Guyana Times - Wednesday, April 18, 2023

Cases of sexual offences against children, teenage pregnancy rampant in Reg 1

Remaining silent after witnessing sexual and domestic violence should not be an option. This opinion was expressed by officials from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) during a recent outreach to Kwebanna and Manawarin in Region One (BarimaWaini).

This is in light of the region recording a high number of reports of sexual offences against children, and teenage pregnancy. DPP’s Office Communications Officer Liz Rahaman and State Counsel Marisa Edwards collaborated with the Women and Gender Equality Commission (W&GEC) on the three-day initiative.

Held from April 13 to 15, 2023, the outreach was mostly attended by women and girls, who were urged to call the Police when they witness acts of violence in their community.

“Stop peeping from behind your blinds when your neighbour is being beaten up, regardless if it’s a man or woman...domestic violence, sexual violence are all crimes and crime is everybody’s business,” one official expressed in an impassioned plea to the gathering.

“Call the Police; stop the

whispering in your home: ‘look he beating she again or look she beating he again. Because when the beatings escalate to a more serious crime like murder, it will be too late when you tell the Police, ‘is long they fighting, is long he beating she or she beating he’.”

Several residents complained that in the recent past, they would make reports of sexual offences and

domestic violence to sitting Toshaos, but often, the reports were not reported to the Acquiro Police Station and sometimes when such reports were, they were not investigated.

To this end, the DPP’s representatives explained that while Toshaos are empowered to deal with issues within their communities, they do not have the authority to deal with serious and

indictable criminal matters like sexual offences, murders, and domestic violence.

“You can deal with the issues like disorderly behaviour and noise nuisance, not the serious ones like rape and domestic violence,” a representative from the DPP’s Office advised.

According to a statement from the DPP’s Chambers, other major complaints highlighted were the consumption of alcohol by teenagers and selling of alcohol to them, teenage pregnancy, selling and smoking of marijuana by school-aged children, and the inhalation of gasoline by youths.

Statistics

Statistics for Region One obtained from the Child Care

and Protection Agency’s 2022 Annual Report, revealed that there were 29 reports of sexual offences, 30 for delinquent behaviour, 10 for physical abuse, four for attempted suicide, six cases of neglect committed on children, 13 reports of underage and teenage pregnancies and one stab wound report.

From 2022 to present, the DPP’s Chambers received and gave legal advice in some nine Police files for the offences of attempted murder, sexual offences, and felonious wounding.

ln the remote Manawarin area, one elder made an appeal for the relevant authority to establish a Police Outpost in order to have a constant Police presence. The main Acquiro Police

Station is approximately one hour away from this area by trail during the dry weather.

Toshaos and residents thanked the DPP’s team for its outreach since it gave them the opportunity to learn and better understand the functions and works of the DPP’s Office within the criminal justice system. Meanwhile, the W&GEC representatives urged women to become more involved in community leadership and governance and to support each other.

“Unity is strength, so come together and pool your knowledge and whatever small resources you have to come up with ways that would be beneficial to your community,” a W&GEC official said.

Lusignan man stabbed to death by vagrant

ALusignan, East Coast Demerara (ECD) man was on Monday stabbed to death by a vagrant who accused him of slapping him. Dead is 28-year-old Abdool Javid Razack of JP Latchman Singh Housing Scheme, Lusignan, ECD.

Based on reports received, a businessman reportedly contacted the Police and informed them of the stabbing incident. He reportedly told Police that on the day in question at about 11:15h, he was on his balcony when he heard loud talking and as he looked over, he saw the now dead man and the suspect who was identified as “Bogus”,

standing.

At the time, he recalled the suspect brandishing a knife in front of the victim and suddenly stabbing him in the chest. The victim reportedly collapsed but subsequently got up and went after the suspect.

However, after running a short distance, he reportedly collapsed. The Police were summoned and the injured man was picked up and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was receiving treatment in the Accident and Emergency unit but was later pronounced dead.

At the scene, the bloodstained brown-handled kitchen knife was recovered

about 5 feet away from the crime scene. Police stated that the suspect, who has no fixed place of abode, was arrested during which he explained that the now dead man had slapped him and in retaliation, he dealt him one blow to the chest with the knife.

He also told the Police that the victim’s uncle had also assaulted him with a piece of wood, thus causing him to sustain injuries. He was nevertheless, taken to the Buxton Health Centre where he was treated and handed over to the Police.

He is expected to be arraigned for the capital offence later in the week.

State Counsel Marisa Edwards interacting with Region One residents

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Tuesday, Apr 18 – 03:30h –05:00h and Wednesday, Apr 19 – 04:00h – 05:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Tuesday, Apr 18 – 15:20h –16:50h and Wednesday, Apr 19 – 15:55h – 17:25h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

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

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

High Tide: 15:39h reaching a maximum height of 2.7 metres.

Low Tide: 09:13h and 21:31h reaching minimum heights of 0.52 metre and 0.51 metre.

us a chance this time” – Jagdeo urges

had a chance to run the city. We had a chance to come into office and change the face of our country. And today more people are getting access to jobs, education, and healthcare. And we’re focusing on developing communities right across Guyana.”

LOTTERY NUMBERS

With over 2000 candidates and more than 26,000 backers, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is contesting Local Government

Jagdeo spoke of how the PPP Administration has transformed the landscape of the city through a number of developmental projects as he pointed to what the party

“Every time we’ve been in office, our country has moved forward. They can’t claim the same thing. But we’ve never had a chance to run the city and show that the same things we do at the national level, we can do for the citizens. And we’re saying to the residents of Georgetown, give us a chance in 2023. Give us a chance here.”

Meanwhile, Jagdeo also used the opportunity to welcome the many newcomers to the party. He

pass by the PNC camp, as so many of you did. And it was a very mediocre showing on the part of the PNC. And the reason why it’s mediocre is that they’re living with an old ideology. And

Elections (LGE) in all available constituencies. When it comes to Georgetown, Vice President and PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo has a message for voters –“Give the party a chance to govern the city properly”.

can really do to change the lives of Georgetown citizens if it gets the chance to run the City Council.

“Here in the city, APNU has controlled Georgetown for 57 years since independence. The PPP has never

also lambasted the APNU Opposition for continuing to attempt to bully persons of Afro-Guyanese descent who join the PPP/C, reminding them that it is a free country and persons can join the political party of their choice.

“I had the opportunity to

we’re demonstrating in this party that the only way forward in a lasting way for development in this country is if all our people work together regardless of their race.”

“Give

G/town residents to vote PPP/C at LGE

...says 57 years of PNC-led Council has done nothing to improve capital city – PNC leader urges supporters not to lose heart; confident of retaining strongholds

PNCR procession on Nomination Day

President Dr Irfaan Ali

PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo

The PPP/C Nomination Day contingent in Georgetown

Views

Editor: Tusika Martin

News Hotline: 231-8063

Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761

Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707

Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown

Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

LGE Nomination Day

In a matter of two months, June 12 – Guyanese are expected to be heading to the polls to vote for Local Government Elections (LGE) as they seek to elect persons in their neighbourhoods/constituencies to push for the kind of development they wish to see in their Neighbourhood Democratic Councils and/or townships.

Citizens will also make their decision on the basis of which political party will more than likely follow the necessary principles and practices in keeping with transparent and accountable governance.

But, of course, we all know by now that with holding elections, whether LGE or national, there is contention.

At present, acting Chief Justice Roxane George, SC, is expected to deliver a ruling on the application of APNU’s Chief Scrutineer, Carol Joseph, challenging the process used to compile the Voters’ List for the upcoming polls. Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has continuously maintained that it acted lawfully in compiling the Voters’ List/Official List of Electors and made those submissions in court also.

Predictably, in December 2022, the APNU representative via her attorney asked for an urgent hearing of an application she had filed challenging the process used to compile the Voters’ List for the LGE.

Nonetheless, Monday’s LGE Nomination Day was reminiscent of the No-Confidence Motion on December 21, 2018 with the high number of crossover candidates. This caused a tsunami of discussion on social media platforms, as like in the case of the NCM, the Opposition was once again caught off-guard with their long-time PNCR and APNU member Patricia Chase-Green and current councillors Esan Vanderstoop (the New Amsterdam Town Council) and Trichia Richards (Georgetown) switching sides and are now candidates for the ruling party. It is a political nightmare for the Opposition.

But more importantly, there are numerous youth candidates, inclusive of the young businessmen, athletes, and entertainers among others on the PPP/C list of candidates.

An interesting statement was made by one of the candidates for the PPP/C, entertainer Malcolm Ferreira of Albouystown, who ran as an independent candidate the last time. Speaking about his decision to join the PPP, he said: “the ability to be somewhere where you can have access to and work with people who really wanna develop communities…Had I not been open to working with anyone, I would not have been here with the PPP and had the PPP not been open to working with anyone, I would not have been here.”

This is a profound statement as it demonstrates that candidates are determined in their quest for development of their communities/neighbourhoods and have done away with party politics/party loyalty.

It reveals that leaders are willing to take a holistic approach to work with collective action on issues which are important to them and their communities.

There has been a great shift over the years in the political landscape where young people are beginning to partake and contribute and even catalyse significant changes in Guyana.

Additionally, to this there has been great evolution and growing emphasis on youth activism via digital means as the younger generation reap the benefits of social media platforms to advocate for development.

Youths and young candidates at the upcoming LGE can be a powerful instrument for community development programmes. All the youth and young candidates should be congratulated as youth participation in community development is very vital.

Community development is based upon the confidence that people can work together to form their own destiny if given the opportunity to participate in a free and open environment. It is, therefore, imperative that these young candidates be engaged as they mobilise to solve their neighbourhoods/communities’ problems for development.

The importance of youths in accelerating and playing critical roles in local democratic organs in Guyana is a good stepping stone to national politics/agenda.

Community development, in the context of President Dr Irfaan Ali’s “One Guyana” initiative, has certainly unfolded on LGE Nomination Day.

Congrats to PPP/C

Dear Editor,

It cannot go unrecorded or unnoticed that Bharrat Jagdeo as the General Secretary of the PPP/C is a masterclass political strategist and an inclusive leader as can be demonstrated in the PPP/C’s organising and team selection for the upcoming Local Government Elections. His ability to lead his

party to galvanise supporters and leaders from all sectors of society is most impressive. To have motivated and inspired so many hardcore former PNC and APNU members such as the former Mayor Chase-Green to be part of his party list speaks volumes on what was always suspected as the destruction of the PNC by its clue -

less and uninspiring leader Aubrey Norton and his inability to keep his core membership together.

Mr Norton’s PNC party’s nominations continue to show a lack of diversity, are unimpressive, and prove that he does not have what it takes to build a team or to even be a national leader. Norton’s party needs to re-examine

his leadership as he does not have what it takes to play in the big leagues as he continues to carry the party backward. Congratulations to Bharrat Jagdeo and the PPP/C for their spectacular showing on Nomination’s Day 2023.

Yours truly, Brian Azore

Change has come!

Dear Editor, A tsunami came to Guyana on Monday as the PPP/C went forward with pride and conviction on Nomination Day. The positive effects of that tidal wave we will witness come June this year as we go into Local Government Elections.

I am talking about the long-awaited LGE, where we would see a massive new change in this country. That change would be felt in every town, village, and hamlet. We have tak-

en up the mantle and we are not turning back.

