 23 off his first 18 deliveries, he took the attack against Noor

Ahmad, smashing two sixes and a boundary off his bowling to up the ante. He got to his second fifty of the season in 35 balls. The only notable partnership for the visitors was the one for the eighth wicket between Klaasen (64) and Bhuvneshwar (27) as they stitched 68 runs together off 47 deliveries. (ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

Gujarat Titans (20 ovs maximum)

Wriddhiman Saha † c

Abhishek Sharma b Kumar 0

Shubman Gill c Abdul Samad

b Kumar 101

Sai Sudharsan c Natarajan b Jansen 47

Hardik Pandya (c) c Tripathi b

Kumar 8

David Miller c Markram

b Natarajan 7

Rahul Tewatia c Jansen b

Fazalhaq Farooqi 3

Dasun Shanaka not out 9

Rashid Khan c †Klaasen b Kumar 0

Noor Ahmad run out

(†Klaasen/Kumar) 0

Mohammed Shami c Jansen

b Kumar 0

Mohit Sharma not out 0

Extras (b 1, nb 2, w 10) 13

TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 9.40) 188/9

Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Wriddhiman

Saha, 0.3 ov), 2-147 (Sai

Sudharsan, 14.1 ov), 3-156

(Hardik Pandya, 15.2 ov), 4-169

(David Miller, 16.4 ov), 5-175

(Rahul Tewatia, 17.3 ov), 6-186

(Shubman Gill, 19.1 ov), 7-186

(Rashid Khan, 19.2 ov), 8-186

(Noor Ahmad, 19.3 ov), 9-187

(Mohammed Shami, 19.5 ov)

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Bhuvneshwar Kumar 4-0-30-5

Marco Jansen 4-0-39-1

Fazalhaq Farooqi 3-0-31-1

T Natarajan 4-0-34-1

Aiden Markram 1-0-13-0

Mayank Markande 3-0-27-0

Abhishek Sharma 1-0-13-0

Sunrisers Hyderabad (T: 189 runs from 20 ovs)

Anmolpreet Singh c Rashid Khan

b Mohammed Shami 5

Abhishek Sharma c †Saha

b Yash Dayal 5

Aiden Markram (c) c Shanaka b Mohammed Shami 10

Rahul Tripathi c Tewatia

b Mohammed Shami 1

Heinrich Klaasen †c Miller b

Mohammed Shami 64 Sanvir Singh c Sai Sudharsan b Sharma 7

Abdul Samad c sub (Shivam Mavi) b Sharma 4

Marco Jansen c Pandya b Sharma 3

Bhuvneshwar Kumar c Rashid

Khan b Sharma 27

Mayank Markande not out 18

Fazalhaq Farooqi not out 1

Extras (lb 4, w 5) 9

TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 7.70) 154/9

Fall of wickets: 1-6 (Anmolpreet Singh, 0.5 ov), 2-11 (Abhishek Sharma, 1.4 ov), 3-12 (Rahul

Tripathi, 2.1 ov), 4-29 (Aiden

Markram, 4.2 ov), 5-45 (Sanvir

Singh, 6.1 ov), 6-49 (Abdul

Samad, 6.4 ov), 7-59 (Marco

Jansen, 8.6 ov), 8-127 (Heinrich Klaasen, 16.5 ov), 9-147 (Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 18.4 ov)

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Mohammed Shami 4-0-21-4

Yash Dayal 4-0-31-1

Rashid Khan 4-0-28-0

Mohit Sharma 4-0-28-4

Noor Ahmad 2.5-0-35-0

Rahul Tewatia 1.1-0-7-0

Shubman Gill celebrates his maiden IPL century

Mohammed Shami struck three times in the powerplay

With less than a week left until D-day, anticipation is at an all- time high for the impending “Return of the Scorpio” Pro/Am Card pencilled for May 21 at the National Gymnasium.

As such, fans will not have to wait much longer to secure their spots in the Mandela Avenue facility, as ticket sales will commence from today at the single location, Hot and Spicy Creole Corner at Albert and Third Streets, Alberttown, Georgetown.

Promoter of the anticipated fight night, Seon Bristol stated, “Ticket sales will commence from tomorrow [Today]. It will be at Hot & Spicy Creole Corner and this is the sole location that will be utilised to sell tickets. The prices are: VVIP $10,000, VIP $6000, ringside $3000, and stands $1000.”

