Guyana Times - Tuesday, October 31, 2023

1st Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis of Pulmonary Embolism in Guyana performed at GPHC

P12 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 5539

THE BEACON OF TRUTH TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2023

Pres Ali urges Caribbean Private Sector to solve regional transport woes through partnerships

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

“Chow Pow” P8 charged for beating daughter

See story on page 3

– as African Exim Bank makes available US$3B in funding

MoE launches software to be rid of paper-based record keeping, track trends in educational institutions P13 …dubbed “the future of education”

Body of missing miner found floating in P17 Mazaruni River

President Dr Irfaan Ali addressing the gathering at the AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum at the Guyana Marriott Hotel on Monday

African Exim Bank approves US$500M for Guyana’s infrastructural development – another US$15M for local small & medium businesses being negotiated

Venezuelans landed in P2 Essequibo transported to NWD – Commander

Page 7

Govt launches public Page Pres Ali greenlights consultations for 9 1-month extension National Gas Strategy – says catering for gas will enhance to complete report Decomposed body of man CoI into deadly Mahdia Secondary School fire

...says they were not deported but rather transported to another location

P

11

Guyana as investment destination

– Commissioners to visit site on Wednesday

Murder of businessman’s son

Page 10

Mastermind to make court appearance today ...3 other suspects released after Police confirm alibis

...victim died from blunt trauma to head, face, neck – autopsy

found in ECD P17 house Man accused of raping 20-year-old woman gets bail

P16

2 NEWS Venezuelans landed in Essequibo transported to NWD – Commander TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

...says they were not deported but rather transported to another location

T

he boatload of Venezuelan migrants who arrived in Essequibo over the weekend were not deported back home, but rather flown to the North West District in Region One (Barima-Waini).

This was according to Region Two Police Commander Khemraj Shivbarran, who stated that the Police managed to get those who arrived into the buses after which they were escorted to Charity.

On Saturday, the migrants arrived in Essequibo, Region Two (PotaroSiparuni). In three buses, they made a stop in Anna Regina, where the migrants disembarked and were reportedly processed by the Police.

However, on Sunday, the Commander told Guyana Times that the migrants were no longer in the region, but were transported to the North West District region. Attempts to get the Commander on Monday to ascertain the reason for transporting them to NWD proved futile.

In addition, attempts to contact the Region One Chairman, Bretnol Ashley,

Migrants and young children at the Charity Police Station after landing in Essequibo

also proved futile.

However, amidst harsh economic conditions in Venezuela, a growing number of Venezuelan families are searching for opportunities in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

The publication understands that the boat reportedly set sail to Essequibo last week, stopping at different locations before continuing the journey. The boat filled with migrants docked at a wharf in Essequibo, sparking immediate action from concerned residents, who alerted the Police.

Speaking with a resident, he told this newspaper that he heard the loud brawl while walking but couldn’t understand what they were saying.

“When I heard the loud speaking, I went to see and saw a boatload full of Venezuelans at the wharf begging for the gate to open.

The owner opened the gate and they went and bought things to eat and after the Police spoke with them and later took them away,” the man recounted.

Another resident said that one of the migrants expressed that their purpose for coming here is not war, but rather peace and better opportunities.

Only recently, dozens of Venezuelan migrants including children arrived at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo (EBE). They were later processed and sent to their relatives who are either Guyanese or Venezuelans

who have been living in Guyana for years.

In August, President Dr Irfaan Ali indicated that his Government is cautious of the possibility of foreign agents infiltrating the country under the guise of being migrants but noted that systems are in place to ensure the nation’s national integrity remains protected.

This issue was raised some time ago by National Security Advisor Captain Gerry Gouveia.

Gouveia had previously posited that “You could understand the security dilemma we face that in the migrants could be embedded Venezuelan agents and so this is not something that we don’t appreciate, that we are looking at as well as we open our arms with compassion and with humanity.”

There are over 21,700 registered migrants in Guyana but it is estimated that there are more than 30,000 living in the country. Venezuelan

migrants seeking refuge in Guyana are being encouraged to present themselves to immigration authorities to get registered in order to benefit from services offered by the Government.

In Guyana, all children of migrants, legal and illegal, from Venezuela and other countries are allowed full access to be enrolled in the public school system within the host communities and benefit from Government-funded support programmes.

Pedal cyclist killed by speeding drunken driver at Tuschen – driver granted bail on DUI charge

A

pedal cyclist lost his life after he was struck down by a drunken driver along the Tuschen Old Road, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), on Sunday evening. Dead is 20-year-old Kazim Hamid, a labourer from Zeelugt, EBE. Preliminary investigation revealed that on the day in question at about 23:40h, a motor car driven by a 36-year-old boat captain from Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, was speeding along the roadway when it collided with the pedal cyclist.

As a result of the collision, Hamid fell onto the car's windscreen and then onto the roadway, after which he was dragged about 40 feet from the point of impact before the car came to a halt.

Hamid was picked up in an unconscious state and

Mark Braithwaite

Dead: Kazim Hamid

taken to Leonora Cottage Hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival. The driver was arrested and a breathalyser test was administered to him, which revealed that he was highly intoxicated.

Meanwhile, the driver, Mark Braithwaite, was on Monday slapped with a Driving Under the Influence charge to which he pleaded

guilty and was granted bail in the sum of $50,000.

He appeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court. Police are, however, continuing their investigation into the causing death incident. Braithwaite is expected to be arraigned for the death of Hamid during the week.

NEWS

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

BRIDGE The Demerara OPENINGS Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, Oct 31 – 04:00h – 05:30h and Wednesday, Nov 1 – 04:00h – 05:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, Oct 31 – 05:55h – 07:25h and Wednesday, Nov 1 – 06:30h – 08:00h.

Pres Ali urges Caribbean private sector to solve regional transport woes through partnerships – as African Exim Bank makes available US$3B in funding

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY There will be sunshine during the day. Expect clear skies at night. Temperatures should range between 24 degrees Celsius and 33 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to East North-Easterly between 2.68 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 17:49h reaching a maximum height of 2.75 metres.

Low Tide: 10:26h and 23:52h reaching minimum heights of 0.62 metre and 0.48 metre.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2023

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2023 DAILY MILLIONS

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COMMODITIES Indicators

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Crude Oil

$88.06/barrel

+0.70

Rough Rice London Sugar

$289.62/ton $742.70/ton

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USD Per Ounce $1996.50 $1989.70 +1.00

$1997.50 $2003.50 +0.05

CPSO Chairman Gervase Warner stands after being called out by President Ali

W

ith some US$3 billion in funding expected to be made available to the Caribbean by the African Export-Import Bank, President Dr Irfaan Ali urged the regional private sector to form consortiums and take full advantage of the access to financing in order to solve the Region’s maritime transportation woes.

The President was at the time the keynote speaker at the opening of the AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum at the Guyana Marriott Hotel on Monday. In his presentation, President Ali urged the Caribbean private sector not to waste the opportunity to form consortiums aimed at tackling longstanding regional maritime transport problems.

Ali pointed out that not only would his People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government and other Caribbean Governments support the regional private sector’s efforts to address this issue, but they also have support from the African EXIM Bank to tap into.

“I would consider it a severe missed opportunity, by the regional private sector, if they cannot form a consortium and use this opportunity that Exim bank is offering, to end our regional transport failure. And I speak specifically about our maritime transport infrastructure.”

“We can plant and grow as much as we want. We can do agro-processing, manufacturing, and industrial development. We can reengineer the supply chain. But we have to move things. We have to move things throughout the region,” President Ali said.

President Ali has been vocal about the need for a Transport Policy in the Region. As far back as in 2021, while addressing a Regional Sub-Committee on the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME), he had informed them that the Lead Head on Transport has been engaged with a view to developing specific recommendations to incentivise private sector interest and partnership in transport and logistics, in order to better serve the agri-food systems’

A section of the gathering

agenda.

He explained that the Ministerial Taskforce had recognised transport and logistics as integral to the effective implementation of the Caricom agri-food systems agenda. According to him, there were options being explored.

CPSO

Meanwhile, the President also brought attention to the presence of Caribbean Private Sector Organisation (CPSO) Chairman Gervase Warner, at the forum. Last year, CPSO came in for intense criticism from Guyanese business owners for its efforts to raise concerns over Guyana’s Local Content policy.

“Today I speak to Caricom.

The Caricom private sector.

And I see my dear friend, from CPSO. Please stand and let us recognise you… normally the guns are aimed at the Government. I want them to stand and see you carefully,” President Ali said when Warner stood in the audience.

Last year, a leaked email had come to light detailing concerns of members of

President Dr Irfaan Ali at the AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment forum

CPSO over Guyana’s recently passed local content law and plans to reach out to the Guyana Government, and ultimately Caricom.

The main contention was that the law, which makes provisions for Guyanese persons and Guyanese businesses to exclusively benefit from the country’s oil and gas sector at specified percentages, violates certain provisions of the Caricom Treaty of Chaguaramas.

TURN TO PAGE 7

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guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2023

Views

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

President Ali’s display of energy

I

t is not hard to discern that trust is a commodity that is in very short supply among our people. Take, for instance, the reaction the “One Guyana” as was announced by President Dr Irfaan Ali as the guiding mantra of his vision for Guyana. President Ali has literally taken the responsibility for being the “poster boy” to performatively demonstrate what such a vision means in practice. He has displayed a level of energy unsurpassed in the history of our nation to enter every ward, hamlet and village of our country to not only have explained what is meant by the term but to roll out programmes in all facets of our national lives so Guyanese can experience its meaning. But unfortunately, the Opposition has responded with hostility that betrays the abovementioned cynical lack of trust.

Such a posture appears to be in danger of becoming ingrained in our national psyche under the unrelenting dissemination of a dyspeptic and dystopian worldview by the Opposition. This eventuality does not bode well for the development of a more secure and harmonious society that all Guyanese so strongly desire. Trust is the cement that holds together any agglomeration of humanity. The very notion of “social” implies a recognition of predictability in the actions of people that has to be undergirded by trust. Absent this crucial element, we revert to the law of the jungle.

The Swedish-born philosopher and ethicist, Sissela Bok wrote, “Trust is a social good to be protected just as much as the air we breathe or the water we drink.

When it is damaged, the community as a whole suffers; and when it is destroyed, societies falter and collapse.”

As far as the life of nations goes, ours is still in its infancy.

But surely the Opposition must recognise that as a people, it is not only our interests but our fates that are interwoven and intertwined. Whatever we may value – be it material, cultural or spiritual goods – we inevitably have to fall back on others to secure it or at least not to frustrate its acquisition. And this is where trust comes into the picture.

This is not to acknowledge that there is a certain element of risk in the matter of trust, which has been defined as "an individual's belief in, and willingness to act on the basis of, the words, actions, and decisions of another". As people go through life, a history of previous social interactions would have alerted them to the extent to which others can be relied on to keep their word and which experience may guide them in new, ambiguous situations.

But many studies have shown that too many of us summarise our experiences based on prejudices or slanted data that we are fed, especially nowadays on social media.

All of this leads to the formation of stereotypes that are often quite at variance with the reality in front of us. This, we fear, is happening with too great frequency in Guyana today by populist political postures. As a result, rather than give the Government the “benefit of the doubt” – which is all that is required in the realm of trust in the public arena – the Opposition automatically assumes that they are out to do them in. They expect the worst and take pre-emptive “defensive” steps. Quite frequently, and not too surprisingly, expectations have a self-fulfilling effect as followers respond in kind.

What we are suggesting is that this dour attitude has not taken us anywhere – except to become more frustrated in the Hobbesian, dog-eat-dog world that, ironically, we have helped to create. The Opposition has to jump off this carousel. From the interactions with President Ali as he visits communities across Guyana, there seems to be deeper understanding of Government among traditional Opposition supporters. There seems to be a discovery of shared values and goals, allowing trust to grow as Guyanese to a higher and qualitatively different level.

An aerial view of the estuary of the Demerara River as the boats make their way into the Atlantic Ocean (Mike Gonsalves Photo)

Pres Ali, PM Phillips confident ICJ will settle Venezuela border controversy peacefully Dear Editor, Recently, President Dr Ali and Prime Minister Brigadier Mark Phillips have been preoccupied with addressing the border controversy and briefing the opposition on the false and illegitimate claims

by President Maduro of Venezuela. Yet they found the time to meet with a delegation from the New York State Assembly who are on a fact-finding mission to verify and or dispel the alleged assertions that the PPP/C government is racist and that it discriminates against Afro-Guyanese who are the second largest ethnic group in Guyana after IndoGuyanese.

Based on several media reports, the meetings were very constructive and meaningful, and President Ali was able to convince the New York delegation of his “One Guyana” vision which includes everyone regardless of their origin, race, or party affiliation.

Regarding the border controversy, both countries have been involved in a long-running dispute over their borders. However, in April, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that it had jurisdiction over the issue and would set a date to hear the case and hopefully, settle it. The latest claims by the Maduro regime over Guyana’s territory were reactivated recently after the discovery of oil and gas near the maritime border. As a result, President Maduro has scheduled a referendum for December 3, 2023, for the citizens of Venezuela to vote on whether their Government should

annex Essequibo which constitutes two-thirds of Guyana’s territory including the potentially oil-rich areas. Critics have described the vote as a foregone conclusion and as a way for the ruling Maduro party to measure its strength ahead of planned elections next year and to encourage the ICJ to give it full rights over the disputed border territory.

The former Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Prime Minister Brigadier Marks Phillips has made it clear that as far as the Government is concerned, Guyana’s 83,000 square miles belong to the people of Guyana and not Venezuela and that the border dispute was settled in the 1899 Arbitral Award—a decision accepted by the United Kingdom on behalf of its colony, British Guyana, and assented to by the United States on behalf of Venezuela.

According to PM Phillips, these are the facts, and Venezuela must stop its malicious and intimidating threats and abide by international law and allow the ICJ to settle the dispute peacefully. He continues to speak truth to power by stating that it has been the long-standing position of Latin American and the Caribbean countries, including Venezuela, that the Region must remain a zone of peace, therefore, any attempt by Venezuela to use force will threaten the peace and stability in the Region.

(Speaking truth to power is a phrase coined by activist Baynard Rustin—the main organiser of the march in Washington, DC on August

28, 1963).

However, in a terse and powerful statement, President Ali has maintained that the controversy raised by Venezuela must be settled at the ICJ and that Guyana remains committed to peace and the Rule of Law. This was reiterated in a joint statement by the Government and the Opposition in which it was made clear that Essequibo belongs to Guyana and that no one should make the mistake and taking the nation for granted.