The events of the day remind me of the lyrics of the old Negro Spiritual which says “I’m not tired yet”. It’s a song that tells of the Christian’s sojourn in life, one that is bound up in him running to receive the prize. He is running because he has a mission to complete and he would not give up the fight until victory is won. So, the lyrics go on “I’m not tired yet”.

We in the PPP/C have

been running that race for fifty-six years now, running by day and praying by night until all of Guyana is free until all men everywhere are free from the shackles that have bogged us down for too long. For too long we have had to wear the shackles of racism, rigged elections, and retrogression, things that have sent this nation backward, we will not stop until this country is free. We will continue to run until all men, irrespective of race, colour, creed, or re-

ligion would come together and work for the good of the land.

Be it New Amsterdam, Linden, or Georgetown a change will come, as more and more of our people come forward, crossing the political and race barrier to rally with the PPP/C. We want to build this nation, One Guyana is our team’s theme, onward ever forward into the future of peace and progress!

Respectfully,

Neil Adams

President Dr Irfaan Ali and supporters who gathered at PPP/C Headquarters, Robb Steet, Georgetown after the Party submitted its lists of candidates for the upcoming Local Government Elections

Independents, small parties look to take on big parties in LGE 2023

Nomination Day saw a variety of independent groups and smaller parties who submitted candidate lists for Local Government Elections… some new, but also a number of familiar faces who are vying for seats at the Georgetown Mayor and City Council.

One such familiar face was a veteran broadcaster and founder of Independent Citizens for Progress, Bobby Vieira stressed that his group is not a political party but rather, wanted to give citizens an alternative to political parties.

“This is a totally independent group. We are not even registered as a political party. We’re not affiliated with any political party. We’re just a group of independent-mind-

ed, thinking people who have come together to work on making changes in Georgetown,” he said.

Shaz Ally, who is a candidate of The Change Initiative (TCI) and became a familiar face while fighting for democracy following the 2020 General and Regional Elections, also

made an appearance at the Critchlow Labour College. He is contesting in Constituency One

“I think it’s just my part to play a role and be a candidate. And hopefully, become a Councillor at the Mayor and City Council. I was a candidate in the last General Elections for

“Give us a chance this

“For a very long time, they’ve characterised the PPP as a racist party. But a few weeks ago, at Babu Jaan I said we’re the only multi-racial party in this country. And once again, today, we’ve demonstrated this. And those of you who are new to us, you would see that once you become part of this family, as you now are, you will see we warmly embrace our family,” Jagdeo said, to applause.

A unified list

Meanwhile, President Dr Irfaan Ali spoke of the unified list they had submitted to contest LGE in Georgetown. According to him, the list reflects the “One Guyana” philosophy that his Administration has been pioneering.

“A list that speaks about the unity of purpose, unity of hope. And as we advance on this campaign, in this Local Government Elections, we are moving together as a people, to uplift our communities. Uplift the lives of citizens all across our country.”

“We are committed to a unified purpose. And that unified purpose is to bring prosperity to every single home in Guyana. So we’re going to come with you, community by community. In every single town. Because our message is the same message all across the country,” Ali said.

Meanwhile, Ali debunked the propaganda of APNU/AFC that sought to discredit the Afro-Guyanese joining the party. The President applauded them for taking a principled stand that puts their communities and their country above partisan interests.

“I want to say to all the new faces that have joined us. We welcome you. With open arms and with love. And you are part of a move-

ment that is committed to national development. You are part of a movement that is committed to the upliftment of every single Guyanese. And today, you have joined us so that we can send an even stronger message that this is truly a national party. A party representing every single strata of the Guyanese society.”

“The propagandists and the intellectual authors, they have already started trying to discredit you. Trying to make you feel insecure. But your only message to them must be you have taken a stand. And that stand is the interest of your communities, the interests of Guyana, and the interest of Guyanese. In that stand, you cannot lose,” the President further said.

PNC

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader and People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Head Aubrey Norton went to Woolford Avenue sometime after his party had entered to submit their list of candidates. In a video afterwards, Norton appealed to supporters not to lose heart after the PPP/ C’s showing.

“We must stay focused. We know from our support base on the ground that they will support us and we will beat the PPP in all our strongholds and other areas,” Norton said while addressing his party’s supporters.

APNU candidate Troy Garraway, who went into Critchlow Labour College to submit the party’s candidate list to GECOM, was also confident of his party’s chances in what are traditional strongholds of the PNCR.

“We’re contesting these elections for several reasons. One is that we cannot

TCI

TCI. And I’m under TCI banner for this Local Government Elections as well.”

“I plan to develop our community. There’s always an issue with cleanliness and so on… I have some plans as it relates to actual development because I do not like what’s happening in City Council. So, I do

time”...

allow the other parties to take control of our base…,” Garraway said, in explaining why the party is contesting the elections.

Guyana Youth and Student Movement (GYSM) Chairman Kibwe Copeland, who at 30 years old is one of APNU’s more youthful candidates, also expressed support for his party. According to him, he is less than confident in the other available parties and thus

FROM PAGE 3

threw his support behind the Opposition party.

“Other parties, of course, yes, they have the right to contest. But I’m not so confident in their policies and approach to governance. And that is why I, myself and team, will go forward as young people, even senior folk, to make sure to uphold democracy and, of course, bring that vibrance and energy to local democracy.” (G-3)

ICD condemns attempts at racial division

The International Center for Democracy (ICD) strongly encourages Guyanese to exercise their democratic rights to support the political party of their choice regardless of their race, religious beliefs etc.

The ICD has been monitoring the “Nomination Day” parade and noted that there were several individuals that once belonged to a prominent political party openly and boldly showed their support for another political party.

Many of those individuals that switched their political party support were quick to be labelled on social

plan to put it out there with the Council,” Ally said about what he would do if elected.

Dr Hubert Maloney, an independent candidate for Constituency 12 (Tucville/ North Ruimveldt), was of the view that even though he is in his 70s, age is just a number. Meanwhile, Gregory Fraser, who is seeking to represent Constituency Eight- Stabroek, Wortmanville, Werk-en-Rust, also made a showing.

US Ambassador to Guyana Sarah-Ann Lynch was present on Nomination Day. According

to her, the process was very well run. She also confirmed that her Embassy has been invited to observe the proceedings.

“It looks like it’s a very wellrun process. So, it was very nice of GECOM to invite us to observe the process. Nomination Day is a very important day in Guyana. So, it was wonderful to be here today. And local governance is foundational to a well-functioning democracy. So, we do find this to be a very important occasion,” the diplomat said.

media by known political activists as “House Slaves”, “Soup Drinkers”, “Traitors” etc, and were further labelled as selling their souls.

The ICD strongly condemns political activists and politicians that are attempting to create racial division, threats, and instability and depriving Guyanese of their freedom to exercise their democratic rights.

The ICD will continue to monitor the political situation in Guyana, to ensure that Guyanese democratic rights are not trampled upon, to ensure democracy prevails, and that elections are free, fair and transparent.

Dr Hubert Maloney Gregory Fraser

candidate Shaz Ally Veteran broadcaster Bobby Vieira

NGSA Math Questions

Fmr GT Mayor Chase-Green, “Mr Wickedee” & sitting APNU Councillor team up with PPP for LGE

Party attracts huge youth, multi-ethnic support on Nomination Day

a track record already as Councillor,” Ferreira said.

“And the residents of constituency number 10 [can] point definitely to the things I’ve done. In terms of their [being] the largest youth group. Hundreds of children. Looking after infrastructure. Ensuring that single parents and school dropouts get the type of investment and love that they need.”

In an interview with this publication, former APNU Councillor Richards said that her decision to join PPP/C stemmed from her lack of confidence in her former party. According to her, she has confidence in the

By Jaryl Bryan

Monday marked Nomination Day for Local Government Elections (LGE) 2023, with many new faces, including those from the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) joining forces with the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C).

Former Mayor of Georgetown Patricia ChaseGreen, sitting APNU Councillor Trichria Richards and popular entertainer and former Councillor Malcolm Ferreira, are among the new personalities who have gone over to the PPP/C as the party vies to take control of Georgetown at the Local Government polls.

They were among the large crowd of PPP/C members and candidates who arrived at the Critchlow Labour College to submit the party’s candidate lists to elections set for Monday, June 12.

Both Chase-Green and Richards were once members of APNU on the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, while Ferreira was an independent Councillor. ChaseGreen expressed confidence in both her party of choice’s vision and the list they submitted.

“It was a very smooth process. We just submitted a winning list to Georgetown.

And we look forward to full progress, unity, peace, and togetherness. Development of the city. When we’ve come out victorious… we’ll deal with that plan. We already have a plan [to improve the city].”

Meanwhile, Ferreira made it clear that he was with the PPP/C because of his confidence in its plan for the city and the ability to work along with them to get things done. He also noted that since he was always an independent candidate, he could not be accused of “switching” allegiances.

“The Government invested a lot of money in infrastructure. That gave me an indication that persons were willing to work with others. And so here I am… I believe not in blowing my own trumpet, but I would have had

PPP/C’s plans.

“I have no confidence in the APNU/AFC coalition, more so the PNC. And the PPP is all about development and progress and I want my constituencies to be a part of that. That’s why I [opted] to go with them,” Richards said.

PPP/C General Secretary and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, meanwhile, noted that the presence of former APNU/AFC members in his party’s ranks signals the diverse support the party has. According to Jagdeo, the PPP/C has demonstrated once again it is the only multi-ethnic party in Guyana.

“I think they believe that we’re the only party that can take Guyana forward. And we have a plan for the city. As I said before, APNU has

been in charge of the city for 57 years, since its independence. And it’s time that we get a chance to show the city and the people of Guyana, what we can do,” Jagdeo said.

Other notable personalities appearing with the PPP/C were former national and West Indies cricketer and businessman Steven Jacobs, national footballer Jeremy Garrett and social media content creator “Selfie Boss”.

Responses

The defections from APNU meanwhile did not go

unnoticed by the Opposition. APNU candidate Troy Garraway, who went into Critchlow Labour College to submit the party’s candidate list to GECOM, sought to downplay the defections and claimed that Chase-Green would not pull votes from the party. He also sought to excuse the party’s low turnout for Nomination Day.

“GECOM kept moving the time of nomination. One time you hear one o’clock. The ideal thing was to do like in previous Local Government, for one o’clock, when our support base who are mostly public servants, could take their lunch hour and come out and support us,” he said.

Meanwhile, the absence of the party’s leaders on the ground during Nomination Day proceedings in Georgetown was glaringly obvious. Former People’s National Congress Reform Member of Parliament James Bond even drew reference to this in a social media post. He noted that with the exception of the Opposition Leader himself in Georgetown, Member of Parliament (MP) Jermaine Figueira in Linden and MP

and party General Secretary Dawn Hastings-Williams in Bartica, there was a noticeable absence of other leaders on the ground.

“All the Ministers of Government out on Nomination Day, I haven’t seen a single Parliamentarian from APNU, not a single senior party functionary but the Leader Aubrey Norton. My heart broke today,” Bond said, acknowledging that while a few leaders were spread out in the region, there were almost none in Georgetown.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader and People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Head Aubrey Norton went to Woolford Avenue sometime after his party had entered to submit their list of candidates. In a video afterward, Norton appealed to supporters not to lose heart after the PPP/C’s showing.