According to Bristol, “The most important aspect is that we are covering all the layers of boxing and what I mean by this is that from juniors to elite, young professionals to junior, and senior professionals will be on show. We are covering both males and females. We have a very packed and balanced card, which comprises five professional and five amateur bouts.”

Bristol went on to touch on the pugilists fans and

spectators can expect to see in action at this Sunday’s Pro-Am card, and when they would be touching down on Guyanese shores.

“Most of our professional bouts are going to be Guyanese matching up with foreigners; we also have a female supporting bout with a female from Panama versus a female from Colombia. The atmosphere is going to be electric, and all systems are in place for an electrifying and thrilling night of action. [Elton] Dharry is going to arrive on local shores on the 18th. All the other fighters will be travelling on the 18th and everyone will be in Guyana on the 19th,” he said.

The “Return of the Scorpio” Pro/Am Card is being touted as the biggest fight card in more than a decade, and is expected to exceed the

atmosphere and quality of the Patrick Forde Memorial Championships, which is the yardstick for local boxing events.

Five exciting professional bouts and an amateur section of equal measure are established for the impending fight night that will be headlined and co-headlined by Dharry and Dexter “De Kid” Marques respectively.

Dharry will enter the squared circle against Ramos Ronald in an eight-round bantamweight fixture, while Marques will battle Luis Carrillo in an eight-round super bantamweight encounter.

A Caribbean rivalry will also recommence as Terrence Adams is pencilled to face off against Barbadian Ricardo Blackman, while Anthony Augustin will match skills

with Emmanuel Anderson of Barbados. The card will also feature a six-round super flyweight bout between Natalya Delgado and Darianis Garcia.

In the amateur segment, Jamaica’s Britney MacFarlane is scheduled to battle local star Alesha Jackman while Trinidad and Tobago champion Lee Ann Boodram will enter the squared circle against Abiola Jackman, Alesha’s sibling.

The sisters are the first-ever Guyanese female pugilists to attain a world ranking from the International Boxing Association (IBA), after their participation at the Women's World Championships in New Delhi, India.

Abiola Jackman is now ranked 27th in the world in the Elite Women 81kg and over or heavyweight division, with Alesha seeded 58th in the Elite Women 60-63kg or junior welterweight division.

The May 21 fight night will mark Dharry's return to the ring in over a year and will serve as a tuneup for his July encounter on local shores with Hugo Hernandez of Mexico for the WBC Silver Belt. Dharry, 37, fought for the WBA super flyweight title in 2019, but suffered a controversial ninth-round stoppage loss to Australian Andrew Maloney in Melbourne, Australia.

PPP/C “One Guyana” Linden Beach Football…

CWI President says opening academies across the Region “high on the agenda”

The $1 million Linden

“One Guyana” Beach Football tournament hosted by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Linden outfit began with some exciting wins on Sunday outside the office in Mackenzie, Linden.

To start the tournament, Sound Box were too loud for Young Gunners winning 3-1 behind Malachi Humphrey scoring a hat-trick while Damian Stellingburg had a brace and the Gunners’

Damian Williams got the other goal in the encounter.

Exodus then showed up for their match against Street Lights, who gave a walkover victory to their opponents. The third scheduled game finished with the Coomacka Mines blasting past Anybody Got It with a 7-1 score-line. The consolation strike for the losers was netted by Sharma Jordan.

Young Ballers eked out a 1-0 victory against

Talibans, with Osapho Ross getting that all-important goal.

In the fifth game of the night, Elite Ballers beat Hi Stars as Kester Randolph and Dennison Sealey scored for the winners and Jermain King hit the only goal for Hi Stars.

National Under-20 female football player Sheenesa Cornelius, who was fielded in the male-dominated tournament, showed guts and at times, was in

Cricket West Indies (CWI) President, Dr Kishore Shallow believes the early success of the West Indies Academy in Antigua has led Caribbean cricket’s governing body to investigate the possibility of opening similar academies around the

high on the agenda,” said Dr Shallow before reminding people that affordability and sustainability will ultimately determine whether or not these plans move forward.

“It is obviously a question of affordability and whatever we do, we have to ensure that these programmes and systems are sustainable. One for the committee to discuss and send their recommendations to the board. We will also have to get the input from our finance management strategy committee as well,” he added.

(Sportsmax)

Region.

“That is something that needs to be discussed as well by the cricket development and performance committee. We’ve seen how productive and fruitful the investment in the current emerging programme is to date,” Dr Shallow said during a virtual press conference held by CWI on Friday.