From the outset, both President Dr Ali and Opposition Leader Mr Aubrey Norton have insisted that Guyana’s sovereignty is paramount, and all Guyanese are completely united on the issue. Both have strongly condemned the flagrant violation of the Rule of Law by the Maduro regime and that no effort would be spared to resist Venezuela’s persistent exertions to undermine Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The leaders assured the nation of their firm and unfaltering commitment to the current judicial process that is being conducted under the aegis of the ICJ and are convinced that the high court would finally resolve the question raised by Venezuela over the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award.

Since then, the governments of Venezuela have treated the 124-year-old Arbitral Award as the final settlement of the border between the two countries. And have consistently recognised, affirmed, and relied upon the 1899 Arbitral Award as a

full, perfect, and final settlement of the boundary between the then British Guiana and Venezuela.

As if this was not enough, President Ali has courageously declared that Guyana will not yield a square inch of Essequibo to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. The declaration was made during his address at the launch of the Essequibo Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s annual Agro and Trade Expo at the Anna Regina Secondary School ground in response to the latest actions by Venezuela in pursuit of its false and fraudulent claim to the Essequibo region.

He thanked the international community and every right-thinking country, and especially Caricom for its pointed statement that the referendum proposed by Venezuela has no validity, bearing, or standing in international law and declared its support of the International Court of Justice which has the jurisdiction to determine the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award which Venezuela questions.

Caricom also reaffirmed that international law strictly prohibits the Government of one State from unilaterally seizing, annexing, or incorporating the territory of another state. President Dr Ali and PM Phillips are confident that the ICJ will settle the border dispute peacefully and that Venezuela will accept the decision.

Sincerely, Dr Asquith Rose

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2023

5

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PPC responds to news article

Dear Editor, The Public Procurement Commission (PPC) (‘the commission’) has taken note of an article in a section of the media on October 29, 2023, with the caption “Procurement Commission silent on request from the opposition for urgent meeting”.

The article cited “APNU+AFC Member of Parliament David Patterson who stated that the procurement commission has not responded to the opposition’s request for an urgent meeting to discuss the controversial award of a pump station contract to a company that did not qualify and other matters”.

The PPC categorically rejects these baseless assertions since the request of Mr Patterson, purporting to act, inter alia, on behalf of the Parliamentary

Opposition (whether de facto, de jure, or otherwise not disclosed) was received on Friday, October 27, 2023, and was duly considered at the commission’s meeting on the said day.

To this end, an official response to the request for a meeting will be dispatched shortly, the weekend having intervened.

Therefore, the impression given by the headline that there has been some inaction by the commission to the request is sensationalist and scandalous as it is not grounded in fact.

Further, with regard to the reported request by Mr Patterson for an investigation into the contract award of the Belle Vue Pump Station (“Tepui contract”), the commission wishes to confirm that: i.

It received the said request by way of email on Wednesday, October 4th,

2023. ii. The request was considered by the commission at its next meeting on Friday, October 6th, 2023. iii. In accordance with the commission’s established procedures in pursuance to Article 212DD (1) of the constitution, a request in writing was sent, on the said day (6th Oct), to both the procuring entity and the tender board, to wit, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) and the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), respectively, for the submission to the commission, within five (5) business days thereof, of certain relevant information and documents including the full record of the subject tender proceedings. Similarly, Mr Patterson was also invited in writing to submit

any documents or further information to support his allegations on which his request for an investigation was made. iv. To date the request has not been acknowledged or complied with by the procuring entity (NDIA) and or the tender board (NPTAB). Mr Patterson has also not communicated with the commission as to the submission of any documents or further information to support his allegations. v. Mr Patterson sought an update on his request by way of a letter sent by email on October 23, 2023. The said letter was considered at a meeting of the commission on the said day and a reply was sent in accordance therewith on October 27, 2023.

The hereinbefore investigation request is one

(1) of five (5) active complaints before the commission, all of which the respective procuring entities and or NPTAB have not submitted to the commission, requested information, particularly, the record of the tender proceedings (including the Evaluation Reports) at all or the full record.

While Article 212DD (1) of the constitution empowers the commission to request information in certain circumstances, the subsequent sub-section (Article 212DD (2)) has not been given effect by the Legislature to provide for penalties or other coercive powers for the failure to comply with such a request by the commission.

Accordingly, the commission has sought advice from its Legal Department as to the jurisdiction of the commission in the circum-

stances to ensure that the matters brought before it for investigation are duly discharged. The commission awaits receipt of the said advice and at this time, has not ruled out approaching the High Court for Orders compelling the production of the information.

Pursuant to Article 212W (2) of the Constitution of Guyana, the PPC is an “independent and impartial” body that shall discharge its functions fairly in accordance with the law.

The commission once again urges restraint and responsibility in public statements of findings as a fact without the benefit of all of the facts and documentary evidence.

Public Procurement Commission

The sad affair of golf in Guyana Dear Editor, The premier golf tournament on the local calendar is the Guyana Open. This year it has been played as the GT&T Invitational but in the absence of an Open, this tournament will be considered by the golfing fraternity as the Open. Regrettably, technically speaking the winner will be denied ownership of the highly coveted title of ‘Open Champion’ but cannot be denied that of being the champion golfer of the year. This, however, is but a digression from the tournament itself, one that was played on a rockhard Lusignan course due to the prolonged dry spell.

The bone-dry and hard (clay) fairways, largely devoid of grass, meant that the bounce of both tee shots and approach shots was unpredictable, adding to the challenges that are part and parcel of a game that can be unforgiving. Each of the ninety-plus golfers that teed it up will have their own laments of what ‘unfair’ bounces they had but at the end of the day, everyone played the same course and faced the same conditions.

The winner usually comes from the final group, that is, players with the four lowest scores at the end of Day One. By this measure, the defending champion, Avinash Persaud was considered to be out of the race. At the end of the first day, there were five players with better scores than him, these being Vishal Dhani (73), Marlon Abena (Surinam) (74), Mohanlall Dinanauth (74), Jalen Raman (Fiji) (75) and Ridel Doekoe (Surinam) (75).

Avinash was four shots adrift of the leader and the whisper among the villagers was that there would be a new champion this year. There were

still 18 holes of golf remaining, however, and as fourtime Major winner Padraig Harrington observed, it’s the back nine on the final round in Majors that determines the winner and where the mettle of players is tested.

In his eleven previous Open wins, Avinash had not been in the final group on the final day but clearly, statistics do not deter champions.

Undeterred by not being in the select final group, Avinash produced a scintillating display of quality golf with a score of seventy-one, which was seven shots better than the next best, to win by four shots. His even par score of 35 on the frontnine, fully erased the deficit with the final group. Starting the back nine, however, he was one shot behind Jalen, with whom he’s had dingdong battles over the years.

Jalen’s front nine score of 36 meant that Avinash had clawed back one of the twoshot deficit he started day two with. Though unnoticed the fight for the title was going to be between these two players who were not in the final group.

Returning to Padraig Harrington’s time-tested observation, the fight had now begun. Avinash wasted no time to show his resolve and mettle with an eagle (2 under par) on their 10th hole, the par-5, 11th hole. Jalen’s par score meant that he was now one shot behind Avinash and so the battle continued until his implosion at their 16th hole. Avinash’s eagle was followed by consecutive bogeys (one over par) on the next two holes. His dry remark that ‘just like that the eagle flew away’! showed that he was not overawed by the moment and stakes.

He followed this with anoth-

er bogey on the par-4, 14th.

Jalen had reclaimed advantage. True champions dig deep however and consecutive birdies on two of the next three holes, one being arguably the most challenging hole, the par-3, 17th (with Jalen making a triple bogey six!) effectively saw the contest over. One will never know but it is suspected that Avinash’s laser-like tee shot on this par-3 hole definitely added to the pressure of the

moment, resulting in Jalen’s totally uncharacteristic triple bogey. Sportswriters speak of an ‘X-factor’ which defines champions and interested persons can google this.

When it was all over, Avinash had for the 12th time, proven his clear superiority as the champion golfer of the year, in the process narrowly missing parring the course. It was also his ninth consecutive Open victory, his only loss being in 2013 to his

younger brother Avinda.

Vishal Dhani aka ‘Butters’ finished 2nd and Fijian, Jalen Raman, 3rd with total gross scores of 152 and 153 respectively. Congratulations to them both.

Editor, Guyana is now an oil-producing state with previously unimaginable revenues at its disposal. Through your paper, a call is being made to the Ministries of Youth and Sports and Education to engage the

32-year-old Avinash to partner in the future development of golf in Guyana.

As the country with the fastest-growing economy and highest per capita income, the game of golf should enter the mainstream of the national curriculum. The Government would do well to take the initiative.

Yours sincerely, Ronald Bulkan

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2023 06:00 06:30 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:30 10:00 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:05 14:00 14:30 15:00 16:00 16:30 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 20:30 21:00 22:00 23:00 00:00

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Test Questions

The Farmland

By Jan Oskar Hansen

The mid-west of the USA flat plain many farmers tilling rich soil; red barns under a blue sky.

Aquaponics

How are we going to feed the more than 9 billion people that will live on Earth by 2050? This is a major question for farmers, ranchers, and food scientists around the globe. It's a big problem, considering that from 2017 to 2050 we will be adding 1.5 billion people and need 20% more food. Linked to this problem of producing enough food is having enough land, water, and other natural resources to make that happen. The final solution will surely be made up of many different approaches working together —aquaponics may be one part of the final solution.

Aquaponics combines hydroponics with aquaculture. Hydroponics is the science of growing plants without soil in nutrient-rich water. The nutrients are exactly tailored to nourish and meet the growth requirements of the plants.

Plants need nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and a variety of other micronutrients to thrive. Normally, in a hydroponics system, synthetic (manufactured) fertilizers added to the water provide these essential nutrients.

Aquaculture is the breeding and farming of aquatic organisms, such as fish, shellfish, and aquatic plants, usually for human consumption.

In an aquaponics system, the fish provide nutrients in the form of their waste. This waste contains nitrogen in the form of ammonia (too much of which can be toxic to fish), along with a variety of nutrients like phosphorus and potassium. Nitrifying bacteria that live in the gravel in the fish tank and on the tank walls convert the ammonia first into nitrites and then to nitrates which the plants can use. The water

in the tank, which contains ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, phosphorus, potassium, and other micronutrients, is continuously pumped into a grow bed where the plants are located. The plants remove the nutrients from this water, and nitrifying bacteria in the grow bed (working together with the tank filter) clean the water by converting excess ammonia into nitrates, which plants use to grow. The clean water is then sent back into the fish tank. The grow bed and plants act as a biofilter, cleansing the water so that the fish remain healthy.

In smaller, backyard aquaponics systems, the grow bed sits on top of the fish tank and the cleansed water from the grow bed drips back into the tank. In aquaponics, the fish, plants, and beneficial bacteria all depend on each other to live. (Excerpt from sciencebuddies.org)

The community thrived, cows and horses in the fields the Amis people lived nearby in peace with God. There was harmony here and whispering grass.

Agricultural - business moved in, bought up land the farmers could not compete and sold out.

Empty barns, fading colours, falling into disrepair No cows in the field, no horses or dogs Silent despair of ruined homesteads hangs In the bitter wind telling of failure.

This is the way we live the strongest always wins.

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

7

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

African Exim Bank approves US$500M for Guyana’s infrastructural development – another US$15M for local small & medium businesses being negotiated

T

he African ExportImport (Exim) Bank has approved a $500 million loan to Guyana for its infrastructure development needs, in addition to the US$15 million currently being negotiated for small and medium-sized local businesses.

These were among the announcements made during the ongoing AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum, which is currently being held at the Marriott Hotel from October 30 to October 31.

When it comes to the US$15 million facility being negotiated with the African Exim Bank, President Dr Irfaan Ali, who was the keynote speaker at the event, announced that this sum was being negotiated on Guyana’s behalf by Professor Floyd Haynes, the founder of the NewHayven Merchant Bank.

“I want to recognise the strong work of Floyd Haynes… over the last number of months, Floyd has journeyed many times, to Africa. And has held many discussions with the Afro Exim Bank, to do a number of things.”

From left: President Dr Irfaan Ali, St Lucia Prime Minister Phillip Pierre; African Exim Bank President, Dr Benedict Oramah and Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley

“Just like the Government, they’re in the final stages of negotiating a US$15 million facility to support local businesses, SMEs, here in Guyana.

His bank is also working with the Exim Bank, in support of one of the first local groups, all women, who would have won (two) of the oil blocks here in Guyana,” Ali said, a reference

to Sispro Incorporated.

Last week, it was announced that Sispro was among the companies to have been awarded blocks from the recent oil auction. Of the eight new oil blocks that were awarded, Sispro received two blocks, including one of the only two deepwater blocks that were allocated. Sispro received a shal-

Pres Ali urges Caribbean Private...

FROM PAGE 3

The email was signed

by Warner, in his capacity as President and Chief Executive Officer of Trinidadbased regional conglomerate, Massy Group, which currently operates business in several sectors in Guyana.

After some exchanges between the local private sector and CPSO and meetings between the organization and representatives of the Guyana government including the President himself, however, relations have since

normalized. In fact, when the PPP/C Government announced a three per cent reduction of interest rates for loans to poultry farmers earlier this year, CPSO released a statement lauding the move.

It was pointed out by the CPSO in the statement that poultry meat is one of 19 agri-food commodities that are vital to the goals of slashing food import bills to the Region by 25 per cent by 2025. As such, the organiza-

tion had noted that the government’s initiative to broker this reduction was a good one.

In 2022, some US$1.5 Billion was made available to CARICOM member states by the African EXIM bank, as part of efforts to foster closer ties between the two regions.

This figure is expected to increase to US$3 Billion, once the remaining CARICOM member states ratify a partnership agreement with the bank. (G-3)

low block (S3) and a deep-water block (D2), from the auction of the blocks offshore Guyana.

The company is managed by Executive Director and Chairwoman, Dr Melissa Varswyk, Executive Director Dr Ayodele Dalgety-Dean; Executive Director and Secretary Abbigale LonckeWatson; and Executive Director and Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) President Dee George.

Exim Bank

Meanwhile, Dr Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the AfrEximbank, expressed satisfaction with the progress made since the last AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum. In his presentation to the forum, he pointed out that they have now been able to clearly define goals to bring together Africa and the

Caribbean. And he stressed the importance of unity, especially now.

“Just over a year ago, we began that journey convinced that only we could transform the fortunes of our lands… All of us from Africa and the Caribbean, at this moment more than at any other time in history, hold a firm conviction that determined action can grant us the economic emancipation and the true dignity we deserve,” Oramah said.

“As we look ahead…in a de-globalising world, small open economies will suffer if they don’t bind together, and there can be no better binding than that of brothers and sisters, as represented by AfriCaribbean trade and investment integration,” he further said.