“We must stay focused. We know from our support base on the ground that they will support us and we will beat the PPP in all our strongholds and other areas,” Norton said while addressing his party’s supporters.

From left; APNU Councillor Trichria Richards, PPP/C General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo, former independent candidate Malcolm Ferreira and former Mayor Patricia Chase-Green

National footballer Jeremy Garrett

Businessman and former national cricketer Steve Jacobs

There was great diversity in the PPP’s support base for Nomination Day

Popular content creator “Selfie Boss”

98-year jail term challenge

CoA defers hearing of appeal until further notice

Go local...

…and regional

Your Eyewitness is hearing a lot about how at last we’re gonna become the “breadbasket” of the Caribbean!! This isn’t the first time he’s hearing this, of course – so he’s actually not jumping up and down and clicking his heels – yet!! When he was a knock-kneed kid in short pants, Burnham had assured the country that the good times were gonna be rolling with all the money we’d earn from supplying the Caribbean with food!! Our challenge would be how we’re gonna be able to spend the money! Burnham thought he was a smart fly and had first helped create then jump onto the CARIFTA and then the Caricom bandwagons that would be loading up from our food basket!

The appeal filed by the 30-year-old mother who killed her two young children by feeding them rat poison was adjourned until further notice on Monday by the Court of Appeal.

Hofosuwa Rutherford’s appeal against her conviction for two counts of manslaughter and her 98-year jail sentence was initially set for hearing on Monday.

But due to administrative reasons, the court was forced to adjourn the case.

The presiding Judges in this matter will be Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Justices of Appeal Dawn

Gregory-Barnes and Rishi Persaud.

Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (ADPP)

Teshana Lake will present the State’s case while Rutherford will be represented by Attorney-at-Law

Dexter Smartt. Rutherford was found unanimously guilty in 2018 of two counts of manslaughter over the death of her children after a trial before Justice Navindra Singh and a jury at the High Court in Demerara.

On the first count, for the killing of four-yearold Hodascia Cadogan, Rutherford was sentenced to 45 years in jail; while on the second count, for the kill-

ing of one-year-old Jabari Cadogan, she was ordered to serve 53 years in prison. The prison terms were ordered to be served consecutively, meaning that her cumulative sentence is 98 years.

The State had adduced evidence that the mother had given each of her children half of a tablet of aluminium phosphide (rat poison) on March 27, 2014, at Supply Branch Road, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara (ECD), where they all resided.

During her trial, Rutherford’s initial story was that she had bought cold tablets from a man at the Plaisance bus park in Georgetown, who sells rat poison. However, the logic behind this story was not accepted by the jury. Rutherford had been hospitalised for seven days after the poisoning of her off-

spring, and she had said she had drunk two rat poison tablets after giving same to her children.

“No one in this world loves my children more than I do. I love them to my soul. I am sorry for my shortcomings and my faults,” the convicted children killer had stated at her sentencing hearing.

She had then turned her attention to Justice Singh, who she begged to have mercy on her.

“Justice Singh, even God in heaven above is merciful, and I am asking you to grant me a second chance so I can make things right,” a crying Rutherford had pleaded.

Meanwhile, Justice Singh had seemed perplexed as to why the State had indicted the mother for the lesser offence of manslaughter, contending that “everything points to murder”.

GWI commissions $82M PAT rig for hinterland works

The Guyana Water Inc (GWI) has commissioned an $82 million PAT rig to strengthen local capacity to undertake well drilling projects in the hinterland regions of Guyana.

The commissioning of the rig was held at GWI headquarters in Georgetown and was witnessed by Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal, Chief Executive Officer Shaik Baksh, and other senior officials.

GWI employees are being trained to use the new rig, which will be deployed to Silver Hill, Capoey, and the Pomeroon to undertake well drilling projects.

With three rigs at its disposal, GWI’s work on well drilling is expected to accelerate and complement the efforts of private contractors. Minister Croal stated that access to water is guaranteed by the Government, and the newly acquired rig is a step closer in that direction.

The Government has

been pumping resources into the villages with the aim of achieving 100 per cent potable water access in the hinterland and riverine communities by 2025. In order to achieve this access in Region Two, the rig will begin drilling wells in several

villages along the Pomeroon River.

This year, almost $18 billion will be spent through a budgetary allocation to develop Guyana’s water sector. As part of the Government’s strategy to improve water access across the country, 7000

We all know – to our chagrin, if not our fury!! – that all his fancy plans – couched in his fancy words went to naught!! As in “duck”…zero…squat…zilch…nada or zilch!! Not only we couldn’t feed the Caribbean – we couldn’t even feed ourselves! And we ended up walking around with “white mouth” as we moved from being the “breadbasket” of the Region to being its “begging bowl”!

So if we’re gonna avoid the Burnham Failure Syndrome, we better look where he went wrong.

Right off the bat, he tried to have his (racist) cake and eat it too. We have the potential to be a food basket not just because we have land and water coming out of our kazoos. Most importantly, it’s because we have folks who’re willing to have mud squelch between their toes. In other words, we got farmers!! And that’s something Burnham never appreciated – the need to give farmers incentives for doing their thing!! In fact, he did just the opposite!!

It just so happened because of historical circumstances, most of the farmers in Guyana are supporters of the PPP. But Burnham was gonna be damned if he’d let THEM rake in all that dough!! So he mandated that for our biggest agri export – rice – farmers had to sell all the paddy they harvested at a pittance – and he’d lap up the big bucks!! He then tried pushing the PNC supporters into farming – not only in rice, but in other crops and livestock. But chose a co-op model that was only geared for subsistence farming. Definitely not for competitive exports!! They failed!

So, up to now, the Ali government seems to be hitting all the right notes. They’ve tied in the Caricom Governments – led by the dynamic Mia Mottley – in a “25-by-25” agreement (to cut their US$5 billion food bill by 25% by 2025) from the demand side! And brought in large, professional companies to ensure we take care of the supply side!!

Let the market forces take care of business, baby!!

…on elections

Yesterday was LGE Nomination Day and unlike the past, there was quite a lot of interest this time around. So, what was different this time?? Were laws passed for LG bodies to be getting some of that oil money directly!??! THAT certainly would’ve generated interest!! But it wasn’t that – it was the experiment the PPP launched once they squeaked into office – to court the PNC’s constituency directly!

So, folks had their eyes on places like Den Amstel, Mocha-Arcadia, Ann’s Grove, etc, to see whether the PPP could get hundreds of individuals from these communities to not only place their John Hancocks on the nomination papers – but also to march with their red PPP shirts to the nomination centres!! This was the test of whether the PPP’s strategy of using development assistance to change ethnic voting would work. Well, it does look like the PPP was able to pass this first hurdle – they got their requisite nominations and marchers!

households received firsttime access to potable water in 2022. This was made possible with the commissioning of a number of wells across the country, including a number of wells on the coast to increase access to potable water.

Now let’s see if they’ll get the votes too come June 12!! …with ethnic funding Democratic theory insists decisions must be made at the lowest level by the affected folks. The “shoe knows where it pinches” theory – aka “subsidiarity”. So is the PPP’s decision to fund Afro-Guyanese organisations directly following this principle??

Jailed: Hofosuwa Rutherford during her virtual court appearance on Monday

Dead: Hodascia Cadogan Dead: Jabari Cadogan

Officials of GWI and the Ministry of Housing and Water as the new PAT rig is commissioned

Guyana to host over 1000 troops for Tradewinds 2023

countering threats, oil spill response

to be reinforced

al security-type training as well as incorporating two humanitarian and disaster relief operations,” Major Castello outlined.

US Major Benjamin Leger shared that this support is designed to expand the Region’s capability to mitigate, plan for and respond to crises.

More than 1000 troops are set to arrive for Tradewinds 2023 – an exercise which will see Guyana being better prepared to counter regional and security threats.

This year, disaster response, humanitarian assistance, and regional training capacity will also be bolstered. It is the third time Guyana is hosting Tradewinds as stakeholders hosted their final planning conference this week.

As of now, 17 countries have confirmed participation, along with allied nations and organisations such as the Caribbean Community (Caricom), the Regional Security System (RSS), Implementation Agency for Crime and

Security (IMPACS) and Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA).

Major Jaime Castello of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) at a press conference on Monday stated that two new operations were added this year: oil spill operation led through the Civil Defence Commission in the Berbice River and a flooding operation in the Kwakwani area.

“It will have more than 1000 troops involving Guyanese and other partnering nations. Guyana stands to have the largest contingent to benefit from that training as well too… What makes Tradewinds 2023 different is that we are doing the same tradition-

Major Leger noted, “It just echoes the United States’ enduring promise and commitment to the Region through the strengthening of partnerships, strengthening of security and defence and respect for human rights and fundamental rights. It’s the third year that Guyana has hosted in the 39th year of history.”

Tradewinds is a Joint Chiefs of Staff-approved, US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM)-sponsored, joint Caribbean-focused exercise held annually.

Since 1984, it was designed to expand the Region’s capability to mitigate, plan for, and respond to crises; increase regional training capacity and interoperability; develop new and refine existing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs); enhance the ability to defend Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ); increase readiness; promote

human rights and adherence to shared international norms and values; fully integrate women into the force; and increase maritime domain awareness to deter IUU fishing activities.

The foreign military interaction exercise is focused on maritime interdiction, ground security, and multinational staff training which supports SOUTHCOM’s Campaign Plan.

Tradewinds 2023 scenarios include countering Transnational Criminal Organisations (TO) and Violent Extremist Organisations (VEO) to increase interoperability, help finalise the Caribbean Community SOPs, enhance regional collaboration and stability, and increase re-

sponse effectiveness to security threats common to the Region. Guyana hosted the exercise last in 2021.

Apart from Guyana, countries welcomed to participate are Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Dominica, Dominican Republic, United Kingdom, France, Grenada, Jamaica, Mexico, Netherlands, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.

GDF Major Jaime Castello

US Major Benjamin Leger

6 companies submit bids to purchase Marriott –

bids range from US$25M-US$65M

As the Government moves forward to sell its shares in the Guyana Marriott Hotel in Kingston, six companies have submitted bids ranging from US$25 million to US$65 million to purchase the facility.

The companies are Pegasus Hotel Guyana, which bid at US$55.5 million; Georgetown Investments and Management Services Inc, which bid at US$50M; X, LLC, which bid at US$65 million; Muneshwers Ltd at US$25 million, Integrated Group Guyana Inc at US$55 million, and NCB Capital Markets Limited at US$33 million.

It was noted that all eight expressions of interest were received and as such, the applicants were written to and invited to submit a bid by paying a fee to purchase an information package that consisted of unaudited financial statements, agreements, architectural plans, and other pertinent information on the facility.

Six bids were then received before the closing date of April 17. These bids were received and kept under a controlled and secured environment by RK

Sharma, Chief Executive Officer of NICIL and Arianne McLean, Company Secretary & in-house attorney of NICIL.

All six bidders were contacted and invited to attend a bid opening meeting in NICIL’s Boardroom at NICIL’s Head Office on Monday.

Representatives of two bidders were physically present, while a representative of one attended virtually via Zoom video conference. The six bids were opened and read aloud in the presence of all present. The bidders and their respective bids were recorded, signed, and acknowledged by the bidders who were present, as well as the representatives of NICIL.