The Academy was formed in 2022 and is based at the home of West Indies cricket, the Coolidge Cricket Ground.

Its team, comprising young cricketers from around the Region, first participated in the 2022 CWI Super50 Cup, where they won one match out of six and finished last in Zone B.

the game seeking goals for Speightland.

However, the side’s four goals were scored by the aggressive Marvin Jeffrey for Speightland as Vichron Chantrenent pulled one back for the Gennaysde in a lone strike.

Another batch of matches will be played when the tournament continues Wednesday afternoon outside the PPP/C office ground in Mackenzie, Linden.

Most recently, the youngsters produced an excellent showing to win the inaugural Headley Weekes Tri-Series held between April 19 and May 5 at Coolidge.

“Recently, we saw them playing and dominating against our region professional cricketers in the Headley Weekes Series and there is absolutely no reservation that investment in academies across the Region could produce similar results, so it is really something

CWI President, Dr Kishore Shallow

Marvin Jeffrey of Speightland National U20 player Sheenesa Cornelius (C) competing for Speightland

“Return of the Scorpio” organiser Seon Bristol

Western Tigers, GPF draw first blood

There were contrasting wins for Western Tigers and Guyana Police Force (GPF) FC, when the Guyana Football Federation (GFF)/KFC Elite League got off to an exciting start on Sunday evening.

Prior to the on-field action, 10 football clubs were involved in a ceremonious march past, which signalled the commencement of the KFC-sponsored fifth edition of the League.

Before play kicked off at the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary with a double header, GFF President Wayne Forde encouraged players to grasp the golden opportunity that com-

peting in the League offers.

“This tournament belongs to you players. All the good work and the hard work that my team and I have been doing over the past couple of months in planning this League and bringing it into fruition is for you. This is the one opportunity you’re going to have to not only showcase your talents to the fans that are going to be out here over the next couple of months to enjoy the games, but also to audition before our national scouting team,” Forde shared during brief remarks.

He went on to add, “I do hope you play hard, competitive and we have an exciting tournament.”

When it got down to game time, Western Tigers

Women’s Super50…

Guyana get past Jamaica in rain-affected contest

thumped Milerock FC, out of Linden, 10-0.

Western’s Captain, Daniel Wilson opened the scoring early, in the third minute of the encounter, executing a stellar strike after receiving a well- placed assist from Eusi Phillips.

The second goal was not witnessed until the 31st minute of the game when Hubert Pedro beat the defender and the goalkeeper with a long shot, just inside the 18-yard box.

It was at that point that goals started to rain down on the Milerock defence. A leap and a header resulted in the third goal for Western Tigers, coming from Jorrell Tyrell in the 33rd minute while in the

44th Curtez Kellman added his name to the scoresheet with a blistering long shot straight through the middle.

The half ended 4-0, but the West Ruimveldt-based outfit had lots more in store.

With the introduction of Trayon Bobb in the second half, things got a lot pacier for Milerock.

Wilson went on to complete his hat-trick in the 50th and 83rd minutes, the latter being assisted by Bobb from the wings, while Tyrrell completed his double with another strike in the 58th. Malachi Grannum added to the tally in the 71st, and Bobb’s sprints down the wings paid dividends in the 80th, when he found the back of the net. In

the 90th+2, Jermaine Beckles sealed the deal, bringing up the 10th goal, just before the final whistle was sounded.

In the second fixture of the night, defending champions Fruta Conquerors crumbled under the pressure of the GPF FC on their home turf.

At first, the match-up looked evenly poised with young Fruta Conquerors placing the first shot on target, though it was scooped up by the Officers’ goalkeeper, their intensity remained high. Police, on the other hand, took some time to find their groove, but did not waste their opportunity when it came knocking.

With the Conquerors’ defence rushing to the wings, a clever pass found Nicholas McArthur square in front of the goal with no protection in sight. McArthur made no mistake to register Police’s first goal in the 28th minute.

In the 83rd, it was McArthur again, this time capitalising on a set piece to find the back of the net for his team’s second goal in the 2-0 victory.

The Elite League will continue on Tuesday, with another double-header at the same venue. From 19:00h, Victoria Kings will take on Santos, while GDF and Ann’s Grove go head-to-head from 21:00h. (Jemima Holmes)

GCC Outlaws, SHC Sensations win as U14 Hockey League serves off

Guyana’s Women picked up a second victory in the CG United Women’s Super50 tournament, this time over a hapless Jamaica.