Oramah also announced that a $500 million loan has been concluded with Guyana for infrastructural development. It is understood that this agreement is being facilitated through a partnership between the Fund for Export Investment Development, an AfrEximbank subsidiary, and the Access Bank Group in Nigeria.

“For Guyana here, we’ve agreed to conclude a US$500 million transaction to support accelerated infrastructural development projects of the Guyanese Government… we also expect to sign a document evidencing the arrangements we’ve reached with the Government of Guyana for the US$500 million investment bridge financing facility,” Oramah explained.

US$1.5B

Last year, the African Exim Bank approved a facility of US$1.5 billion for Caricom states, which will increase to US$3 billion when all 15 Caricom countries have signed the Partnership treaty.

As of July 2023, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago had not signed the treaty.

So far, the Bank’s five trade and investment missions to Caricom have resulted in deals totalling US$2 billion at various stages of completion. Some of these have either been approved or are at final approval committee levels.

“AfrEximbank’s investment promotion drive has attracted well-advanced African investment interest in the Caribbean’s financial sector, fisheries, industrial parks, ports, renewable energy, and tourism,” a statement from the Bank said.

“Some of these deals will be signed at ACTIF 2023, and this will include the Bank’s impact investment subsidiary, the Fund for Export Development in Africa’s signing of a Framework Agreement with Access Bank Group, Nigeria, to jointly invest in the financial services sector across the Caribbean.”

Meanwhile, the Bank noted that it will also be running a pilot programme for the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) for Caricom Central Banks as the payment infrastructure for Caricom. Additionally, it has earmarked Barbados’s Africa Trade Centre as its permanent Caribbean office. (Jarryl Byran)

8 NEWS “Chow Pow” charged for beating daughter From on high…

P TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

opular comedian Kirk Jardine, also known as "Chow Pow”, made an appearance on Monday before Magistrate Rhondell Weever at the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts on allegations of beating his daughter.

The 57-year-old man of Greenheart Street, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, entered a not guilty plea to the accusation, which stated that on Friday, October 7, 2023, he assaulted his 22-year-old daughter, Aaliyah Jardine.

Bail for him was set at $50,000, under the condition that he stay a hundred yards away from his daughter and not speak with her.

The presiding Magistrate overruled the Police prosecutor's objections to Kirk being granted his pre-trial liberty.

The prosecutor had objected

Kirk Jardine, called "Chow Pow”, making his way from the courtroom

to bail on the grounds of the seriousness and prevalence of the offence.

While describing the incident as "unfortunate," Kirk's lawyer, Khemraj

Ramjattan, emphasised that his client is a loving father who was attempting to resolve the matter with his child and former son-in-law.

Kirk’s daughter was reportedly taken to the hospital for treatment after the beating.

This defendant will return to court on November 6.

Earlier this year, Devanand Singh, 50, the owner of Brands2Go, was jailed for 14 months for brutally assaulting his 26-yearold daughter and threatening her with a gun.

Magistrate Weever imposed that custodial sentence. CCTV footage of him brutalising the woman was leaked to social media and later tendered in court during trial proceedings.

Singh committed the crimes sometime in March 2022.

…the Africans have landed

W

ell…well…well…how things have changed!!

Used to be that the only news we used to get out of Africa was of starvation, coups, and dictators. But while we may still have those – note the four coups in the Sahel in three years! – we just got a planeload of African investors and entrepreneurs flying in to investigate business opportunities in our (Caricom) neck of the woods!! This is just a sample of the new Africa that’s slowly emerging out of the hole in which the colonial powers had dumped them after a hundred years of divvying up the continent for their benefit.

Now some might say this is a new colonisation with the US$1.5 billion line of credit the African ImportExport Bank has already established to facilitate their investments – with the promise of doubling that during this Second AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF23). But how come no one complains when the White folks come in as investors and leave us with holes in the ground and nothing in our hands?? We call it Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)!! Remember the Australian Troy Resources that absconded without paying their royalties or fixing those craters??

Anyhow, your Eyewitness is happy if for nothing else than Africa’s beginning to throw off those nasty stereotypes foisted on them by the same Europeans who’d departed only in name. Even those four coups that are being bemoaned are basically efforts to remove the stranglehold France had maintained over them by controlling the currency they use!! Imagine that Macron and his minions could simply print pieces of paper to “buy” resources from those countries!! Anyhow, your Eyewitness welcomes this new Africa, and he wants to know why the investors had to deplane on the tarmac and not into one of those new airbridges we’ve been paying for every month??

He notes that in ACTIF23 – which kicked off yesterday at the Marriott – the theme is “Creating a Shared Prosperous Future”, through “consolidating commercial collaboration between the Caribbean region and Africa, for increased inter-regional trade and investment building on the successes of the inaugural edition that was held in Barbados last year.” But he’d like to offer a word of caution to the Guyanese public: it’s not for nothing since Roman times the motto of business remains “caveat emptor” – buyer beware! Imagine if aid came with strings attached, what it’s gonna be like with businesses.

Never mind these entrepreneurs might look like us – they’ll be no different when it comes to playing hardball when it comes to the question of profits!! We gotta look out for number one – meaning us and our interests.

It’s a dog-eat-dog world, baby!! …into the tunnels Ever since the Oct 7th Hamas attack – which obviously was being planned and prepared for years – the Israelis have been responding even more brutally than ever before. They’ve been going way beyond their Biblical “eye for an eye” philosophy. This time, it’s been more like the whole goddamn body for an eye!!

They started with aerial bombardment into both the urbanised northern Gaza and – to everyone’s surprise, - the southern desert into which they had advised the inhabitants to flee.

What’s going on?? Is this just wanton destruction with Israel striking out blindly?? Actually, it’s part of the action and reaction that’s been going on since 1948 when the Israelis expelled the Palestinians into the open-air prisons called Gaza and the West Bank. The Palestinians have created hundreds of miles of tunnels under Gaza extending from the north – into Egypt even!!

They call it “the metro”!!

They hide, and bring in weapons and whatever they need through these tunnels. These are the targets of the Israeli IDF!! …the opportunities shrink Modern economic growth has come from developed countries shifting their manufacturing to countries with cheaper labour. The latest was China becoming America’s workshop. However, manufacturing jobs are shrinking in absolute terms – so it’s good we’re focusing on agri!!

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

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

9 Govt launches public consultations for National Gas Strategy NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

– says catering for gas will enhance Guyana as investment destination

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat

C

onsultations for the National Gas Strategy have been launched by the Government through the Ministry of Natural Resources, with the strategy catering to the infrastructure to develop Guyana’s natural gas potential, which will only enhance the country’s reputation as an investment destination.

The draft strategy was released on Monday, with November 14, 2023, set as the deadline for submissions from the public.

According to the Ministry in a statement, the strategy will be a vital tool to guide the management of Guyana’s natural gas resources, ensuring that informed decisions are made on how to use the gas.

“The Stabroek Block, along with the Corentyne Block, holds substantial gas resources. Ongoing exploration and appraisal activities are underway to determine the full extent of Guyana's gas resources. To date, the sanctioned projects in the Stabroek Block are exclusively oil-focused, including the Whiptail project currently under review.”

“At Pluma, Haimara, and other discoveries with condensate, reviews are ongoing. The Ministry of Natural Resources hereby invites public engagement, including input from industry stakeholders and experts, to contribute to a productive discourse on the

gas strategy. The insights and recommendations gathered during this period will play a crucial role in shaping the nation's energy future,” the Ministry statement said.

Meanwhile, the strategy itself explains that in order to ensure the timely monetisation of Guyana’s gas resources, “new gas monetisation options and solutions need to be developed, including the participation of additional players in the O&G value chain besides the upstream project developers.”

According to the draft, there are many benefits from natural gas and derived products. However, the strategy stressed that time is of the essence due to market forces and uncertainties associated with the pace of the energy transition and ensuring that “new O&G producers have a fair and just opportunity to develop their natural resources.”

Meanwhile, the strategy notes that the development of deepwater gas is more complex and expensive than traditional, non-associated gas fields. According to the strategy, based on appraisals two very distinct areas in the Stabroek Block can be distinguished… the northern and southern parts.

“It is important to note that this gas condensate/ low liquid yield resources are trapping a large proportion of the discovered oil, that will not be able to be

developed and monetised unless infrastructure solutions for the evacuation of gas are put in place in tandem with the associated gas that is being recycled today in the current production operations.”

“Much scope remains for further exploration in the Guyana-Suriname Basin… providing infrastructure solutions for future gas developments will significantly enhance the attractiveness of the licensing round and will continue to make Guyana one of the best basins in the world to invest,” the strategy further states.

The monetisation of Guyana’s vast gas reserves has been described by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo as the next wave of economic opportunity for Guyana, seeing as the country has some 17 trillion cubic feet of associated gas.

During an interview with S&P Global a few months ago, Jagdeo had noted that the conversation has moved from ExxonMobil wanting to reinject the gas they found in the Stabroek Block, to Exxon helping Guyana to develop it. This partnership has stretched to the gas-to-energy project, where ExxonMobil is funding the pipeline and associated infrastructure.

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, West Bank Demerara (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 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 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, but it has the capacity to push as much as 120 mscfpd.

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.

A sum of US$55 million per annum will be paid to ExxonMobil in amortisation costs for the pipeline to be installed in the gas-to energy project, which will allow Guyana to, in turn, save and earn ten times that amount. (G-8)

10 NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Murder of businessman’s son

Mastermind to make court appearance today ...3 other suspects released after Police confirm alibis ...victim died from blunt trauma to head, face, neck – autopsy

The money that was found at the mastermind’s home at Diamond

Murdered: Amit Singh

A

s the extension period to keep Yogeendra Sukhdeo winds down, detectives are preparing their file on the facts surrounding the murder of Amit Singh, whose lifeless body was found wrapped in a sheet in a house at Middle Road, La Penitence, Georgetown, last week.

Once legal advice is sought, the mastermind will be arraigned at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, where he will not be required to plea to the

Mastermind Yogeendra Sukhdeo

indictable charge.

On Friday, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum told Guyana Times that the Guyana Police Force was granted an extension from the High Court to further detain Sukhdeo until 15:00h today, Tuesday, October 31.

However, when contacted on Monday, Blanhum confirmed that Sukhdeo will make his court appearance today while adding that the three other suspects who were arrested following the young man’s

The house in which Singh was brutally murdered

death were released from custody after their alibis were confirmed by the Police.

Initially, the men, upon their arrest, had denied their involvement in the gruesome murder. In fact, Sukhdeo told detectives he had committed the act and not his three employees.

Meanwhile, an autopsy was performed on Singh’s body on Monday by Government Pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh, who gave the cause of death as blunt

trauma to the head, face, and neck topped with multiple fractures and broncho aspiration of blood.

His body was handed over to the family for funeral arrangements.

Singh and Sukhdeo were reportedly close friends and on the day in question, Sukhdeo picked him up from his Campbellville, Georgetown home in a black Toyota Allion motor car. The mastermind reportedly changed the registration plates with the

aim of not leaving a trace behind.

Nevertheless, as time elapsed and the young man did not return home, the Police were contacted.

Based on intelligence gathered, ranks from the Criminal Investigations Department arrested Sukhdeo, who took them to the house at Middle Road La Penitence where the young man’s body was found.

He reportedly told investigators that, he would normally finalize the purchase of raw gold for Singh.

But the Police have since confirmed that the victim was lured to the house

under the pretext that a group of men had gold for sale when in fact, it was an orchestrated plan to rob the young man.

At the house at La Penitence, which Sukhdeo took care of, there was reportedly a misunderstanding during which Singh was beaten to death. The suspect reportedly panicked, wrapped the body in a sheet, and left the premises.

After confessing to the crime, Sukhdeo took Police to his Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD) home where a total of $7.7 million was recovered.

NEWS

11

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

CoI into deadly Mahdia Secondary School fire

Pres Ali greenlights 1-month extension to complete report – Commissioners to visit site on Wednesday

Secretary to the Commission, Attorney-at-Law Javed Shadick President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali (second from left) with members of the Commission of Inquiry into the Mahdia Secondary School Dormitory fire: Retired Major General Joe Singh (extreme left), Attorney-at-Law Kim Kyte-Thomas (second from right) and NTC Chairman Derrick John

By Feona Morrison

President Dr Irfaan Ali has given the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) probing the fatal fire at Mahdia Secondary School dormitory until the end of November to finish their final report and make their recommendation.

Attorney-at-Law Javed Shadick, the Secretary to the panel, made this disclosure on Monday at a news conference held at the CoI’s Middle Street, Georgetown headquarters.

It was disclosed ear-

The aftermath of the fire that ripped through the dormitory

lier this month that the Commission’s attorney, Keoma Griffith, is gathering testimony from 29 persons, including the mother and father of the dorm, survivors, and Government representatives.

As it stands, Shadick

disclosed that while the Commission was able to obtain data for each of the Terms of Reference (ToR), it is currently reviewing the evidence to see whether further data is required. Right now, none is required, he told reporters.

Shadick assured, “The CoI has started to prepare the report and has all intention of submitting the report within the timeframe given.” He reminded that the Commission was established in August and was initially given two months to complete its probe.

Additionally, the Commission plans to return to Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro Siparuni), on Wednesday in order to in-

spect the hospital, fire station, dormitory site, headquarters of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), and alternate water sources.

The mother of the dorm and repre sentatives from the Fire Depart ment are among those the Commissioners hope to meet during the site visit, according to the Secretary.

“The site visits are to answer questions and to un-

derstand what really went on on the ground [and] to see how far these places are from each other,” the Commission’s Secretary stated, emphasising the significance of the visit. A previous site visit was done last August.

The May 21, 2023 inferno killed 19 female students between the ages of 12 and 17 and a five-year-old boy, who was the son of the dorm parents.

TURN TO PAGE 15

12 NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GAWU Women’s Group New Guyana-China Friendship Society executives pay courtesy call on Chinese Ambassador urges breast cancer awareness year-round

Newly-elected executive committee of the Guyana-China Friendship Society (GCFS)

A

Thousands supported the Pinktober Walk on Sunday

s the curtains are pulled on Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2023, the women’s group of the General Agricultural and Workers Union (GAWU) has called for resources, awareness programmes, and policies aimed at promoting the well-being of those affected by the scourge year-round.

In October, the group joined the global campaign to heighten awareness about breast cancer through messages of support, encouragement, and empowerment.

GAWU in a release to the media on Monday stated that Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a significant time that brings Guyanese together to fight against a common enemy that affects millions of people worldwide.