In a notice back in December, NICIL had announced its intention to sell the State’s shares in Atlantic Hotels Incorporated (AHI), the State-owned holding company for the Marriott Hotel.

AHI is the NICIL special purpose company that owns the Marriott, a 197-room hotel that opened in 2015, whose financing structure had depended on a casino

and entertainment centre to make enough money to repay up to US$30 million in debts to the banks and other creditors. But those add-ons to the hotel were scrapped.

Interested bidders were required to have the financial capability which NICIL had set as a minimum net worth of approximately US$250 million, audited financial statements for the last three financial years, and letters of financial capability from a recognised financial institution.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has positioned that now is the best time to sell the Marriott Hotel. “Now, it would be best to sell the Marriott off. You could probably maximise the price that you will get when it’s profitable and before the seven new hotels that are privately [being] built, that are international brands, come on the market,” he had stated.

The construction of the Marriott Hotel, which started in 2011, had sparked widespread controversy. At the time, Jagdeo was the President and his Administration had faced heavy criticism over the use of taxpayers’ monies to finance the hotel.

But Jagdeo has always defended the decision.

“The Government didn’t need to own a hotel at that time, but the era was that we were not getting new hotels built and we had to trigger the investment,” he has emphasised.

According to the Vice President, the hotel is operating at a profit and provides some 500 jobs to Guyanese, directly and indirectly. He insists that selling the Kingston, Georgetown hotel now would bring in “maximum value” to the State that could go towards trig-

gering other investments in the country.

“There is no particular supreme benefit to Government owning [the hotel]. Whether to maximise the money and invest it into something else …it’s a pure business decision [to sell now] …It is the period. You maximise the period in which you sell. This money, some of it will go to clear off the remaining loan and some will come to the Treasury to be used back for whatever purpose is determined. And so, this is probably the best time when you

can maximise the value before you get competition from seven other hotels coming into the market within a year or two,” he noted.

The Guyana Marriott Hotel was completed in 2015, the same year ExxonMobil first found oil in Guyana’s waters. The hotel has since gone on to play an important part in Guyana’s developing oil and gas sector, as it is used to accommodate local and overseas offshore workers. It is also a prime venue to host numerous private and Statesponsored events.

HJ introduces “Party Cashless” system for Genesis Band launch events

In an effort to improve security and eliminate the hassle of carrying cash, Hits and Jams Entertainment is rolling out a cashless system at some of its upcoming events.

The new “Party Cashless” system allows customers to load money onto a digital wallet on their band, which they can then use to make purchases at “Stinging Nettles” on Thursday, May 25, and “Soca and Wine” on Sunday, May 28.

This means that instead of paying for drinks or services with physical cash, attendees could use their bands to make payments.

St George’s High after the devastating fire in 2022

As part of the Government’s relentless drive to ensure equitable access to education countrywide, more emphasis is being placed on achieving universal secondary education.

As such, the Ministry of Education has invited sealed bids for the construction and furnishing of St George’s High and St Mary’s Secondary Schools.

St George’s High, which was destroyed by a fire of electrical origin in July 2022, will be rebuilt at the same location in Georgetown.

Some 421 students, who

were displaced, are being accommodated at various schools.

All bids must be delivered on or before May 11, 2023 at 9:00 am. Bidding will be conducted through the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) office. All qualified suppliers are welcome to participate in the bidding process, which will follow the National Competitive Bidding (NCB) guidelines outlined in the Procurement Act, 2003, and Regulations 2004.

All bidders must have a pre-bid meeting and site

visit on April 25, 2023, at 10:00 am in the Ministry’s boardroom, 26 Brickdam, Stabroek.

The Government has made significant investments in the education sector since assuming office in August 2020 to attain this milestone.

In this year’s budget alone, some $12.4 billion was injected to enhance education infrastructure countrywide. The Administration has committed $94.4 billion to the education sector to ensure students have access to high-quality education throughout the country.

Customers can purchase the Party Cashless bands online at HJExperience. com. You can then choose your individual events or season passes. Then you can easily load money into your cashless account at a minimum of US$25.

“You must then show receipt at any of our authorised Cashless locations and you will receive your physical band loaded with your Cashless account information on it. Patrons can then use their Party Cashless Band to purchase drinks and food within the venue,” HJ noted in a release.

This, the release added, creates a seamless and convenient experience for customers, since they would

not have to worry about carrying cash or cards.

The system would likely also provide real-time updates on the attendee’s spending, so they can keep track of their expenses and budget accordingly.

“The benefits of a cashless party system include increased security, faster transactions, safety, security and greater convenience for attendees. With digital payments, there is less risk of theft or loss compared to carrying physical cash. Additionally, transactions can be processed more quickly, reducing wait times for attendees and improving the overall efficien-

cy of the event.”

Director of Hits and Jams, Rawle Ferguson stated “It’s safe and secure. You don’t need to be walking around with bulging pockets or a bulky purse. With Party Cashless, there’s no need for physical cash and there’s no chance of losing your hard-earned money. It’s less of a burden, all you have to do is swipe and order.”

Overall, Party Cashless has the potential to revolutionise the way people party in Guyana, which will undoubtedly enhance the experience for attendees and organisers alike.

Bids invited for construction of St Mary’s Secondary, St George’s High Schools

Strengthen democratic institutions to stamp out corruption – Teixeira tells CCAICACB conference

In order to stamp out corruption, developing countries within the Caribbean Community (Caricom) need to strengthen their democratic institutions. This is the firm conviction of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Minister Gail Teixeira.

She expressed this sentiment while delivering remarks on Monday at the Ninth Annual Conference of the Commonwealth Caribbean Association of Integrity Commissions and Anti-Corruption Bodies (CCAICACB) which is being held in Guyana.

While pointing out that Caribbean countries have not yet attained 100 years of independence, Minister Teixeira said democracy building in these developing countries is like a grain of sand in the ocean when compared to the United States of America (USA) and the United Kingdom (UK).

“Democracy is the foundation of our countries. The democratic institutions… and our countries are not old. Many of us like Guyana is embryonic, nascent democracies that are emerging with a very traumatic history. Others have had it easier but the length of de-

mocracy in these countries and democracy building is like a grain of sand in the ocean in comparison with the US and Britain.”

She alluded to the numerous articles in the international media which label Caribbean countries as havens for corruption. “The Caribbean keeps getting notoriety in the international media for havens of corruption. And the number of articles printed showing that we have massive corruption in the Caribbean islands and we have to be offended by that as Caricom countries.”

These articles, she pointed out, are compiled using the Transparency International (TI) Corruption Perception

Index (CPI). She made it clear that the Guyana Government does not accept TI’s assessment of the country because it is “non-empirical” and “not scientific”.

Concerning the structure of the TI, Minister Teixeira said the Guyana Government does not feel that an “organisation can have two or three unnamed persons in a country, evaluate your country and put your country on a scale globally.” “That gives two or three people an enormous amount of power that they were not given by the electorate and by the people.”

Teixeira issued a call for developing countries to strengthen their democratic institutions.

In so doing, she urged regional leaders to ensure that in the public service, the bureaucracy understands how they deal with the public; that honesty and treatment with respect are part of the code of public service. The same applies to how the private sector and civil society function, she said. The politician went on the question how is it that the Democracy Index (DI) shows that the world on the northern side is more democratic and the world on the southern side is not.

“How is it that the CPI of the TI points out that the southern part of the world is more corrupt than the others? Isn’t that rather coincidental? For me, this is a reflection of prejudices and biases against persons in the developing world.” The Minister emphasised that the conference provides countries with the chance to remedy their image on the international stage.

And according to her, part of that includes being frontal about what is being done to tackle corruption, the challenges faced in that regard and what needs to be done better.

“Instead of Integrity Commission being in the

background checking everybody’s information and anti-corruption bodies doing what they have to do, we have to go out and explain to the people what are the anti-corruption measures in our country and what are the challenges we face and to get our people onboard to support these efforts,” she told those gathered.

Formed in 2015, CCAICACB brings together heads of anti-corruption agencies, senior Government officials, relevant international organisations, policymakers, and

development partners to review national and regional anti-corruption efforts, share knowledge and good practices, and discuss the impacts of corruption on sustainable development.

The CCAICACB, which now takes place annually, is sponsored by the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation and the Commonwealth Secretariat and is hosted by a different member country each year, employing a different theme relating to ethics and corruption prevention.

Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Minister Gail Teixeira

Scenes from LGE Nomination

Nomination Day 2023

| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

PPP/C Better Hope/LBI submits ‘experienced, youthful’ list for LGE polls

The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) is planning on beating the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) handsomely in the upcoming Local Government polls, as it submitted what was described as the ‘winning list’ to the sub-office of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) at the Montrose Primary School on Monday.

Beaming with excitement, Party Campaign Manager and Candidate for the Better Hope/LBI Local Authority Area, Zaman Shaw said the party’s list of candidates boasts a wealth of experience, youthfulness and seasoned professionals who are committed to continuing the community development and hard work in the area.

“Women, youth and experience are all components of the PPP winning list of

candidates. We will beat the APNU handsomely. We are committed. We are strong. We understand the issues affecting our communities. We will work to solve them together,” Shaw said with the party flag in his hand.

Meanwhile, Career Journalist and Media Professional, Michael Younge was also a candidate for the PPP/C in the area.

He said that the PPP/C had the right vision for development and needed strong supportive candidates who would do the party’s work in building strong, safer and unified communities.

He also added that Better Hope, Success, LBI, Pigeon Island and all of Guyana are not going to be left out of development as he was certain that the policies and programmes of the PPP will reach the intended beneficiaries. “I have always had a fascination for politics and community development. I

decided that the time is now and here to do something

for the community that I’m living in. The Better Hope/ NDC has a rich diversity of candidates from every walk of life on the list of which I am part. We have women, youths and vibrant minds to push the President’s One Guyana mantra forward because I believe in unity and togetherness. Our young people must be involved in the affairs of the country at every level,” he said.

Other candidates and party supporters were present at Monday’s parade, including former Minister of Health and parliamentarian, Dr Leslie Ramsammy; PPP/C Member of Parliament Sheila Veersammy and Better Hope/LBI Neighbourhood Democratic Council Chairman, Sheik Samsair.

The PPP has its eyes on winning 18 seats in the local authority area.

Sitting APNU Councillor joins PPP/C to contest NA municipality

Asitting Councillor of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Esan Vanderstoop has now joined the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) to contest the Local Government Elections (LGE) in the New Amsterdam municipality.

The PPP/C is the only party that has submitted its list of candidates to contest in every constituency across Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) which comprises 18 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and three municipalities.

Two of the municipalities are already controlled by the

PPP/C but the ruling party is hoping to sweep the third at the upcoming LGE set for June 12.

APNU controls two of the eighteen NDCs and the PPP/C, 15. The Plegt Anker/ Kortberaadt NDC is split, with both parties equally sharing the seats.

Head of the candidate list, Phillip Rose said the PPP/C will fast-track development in the country’s oldest town while Jevaughn Stephens – the agent for APNU believes that the party will continue to dominate the New Amsterdam municipality.

“We want to continue

the progress that we started a number of years ago. When the APNU went into Government in 2015, we started a number of projects in New Amsterdam and unfortunately, we weren’t able to see it through but with fresh faces, we are hoping that new ideas come to the municipality and we want to have a mature of inclusion to make sure that everyone benefits from the services provided in New Amsterdam and we also want to challenge Central Government not to play politics with New Amsterdam.