The Guyanese were first inspired by a commendable bowling performance, bundling Jamaica out for 94 runs in 40.3 overs.

Jamaican openers

Rashada Williams and

Keneshia Ferron were sent back to the dugout for 0 and 4 runs respectively, while the third woman in, JodyAnn Brown was also sent on her way with a duck.

Captain Stafanie Taylor showed resistance, hitting 15 runs in 41 balls, while the best score on the cards came from Natasha McClean, who constructed a careful innings of 31 runs from 39.

SCOREBOARD

JAMAICA

Rashada Williams (RHB)

c Campbelle b Gajnabi 0

Keneshia Ferron (RHB)

b Millington 4

Jody-Ann Brown (RHB) st Campbelle b Millington 0

Stafanie Taylor (RHB) c

Latchman b Grimmond 15

Natasha McLean (RHB) c

Mangru b Munisar 31

Chedean Nation (RHB) c & b Munisar 2

Neisha-Ann Waisome (RHB)

run out 11

Nicole Campbell (LHB) not out 11

Vanessa Watts (RHB) c Munisar

b Millington 1

Kate Wilmott (LHB) c Munisar

b Gajnabi 0

Celina Whyte (RHB)

b Grimmond 0

Total (10 wickets, 40.3)

Realeanna Grimmond (RHB) c

Williams b Whyte 8

Shakibi Gajnabi (RHB) c

McLean b Whyte 3

Shemaine Campbelle (RHB)

c Campbell b Whyte 0

Katana Mentore (RHB) c

McLean b Campbell 11

Sheneta Grimmond (RHB) b Campbell 5

Ashmini Munisar (RHB) not out 11

Kaysia Schultz (RHB) not out 3

Bowler O-M-R-W

Vanessa Watts OB 6.0-2-12-0

Neisha-Ann Waisome RM 4.0-0-9-0

Celina Whyte RM 6.0-0-14-3

Kate Wilmott

3.0-0-14-2

Nicole Campbell 3.4-0-16-2

Then Neisha-Ann Waisome and Nicole Campbell both frustrated the Guyanese bowlers, hitting 11 runs from 36 and 76 balls respectively. Plaffiana Millington was the pick of the Guyanese bowlers, taking 3-21 from her 10 overs, while Shabika Gajnabi, Sheneta Grimmond, and Ashmini Munisar all took two wickets to rout the Jamaicans.

With a target of 95 to get in 50 overs, the Guyanese openers, Mandi Mangru and Realeanna Grimmond were just settling in when the heavens opened, to halt proceedings at 7-0. It was not until hours later that the game resumed, with the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method coming into play.

The target was then revised to 67 from 138 balls.

Mangru notched 19 from 52 balls, while the next best score came from Ashmini Munisar, 11 runs from 13 deliveries; as the Guyanese lost their wickets cheaply.

The Guyanese women eventually got to their total, 676, in 22.4 overs, winning by 4 wickets with 32 balls to spare.

Celina Whyte was the most outstanding among the Jamaica bowlers, claiming figures of 3-14 from 6 overs.

Friday saw the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) kick off its U14 Indoor Hockey League after a three-year hiatus.

The tournament, which features matches every Friday until June 23 at various schools, was highly welcomed by hockey juniors keen for much-needed competition after the pandemic.

In the Girls’ division, there were some very familiar faces back in action, with Kaiyra Scott scoring all six goals to guarantee her team SHC Sensations

a 6-2 victory over the Cummings Lodge Samurai.

Kaiyra Scott has been playing in the U14 tournament since age seven when it first started in 2017. Newcomers

Cummings Lodge Samurai defeated Hikers Junior Jets with an exciting goal early in the second half from Letifa Fields. GCC Challengers’ Kadence

Belony and Richard Ishmael

Top Shelf Titans’ Amya Norville scored a goal apiece to draw their game.

Saints with their usual strong performance in ju-

nior tournaments saw their boys’ team SHC Minions defeat GCC Pitbulls 4-0 with goals from twins Jarel and Jaron Isadore and a double from Ezekiel Moses. GCC Outlaws dominated in their first match against North Ruimveldt Multilateral with a 9-0 victory led by a hattrick from Kyle Couchman.

The league will be held every Friday with games starting at 16:00h (4:00pm) and concluding at 19:00h (7:00pm). This Friday, the action will continue at St Joseph’s High School.

The SHC Minions team

Guyana’s Women picked up another win in the ongoing Super50 tournament

Fruta Conquerors fought valiantly, but went down to GPF