“In Guyana, we recognise the impact of breast cancer on our loved ones

and colleagues. The GAWU Women’s Group emphasises the importance of education, early detection, and support in the battle against this formidable foe.”

Further, the body stated that breast cancer is a disease that does not discriminate and has far-reaching effects that are felt in every community.

As such, it expressed support to those who have fought or are currently fighting breast cancer, as well as to the loved ones who are supporting them. “We recognise the strength, resilience, and bravery of survivors and pay tribute to those who have lost their lives to this disease.”

However, the union stated that education is one of the most effective tools in the fight against breast cancer, and as such, it believes that every individual should prioritise regular screenings

and self-examinations.

“The GAWU Women’s Group encourages our members and the wider community to seek knowledge about breast cancer and its early detection. By increasing awareness about the disease and its risk factors, we can work towards reducing the impact it has on our lives and the lives of those around us. Early detection is critical to the successful treatment of breast cancer, and we want to empower everyone with the information they need to take charge of their health.”

Moreover, the women’s group is ready to give a helping hand to anyone who needs it.

“We understand the challenges faced by individuals and families affected by this disease, and we're committed to offering support, encouragement, and resources to help you through it.”

T

he newly elected executive committee of the Guyana-China Friendship Society (GCFS) paid a courtesy call to the Ambassador of China to Guyana, Her Excellency Ambassador Guo Hai Yan, and the esteemed Councillors of the Chinese Embassy in Guyana.

The courtesy call, led by newly elected GCFS President, Paul Cheong, was aimed at introducing the new executive committee and identifying areas in which the two sides can cooperate to nurture closer friendship and mutual cultural exchange between Guyana and China.

Among the areas discussed were the promotion of university opportunities in China for Guyanese citizens, the introduction of traditional Chinese medicine, and sports/martial arts such as Wushu and Tai Chi. Ambassador Guo Hai Yan expressed her support for the society and emphasised the importance of cultural exchange pro-

Newly-elected GCFS President Paul Cheong and Ambassador of China to Guyana, Guo Hai Yan in discussion

grammes. She highlighted the long-standing friendship between China and Guyana and expressed her confidence in the society’s role in deepening those connections.

On October 23, 2023, the GCFS held a General Meeting for the resuscitation of the society and the election of the new office bearers for the executive committee.

The society was established in 1982 to promote friendship, cultural rela-

tions, and solidarity between Guyana and the People’s Republic of China.

The new executive committee is led by its President, Paul Cheong; Vice Presidents, Ernesto Choo and Yu Zhang Zhen; Secretary, May Cheung; Treasurer, Judy Hung; Assistant Secretary/ Treasurer, Haopei Yang, along with Elsie Harry, Zhang He Chun, Dr Vikesh Bissoon, Song Wei Wei and Kayshell Jennings as committee members.

1st Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis of Pulmonary Embolism in Guyana performed at GPHC

T

he Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) on Monday announced that the hospital's Interventional Radiologist, Dr Joel Joseph, successfully performed the first-ever catheter-directed thrombolysis of pulmonary embolism procedure in the country.

This groundbreaking intervention took place two weeks ago following consultations with the hospital's internal medicine team.

The life-saving procedure was performed on a 35-yearold patient diagnosed with saddled pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot (usually from the legs or other parts of the body) travels to the lungs, causing blockage in the pulmonary arteries.

This condition is life-threatening and requires immediate medical intervention to prevent further complications.

Under the skilled hands

Medical personnel in the theatre during the surgery

of Dr Joseph, the surgery was executed with precision, leading to a successful outcome.

According to GPHC, they are pleased to report that the patient is recovering well and is currently under careful medical management in one of the hospital’s wards.

This groundbreaking achievement reflects GPHC's commitment to providing high-quality healthcare services and pioneering medical advancements for the people of Guyana. The collaboration between the hospital’s talent-

ed medical professionals, including Dr Joel Joseph, and the dedicated internal medicine team, highlights the hospital's expertise and determination to tackle complex medical challenges.

As such, GPHC expressed its gratitude to the medical staff involved in this procedure, whose expertise and dedication continue to set new standards of care in Guyana. They also extended best wishes to the patient for a smooth and speedy recovery.

13 MoE launches software to be rid of paper-based record keeping, track trends in educational institutions NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…dubbed “the future of education”

Stakeholders at the launch of EMIS at Pegasus Corporate Suites

Education Minister Priya Manickchand flanked by senior officials within the Ministry and other key stakeholders

I

n a revolutionary move regarded as the “future of education” in Guyana, the Education Ministry on Monday launched its Education Management Information System (EMIS).

Private and public schools and other institutions within the education sector will have access to a secure database, allowing for a comprehensive range of tools for record-keeping and management of data.

With over 1500 public and private schools, teaching instruction centres, regional departments, and practical instruction centres in the system, the cumbersome process of storing and accessing data is now available at the fingertips of stakeholders.

In schools, this mechanism will eliminate paper-based record keeping, which is not only bulky but time-consuming.

Attendance, performance, and other relevant information can be recorded and using data analytics, the Ministry will be able to identify trends and make informed policy decisions.

Informed decisions

At the launch at the Pegasus Corporate Suites, Chief Education Officer (CEO) Saddam Hussain hailed the new system as one that will allow policymakers and administrators to make informed decisions based on evidence, rather than intuition.

With centralised data, administrative tasks such as student enrolment, attendance tracking, and evaluating performance categories, the Ministry can ensure better accountability at all levels while identifying gaps and disparities in the education system.

Educators can address specific needs and adaptive teaching methodologies, therefore creating a more

personalised learning experience, and improving outcomes and retention rates.

“This is perhaps the most significant thing which will happen, which is happening for maybe the last 30 years…a very, very new future in Guyana’s education system,” Hussain relayed.

Integrated system

Meanwhile, Chief Planning Officer, Nicola Johnson shared that it is not a standalone system; it can be integrated with other national systems, such as health and social services, creating a holistic approach to child development.

“Whether it's the shortage of resources in a district, or lack of qualified teachers, EMIS can help us pinpoint and address these issues, ensuring every day needs to receive a quality education, thereby enabling us to address equity in the system.”

Johnson further added, “Beyond the logistics and data lies the whole reason we should embrace EMIS. And that’s our children. It’s about equipping them with the best possible resources ensuring that they have the opportunity to succeed and thrive. Implementing EMIS is not just a step forward. It is a leap into a new era of excellence.”

Executive Director of the Community Systems Foundation (CSF), Jon Kapp added that these tools support better collection, management, and use of education data. Around the world, EMIS has proven useful in many countries within the Asian, African, Middle Eastern and Pacific regions.

Kapp shared, “The idea was to create a modern enough solution that could be used by any country in any language with any education system driven by the idea that data was at

the centre of decision-making in the classroom…

OpenEMIS went through a global evaluation in 2020 and I'm very proud to say that in 2023, we’re expanding to partnerships in new governance models and new ways of community engagement. Looking forward to the future, OpenEMIS version four will be released in early 2024, to the benefit of all members of the community, including Guyana.”

Absenteeism

More than bringing ease to data monitoring in the sector is the ability of EMIS to address social issues such as dropouts and absenteeism in classrooms. A digital attendance register for each student and teacher is linked to a risk module, alerting the Welfare Department if a student has not shown up to class for a long period of time.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand related that the Ministry will be able to nip such issues in the bud and extend to address absenteeism of teachers as well.

“We saw large numbers of children not turning up for the mock exams in Grade Six level and we only were able to collect that nationally, from the checking and tracking to see who didn't turn up rather than being able to log into a classroom to see where we have large absences and how we could address those effectively,” she expressed at the launch.

“We should know immediately who was absent on any given day. We should know immediately which teacher needs to be disciplined for being absent all the time. We should know immediately which teachers are teaching because the systems are there…

Putting technology into your hands doesn't change

the circumstance; it’s not going to change the landscape. How we use that, how we implement it, how dedicated we become to making sure this works is what is going to change the system,” the Minister added.

Looking at the implementation phase, the senior Minister called for teachers to embrace this change and ride the wave of current technological advancements.

“I truly want this to be such an integrated system that it’s not piloted anywhere. It is in every school, every learning institution,

every education district, every department, NCERD available to everyone who wants track or determined how service can be improved using numbers.”

Vacancies

Great potential exists for this system to be integrated into that of the Teaching Service Commission to assist with the promotion of teachers.

Secretary, Ray Bassoo asserted that the EMIS can improve accuracy by filling positions from an accurate vacancy list since it is difficult to garner data from riverine communities.

Minister Manickchand was keen to note that many times, Head Teachers do not provide accurate information on the vacancies that exists, resulting in classrooms without teachers.

“Even within the schools, teachers, Head Teachers and administrators do not know where there are vacancies. Yet children and parents will tell you, their children aren't being taught because they didn't calculate accurately the number of teachers they needed in those schools.”

(Rupa Seenaraine).

14 NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyanese taking advantage of cultural exchange programme in US F

rom Berbice to Virginia, United States of America, the dynamic teaching duo of Jason and Yaheda Hemnarain is leaving an indelible imprint on the American education system, sharing Guyanese culture and inspiring their students.

The couple, who together boast several decades of teaching experience, have no regrets since grasping the opportunity to travel and work in the USA under the Participate Learning cultural exchange programme.

Both Jason and Yaheda have Bachelor’s degrees in Elementary Education and more than 17 years of teaching experience.

“We looked online for an opportunity to challenge and expand our teaching careers, and that’s how we found Participate Learning,

Jason and Yaheda Hemnarain

a cultural ambassador teaching programme that grants qualified teachers the opportunity to relocate with their immediate family and teach in the United States,” Jason stated.

So, with sights set on a new teaching challenge, the parents of two young boys left Guyana in July this year to follow their dream. Any misgivings they had about embarking on the new adventure were immediately

put to rest on arrival in the USA. “Of course, leaving our home and jobs behind and starting a new life’s journey with our two boys played on our minds, since we were unsure of what to expect here in the United States.

However, we were met and warmly welcomed at the Airport in DC by Participate Learning staff, and we immediately felt at ease. All our needs were taken care of

from the airport to our hotel, and the staff were very supportive.”

Jason noted they were able to quickly adapt to the new environment thanks to the assistance from the Participate Learning staff.

A local advisor helped with residential arrangements, getting a vehicle, and even applying for their SSN. Virginia is one of three states where Participate Learning deploys teacher ambassadors, the other two being North and South Carolina.

It also didn’t take long for the couple to assess the key differences between the two cultures. Cultural differences related to class-

room discipline and, in some cases, language barriers have been both challenging and rewarding.

“The system of teaching here in the US is unique and easier, in my view,” Jason added.

“It opens up students to unlimited opportunities, not only in the US but also globally. In Guyana, courses tend to be somewhat interactive and are less dependent on rote memorisation, with students encouraged to ask questions and discuss topics. In terms of the educational system, the USA offers a more diverse range of courses and institutions with a strong emphasis on research and practical appli-

cation.”

Given their experience so far, Jason and Yaheda have no hesitation in recommending the cultural exchange programme to qualified teachers in Guyana and the Caribbean.

“Participate Learning is a wonderful international cultural exchange programme. As such, we encourage other Guyanese teachers, if you are the holder of a Bachelor’s degree in Education, and if your goal is to globalise education and be a cultural ambassador for your country, then Participate Learning is the programme for you. Our advice, Go for it. It is an awesome programme.”

Food For The Poor donates beds to Hope Children’s Home

Duo busted with gun, ammo F during stop and search exercise

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wo men were taken into custody following the discovery of a firearm, ammunition, and handcuffs during a stop and search exercise along the Eccles Access Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD), on Friday evening.

Police stated that while conducting the exercise, ranks intercepted a white Toyota Allion motor car bearing registration number PXX 9496. At the time, two men were in the vehicle.

“In the driver's seat was Shakia Chase, a 39-yearold taxi driver of Farm, East Bank Demerara; and

The handcuffs discovered

in the front passenger seat was Loris House, a 34-yearold gold miner of South

Arrested: Loris House

Arrested: Shakia Chase

Georgetown, who had a black haversack on his lap

ger that they had reason to believe that they were in possession of arms, ammunition, and drugs and would like to carry out a search on their person and vehicle. The two men reportedly agreed.

Police stated that a search was carried out on the driver and the car during which two pairs of handcuffs and one pair of foot cuffs were found.

Chase, when questioned about the items found, related that the car did not belong to him. He was told of being “in possession of military stores”, arrested, cautioned and he remained silent.

In addition, the ranks then conducted a search on a black haversack that House was carrying. A black and silver .357 Magnum firearm along with six .38 rounds of ammunition were found inside the bag.

Further, US$99 was also found in the haversack.

House, while being cautioned, reportedly admitted ownership of the firearm by saying, "Is me gun."

The men remain in custody pending charges.

The gun and ammunition found in the car

and was acting suspiciously,” Police stated.

However, ranks informed both the driver and passen-

The car in which the men were travelling when it was intercepted

ood For The Poor (Guyana) Inc in collaboration with Food For The Poor Canada Inc donated five twin-size bunk beds and ten mattresses to Hope Children’s Home, Enmore, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

This donation was made through the Angels of Hope programme and made possible by a Canadian-based Guyanese, Naraine, who provided funding for the procurement of the items as part of his birthday celebration and his desire to give back to his homeland.

The beds and mattresses were urgently needed to upgrade the children’s dormitory so as to ensure their comfort and the home’s capacity to take in additional children.

The administrator of Hope Children’s Home,

Coordinator of Angels of Hope Programme, Kaleda Crandon

thus this donation will surely have a positive impact on the lives of the children, as they will now have comfortable beds to sleep on,” she emphasised.

Administrator of Hope Children’s Home, Mahadai Samichand

Mahadai Samichand, expressed her gratitude to Food For The Poor for their timely donation.

“I must say thank you to Food For The Poor and Mr Naraine for the beds, we currently have an intake of new children at the home,

Speaking at the simple handover ceremony, Coordinator of Angels of Hope, Kaleda Crandon stated that she is pleased to see the improvement that Food For The Poor and the Angels of Hope Programme

is creating, and the impact on children’s living conditions.

Crandon highlighted that the beds will benefit the home in the long run, since many children will use them in the years to come.

Hope Children’s Home cares for vulnerable children by providing them with food, clothing, and shelter, giving them a safe and clean environment where they can learn and grow. The home has grown to accommodate up to 50 children at a time, with ages ranging from just a few weeks old to 18 years old.

Food For The Poor (Guyana) Inc provides support to eight children’s homes inclusive of Hope Children’s Home under the Angels of Hope Programme.

The other homes are A Sanctuary Children’s Home, St John’s Bosco Boys’ Orphanage, Joshua House Children’s Centre, Ruimveldt Children’s Home and Hauraruni Girls’ Home.