If you keep withholding our subvention, then we cannot do what we want to do. Over the past year, the Government has been trying to spend the money through the region instead of sending the subvention to the Council,” Stephens noted.

He further stated that the Town Council looks “politically bad”, as he called on the Government to ensure the town of New Amsterdam gets what it should.

APNU controls eleven of the fourteen seats on the

Council.

Meanwhile, Rose said the party is contesting in all seven constituencies in the municipality. As part of the plans to turn things around, Rose said candidates have been out meeting with residents.

As a result of meetings held with individual residents, the party understands that there are a number of issues that have not been addressed by the current Council.

“The present Council, they do not have persons on the ground but we would have persons on the ground working with them. We are not looking for race votes; we are looking for people from across the board. There are a number of persons who did not vote the last time. People were distraught about the Council’s behaviour. We are trying to capture those votes,” Rose said.

“Garbage, overgrown bushes, and the drainage which have been left unattended - we will change that. We want people to know that whatever we promise to people we are going to fulfil. I want to make this clear that we will be working with the

Government to make sure that these things happen.”

In New Amsterdam, two individuals; Mark France and Kenroy Henry are contesting the elections privately.

However, the PPP controls eleven of the sixteen seats in the Corriverton municipality and eleven of the fourteen seats at Rose Hall Town.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

Some of the candidates during the Nomination Day proceedings on Monday

Krishandai Garib is contesting as an individual candidate in Canefield-Enterprise NDC

Sitting Councillor of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Esan Vanderstoop

PPP handing over its list for Canefield-Enterprise NDC

Soesdyke taxi driver dies, another injured after car topples

Ataxi driver is now dead while another man is battling for his life after the car in which they were travelling crashed in the vicinity of Hauraruni along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway.

The dead man has been identified as Alvin Dubar, 48, of Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara (EBD), while the injured man was only identified as “Super Cat”. Based on reports re-

ceived, the now-dead man had visited his sister at Dora, Linden-Soesdyke Highway, and was returning home when one of the front tyres suffered a blowout. This resulted in Dubar losing control of the motor car, which subsequently crashed into the barranca and toppled several times before coming to a halt.

However, Guyana Times understands that neither of the men was wearing

their seatbelt. As a result, Dubar crashed through the windscreen and landed in a clump of bushes. He reportedly died on the spot.

He was nevertheless, picked up and rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where he was pronounced dead. Up to press time, the other occupant of the car was being treated for several bodily injuries.

It is believed that the men were under the influence of

18 cases made against private, hire car operators during ‘tint’ campaign

alcohol at the time of the accident.

Dubar reportedly lost his mother about three weeks ago. He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren and other relatives.

The Police are continuing their investigations.

Sitting APNU Councillor joins...

APNU will be fully contesting in the municipalities of Corriverton and Rose Hall Town, where the PPP says it is seeking to increase the number of seats they occupy.

Meanwhile, APNU will not be contesting all the NDCs but in some instances, groups or private citizens will be representing the party but only in some of the

constituencies.

Krishandai Garib is an individual candidate contesting in the CanefieldEnterprise NDC. Garib, who is a strong supporter of APNU, said she decided to contest as an independent candidate because she wants to develop her community.

“We have a lot of single parents. I am speaking to

FROM PAGE 14

you as a widow and we have a lot of widows who need help, young girls and boys too. I am looking at both the men and the women so if I should win a seat, I will to form a group.”

While she did not state the name of the group, she noted that it will be disclosed if she wins a seat on the NDC. (Andrew Carmichael)

The Providence Police

Station Traffic Department recently conducted a ‘Tint Glass and Private Hire Operation’ in the vicinity of Red Road, Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

The operation was led by Inspector Jordan and his team of Police ranks.

During the operation, 18 cases were made, including six cases of tinted glass, four cases of leaving vehicles in a dangerous position, four cases of failing to conform to signs, and four cases of using vehicles for purposes other than their licensed purpose.

The Police have been cracking down on the usage of tinted glass since they allegedly pose a safety risk for both drivers and passengers, obstructing visibility and potentially aiding in criminal activity.

The Providence Police

Station Traffic Department reminds drivers to comply with traffic laws and regulations to ensure their safety and the safety of others on the road.

It stated that the operation serves as a warning to all drivers to follow traffic laws and regulations, as the Police will continue to carry out similar operations in the future to ensure compliance and safety on the roads.

Only a few months ago, Traffic Chief, Superintendent Dennis Stephens said that while tinting of vehicles is not illegal, the Police Force has an issue with the percentage of tint that is placed on some vehicles, and that issue needs to be addressed.

The Traffic Chief has said there are persons who are violating the law by putting tint on their vehicles even though they are aware that they first have to seek

permission to do so.

“What we find [is that] not only do persons put on the tint, we observe that persons are tinting their front windscreen; and that is very dangerous, especially at night and especially when it is raining, [because] it may have issues with the person’s sight,” he explained.

For those persons who refuse to abide by the warnings of the Police Force on tints, Stephens said, the Police have launched campaigns that would deal with them. He also said that even for those persons who have a permit for tints, it is illegal to tint the front windshield.

“There is a lot of misinterpretation that the tint permits in relation to what it contains… Even though persons are given a tint permit, they are allowed to put on their tint except [on] the front windscreen”, he said.

The vehicles that were pulled over by Police

The wrecked car with the passenger lying in an unconscious state

Dead: Alvin Dubar

Police outpost at Kingston Seawall soon to be operational

been constructed to serve as washroom facilities, equipped with wheelchair access.

With the area now significantly enhanced, the Public Works Minister spoke about cultivating a culture of leaving the environs in a clean state and without any garbage dumped.

“While we put in place facilities, I think we need to bring citizens along into creating that culture where [garbage] must not be left on the seawall or thrown on the ground. We must be able to get them in the garbage containers and receptacles,” he noted.

As upgrades to the Kingston Seawall continue, a Police outpost will be operationalised soon to enhance the safety of citizens using the recreational space.

This is according to Public Works Minister Juan Edghill, as he gave an update on the Kingston Seawall Beautification Project – executed in collaboration with the Office of the First Lady.

“We have been able to put in place, which is to be

operationalised very soon, a stationary booth for Police presence. In collaboration with the Commissioner of Police, an outpost will be established. All of the facilities are already in place. That area is also supposed to have free Wi-Fi,” the Minister noted.

Proper lighting and safety elements have been added to the area along with refurbished surfaces, a fenced playpark for children, a restaurant area and a restored seawall bandstand.

“We have been able to bring the development all the way down to the ‘I Love Guyana’ sign…I believe that everyone who went out to the Kingston Seawall for Easter would have found a highly enhanced, totally transformed environment that would have been beautiful to the eyes and surprising to many,” Edghill shared.

Due to the volume of persons traversing the area, portable toilets were rented on a monthly basis. However, a structure has

MoH to soon rollout new campaigns for HPV testing

The Health Ministry will soon rollout its new campaign to conduct mass Human Papillomavirus (HPV) testing for all citizens above the age of 30.

This was announced by Health Advisor, Dr Leslie Ramsammy during a recent programme where he spoke about the need to increase HPV testing in Guyana.

“We’re broadening our screening programme, in a few weeks from now, you will hear us introducing mass HPV testing for all persons thirty and above. More than 85 per cent… of all cervical cancer are due to HPV 16 and 18 in Guyana. And therefore, if we can identify people who are HPV positive, we identify people who are at risk for cervical cancer and maybe other cancers too.”

According to Dr Ramsammy, through increased testing, authorities will be able to identify persons who are at risk and pay more attention to giving them the necessary healthcare.

“So, we’re going to be introducing HPV testing as one of the frontline interventions so that we can identify people at risk and pay more attention to these persons. And then support that by frequent monitoring and introduction of things like pap smears, VIA (Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid), surgical intervention, cryotherapy, etc, for those people who have cervical cancer,” Dr Ramsammy explained.

ICT can enable older persons to live independently – PAHO

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) can play a fundamental role in enabling older persons to overcome age-related disabilities and give them the opportunity to have an independent and healthier life.

This was captured in a report titled “Role of Digital Technologies in Aging and Health”, which is part of a publication series: “The Decade of Healthy Aging in the Americas: Situation and Challenges.”

It forms part of a series of reports that seek to contribute to the development of healthy ageing strategies in the Americas, launched on Monday by the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), in collaboration with other United Nations agencies and the Inter-American System.

The report was supported by data from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

to society.”

HPV testing is critical for Guyana to identify persons at risk for cervical and other cancers. Last year, the Health Ministry expanded access to HPV vaccines to persons beyond 15 years of age, in keeping with new guidelines issued by global health authorities.

Earlier this month, Dr Ramsammy had expressed disappointment at the lack of awareness as it relates to HPV.

“We are disappointed that the education and awareness programme and the strategies to lift the HPV vaccination among boys and girls appear stagnated and little effort is being made to improve HPV vaccination coverage. Equally, we are disappointed that HPV testing is still very inaccessible in Guyana,” Dr Ramsammy shared.

HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection that usually shows no symptoms and goes away by itself, but can sometimes

cause serious illness. HPV is responsible for almost all cases of genital warts and cervical cancer, and 90 per cent of anal cancers.

The Government of Guyana has increased significantly, its health investment, with more than a doubling of the per capita investment in health between 2020 and 2023.

At least seven new hospitals have already started construction and all existing hospitals will be re-developed. The physical and technological infrastructure of the public health sector is being transformed. Human resource transformation has also begun.

A telemedicine programme is linking people from the most remote communities to doctors at GPHC.

In acknowledging these advances, the Ministry of Health was urged to elevate the strategies and actions to manage and control cancers in our country.

Zeroing in on this factor of ICT and ageing, the report noted that ICT can “further empower older individuals to become active participants and functional contributors to their respective communities in the context of sharing valuable life skills, knowledge, and experiences with younger generations”.

It was documented that caring for older persons could be viewed as a burden by a certain portion of the younger population. As nuclear families become more common across the world, older individuals, especially in developing countries, often find themselves isolated and abandoned by their families.

“This harmful mindset and related misconceptions have not only built a barrier that discourages society from taking proactive actions to address the needs of older individuals but also overlooks the immense value that these people bring

Through this report, ITU raises awareness of the need for policymakers and other stakeholders to be aware of the importance of ICT or digital accessibility and also have the core knowledge to build universally designed and age-friendly environments, to further take advantage of the digital opportunities.

“Additionally, ICTs can enable older persons to continue living independently for a longer time. This would benefit society as a whole and help improve the mental health of individuals while providing timely care and medical interventions at reduced costs. In this context, it is important to mention that older persons are also strong drivers of socioeconomic development,” the report outlined.

Considering the ICTs, as also indicated in the ITU report, the ageing population represents an attractive business opportunity not only for the technology industry but also for other

sectors such as healthcare and lifelong learning.

“Moreover, the private sector can use this opportunity to service the needs of older persons to bring benefit to their respective businesses. Digital Inclusion Digital technologies have a fundamental role to play in unlocking the full potential of older persons. ICTs, if developed and delivered in accessible formats, could give everyone, including older persons, access to and use of digital information products and services.”

It was noted that if designed and implemented to consider digital inclusion for everyone, ICT can ensure the creation of digital environments in which everyone benefits and is empowered by technologies to contribute to society at large. In particular, “age technology,” namely all technological products and services designed with and for older persons, has the potential to help boost development and inclusion.