The Angels of Hope Programme was established 18 years ago.

NEWS

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“Corresponding results” must be seen with teachers who benefit from scholarships – Manickchand – TSC processing over 1200 applications for senior positions

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esources are being expended by the current Administration to invest in higher education for teachers within the education system in Guyana, and this must be supported with corresponding results in classrooms.

This was the position shared by Education Minister Priya Manickchand at an event on Monday, where she pointed out that as teachers benefit from scholarships to upgrade their educational portfolio, it must reflect in their output performance.

Manickchand asserted, “All of our teachers will be trained for the first time in the country. People are being offered scholarships at no cost to themselves to study in foreign universities for their PhDs and Master’s and degrees.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand

With all of this investment, we have to see corresponding results.”

She highlighted that many educators have shown their true potential abroad but attention must be placed on the ones who come into the classroom

here, especially those without a supportive home.

“Are we moving the needle? Are we moving it from X percentage to a higher percentage at the exit level of primary and secondary?

We have to see the corresponding results because

Pres Ali greenlights 1-month...

FROM PAGE 11

Dead are: Tracil Thomas, Lisa Roberts, Delicia Edwards, Lorita Williams, Natalie Bellarmine, Arriana Edwards, Cleoma Simon, Subrina John, Martha Dandrade, Loreen Evans, Belnisa Evans, Mary Dandrade, Omerfia Edwin, Nickleen Robinson, Sherina Daniels, Eulander Carter, Andrea Roberts, Bibi Rita Jeffrey, five-yearold Adanye Jerome, and Sherana Daniels.

The dormitory housed 59 students. At the time of the fire, there were 56 females and a five-year-old boy inside. The remaining students had gone home for the weekend. The dormitory’s 26 windows were heavily grilled, and the five doors were locked with keys when the fire started.

A 15-year-old student at the Mahdia Secondary School has since been slapped with 20 murder charges after Police investigations found that she had allegedly started the blaze after her cellular phone

had been taken away by the dorm’s mother and a teacher. She is being kept on remand at a juvenile holding centre.

So far, several persons have already testified including the dorm’s mother and father, the officer in charge of the Guyana Fire Service in Region Eight and others.

The ToR details that the Commission will inquire into and report on everything leading up to the dormitory fire that claimed the lives of the juveniles, as well as the causes of the fire.

Among other things it is tasked to investigate and report on what actions were taken to provide care, medical attention, and support to the injured and deceased and their relatives, on time.

The Government had announced that in addition to medical and mental health support, it would provide “financial assistance” in the sum of $5M to the families of each of the children who died.

The families of the children who received injuries are expected to get $3 million each.

Also, recommendations are expected from the Commission, which will include necessary measures to prevent a reoccurrence of such tragedies.

President Ali appointed Retired Major General Joe Singh as Chairman and Attorney-at-Law Kim KyteThomas and Chairman of the National Toshaos Council (NTC) Derrick John as Commissioners.

According to what the Commission has heard thus far, the Mahdia Fire Station had several flaws, including a shortage of firefighting supplies that caused a delay in the firefighters’ arrival.

Furthermore, little to no action was taken even though the school dormitory had undergone an inspection only months before the incident and officials had been made aware of the defects.

if we don’t, then it’s not a technology issue we had.

It was a people issue we had. And I know my people. You’re capable of functioning all over this world when you leave. So, you’ve got to function here for your children…and mine.”

In demanding accountability, she reasoned, “Too much is at stake here for us to manage this lazily, complacently, to waste effort that went into getting this done, both vision-wise as well as cash investment.”

Currently, the Ministry is aiming to have 100 per cent trained teachers by 2025. Those teachers who are close to retirement are being given leeway given their age and years of service remaining. But Manickchand said the Ministry will be hitting the brakes on those who are in the profession without any formal training.

She noted, “If you're almost done, we might look at it a little bit differently, because it doesn't make sense to train someone for four years and then they retire a year later.”

Last year, it was reported that more than 1200

teachers are receiving training for free under the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) scholarships at the Master’s and PhD levels. This year, $1.8 million was allocated in the 2023 National Budget towards advancing the programme.

Additionally, trainee teachers are benefitting from a full salary now, as opposed to a $10,000 stipend. The matter of salary increases for teachers is being dealt with by the Office of the President.

Recently, the Government also approved salary adjustments for teachers

who were being paid below their minimum applicable scale.

Meanwhile, Secretary of the Teaching Service Commission, Ray Bassoo on Monday informed that some 1218 senior teachers applied for various vacancies and are awaiting confirmation from the entity.

This process is ongoing.

“We are in the senior promotion process of which 1218 teachers applied for various vacancies. A teacher can have 10 different preferences. That represents about 12,000 applications.” (G-12)

16 NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Fire ravages Enmore lumberyard A

fire broke out around noon on Monday, consuming a lumberyard at Enmore on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD).

Firefighters battled the blaze for several hours, but as of 16:30h, they were unable to extinguish the fire.

The fire, which originated in a grassy area, quickly spread to the nearby lumberyard, consuming the wooden structures within.

Firefighters from the nearby stations responded to the scene and sprang into action to get the situation under control.

The Enmore lumberyard

suffered significant damage, although the exact extent and value of the losses are still being assessed.

Firefighters and emergency personnel, with support from the community, managed to prevent the fire from spreading further, ensuring neighbouring properties were safe from harm.

Grassfires continue to erupt in several communities in Guyana due to the continuing hot, dry weather and lack of rain. This has left people with significant losses. A few days ago, wildfires in the Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-

Corentyne), damaged several acres of plantain at Crabwood Creek.

More than 50 farmers cultivate land at Torani Canal, with most investing in plantain and citrus. On Tuesday last, farmers discovered that the dry bush adjacent to their cultivated fields was burning. By Wednesday, the fire swept over the canal with the aid of the wind and started burning sections of the cultivated area.

One farmer lost seven acres cultivated with plantain, citrus, and other fruits, while another lost five acres.

Man accused of raping 20-year-old woman gets bail

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hirty-four-year-old Kishore Choonoo was on Monday granted bail in the sum of $200,000 on a rape charge.

Choonoo appeared at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Crystel Lambert where the charge was read to him. He was accused of raping a 20-year-old woman on April 3, 2023, at a hotel in Bartica.

The charge was formally presented to him, and he was not required to plea to the indictment. He was granted cash bail and the matter was adjourned to December 8, 2023.

The fire that erupted at the lumberyard

The fire also damaged significant portions of other farms.

A few weeks ago, the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) collaborated with other agencies to establish a comprehensive strategy to combat the increasing occurrences of grassfires, commonly known as wildfires. Chief Fire Officer (ag) Gregory Wickham emphasised the rise in these incidents during a media interaction. He advised against leaving grass or garbage fires unattended, especially during the dry season when they can quickly escalate.

Wickham highlighted the challenge of accessibility in remote areas, where firefighters have to continue on foot due to limited vehicle access. He urged the public to maintain water sources and engage in fire safety measures collectively. If encountering suspicious fires or smoke, the Fire Service said it is crucial to promptly call 912.

Annandale man acquitted of fisherman’s murder Charged: Kishore Choonoo

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oy Jaglall of Annandale, East Coast Demerara (ECD), who was accused of the 2020 murder of Coldingen, ECD fisherman Mukesh Mangra, was on Monday unanimously found not guilty by a jury in Justice Simone MorrisRamlall’s courtroom.

Additionally, the panel voted 10-2 to find him not guilty on the lesser charge of manslaughter.

After the verdicts were announced on Monday afternoon, Jaglall, the former murder accused, appeared relieved as the Judge informed him that he was discharged and free to leave.

Jaglall was represented by Attorney-at-Law Domnick Bess.

Attorneys Rbina Christmas, Caressa Henry and Delon Fraser presented the case for the State.

Jaglall had been jointly indicted with Vivekanand Ramroop, a carpenter of Lusignan, ECD, for the murder of the 23-year-old.

At his arraignment before Justice Morris-Ramlall earlier this month, co-accused Ramroop had chosen to enter a guilty plea to the capital offence. This

Dead: Mukesh Mangra

Freed: Roy Jaglall

confessed killer will be sentenced on November 9.

The lifeless body of Mangra also called “Paul”, with multiple stab wounds, was discovered along the Coldingen roadway on Saturday, January 18, 2020.

It was reported that on the night of January 18, 2020, between 19:45h and 20:30h, a painter was heading home on his bicycle when he made the gruesome discovery of Mangra’s lifeless body lying on the western side of the said road with two stab wounds to his abdomen – one to the left side and the other to the right side.

The painter immediately

contacted the nearest Police station and ranks reportedly responded to the scene.

According to the Police, the area was searched, and a blue-handled knife was found almost 50 feet away from the body.

Mangra’s mother had reportedly told the Police that her late son had left their home on January 11, 2020, to work at sea.

She had explained that he was slated to return home about a week later but did not show up. She said she believed he might have been killed during a robbery since he would collect money from his boss when he was off the sea.

NEWS

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

274 traffic offences recorded on Sunday

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n a rigorous traffic enforcement operation conducted on Sunday, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) recorded a whopping 274 cases against errant drivers countrywide. Among these cases, the majority were related to speeding, while a few individuals were apprehended for driving under the influence (DUI).

The officers were out in full force on Sunday, focusing their efforts on ensuring road safety and cracking down on reckless driving. The operation, which spanned various parts of the city, resulted in a sig-

Traffic officers carrying out traffic enforcement

nificant number of traffic violations being addressed.

Speeding remains a major concern on the city's roads, with 65 cases reported on Sunday alone. Drivers exceeding the designated speed limits not only put their lives at risk but also endanger the lives of others on the road. Law enforcement officers utilised speed detection devices to identify and pull over drivers Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs also continues to be a serious offence. In Sunday's operation, eight individuals were arrested for DUI. Law en-

forcement officers, trained to recognise signs of impaired driving, conducted thorough checks to ensure that intoxicated drivers were taken off the streets promptly.

The traffic enforcement operations are part of a campaign to instil a sense of discipline among drivers and make roads safer for all users. By cracking down on offenders and issuing appropriate penalties, the Police hope to send a strong message that traffic violations will not be tolerated.

The public has been urged to cooperate with traffic authorities and adhere

to traffic regulations to ensure a smooth flow of traffic and reduce road accidents.

Regular enforcement exercises will continue to be conducted in various parts of the region to maintain road safety and prevent traffic violations.

Since July, “Respect the Road” was initiated, in a desperate move to reduce ac-

cidents after a rise in fatalities and reckless use of the roadways.

For the first half of 2023, over 2000 persons were charged with ticketing offences.

Acting Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken had said that ticketing has not been working to some extent; despite harsh-

er penalties being meted out to defaulters, violation of traffic laws remains high.

According to the acting Top Cop, speeding, driving under the influence, poor driver behaviour, distracted driving and inadequate infrastructure were some of the factors contributing to the alarming statistics.

Infrastructure work on Pln York commences Body of missing miner found H floating in Mazaruni River

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he lifeless body of a miner attached to Mohan Singh’s mining operation at Makarie Backdam, Region Seven, was found floating in the Mazaruni River on Monday.

Dead is 30-yearold Renold Rodrigues of River’s View, West Bank Demerara (WBD) Police stated that at about 16:00h on Sunday, Singh was reportedly on site with his six workers, including Rodrigues. At

the time, Rodrigues was working at the sluice box while Singh and the other employees were in the mining pit setting up the impeller.

However, when Singh and his workers exited the mining pit, there was no sight of Rodrigues. As such, a search was launched but he was not found.

Meanwhile, at about 09:00h on Monday, Singh got into his speedboat and left the camp and as he was heading to Bartica,

he received a telephone call from one of his workers who informed him that Rodrigues’ body was found floating in the river.

As a result, Singh proceeded to the Bartica Police Station where he reported the matter. He stated that the sluice box is about 1000 feet away from the river bank.

Detectives from Bartica were dispatched to the area to conduct an investigation.

ousing and Water Minister Collin Croal led a team to a section of Plantation York, designated for the construction of homes.

President Dr Irfaan Ali unveiled plans for the construction of 150 homes for medical professionals in the area, during his recent Cabinet Outreach to Region 10. The developing scheme is situated along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway.

The first phase of infrastructural work includes land clearing and the creation of access routes is ongoing for the subsequent construction phase of the homes.

A team of engineers and other technical staff from the Central Housing & Planning Authority (CH&PA) and con-

Housing and Water Minister, Collin Croal and other officials at the site

A total of 1000 homes are in the construction phase at Plantation York, accelerating the Government’s housing initiative.

“We’re now develop-

Decomposed body of man found in ECD house T

he decomposed body of a 55-year-old man was on Monday discovered in his Non Pareil, East Coast Demerara (ECD) house. The dead man has been identified as Suresh Seaukumar also called “Charles”.

Based on reports received, Seaukumar was an alcoholic who lived alone and was last seen in his veranda during the month of June 2023.

Police stated that the man’s daughter went to his

home to check on him on Sunday but the building was locked and as such, she left. The daughter, Noorena Seaukumar, resides at Herstelling, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

However, the woman went to the Vigilance Police Station on Monday where she told Police officers that she had not seen or heard from her father for seven months, since they were not on speaking terms.

The officers, accompa-

nied by the woman, went to the house. The main access door was reportedly broken to get access.

Upon entering, the man’s body was found lying on a bed in one of the bedrooms in an advanced state of decomposition.

The body could not have been examined for marks of violence due to the decomposition.

A post-mortem is expected to be performed on the body shortly.

The area being cleared

tractors were on the ground with the Minister.

President Ali visited Region 10 on Saturday where he announced that pending applications for doctors, nurses and medical technicians will be soon be processed.

ing Plantation York. I have asked that before the end of this year, those 150-plus who have applied must have them pre-qualified and have the bank approve their loans. So, by the first quarter of next year, they can move into their young professional homes.

Ali said such initiatives change conditions and circumstances, improve net value, and create opportunities for future generations.

Constructed on 500 acres of land, Plantation York will include a residential area as well as commercial and industrial zones. The housing development includes the building out of roads, bridges, drainage and culverts as well as utilities.

Since taking office in 2020, the PPP/C Administration has distributed more than 23,500 house lots to date, and is working aggressively to meet the target of 50,000 by the end of its 5-year tenure in 2025.

The Ministry has been constructing ‘young professional’ homes in several areas across the country. During the Linden Building Expo held in May, Croal announced an investment of approximately $600 million towards constructing 200 core homes in Silica City on the SoesdykeLinden Highway.