Health Advisor, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill

An artistic impression of the Kingston Seawall after upgrades

NGSA Science Questions NGSA S. Studies Questions

Answers for last published Science questions

4a) Fibrous

4bi) Guava plants have tap roots.

4bii) Rice plants have fibrous roots.

4c) X: multiple roots of approximately the diameter arising from the base of the plant stem

Y: single main root, which may have branching lateral roots

Answers for last published Social Studies questions

4a) Easter Monday kite flying

4b) The garbage=strewn beach is an eye sore and a breeding ground for pests, residents may stop using the beach or be sickened by the pests breeding there.

4c) Provide garbage bins Post no littering signs

Cuban President expected to win 2nd term despite crises

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel is widely expected to be chosen this week by assembly lawmakers to lead the country for another five years, despite a rocky first term marked by the coronavirus pandemic and a near-unprecedented economic crisis.

Diaz-Canel, 62, heads the Communist Party, to which all 470 members of the legislature elected by Cubans last month either belong or are sympathetic to. Cuba argues its one-party system promotes unity and limits financial interference in the assembly elections.

The assembly will vote Wednesday to elect the country's President and his Cabinet. No candidate other than Diaz-Canel is seen as emerging for the presidency.

Once his next term is confirmed, Diaz-Canel will need to focus his efforts on overhauling Cuba's economic system, said Carlos Alzugaray, an independent political analyst formerly

from the diplomatic service.

"That is the great challenge that President DiazCanel now faces," Alzugaray said. "Can he break with the inertia of his first term and its ideological rigidity in the interests of economic pragmatism?"

Diaz-Canel was elected in 2018, succeeding Raul Castro, brother of the revolutionary Fidel Castro who ruled the country from 1959 to 2008. He promised continuity with the brothers'

Brazil's Lula draws Russian praise, US scorn for Ukraine views

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva drew criticism from the United States on Monday for his recent comments suggesting the West had been "encouraging" war by arming Ukraine, while he was praised by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov for his proposal for peace talks.

Lavrov, on a visit to Brasilia, met with Lula and thanked Brazil for its efforts to resolve the conflict. But a White House spokesman accused Lula

of "parroting Russian and Chinese propaganda without looking at the facts".

Lula has pitched himself as a broker for peace talks to end the Ukraine conflict, which began when Russia invaded the neighbouring country in February 2022. That proposal was based on Brazil's tradition of non-intervention and open diplomacy.

But Lula has angered many in the West with comments over the weekend, when he called for Western powers to stop

providing arms for the war.

The comments came shortly after he returned from China, where he discussed the matter with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

"The United States needs to stop encouraging war and start talking about peace," Lula said on Saturday in remarks to Journalists.

He also called for a group of countries not involved in the war to engage Russia and Ukraine in peace talks. (Excerpt from Reuters)

politics, though he passed a constitutional reform limiting the presidency to just two consecutive five-year terms.

Diaz-Canel will be looking to cement his legacy in his second term, but must effect the changes the country needs, Alzugaray said.

"We are going for more," Diaz-Canel told Journalists after casting his ballot in the legislative elections last month. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Windrush victims being failed by compensation scheme – report

Windrush scandal victims are still facing long waits and inadequate offers of compensation, according to a new report by a global human rights group.

Human Rights Watch said the Home Officerun compensation scheme should be handed to an independent body.

Five years ago it was revealed thousands of British people, most of Caribbean origin, had been wrongly classed as illegal immigrants.

The Home Office said it was "committed to righting the wrongs of Windrush".

A spokesperson stated the scheme had "paid or offered more than £68 million in compensation to the peo-

ple affected", and that they would "make sure that similar injustices can never be repeated and are creating a Home Office worthy of every community it serves".

The scandal, which unfolded in April 2018, affected people who arrived in the UK from Caribbean countries between 1948 and 1971.

They have been labelled the Windrush generation – a reference to the ship HMT Empire Windrush , which docked in Tilbury on June 22, 1948, bringing workers from Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and other islands, to help fill post-war UK labour shortages.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of its ar-

Mexico feels the strain as Haitian migrants, caught in limbo, mark time

Asylum claims by Haitians in Mexico are on track to hit a record above 50,000 this year, a top official said, further pressuring the country's already strained migrant services as many begin to contemplate a future there rather than in the United States.

rival.

It also impacted people from non-Caribbean countries that were previously British colonies, who moved to the UK before immigration laws changed in 1971.

Many of those affected were unable to find work and housing or access to healthcare. Some, who had been in the UK for most or all of their lives, were wrongfully deported.

Human Rights Watch said people should be entitled to legal aid for their compensation application, because the process was "complex, subject to arbitrary decision makers and just not accessible".

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Rowley: Trinidad and Tobago blindsided by crime

Trinidad and Tobago

Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley has blamed the crime onslaught on his society's past failure to predict the crisis.

He was addressing a Caricom symposium at the Hyatt Regency, Port of Spain on Monday, titled “Violence as a Public Health Issue – the Crime Challenge”.

Dr Rowley said, "Violence in the Caribbean is a public health emergency which threatens our lives, our economies, our

national security, and by extension every aspect of our well-being."

He lamented the prevalence of petty theft, school violence, home invasions, domestic violence, sexual abuse, human trafficking, drive-by shootings, druggang warfare and revenge murders.

"When the situation arrives at the door, it is said there was a failure of the society to spot the oncoming crisis.

"Then there may be a later failure to perceive the

extent of that arrived situation as a societal problem.

"Today, if there's one aspect we may all be guilty of (it) is that the problem of criminality and violence was not dealt with sufficiently in a much earlier timeframe – in the homes, in the schools, in the prisons, in the courts and I dare say in the Parliaments."

Rowley lamented the evolution of a creeping normalisation of lower standards.

(Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

In the year's first three months, 13,631 applied for refugee status, dwarfing claims from other countries and compared to 17,153 in all of 2022, according to data from the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR).

"If the current trend continues, it surely would exceed the level reached in 2021," when a record 52,000 sought asylum, Andres Ramirez, the head of COMAR, told Reuters, adding he was not sure why the numbers had jumped.

Mexico City officials last week moved some 400 Haitians from an informal camp in a city plaza to a new shelter on the capital's outskirts set up in response

to the uptick in arrivals.

Part of the explanation for the increase may lie in a toughening of US border controls in January that has made it harder for many migrants to cross by land into the United States, together with a parallel US programme allowing a monthly quota of Haitians to cross by air.

Haitians without sponsors or who have irregularly crossed into Mexico

or the United States would not qualify for the latter programme, leaving many effectively stranded in Mexico.

Further complicating the picture, most Haitians claiming asylum in Mexico do not qualify, because they left their homes years ago for economic reasons. They face irregular status if rejected and the risk of deportation. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Argentina battles major dengue outbreak with atomic radiation

Argentine, fighting one of its worst outbreaks of dengue in recent years, is sterilising mosquitoes using radiation that alters their DNA before releasing them into the wild.

The South American country has this year recorded over 41,000 cases of the disease transmitted by mosquitoes, far above the equivalent level in previous years of major outbreaks in 2020 and 2016, Government data showed.

"This mosquito, due to the rise in temperature in

our country and the world... is able to spread more. Their population keeps on moving further south," said National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA) biologist Marianela Garcia Alba.

To fight back, CNEA biologists have been experimenting with atomic sterilisation since 2016. They are sterilising 10,000 males per week and aim to increase that to 500,000. They expect to release the first batch of sterilised males in November.

"They are sterilised

through ionising energy and those sterile males are freed into the fields and when they meet with a wild female, their offspring are not viable," said Garcia Alba. "This way, by successive release of such males we'll be able to reduce the population of the vector mosquito."

Dengue is transmitted through the bites of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Its symptoms include fever; eye, head, muscle and joint pain; nausea; vomiting and fatigue. (Excerpt from Reuters)

English teacher Ana Ibis, 53, prepares her dinner as Cuba's President and First Secretary of the Communist Party, Miguel Diaz-Canel is seen on a local TV news programme in Havana, Cuba, April 14, 2023 (Reuters/Alexandre Meneghini)

Migrants, mostly from Haiti, rest outside their tents at the Giordano Bruno park as they wait for a permit or Visitor Card for Humanitarian Reasons (TVRH) that would allow them to continue their journey to the border between Mexico and the United States, in Mexico City, Mexico, April 6, 2023 (Reuters/Henry Romero)

Oil drops 2% on higher dollar, interest rate concerns

Oil prices turned lower on Monday as the US dollar strengthened and as investors mulled over a possible May interest rate hike by the US Federal Reserve, which could dampen economic recovery hopes.

Brent crude futures fell US$1.55, or 1.8%, to settle at US$84.76 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude dropped US$1.69, or 2.1%, at US$80.83 a barrel.

Both contracts notched their fourth weekly gain in a row last week, the longest such streak since mid-2022.

The US dollar has been strengthening alongside interest rate hikes, making dollar-denominated oil more expensive for holders of other currencies. The dollar index gained around 0.6% on Monday.

"The dollar is a little bit stronger, and that seems to be putting a little bit of pressure on oil here," Price Futures Group analyst Phil Flynn said.

Traders are betting the Fed will raise its lending rate in May by another quarter of a percentage point and have pushed out to late this year expectations of a rate cut, as typically occurs in a slowdown.

Meanwhile, the release of China's first-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) data at 0200 GMT today is expected to be positive for commodity prices, with the International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasting it will account for most of 2023 demand growth.

However, the IEA also warned in its monthly report that output cuts announced by OPEC+ producers risked exacerbating an oil supply deficit expected in the second half of this year and could hurt consumers and a global economic recovery.

The Group of Seven (G7) coalition will keep a US$60 per barrel price cap on seaborne Russian oil, a coalition official said, despite rising global crude prices and calls by some countries for a lower price cap to restrict Moscow's revenues.

In Iraq, the Federal Government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) have ironed out technical issues essential to resuming northern oil exports from the Turkish port of Ceyhan to international markets, four sources told Reuters on Monday.

Turkey halted Iraq's 450,000 barrels per day (bpd) of northern exports on March 25 after an arbitration ruling by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), which ordered Turkey to pay Baghdad damages of US$1.5 billion for the KRG's unauthorised exports between 2014 and 2018.

In Saudi Arabia, crude oil exports in February fell to 7.455 million bpd from 7.658 million bpd in January, official data showed on Monday.

US shale crude oil production in the seven biggest shale basins is expected to rise in May by 49,000 bpd to 9.33 million bpd, the highest on record, data from the Energy Information Administration showed on Monday. (Reuters)

Around the World

US arrests 2 for setting up Chinese 'secret police station' in New York

US law enforcement officials on Monday arrested two New York residents for allegedly operating a Chinese "secret police station" in Manhattan's Chinatown, part of a crackdown on Beijing's alleged targeting of US-based dissidents.

Lu Jianwang, 61, and Chen Jinping, 59, face charges of conspiring to act as agents of China's Government without informing US authorities and obstruction of justice. They were released on bond following an initial appearance in Brooklyn federal court.

The Department of Justice has been ramping up probes into what it calls "transnational repression" by US adversaries such as China and Iran to intimidate political opponents living in the United States.