18

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2023

guyanatimesgy.com

Regional

Nearly 100 dead or missing in Inflation falling in Latin Mexico from hurricane, food America and Caribbean – IMF and water worries persist T

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he number of people dead and missing due to Hurricane Otis, a Category Five storm which hammered the Mexican Pacific resort city of Acapulco last week, has risen to nearly 100, authorities in the state of Guerrero said on Monday.

Otis battered Acapulco with winds of 266 kilometres per hour (165 miles per hour) on Wednesday, flooding the city, tearing roofs from homes, hotels and other businesses, submerging vehicles, and severing communications as well as road and air connections.

Looting broke out as the city's population of nearly 900,000 became increasingly desperate for food and water.

Evelyn Salgado, Governor of Acapulco's home state of Guerrero, said 45 persons were dead and 47 others were missing.

On Sunday, Mexico's federal civil protection authorities said there were 48 dead, comprising 43 in Acapulco and five in nearby Coyuca de Benitez. Among the dead are a US citizen, a Briton and a Canadian, according to Guerrero's government.

People stand amid damaged items and debris in the mud, in the aftermath of Hurricane Otis, in the Progreso neighbourhood in Acapulco, Mexico, October 30, 2023 (Reuters/Quetzalli Nicte-Ha photo)

Many residents of Acapulco were still struggling to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives on Monday afternoon.

Sixty-two-year-old Rumualda Hernandez from the Renacimiento neighbourhood a few miles back from the shore, urged the government to send help after walking 10 blocks from her wrecked home to get water from a cistern to wash clothes caked in mud.

"I was trembling with

fear," Hernandez said, recalling how the floodwaters at her house surged above head height as the storm raged. "I thought I was going to die."

Governor Salgado provided updated figures on the phone with President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who during a regular government press conference urged local authorities to ensure that basic goods were being delivered to Acapulco's population.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Govt prepared to respond to major disasters, Holness says after earthquake

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ours after a 5.6 magnitude earthquake jolted Jamaica, causing widespread panic, Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Monday said he could assure the public that the Government was capable and prepared to respond to disasters effectively.

“Jamaica has a very well-developed disaster response mechanism. You would have seen it in action during COVID, you would have seen it in action earlier during the term when we were threatened by hurricanes. It is very comprehensive. It takes care of the political directorate of the country then it goes down

to the executive, to the public sector bureaucracy and to our partnership with the Private Sector and civil society. It is very inclusive.

There is a disaster response committee that works and is provided with legislative authority,” Holness told reporters.

“If the situation were worse, my own belief is that we would be able to respond. Yes, we would be stretched as I am not here saying that we are well resourced or have the necessary equipment to respond, but certainly in terms of management, in terms of experience and will to keep Jamaica safe we are very strong in that regard… We

have also put fiscal buffers in place to respond,” he added.

Holness was addressing a media briefing at the Jamaica House in St Andrew.

The earthquake occurred at approximately 10:57h and was reportedly felt right across the island.

The epicentre was located approximately 10 kilometres south of Buff Bay, Portland.

The impact was reportedly felt in The Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Haiti, United States Minor Outlying Islands, and Cuba.

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Haiti halts outbound flights to Nicaragua – media report

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aiti's Government has suspended all Nicaragua-bound flights leaving its capital, the Miami Herald reported on Monday, putting at least a temporary end to a key route for would-be Haitian migrants seeking to reach the US. The Miami Herald cited a bulletin sent to the avi-

ation community that was then shared with the newspaper as the source of the information.

The Haitian government has made no public announcement about the flights and Reuters was not able to independently confirm the suspension.

The Port-au-Prince to Managua flights began in

August and have mostly been operated by charter carriers. In recent weeks, as many as 15 flights per day have ferried thousands of Haitians to Nicaragua.

The Miami Herald said an independent tally found more than 31,400 Haitians had taken the flights from August to October.

(Reuters)

he International Monetary Fund (IMF) is reporting that inflation is falling throughout the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region.

IMF Deputy Division Chief, Western Hemisphere Department, Anna Ivanova said that after reaching 7.8 per cent in 2022, headline inflation in the region, excluding Argentina and Venezuela, was expected to decline to five per cent in 2023 and to 3.6 per cent next year.

“In many countries, inflation is returning to the target range of the central banks’ target, but it is quite slow. We expect that the return towards the range will take place by 2024 in the region, as a whole, and to the mid-point by 2025,”

she noted.

Ivanova was presenting the findings of the October 2023 “IMF Regional Economic Outlook Western Hemisphere: Securing Low Inflation and Nurturing Potential Growth” report at the Bank of Jamaica (BoJ) in Kingston on Thursday, October 26.

She said the swift response of the region’s central banks played a key role in controlling inflation, noting that most are well placed to move forward with gradually easing their tight monetary policy stances while remaining attentive to risks.

In Jamaica, the BoJ is projecting a continued reduction in domestic inflation during the last three months of this year and for most of 2024.

At the Central Bank’s quarterly monetary policy media briefing in August, Governor Richard Byles said the general picture is one of success by the BoJ in controlling inflation.

This, he pointed out, despite the rate registering small increases in recent months, moving from 5.8 per cent in April 2023 to 6.1 per cent in May, 6.3 per cent in June, and 6.6 per cent in July.

“Notwithstanding this uptick, inflation is forecasted to generally decelerate to the Bank’s target range of four to six per cent by the December 2023 quarter and, with the exception of a few months in 2024, remain there,” Byles pointed out.

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Argentina drivers hunt for fuel “like water in the desert” amid shortage

A

rgentine drivers ran the gauntlet on Monday to find scarce supplies of petrol to fill their tanks amid the most acute fuel shortage in years, which has left many filling stations out of supply and long lines at any pumps still operating.

The South American country, a major shale oil and gas producer, has suffered shortages of petrol and diesel since late last week because of domestic refining problems and as a lack of dollars has delayed imports.

That has sparked anger at the Government ahead of a second-round presidential election runoff next month between the ruling Peronist

coalition's economy chief Sergio Massa, seen as the front-runner, and radical libertarian Javier Milei.

"The truth is that I work with the car and it's like looking for water in the desert," said 38-year-old Cabify driver Raul Paretto. "It is distressing because you don't know on a day-to-day basis what can happen; we are living one day at a time."

Around the capital Buenos Aires, Reuters reporters saw empty filling stations with signs saying no more petrol. In other places, long queues formed and some rationed sales.

There were, however, some signs of things starting to improve.

"Today they sold me only

super, though there was no premium," said self-employed worker Leonardo Villa with his car. "But, well, yesterday there was none anywhere, the day before neither. At least today I was able to fill up."

In Argentina's farmlands, producers said a shortage of diesel showed signs of abating too, key for the start of the planting season of soy and late season corn, the country's main cash crops.

"It is not completely normalised but there is a little more supply," Jorge Chemes, the head of the Argentine Rural Confederations (CRA), told Reuters on Monday.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

“Gypsy” unhappy with Tobago Carnival product

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ational Carnival Commission chairman Winston “Gypsy” Peters says he is disappointed with the organisation of the 2023 Tobago Carnival, noting that key aspects of the main events were missing.

While he applauded the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) for having significant noticeable improvements from last year’s inaugural event, Peters believes that Tobago has the potential to have a worldclass Carnival. However, he said, this could be only be achieved through closer collaboration between the THA and NCC. Speaking during the Parade of the Bands, Peters said what the Tobago Carnival needs is a blueprint for success.

“I think the organisation last year was better than this year to be honest. There were a lot of shortcomings, because Carnival is not something that starts on Carnival.

This to Tobago is Carnival Tuesday because yesterday was the J’Ouvert,” Peters said.

“You can’t wait for people to start; you have to put activities in place.

Your competitions, whatever you’re having, it must start a certain time so the bands would be there, so the people would know and come to whatever you’re having there. But if it is that you’re just going to leave it up to whatever it is, with no incentives to bring the people and bands here, everything we do in Carnival has incentives.”

On Sunday, although there was some entertainment from traditional mas and large King and Queen costumes, in the first two hours of the parade it took close to an hour before bands could pass the stage at the Stage in the Sea point. During that lull, spectators and vendors looked on at the empty route aimlessly and impatient.

He reiterated that he was disappointed that the NCC was completely excluded from Tobago’s Carnival celebrations for both its inaugural year and this year, considering that countries around the world respected and sought Trinidad’s input for their own Carnivals.

(Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2023

19

Around The World

Israeli forces attack north Gaza's OILNEWS OIL NEWS main city from 2 directions A

Oil falls more than 3% as concerns about Mideast supply ease

O

il slipped more than 3% on Monday as fears eased that the Israel-Hamas war would disrupt supply from the region, and as investors grew cautious ahead of this week's US Federal Reserve meeting.

Brent crude futures settled at US$87.45 a barrel, down US$3.03, or 3.35%, while US West Texas Intermediate crude finished at US$82.31 a barrel, down US$3.23, or 3.78%.

"The main feature here has been the market reacting to events between Israel and Hamas," said Jim Ritterbusch, president of Ritterbusch & Associates.

"Macroeconomic factors could easily emerge later this week, when we'll see if the Fed has something to say."

Crude jumped 3% on Friday after Israel stepped up ground incursions into Gaza, stoking worries the conflict could expand in a region that accounts for a third of global oil output. However, that concern was fading on Monday, analysts said.

"The war premium has come out of the market," said Phil Flynn, analyst at Price Futures Group. "It's a situation where over the weekend the war seemed to intensify, but there seems to be no disruption to supply."

Israeli troops and tanks attacked Gaza's main northern city from the east and west on Monday, three days after it began ground operations in the Palestinian enclave.

"There is a propensity for market users in all their guises to have at least some oil length going into the weekends, and when the fear of conflict spread shows no validation... that fear hedge is ordinarily unwound," said John Evans of oil broker PVM. Investors are also focused on the outcome of Wednesday's Federal Reserve meeting, as well as on what earnings from the likes of tech giant Apple Inc might indicate regarding the prospects for an economic slowdown.

The Fed is widely expected to keep interest rates unchanged, while the central banks of Britain and Japan are also set to review their policies this week.

Meanwhile German inflation eased in October, pointing to a substantial cooling in headline inflation in the euro zone.

China reports its October manufacturing and services PMIs this week, with investors looking out for more signs that the economy of the world's top crude importer is stabilising.

On Monday the World Bank said it expected global oil prices to average US$90 a barrel in the fourth quarter and US$81 in 2023 as slowing growth eases demand, but warned that an escalation of the Middle East conflict could spike prices significantly higher. (Reuters)

rmoured Israeli forces attacked Gaza's key northern city from two directions on Monday and targeted the main road linking it to the south of the enclave, witnesses said, widening an offensive that led to more international appeals for Gaza civilians to be protected.

Israel's military said it had struck more than 600 militant targets over the past few days as it expanded ground operations in the Gaza Strip, where Palestinian civilians are in dire need of fuel, food and clean water as the war enters its fourth week.

Only a few dozen humanitarian aid trucks have reached the besieged enclave of 2.3 million people since the Israel-Hamas war

A

tially said five people had lost their lives - but they have now revised that number down.

According to German media, dozens of emergency service staff are at the site, which has been evacuated.

"Currently a very difficult technical rescue operation by fire brigade rescuers is under way," Philipp Baumann, a spokesman for the Hamburg Fire Department, told German broadcaster ZDF. "The fire service is working flat out".

Hundreds of people are currently employed at the construction site - part of a major redevelopment that features offices, houses, hotels and shops. (BBC News)

Young Palestinians walk in front of a damaged house in the aftermath of Israeli strikes in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, October 30, 2023

they had repelled an attempted thrust by Israeli tanks into Gaza City from the east and were fighting them along the border with Israel in north Gaza.

"Our duty today is fight

and fight," the Islamic Jihad militant group, fighting alongside Gaza's ruling Hamas, said in a statement, adding that now was not the time for a ceasefire.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Ukraine says it is ready to repel Russia's offensive actions in Bakhmut

K

yiv military officials said on Monday that Russia has bulked up its forces around the devastated city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine and has switched its troops from defence to offence, but Ukraine has been preparing to repel the attacks.

Russia captured Bakhmut, theatre of some of the bloodiest fighting of the 20-month-old war, in May. Ukraine launched a counteroffensive in June aimed at retaking occupied land in the

country's south and east, including Bakhmut.

"In the Bakhmut area, the enemy has significantly strengthened its grouping and switched from defence to active actions," General Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ukraine's commander of ground forces, wrote on Telegram.

Volodymyr Fityo, head of communications for Ukraine's ground forces command, said Russian forces had been preparing since early this month to retake

positions around Bakhmut lost during the Ukrainian counteroffensive.

Both men said Russian forces were particularly active near the Ukrainianheld town of Kupiansk in the northeast, where Fityo said Russia had numerical superiority.

Reuters could not independently verify accounts on the battlefield.

In its nightly report, the Ukrainian General Staff said Kyiv's forces remained on the offensive near Bakhmut.

"The enemy unsuccessfully tried to restore lost positions near Klishchiivka", it said, referring to a village south of Bakhmut recaptured

by Ukraine in September.

Russian troops also tried to advance in Synkivka, north of Kupiansk, but made no headway, it added.

Russia has also been concentrating much of its efforts in recent weeks on a bid to encircle and capture Avdiivka, a strategic town southwest of Bakhmut.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

US military bulk buys Xi says China's Japanese seafood to women must start "new trend of family" counter China ban

At least 3 killed C in Hamburg scaffolding collapse t least three workers have died after scaffolding collapsed at a construction site in the German city of Hamburg, according to officials.

Others have been injured, including at least one person who is in a critical condition.

The incident happened on Monday morning at the Uberseequartier in the HafenCity district - one of the biggest construction sites in the city.

The scaffolding collapsed from the eighth floor down into a lift shaft.

An unknown number of people are still missing thought to have been buried under the debris.

The fire department ini-

erupted three weeks ago, and civil order has broken down with people storming UN warehouses in search of food.

That has put four UN aid distribution centres and a storage facility out of action, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said on Monday.

Israel renewed warnings for civilians to move from the north of Gaza to the south as it began an advance late on Friday to pursue Hamas militants it says are hiding in a labyrinth of tunnels under Gaza City.

Many Palestinians have stayed put for fear of becoming homeless like previous generations, and over alarm about Israeli aerial strikes further south.

Islamist militants said

hinese President Xi Jinping said women have a critical role and must establish a "new trend of family", as the nation grapples with an ageing population and record decline in the birth rate.

Xi in comments, published on state news agency Xinhua on Monday, said the role of women had been part of a discussion with the new leadership team of the All China Women's Federation, which operates under the Communist Party.

Doing a good job in women's work is not only related to women's own development, he said but also related to "family harmony, social harmony, national development and national progress".