"We cannot and will

not tolerate the Chinese Government's persecution of pro-democracy activists who have sought refuge in this country," Breon Peace, the top federal prosecutor in Brooklyn, told reporters.

Prosecutors on Monday

unveiled charges against 34 Chinese officials for allegedly operating a "troll farm" and harassing dissidents online, including by disrupting their meetings on US technology platforms.

They also added eight

Chinese Government officials as defendants in a case announced in 2020 charging a former China-based executive of Zoom Video Communications Inc with disrupting video meetings commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests.

Lu and Chen are both US citizens who lead a nonprofit organisation that lists its mission as providing a social gathering place for people from China's Fujian province, prosecutors said.

Lu in 2018 sought to persuade an individual considered a fugitive by China to return home, prosecutors said. In 2022, he helped open the so-called Police station and was asked by China's Government to locate an individual living in California who was considered a pro-democracy activist, they added. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Protests in Missouri after homeowner shoots Black teen

Protesters in Missouri chanted for justice on Monday outside a Kansas City house where a white homeowner shot a Black teenager after the boy rang the doorbell of the wrong residence to pick up his brothers, according to the family's lawyer.

Ralph Yarl, 16, was recovering in hospital after he was shot in the head and arm by a white man on the doorstep of thXe suburban home around 10 pm on Thursday, according to family attorney Ben Crump.

For a second day, protesters gathered at the single-story house on a tree-lined street, shouting "Black lives are under attack" and "Stand up, fight back," online videos

Sudan fighting: RSF and army clash in Khartoum for 3rd day

Hospitals have been shelled in Sudan as fighting between rival armed factions continues for a third day, doctors say.

Patients in the capital, Khartoum, have appealed for safe passage as gun battles rage in the city.

Violence between the army and a paramilitary group called the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has left around 100 people dead, a doctors' union said.

Both sides claimed to control key sites in Khartoum, where residents sheltered from explosions.

The Sudan Doctors'

Trade Union says there has been severe damage to al-Shab Teaching Hospital in Khartoum, along with two other hospitals, caused by clashes and "mutual shelling".

It called the attacks a violation of international law.

More than 1800 civilians and fighters have been injured according to Volker Perthes, the UN envoy for Sudan. He also put the death toll at 185 people while speaking to reporters in New York on Monday.

The two sides held a brief ceasefire on Sunday to allow the wounded to be

evacuated, although it was not clear how strictly they stuck to it.

The fighting is between army units loyal to the de facto leader, Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF, a notorious paramilitary force commanded by Sudan's deputy leader, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as Hemedti.

He said on Monday that the international community must intervene, and branded Gen Burhan "a radical Islamist who is bombing civilians from the air". Gen Burhan has said he is willing to negotiate.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

showed.

"His attempted murderer has not been arrested nor charged! If the roles were reversed would that still be the case?!" tweeted Crump, a civil rights attorney who has represented families of Black people killed by white Police officers or others, such as George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Trayvon Martin.

The homeowner, who was not identified by Police, was

taken into custody, placed on a 24-hour investigative hold, then released pending an interview with Yarl and the collection of forensic evidence, Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said.

Asked whether Yarl's shooting may have been racially motivated, Graves said information she had did not indicate it was, though she was aware of the "racial components" in the case.

Missouri has a "standyour-ground law" that allows homeowners to use physical force to defend themselves against suspected intruders.

The law says a person cannot use deadly force unless they reasonably believe that deadly force is necessary to protect themselves or another person against death or serious physical injury or a forcible felony. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Canada's public workers to strike if no wage deal by this evening

Some 155,000 public workers in Canada will go on strike at midnight on Wednesday if they are unable to reach a wage deal with the Federal Government, the leader of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) union said on Monday.

PSAC President Chris Aylward said he was "setting a clock on this round of bargaining" and that a strike would be called if there is no deal by 9 pm ET (0100 GMT) on Tuesday.

The strike would affect federal services and could delay tax refunds since about 35,000 workers at the revenue agency would walk out in the middle of tax filing season. Passport renewals ahead of summer travel could also be delayed.

"Despite some progress at the bargaining table, our members are frustrated that while negotiations drag on, they continue to fall behind," Aylward told

reporters. "We've always said from day one, we need wages for our members that will keep up with inflation."

PSAC has been in collective bargaining for a new contract since 2021. Tax agency workers initially sought a pay bump of more than 30% over three years, and others are asking for 13.5% over three years. Inflation peaked at 8.1% last year.

Aylward said the offers

received so far had fallen short. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was hopeful a deal would be reached to avert a strike.

The strike would also affect 65% of employees at the Canadian Grain Commission, including most inspectors of outbound grain at ports, according to the commission. Canada is a major wheat and canola exporter. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks to the media about Budget 2023 at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada April 12, 2023

David Sundberg, the Assistant Director in Charge at Federal Bureau of Investigation, speaks during a news conference held by the Department of Justice, to announce the arrests and charges against multiple individuals connected to the Chinese Government for crimes violating the sovereignty of the United States, in New York City, U.S April 17, 2023

DAILY HOROSCOPES

Determine how to improve your living conditions or arrangements. Figure out where your money will have the most significant impact. Reconnecting with an old friend will be inspirational.

PICKLES

(March 21-April 19)

You should strive to act quickly and decisively today. Change is favored if you are willing to make a commitment. Defer to an expert regarding health and money matters.

(April 20-May 20)

Align yourself with people who understand you and offer support and solutions, not criticism. Don't let negativity get you down or hold you back. Let your actions speak for you.

(May 21-June 20)

PEANUTS

(June 21-July 22) (July 23-Aug. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

If something isn't going your way, try a different path. Keep matters simple, make your words count and stay within your budget. Let experience be your guide.

Refuse to let someone take control or make alterations that don't suit your needs. A little Leo charm, insight and hands-on help will encourage others to see things your way.

Move forward cautiously. Don't put yourself in harm's way or let others make unfair demands. The adjustments you make will send a clear message to anyone giving you a difficult time.

You'll have to cover a lot of ground today. Put on your running shoes and get moving. Preparation will help considerably. If you love someone, share your intentions and feelings.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

Don't share secrets or make changes for the wrong reason. Be creative, and you'll devise a foolproof plan. Refuse to let a domestic oversight end up costing you too much. Take on only what's feasible.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22) (Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

You are heading in the right direction but are not focused on the result. Go back and rethink your motives, and you'll figure out how to achieve your goal. Attend a social event to ease stress.

Consider changes at home that will make your life easier. Refuse to let anyone talk you into something you don't want. Keep your thoughts and plans to yourself.

Take nothing for granted, but be ready to take advantage of any opportunity that comes your way. There are investments and positions available that can help you zigzag your way to the top.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

Keep an open mind, but don't believe everything you hear. Wear your heart on your sleeve, but don't let anyone take advantage of you. Call the shots and do what feels right to you.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

YESTERDAY'S WORD -- CANTLES

National Women’s 3x3 Championship set for Linden on Saturday

The Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF) will host for the first time its National Women’s 3x3 Championship on Saturday, April 22 at the Retrieve Hard Court in Linden.

According to the Federation’s President, Michael Singh, the tournament is being held to select the 3x3 Women’s national team for the 24th edition of the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games, set for June 23July 8, in El Salvador.

“The GBF will be emphasising women’s

development, and more importantly, in the shorter format. Only the women’s team qualified for the CAC Games and, as such, we have

to give them a chance to play as part of the preparation,” Singh said in a press release.

The GBF President highlighted that a long list of players was submitted to the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), which also included some overseas-based players.

The University of Guyana Trojans (two teams), President’s College (two teams), Kwakwani (two teams) and Linden are the teams competing in the tournament that will be played in a round-robin format.

“For many of the girls, this would be the first time playing 3x3, and it will be a start to our approach to women’s basketball in Guyana. We’re hoping that the associations could also play its part in organising women’s tournaments going forward,” Singh highlighted.

Under Singh, Guyana has participated in back-toback FIBA AmeriCup 3x3 tournaments, “We want to expose our women to more international tournaments in all formats of the game. It is something that we’re committed to doing,” he said.

Meanwhile, the GBF was happy to announce that Spain-based point guard Ruth Adams is its latest overseas recruit. She currently plays in Spain's second division women's professional league with Miralvalle. Adams, 27, was shortlisted by the GBF for the upcoming CAC Games. Adams, who hails from Plaisance, migrated to the US at eight years old and following a stellar NCAA Division 2 collegiate career with St Thomas Aquinas College, she turned pro and headed overseas.

CSK win run-fest despite Maxwell, du Plessis fireworks

In February earlier this year Faf du Plessis was back in yellow, leading Jo'burg Super Kings to the inaugural SA20 semifinals along with Coach Stephen Fleming. Two months on in the Indian Premier League (IPL), du Plessis, in red and gold, launched an audacious assault with Glenn Maxwell as Royal Challengers Bangalore threatened to mow down 227 against Fleming and MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

After Super Kings had posted 226 for 6 on the back of Devon Conway's 45-ball 83 and Shivam Dube's 27-ball 52, they struck early through their Impact Player Akash Singh to dismiss Virat Kohli for 6 in the first over. Mahipal Lomror then fell to Tushar Deshpande in the next over, but du Plessis and Maxwell then tore into Super Kings' inexperienced seamers to power them to 75 for 2 in the powerplay.

Royal Challengers doubled that score by the 14th over, with du Plessis – stiff side and all –riding his luck to push them even further ahead. Du Plessis had been dropped on 0, by Dhoni behind the stumps, and then on 52 by Maheesh Theekshana off his own bowling. Super Kings dropped two more catches in a lax fielding effort, but late wickets and nifty variations from the Sri Lankan pair of Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana saved the day for them.

Theekshana had got rid of Maxwell for 76 off 36 balls with a fizzing 104kph carrom ball in a boundary-less over. Pathirana, who had been taken for 26 off 10 balls from Maxwell, had Shahbaz Ahmed holing out in an 18th over that cost just four runs to go with that wicket.

Royal Challengers' Impact Player Suyash Prabhudessai then heaved Deshpande for six in the 19th over, but Pathirana successfully defended 18 off the final over with his slingy, onpace yorkers and slower cutters. He had Prabhudessai caught at deep midwicket last ball with his bowling coach Dwayne

Bravo applauding him from the dugout.

Conway, Rahane turn up the tempo

Mohammed Siraj excelled in the powerplay once again, giving up just six runs in his two overs while claiming the wicket of Ruturaj Gaikwad for 3. Conway and Ajinkya Rahane, too, had started slowly, but they turned up the tempo in the fifth over, bowled by rookie seamer Vyshak Vijaykumar. Conway manufactured a scooped four while Rahane hit the roof of the Chinnaswamy Stadium with a 91-metre six.

Rahane then cracked Wayne Parnell for 4,6,4 in the last over of the powerplay, taking Super Kings up to 53 for 1 in six overs. He tried to keep up the attacking intent against Wanindu Hasaranga, but the wristspinner bested him with a wrong'un.

Dube dazzles

Hasaranga bowled only two overs and did not return after dismissing Rahane, because Super Kings had promoted their left-handed spin-hitter Dube to number four once again. Royal Challengers matched Dube up with Maxwell, but he got going by launching his own six into the

roof of the ground.

Conway brought up back-toback half-centuries and looked good for a maiden IPL hundred,

to a 25-ball fifty before Parnell had him holing out in the 17th over.