It is necessary to "actively cultivate a new culture of marriage and childbearing and strengthen guidance on young people's view on marriage, childbirth and fami-

ly," he said.

Factors including high childcare costs, career hindrance, gender discrimination and not wanting to get married have deterred many young Chinese women from having children.

The number of births is closely tied to marriage rates because official policies make it hard for single women to have children.

China's National Bureau of Statistics in January reported the first population drop in six decades and the country's population is rapidly ageing.

In the last two years, authorities across China have unveiled measures to lift the country's birth rate including financial incentives and boosting childcare facilities.

The state media has often linked population development to the strength and "rejuvenation" of the country. (Reuters)

T

he United States has started bulk buying Japanese seafood to supply its military there in response to China's ban on such products imposed after Tokyo released treated water from its crippled Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea.

Unveiling the initiative in a Reuters interview on Monday, US ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel said Washington should also look more broadly into how it could help offset China's ban that he said was part of its "economic wars".

China, which had been the biggest buyer of Japanese seafood, says its ban is due to food safety fears.

The UN's nuclear watchdog vouched for the safety of the water release that began in August

from the plant wrecked by a 2011 tsunami. G7 Trade Ministers on Sunday called for the immediate repeal of bans on Japanese food.

"It's going to be a longterm contract between the US armed forces and the fisheries and co-ops here in Japan," Emanuel said.

"The best way we have proven in all the instances to kind of wear out China's economic coercion is come to the aid and assistance of the targeted country or industry," he said.

Asked about Emanuel's comments at a press conference on Monday, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said: "the responsibility of diplomats is to promote friendship between countries rather than smearing other countries and stirring up trouble". (Excerpt from Reuters)

20

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2023

guyanatimesgy.com

DAILY HOROSCOPES

ARCHIE

Look over contracts, renegotiate your position or apply for something new.

Taking charge of your life will prompt you to be more disciplined. Embrace a challenge with open arms.

(March 21-April 19) Simplify your schedule to ensure you get everything done. An unexpected opportunity will come your way through a chance meeting or change of plans. Put your energy where it counts.

PICKLES

(April 20-May 20) Consider your weakest link and adjust what’s necessary to ensure your success. Don’t trust anyone skirting issues or pressuring you. Set boundaries and rely on yourself.

(May 21-June 20) Don’t hesitate or question your next move. Follow your instincts and contact people who can help you reach your goal.

By being engaging but mysterious, you’ll attract support.

PEANUTS (June 21-July 22)

(July 23-Aug. 22)

You’ll face opposition if you are too candid about your plans. Gather information, call on experts and listen to those who have walked the path you plan to follow. Knowledge will make a difference.

Look at all aspects of a situation. A change will be to your benefit and should be made swiftly. Be direct and let those affected by your decisions know what you plan to do.

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

Keep your eyes open for anything wrong. Pay attention to detail, do your part and deal with troublesome situations. Take notes and handle financial, medical or contractual issues yourself.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

Take care of unfinished business and move on to something you enjoy doing.

Join forces with someone heading down a similar path. Use your imagination and talk to experts.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22) A change may not be your first choice, but it’ll turn out to be beneficial. What is limiting you now will lead to a new beginning. Incorporate your personal touch as you move forward.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Challenge yourself mentally and physically. Attending social events, initiating domestic changes and revising how you allocate money will pay off.

Leave nothing to chance.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Relax and enjoy the comfort of your home. Don’t get wrapped up in someone else’s problems. Concentrate on the pastimes that bring you joy and the people who put a smile on your face.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Don’t guess what others will do; ask questions and adjust your schedule to avoid setbacks. Adjust how you handle money and health issues to ensure you put your needs first.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2023

21

ICC World Cup 2023…

Fazalhaq Farooqi and co bring more glory to Afghanistan

F

or the second game running Afghanistan showcased exemplary calm in the chase, whittling down a sub-par target of 242 with ice-cold composure. A trio of fifties from Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, and Azmatullah Omarzai led the way, as Afghanistan leapfrogged Sri Lanka into fifth place on the points table with six points now on the board.

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, are virtually out of the running for a semi-final berth, needing to essentially win all of their next three games – against India, Bangladesh and New Zealand – to stand any chance.

For Afghanistan this was a win set up by their bowlers, who had stifled Sri Lanka's batters on a deck that was for all intents and purposes tailor-made for batting, before their batters ran down the target with minimal fuss.

Fazalhaq Farooqi was the pick of the bunch ending with figures of 4 for 34, but the most intriguing quirk of this game was that despite being afforded a true surface with a lack of lateral movement and minimal turn, both sides rarely scored at more than five an over.

Their reasons, however, differed. While Sri Lanka could be criticised for a criminal lack of intent, Afghanistan were sim-

ply following the breakdown devised for them

by Head Coach Jonathan Trott. Several times over the course of the innings the broadcast camera would pan over his giant whiteboard with 10-over markers clearly laid out – "50 after 10", "100 after 20", etc. But despite it being offered up in an as-easy-to-digest manner as possible, such was the efficiency with which Afghanistan went about their work, Sri Lanka were powerless to do anything about it.

Sure Dilshan Madushanka tailed one in on Rahmanullah Gurbaz off just the fourth ball of the chase to dislodge middle stump, but Afghanistan had their playbook and they followed it to a tee. Even when the wickets did fall,

Fazalhaq Farooqi finished with a four-wicket haul

SCOREBOARD Sri Lanka (50 ovs maximum) Pathum Nissanka c Rahmanullah Gurbaz b Azmatullah Omarzai 46 Dimuth Karunaratne lbw b Fazalhaq Farooqi 15 Kusal Mendis (c)† c sub (Najibullah Zadran) b Mujeeb Ur Rahman 39 Sadeera Samarawickrama lbw b Mujeeb Ur Rahman 36 Charith Asalanka c Rashid Khan b Fazalhaq Farooqi 22 Dhananjaya de Silva b Rashid Khan 14 Angelo Mathews c Mohammad Nabi b Fazalhaq Farooqi 23 Dushmantha Chameera run out (Ibrahim Zadran) 1 Maheesh Theekshana b Fazalhaq Farooqi 29 Kasun Rajitha run out (Rahmanullah Gurbaz) 5 Dilshan Madushanka not out 0 Extras (lb 2, w 9) 11 TOTAL 49.3 Ov (RR: 4.86) 241 Fall of wickets: 1-22 (Dimuth Karunaratne, 5.2 ov), 2-84 (Pathum Nissanka, 18.1 ov), 3-134 (Kusal Mendis, 27.4 ov), 4-139 (Sadeera Samarawickrama, 29.1 ov), 5-167 (Dhananjaya de Silva, 35.6 ov), 6-180 (Charith Asalanka, 38.5 ov), 7-185 (Dushmantha Chameera, 39.6 ov), 8-230 (Maheesh Theekshana, 46.6 ov), 9-239 (Angelo Mathews, 48.3 ov), 10241 (Kasun Rajitha, 49.3 ov) • DRS

Afghanistan were quick to snuff out any momentum Sri Lanka might have been looking to derive.

Partnerships of 73, 58 and 111 – between Ibrahim Zadran and Shah, Shah and Shahidi, and then Shahidi and Omarzai – formed the spine of their chase. Throughout that effort, boundaries were never sought after, but only accepted when offered, as they were content to wait for loose balls, rarely willing – or needing – to take a risk.

Sri Lanka for their part began to look more and more broken as the innings wore on, running out of ideas and steam on a surface that offered them nothing and against a team that were equally unforgiving.

But the tone for this game had been set from the

BOWLING Mujeeb Ur Rahman Fazalhaq Farooqi Naveen-ul-Haq Azmatullah Omarzai Rashid Khan Mohammad Nabi

O-M-R-W 10-0-38-2 10-1-34-4 6.3-0-47-0 7-0-37-1 10-0-50-1 6-0-33-0

Afghanistan (T: 242 runs from 50 ovs) Rahmanullah Gurbaz b Madushanka 0 Ibrahim Zadran c Karunaratne b Madushanka 39 Rahmat Shah c Karunaratne b Rajitha 62 Hashmatullah Shahidi (c) not out 58 Azmatullah Omarzai not out 73 Extras (lb 1, w 9) 10 TOTAL 45.2 Ov (RR: 5.33) 242/3 Did not bat: Ikram Alikhil †, Mohammad Nabi,Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveenul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 0.4 ov), 2-73 (Ibrahim Zadran, 16.5 ov), 3-131 (Rahmat Shah, 27.6 ov) • DRS BOWLING O-M-R-W Dilshan Madushanka 9-0-48-2 Kasun Rajitha 10-0-48-1 Angelo Mathews 3-0-18-0 Dushmantha Chameera 9.2-0-51-0 Maheesh Theekshana 10-0-55-0 Dhananjaya de Silva 4-0-21-0

very beginning, as having been asked to bat first – a decision Kusal Mendis said he would have taken even had he won the toss – Sri Lanka would proceed with an uncertainty conspicuously lacking in their first five matches.

Perhaps this was borne by this being Sri Lanka's first real game of the tournament where a chance of a semi-final spot – however unlikely – was tangibly within grasp. Inhibitions had been shed in an improbable chase against South Africa, and that aggressive intent had cascaded through to their next game against Pakistan.

Then against Australia, the confidence continued to flow before an unprecedented collapse stopped them dead.

Maybe it was this that pushed Sri Lanka into a more conservative approach, but evidence of any shift did not prove forthcoming in games against Netherlands

Rahmat Shah brought up his fifty off 61 deliveries

and England, where their intent, or lack thereof, was not scrutinised to any great degree with a pair of middling chases calling more for caution than aggression.

Against Afghanistan though, on a surface that had been described as a "batter's paradise" during the pitch report, the inclusion of Dimuth Karunaratne betrayed the fear driving Sri Lanka's thinking.

Yes, Kusal Perera had not made an impact aside from his 78 against Australia, but a surface such as this might have proved precisely the panacea for his batting troubles. Instead, S r i Lanka were left frustrated as his replacement Karunaratne would play and miss a handful of shortish, wide deliveries on either side of the wicket – rare loose balls in otherwise tight opening spells from Farooqi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman. Sri Lanka would end up striking just four boundaries in the first 10 overs.

That powerplay would also see Sri Lanka end on 41 for 1, their lowest score after 10 overs in the entirety of the tournament. This pronounced lack of ambition would afflict them throughout an innings that only sporadically scratched the five-an-over mark, let alone the sixes and sevens that have been more prevalent across this tournament.

The deference showed to the Afghanistan bowlers through the middle overs was incongruous to say the least when compared

to how Sri Lanka had approached those first two games against South Africa and Pakistan.

What this meant was that when the quality deliveries that Afghanistan's bowlers are capable of inevitably arrived, Sri Lanka's batters would fall having failed to effectively capitalise on the opportunities afforded elsewhere.

Karunaratne would be the first to go, trapped lbw by one darting in from Farooqi, the on-field not out call overturned on review. A 62run stand between Pathum Nissanka and Mendis would follow, before Farooqi would return to grab his second, jagging one in from a back of a length outside off and coaxing Nissanka to feather an edge through to Gurbaz behind the stumps – thus

ending his streak of fifty-plus scores at four. Gurbaz was deputising for Ikram Alikhil, who was off the field receiving treatment after having dislocated a finger on his right hand while keeping.

Kusal Mendis was next to fall while going for his favoured slog sweep for a fourth time in four games.

He would have been disappointed to find the man stationed for just such a stroke, but what was more jarring for onlookers might have been the reticent version of

Mendis that had knocked around 49 deliveries prior to that for a modest 39; despite the lack of demons in the wicket, much like the rest of his team-mates, Mendis was shackled by a demure approach in an innings that saw just the three boundaries.

Mendis' dismissal, which followed a 50-run stand with Sadeera Samarawickrama, would prove the catalyst for a mini-collapse that would see Sri Lanka tumble from 134 for 2 to 185 for 7.

Samarawickrama, who had looked his usual industrious self in his 40-ball 36, was caught in the crease by a quicker one from Mujeeb that tailed in. Dhananjaya de Silva, who had put on 28 with Charith Asalanka, was then worked over beautifully by a Rashid googly through the gate, one that had been set up over the course of a nagging over in what was Rashid's 100th One-Day International (ODI). Asalanka would miscue a pull to mid-off shortly after, while a chaotic and unnecessary run-out – Angelo Mathews calling for a run that would have kept him off strike for the start of the next over – would send Dushmantha Chameera packing.

Only a rearguard stand of 45 from 42 between Mathews and Maheesh Theekshana, where the latter showed off his batting chops with some expansive stroke-play through the offside, took Sri Lanka to a total of any respectability. But on a true surface, and against a commanding Afghanistan side, it was never going to be enough.

(ESPNcricInfo)

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2023

Limacol Schools’ Football League…

Bartica, Carmel, Chase win in Round 1 S

chools’ football action made a highly-anticipated return on Sunday afternoon, as the NEW GPC INC sponsoredLimacol Schools’ Football League 2023 got underway.

Following the usual pro-

Wismar is set to conclude the second day and second round of the Limacol League.

The teams will be playing for a grand prize of $300,000 for a school project, while the second-, third- and fourthplaced teams would respectively receive $150,000, $75,000 and $50,000 for the same purpose.

as Shem James and Samuel Ferguson netted in the 9th and 11th minutes, respectively.

The fearsome Chase’s Academy had the biggest win of the day, thumping East Ruimveldt Secondary 6-0.

CLASSIFIED ADS ASTROLOGY

Scenes from the Limacol Schools’ League Round 1

tocols and official kickoff that was done by NEW GPC Marketing Assistant Christine Samuels, Bartica and Christianburg Wismar Secondary were engaged in the first encounter of the seven-round League.

A Reiver Reid brace in the 53rd and 69th minutes, plus the opening goal of the game from Billy Smith in the 40th minute, handed Bartica a 3-0 victory.

Next, Carmel Secondary eased past Mackenzie High 2-0. The goals came early for the Digicel 2023 champions,

line in the 57th. Time would eventually expire with the score locked at 1-all.

The Limacol League is set to continue next Sunday with Round 2, featuring eight schools. Mackenzie High and Bartica Secondary are scheduled to be engaged in the first battle next Sunday, November 5, while Ann’s Grove Secondary and Chase’s Academy go toeto-toe in the second encounter. Next, East Ruimveldt and Santa Rosa Secondary will come up against each other while a battle between Carmel Secondary and Christianburg

Bevon Jones netted a double in the 13th and 20th minutes, while Bryan Wharton did the same in the 51st and 53rd.

Justin Alcindor and Omar Same scored one goal each in the 35th and 60th to bring Chase’s tally up to 6.

The day’s proceedings ended with a nail-biting encounter between this year’s Milo champions Santa Rosa Secondary and Ann’s Grove Secondary.

Ann’s Grove took the lead first by way of a Naron Jerrick strike in the 11th minute, but Santa Rosa’s Reshon Campbell levelled the score-

Master builder NABi Construction onboard ENet Caribbean Clash of Champions

C

orporate support continues to stream in for the highly-anticipated ENet Caribbean Clash of Champions, with master builder NABi Construction Inc onboard as one of the corporate sponsors for the November 5 event.

NABi Construction Inc, with over 60 years’ experience in the construction industry, is responsible for many landmark structures in Guyana, with its services spanning the industrial, governmental, residential and commercial sectors.

The family-owned business is proud to align with the Clash of Champions, an event it believes is rooted in tradition.

This November race meet, dubbed the “Greatest Race of All Times”, is one of the marque sport events on the local sport calendar, attracting mass participation by competitors and spectators alike.

NABi Construction Inc, a company whose legacy is found in its spirit of excellence, firmly believes that the event is an integral part of Guyana’s sport tourism product, and promotes the ideals of the “One Guyana” concept.

NABi Construction Inc.

is in the business of general construction, civil works, pipe laying, water well drilling among many other areas in the construction arena.

“We maintain a commitment to integrity, collaboration, wisdom, quality, value, sustainability and safety.

From coast to coast, we’ve staked our reputation on our ability to deliver on each of these and pledge to settle for nothing less,” the company stated on its website www. nabi.gy.com.

When NABi Construction Inc was formed, it merged the multi-faceted ideologies of its directors and personnel with an understanding of quality.

Today, the establishment has morphed into a leading provider of construction services, staying true to its continued commitment to core values.

“Its innate, time-honoured tradition of delivering construction in a manner exceeding the expectation of clients holds true today.”

“Greatest Race of All Time” Drivers and riders from Guyana, the Caribbean and further afield will compete in what is dubbed the

“Greatest Race of All Time” at the South Dakota Circuit.

Race fans can expect a day filled with high-speed action, nail-biting competition, and unforgettable moments.

This event is a must-attend for anyone passionate about motorsport and looking for a thrilling day at the racetrack.

Races get underway at 11:00h on November 5, with rivalry in Group 4, Group 3, Group 2, Starlet Cup, Sports Tuner, Street Tuner and Superstock and Supersport bikes.

Pre-sale tickets are available at $3000 (adults) and $1000 (children).

Massive support

Title sponsor: ENet Partners: Tropical Shipping, AJM Enterprise, Massy Motors, Secure

Innovations and Concepts Inc, Prem’s Electrical, Torginol Paints Inc and AmCham Guyana Sponsors: BM Soat Auto Sales and Rentals, Automotive Arts, ECV

Investments Limited, Stamina Energy, SBM Offshore, Hand-in-Hand Mutual Fire and Life Insurance Companies, John Fernandes, Cyril’s Transportation Service, SOL, Precision Service Centre, Demerara Bank Limited, SVC Inc, Jeep, Tradewind Automotive Inc, Reliance Inc, KOBELCO, Agri Heavy Machinery Inc, Nabi Construction, Readymix and MG Media: News Room, HJ 94.1 FM, Ogle + Stone, NCN, Boost High Octane, NTN Radio and Television and Impressions.

RFA finals set for November 4

T

he Wadapna Ground will used to the full effect as the grand final of the Rupununi Football Association (RFA) is set for Saturday, November 4, 2023, showcasing the teams’ ball-handling skills and passionate supporters.

With the action starting at 18:00h., the Guyana Rush Saints after defeat-

ing PAIWOMAK Warriors FC 3-2 in the semi-finals will look to defend their title against The Mighty Kanuka Warriors FC. The Tabatinga FC Males will look to continue their form in the final after defeating 7 K United FC on 5-1 goal aggregates in the semi-final against Strikers FC at 20:00h.

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Ext 19

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2023

23

Archibald, Abrams sisters secure final berths T

here were some bright sparks on the track for Guyana on Monday night in Santiago, Chile as three athletes secured semi-final berths in their respective events.

First to touch the track was Aliyah Abrams in the women’s 400m semifinal. There Abrams clocked 51.82s for the second fastest qualifying time and an automatic spot in the final. She was bested in the semifinal, only by Chile’s Martina Weil, who clocked 51.47s for first place. Ecuador’s Nicole Caicedo was third in 52.32s.

Next, there was another final spot written in the stars for Emanuel Archibald, as he took to the park for his first event, the men’s 100m.

Archibald crossed the line in 10.35s for third place in his semifinal behind Dominican Republic’s Jose Gonzalez (10.30s) and Brazil’s Felipe Bardi (10.33s), who finished first and second respectively.

Although Archibald did not gain an automatic spot, as his semi-final was the fastest of the three, he qualified for the final on time.

Archibald, who felt he

Emanuel Archibald had the third fastest time among qualifiers for the 100m final

Aliyah Abrams bagged an automatic-qualification spot to the 400m final

could have done better in the semifinal, related such to Guyana Times Sport.

“The blocks was new to me. I don’t feel it was that bad, even though it was a struggling race, I just came out with a fast time. So, tomorrow (today) I’ll be better, I’ll practise on the blocks and I’ll come out and do my best,” the sprinter said.

He added about today’s final, “The purpose is to medal, so let’s see how it goes.”

With the women’s 100m semi-finals scheduled to follow the men’s, Guyana saw mixed results as Jasmine

the women’s 100m final at 19:55h local time, while Archibald does the same at 20:03h. The Women’s 400m final, in which Aliyah Abrams will compete, is set

Abrams punched her ticket to the final, but Keliza Smith was unable to do so.

Smith, in semi-final 1, clocked 11.78s for sixth place in the race, which was won

by Mexico’s Cecilia Tamayo in 11.66s.

In the second semi-final, Abrams crossed the line first in 11.60s to secure an automatic spot in the grand finale. The Guyanese was trailed

by Brazil’s Ana Carolina De Jesus and Yarima Garcia of Cuba, who clocked 11.64s and 11.65s respectively.

Tonight, Jasmine Abrams will go for gold in

Charles’ strike gets Lady Jags past Suriname

G

uyana’s senior women’s national football team, the Lady Jags, maintained their dominance in Group A of League B in the CONCACAF Road to W Gold Cup, with another victory over Suriname on Sunday evening at the Dr IR Franklin Essed Stadium in Paramaribo.

With a starting XI comprising Captain and Goalkeeper Chante Sandiford, Sydney Cummings, Briana De Souza, Brianne Desa,

Otesha Charles (7 in green) netted the lone goal of the game

The Lady Jags took on Suriname in back-to-back matches and won both

Justine Rodrigues, Samantha Banfield, Stefani Kouzas, Anya Tribune, Dylana Makarowski, Jalade Trim and Otesha Charles, the aim for the Guyanese team was to draw out another positive result, similar to their meeting with Suriname at the same ven-

ue just days ago.

After an attempt from Suriname within the first 10 minutes of the encounter, Guyana struck early in the 24th minute and employed their defences for the remainder of the 90 minutes.

From a set piece, Cummings sent the shot

into the box which the Surinamese goal keeper Mayra Tjin A Koeng misread. As A Koeng charged, Guyana’s Charles initially made contact with her head first and finished it off with a strong right foot into the net.

While back passes to the goalkeeper, Sandiford, created brief moments of panic for the Guyanese team, the defence managed to hold their wits for the narrow victory.

The 1-0 win secures the Lady Jags the number one position in the Group A, with nine points from four games. With two more games to go in the November-December window, the top finisher in the Group will book a place in the CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup preliminaries, set for 2024.

for Wednesday at 19:23h local time.

Meanwhile, earlier on Monday, Britton went down fighting in the men’s table tennis singles round of 32.

Britton faced Puerto Rico’s Daniel Gonzalez in a match that ended 4-1 in the Puerto Rican’s favour.

Similarly to Sunday’s game, Gonzalez won the first three sets 11-4, 11-8, 11-8, while Britton fought back to take the fourth 6-11. However, Gonzalez sealed his progression to the round of 16 with an 11-3 win in the fifth set.

Britton, after the game, summed up his outing at the Games.

“It was a great experience. It was always a dream of mine to come out and play at this level, among the top 32 players in the region, the entire Pan Am region. It’s just, you know, another step up and another level to aspire to get to,” Britton remarked.

Persaud is 12-time GTT Invitational Golf champion …Trinidad's Chloe Adoja crowned female champion

A

fter two days of intense competition in the sun, the GTT Business Solutions Invitational Golf Tournament concluded with Avinash Persaud being crowned champion for the male category and Chloe Adoja for the female category out of the 96 participants.

The competition included players from the United States, Canada, Fiji, Suriname, Barbados, Mexico, and Colombia. The weekend competition was played in the format of a medal play over 36 holes. Persaud emerged victorious ahead of Guyana's Vishal Dhani and Fiji's Jalen Raman in the male category. In the female category, 18-year-old sensation Chloe Adoja of Trinidad and Tobago took the title with ease, while defending champion Shanella London took second, and Christine Sukhram took third.

During the presentation ceremony, GTT Chief Operations Officer (COO) Orson Ferguson expressed his pride as a sponsor of the event. He emphasised the importance of being associated with golf, as it is beneficial for business.

"GTT has pledged to continue supporting the tournament not only in the present, but also in 2024 and beyond," Ferguson posited.

He also stated that they wanted to make the tournament bigger and better and were already planning for the future. He further expressed his desire to see the club become more involved in high school and kids' golf.

Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) President Patanjilee Persaud expressed his immense pride in the successful conclusion of the tournament. He mentioned that the 2023 edition was one of the most successful tournaments with the attendance of international players.

He expressed his gratitude to-

GTT COO Orson Ferguson

wards all the participants in this year's event, and also thanked the executives, including the captain, who were instrumental in getting 96 players on the course in record time. Persaud mentioned that they have requested Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr and the Government to increase the course to a 12-hole golf course that could attain international status.

The LGC will now prepare for the upcoming MACORP Golf Tournament, which is highly anticipated and scheduled for this Saturday.

The results for the tournament were as follow: MEN 0-9 Gross 1st –Avinash Persaud 2nd – Vishal Dhani 3rd – Jalen Raman 0-9 Net Days 1 and 2 1st – Vishal Dhani 2nd – Mohanlall Dindanauth 10-18 Gross 1st – Miguel Yunes 2nd – Ayube Subhan 3rd – Seepaul Sukhnanan 10-18 Net Days 1 and 2 1st – Miguel Yunes 2nd – Ayube Subhan

19-28 Gross 1st – Mahendra Bhagwandin 2nd – Miguel Oviedo 3rd – Bholawram Deo 19-28 Net Days 1 and 2 1st – Arnold Deo 2nd – Mahendra Bhagwandin LADIES Gross Days 1 and 2 1st – Chloe Adoja 2nd – Shanella London 3rd – Christine Sukhram Best Net Days 1 and 2 1st – Sabi Dhori 2nd – Eureka Giddings 3rd – Chloe Adoja Other prizes Men Longest Drive Day 1 – Richard Haniff Longest Drive Day 2 – Avinash Persaud Nearest to Pin Day 1 – Maxim Mangra Nearest to Pin Day 2 – Marlon Abena Ladies Longest Drive Day 1 – Shanella London Longest Drive Day 2 – Chloe Adoja Nearest to Pin Day 1 – Norma Yunes Nearest to Pin Day 2 – Shanella London

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2023

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

– Shepherd leaves for family emergency

I

n a surprising turn of events, Guyana Harpy Eagles all-rounder Romario Shepherd will be departing the CG United Super50 Tournament immediately due to a family emergency. His absence will see Demerara all-rounder Richie Looknauth stepping in as his replacement, earning his maiden senior team call-up.

Looknauth's inclusion comes on the back of his impressive performance last month in the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Senior InterCounty Super50 tournament final, where he struck an unbeaten half-century against Berbice.

Shepherd, who had been a crucial part of the Harpy Eagles' campaign, had taken seven wickets and scored 55 runs in four innings before his sudden departure. His presence will undoubtedly be missed by the team, but family emergencies

often take precedence over sporting commitments.

Speaking about his unexpected call-up, Looknauth expressed his elation and readiness to step into this new role. "I am honoured to have this opportunity to represent the Harpy Eagles in the Super50 Tournament. I will give my best and contribute to the team's success," said Looknauth, showing enthusiasm to make his mark on the senior stage.

“I must say I am extremely happy at this moment just want to give thanks to the Almighty for this opportunity,” he continued, adding, “I’ve been putting in the hard work over the years and trying to improving my g a m e and carry it to the next level, so I am really grateful for this opportunity, just want to go out

there and make it count. It’s just the beginning so have to stay disciplined and continue to learn fast and improve every day.”

This replacement marks the second change for the Harpy Eagles in this tournament. Shamar Joseph had earlier replaced the injured Ronsford Beaton, underlining the challenges and adaptability required in the dynamic world of professional cricket.

As the CG United Super50 Tournament continues, cricket enthusiasts eagerly await Looknauth's performance.

Harpy Eagles will look to regroup and maintain their competitive edge in this prestigious tournament, despite these unexpected changes in their line-up.

Eagles are currently fifth on the points table of the eight-team tournament despite being 14 points behind table leaders, Trinidad and Tobago Red Force and three points behind second-placed Combined Campuses and Colleges.

Richie Looknauth

at Caribbean Clash of Champions on Nov 5 T

The car that Boodhoo will be racing in on November 5

he Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC) is delighted to announce the much-anticipated return of its President, Mahendra Boodhoo, to the realm of competitive GMR&SC President motor racing.

Mahendra Boodhoo After a seven-year hiatus, Boodhoo is set to grace the South Dakota Circuit once again, competing in the Group 3 class with his newly-acquired Lotus, powered by a formidable Honda engine.

This significant comeback is not just about rekindling a personal passion for racing, it’s a journey into uncharted territory for Boodhoo. For the first time, he will be taking the wheel of a rear-wheel-drive car equipped with a sequential gearbox, embracing the challenges and excitement that come with it.

The GMR&SC President's car carries the support of Platinum Investment Inc, and Platinum Sales and Services, the authorised distributor and service centre for LG electronics in Guyana, showcasing the community's robust backing for motorsport in Guyana.

In a statement, Boodhoo expressed his enthusiasm and commitment to the sport. "I am absolutely thrilled to be back on the track and to be part of the racing community once again. Motor racing in Guyana has always been close to my heart, and this return signifies my unwavering commitment to the sport. I want to play an active role in fostering its growth and ensuring its prosperity for future generations.

Racing has given me so much, and now it's time to give back, driving not just my car, but the sport itself forward."

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