The drama at the death

Despite the loss of Ambati Rayudu in the next over, Super Kings seemed on track for a total of 230. Siraj, however, nailed his wide yorkers in the 19th over that cost 10 runs.

Harshal started the final over, which was closed out by stand-in captain Maxwell; du Plessis was off the field during that time because of a side strain.

After Harshal bowled two beamers, he had to be taken out of the attack. Maxwell brought himself into the attack, ahead of Hasaranga, and conceded nine runs, including a wide, for the wicket of Ravindra Jadeja off the last four balls.

The du Plessis-Maxwell show Royal Challengers were two

the powerplay. Maxwell then took centre stage, lining up both Jadeja and Theekshana. Maxwell did not spare Pathirana either after the powerplay, shanking him for a 94-metre six over square leg.

The pair took their team to 141 off 2 in 12 overs. Eighty-six from eight overs is a manageable ask at the Chinnaswamy, but Theekshana had Maxwell skying behind to set the scene for Super Kings' comeback.

Pathirana steps up Dinesh Karthik then played out the spinners and took the game deep with his 14-ball 28. By the time Karthik was out, Royal Challengers needed 35 off 18 balls. Pathirana would bowl

two of those.

Super Kings had opted against rushing Pathirana back into action because he had just recovered from Covid-19. But with Sisanda Magala also joining their injury list, they threw Pathirana into the mix on an easy-paced Chinnaswamy track. After taking a pasting in the early exchanges, he showed excellent control with his variations, showing why Super Kings were interested in signing him up even before he had played the Lanka Premier League in Sri Lanka.

In an IPL game where a record-equalling 33 sixes were hit, Pathirana held his nerve to drag Super Kings back into the top half of the standings. (ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

Chennai Super Kings (20 ovs maximum)

Ruturaj Gaikwad c Parnell

b Mohammed Siraj 3

Devon Conway b Patel 83

Ajinkya Rahane b de Silva 37

Shivam Dube c Mohammed

Siraj b Parnell 52

Ambati Rayudu c †Karthik

b Vyshak 14

Moeen Ali not out 19

Ravindra Jadeja c sub (SS Prabhudessai) b Maxwell 10

MS Dhoni (c)†not out 1

Extras (lb 1, nb 2, w 4) 7

TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 11.30) 226/6

Did not bat: Tushar

Deshpande, Maheesh

Theekshana, Matheesha

Pathirana, Akash Singh

Fall of wickets: 1-16 (Ruturaj

Gaikwad, 2.2 ov), 2-90 (Ajinkya

Rahane, 9.3 ov), 3-170 (Devon

Conway, 15.4 ov), 4-178 (Shivam Dube, 16.3 ov), 5-198 (Ambati Rayudu, 17.4 ov), 6-224 (Ravindra Jadeja, 19.4 ov) •

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Mohammed Siraj 4-0-30-1

Wayne Parnell 4-0-48-1

but Harshal Patel eventually cleaned him up for 83 with a dipping yorker. With Royal Challengers not having an outand-out fast bowler in their ranks, Dube continued to find or clear the boundary. He charged

down in two overs, but they still flew out of the blocks, thanks to du Plessis and Maxwell. They played to their strengths, with du Plessis taking down pace and Maxwell spin. Du Plessis was responsible for 45 of the 75 runs Royal Challengers had scored in

Vijaykumar Vyshak 4-0-62-1

Glenn Maxwell 2.4-0-28-1

Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva 2-0-21-1

Harshal Patel 3.2-0-36-1

Royal Challengers Bangalore (T: 227 runs from 20 ovs)

Virat Kohli b Akash Singh 6

Faf du Plessis (c) c †Dhoni b Ali 62

Mahipal Lomror c Gaikwad b Deshpande 0

Glenn Maxwell c †Dhoni b Theekshana 76

Shahbaz Ahmed c

Gaikwad b Pathirana 12

Dinesh Karthik † c

Theekshana b Deshpande 28

Suyash Prabhudessai c

Jadeja b Pathirana 19

Wayne Parnell c Dube b

Deshpande 2

Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva not out 2

Extras (lb 5, w 6) 11

TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 10.90) 218/8

Did not bat: Harshal Patel, Vijaykumar Vyshak

Fall of wickets: 1-6 (Virat Kohli, 0.4 ov), 2-15 (Mahipal Lomror, 1.6 ov), 3-141 (Glenn Maxwell, 12.1 ov), 4-159 (Faf du Plessis, 13.6 ov), 5-191 (Dinesh Karthik, 16.5 ov), 6-192 (Shahbaz

Ahmed, 17.1 ov), 7-197 (Wayne Parnell, 18.1 ov), 8-218 (Suyash Prabhudessai, 19.6 ov) •

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Akash Singh 3-0-35-1

Tushar Deshpande 4-0-45-3

GBF President Michael Singh

Some of the CSK players celebrate after a hard-fought win

Glenn Maxwell got to a 24-ball fifty on his way to a 36-ball 76

Chase, Carmel in thrillers to book Milo semi-final spots

Carmel Secondary, Mackenzie High, Chase’s Academic Foundation and Santa Rosa Secondary will be the four teams contesting the Milo schools’ football tournament semi-finals this Wednesday following a string of nail-biting games at the Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground on Monday.

Emotions ran high on a day where the defending champions were unceremoniously knocked out of the competition by their fiercest rivals in both sports and academics, while another tournament favourite and former champion had to dig deep to get past their menacing opponents.

The first game of the day saw Carmel ousting Bartica Secondary from the competition in a thrilling 4-3 affair.

Carmel took an early 2-0 lead with goals in the fourth and eighth minutes, off the boots

of Shem James and Ian Daniels respectively. Shawn Brown netted Bartica’s first in the 17th minute to bring the score to 2-1 by the half.

However, a 60th-minute strike from Ashton Dutchin tied things up, but not for long as Daniels struck again in the 61st minute.

Carmel once again lost their lead after Ezekiel Baldeo found the back of the net in the 63rd.

With the game going down to extra time, Daniels braved possible injury to find the game winner. A simple tap-in resulted in the youngster completing his hat-trick and Carmel’s fourth goal.

Mackenzie High edged defending champions Christianburg Wismar 1-0, clearing the way for a new holder of the Milo championship. Azizi Grant’s 30th minute goal was the winning one in the all Linden rivalry.

Meanwhile, the third quarter-

final game had spectators on the edge of their seats as Ann’s Grove Secondary challenged Chase’s Academy.

An early own goal in the fourth minute and one goal from Baron Jerrick in the 35th gave the East Coast outfit a 2-1 lead by the half, with Chase’s solitary goal coming off the boots of Captain Seon Cato.

Chase looked more composed in the second half, but missed a handful of chances to draw themselves level. However, as the game wound down, a spirited sprint through the midfield and a commanding strike from Cato resulted in Chase’s equaliser in the 75th minute.

Just when it was thought that the game would go to extra time, Chase’s Neeiaz Baksh pulled off a screamer to hand Chase the lead in the 90th minute.

The final quarter-final saw

Windies Women’s Emerging Players…

Santa Rosa Secondary thumping

East Ruimveldt Secondary 6-1.

Darius Williams led with a brace in the 58th and 90th+2 for the Region One outfit, while Keshan Campbell (12th), Troy Boyer (60th), Roy Vansluytman (86th) and Travis Jervis (88th) added one goal each.

Daniel Sutton netted East Ruimveldt’s consolation in the 61st minute.

The Milo semi-finals will go down on Wednesday, April 19 at the same venue. At 17:00h, Chase Academy will lock horns with Mackenzie High while at 19:00h Carmel and Santa Rosa Secondary will do battle.

The Milo tournament is sponsored by Massy Distribution through its Nestle Milo brand, and supported by Guyana Industrial Minerals Inc (GINMIN); General Equipment Guyana (Genequip) and MVP Sports.

Noel still eager to represent Guyana

It is by now no secret that Guyanese swimming sensation Raekwon Noel will be taking his talents to the Division One of the US National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), competing for the Indiana University (Bloomington).

However, with what is expected to be a packed schedule for the teenager, he has every intention to go on representing the Golden Arrowhead internationally.

Noel announced his verbal commitment to the sport back in February, a commitment that

Participants boost number of qualified

women’s

coaches in the Caribbean

Noel went on to reveal his expectations for the collegiate circuit: ““My expectations are pretty high. I went on an official visit there in January of this year, and I was so pleased with what I saw and how hard they worked and I can’t wait to join that amazing atmosphere and legendary coaches and athletes. I just can’t wait to see what’s next for me.”

Noel recently grabbed five gold medals at the CARIFTA Aquatic Championships in Curaçao – copping first place in the 15-17 1500m Freestyle, 400m Individual Medley, 800m Freestyle, 200m Butterfly and 400m Freestyle. He is still laser focused on representing Guyana

The swimmer, who recently rewrote four national records and two CARIFTA records, shared, “My chances of representing Guyana while in university is pretty high. I will still be training every day and I will still be excited to represent Guyana at the highest-level meets and I will just be happy to be there and give my best

“I’m excited to represent Guyana in the future,” he added.

While in the USA, Noel trains with the South Jersey Aquatic Club and represented the Land of Many Waters at the 2021 Short Course World Championship and the 2022 FINA World Junior

Seventeen players from the recent West Indies Women’s Emerging Players High-Performance Camp are now accredited cricket coaches after successfully completing both the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Foundation Coaching and CWI Competition Coaching (Level 1) accreditation courses, boosting the number of female Level One Coaches in the Caribbean.

The players completed the coaching qualifications at Coolidge Cricket Ground (CCG) on March 26 and 27 while in Antigua for the Emerging Players HighPerformance Camp from March 13 to April 2.

The High-Performance Camp was geared towards players aged 25 and under as part of the ongoing strategy to develop the pool of talent across the Region. The coaching courses were part of the camp activities which included holistic support across technical, tactical, physical, mental, and personal development areas. The 17 women’s players now have the skills and understanding to be able to take on coaching sessions with junior players in their communities and across the Region, which in turn increases the chances of developing more junior talent in the Region.

CWI Coach Development Manager Chris Brabazon and CWI Talent Pathway Manager Steve Liburd guided the players through the courses and the subsequent assessments as part of the two-week High-Performance Camp.

Brabazon stated: “We need more female role

models in our cricket ecosystems across the region and the courses provide these young players with the confidence to be able to lead cricket sessions at their clubs and within their communities, and will help to inspire and encourage future generations of players. It also provides the players with a greater understanding and appreciation of the role of a coach and hopefully, we may have planted a seed for them to consider becoming a professional coach one day.”

The continuous HighPerformance Camp continues CWI’s increased investment into the women’s game and forms part of the overall HighPerformance Pathway. CWI’s strategic plan has committed additional resources into developing the women’s cricket at every level. This High-Performance Camp at CCG played a vital role in developing the talent pool and producing the next generation of West Indies Women’s players.

Participating players & newly-accredited

Level 1 Coaches:

Earnisha Fontaine

Cherry-Ann Fraser

Shabika Gajnabi

Jannilea Glasgow

Sheneta Grimmond

Trishan Holder

Zaida James

Djenba Joseph

Qiana Joseph

Mandy Mangru

Ashmini Munisar

Abini St Jean

Shalini Samaroo

Shunelle Sawh

Kaysia Schultz

Steffie Soogrim

Kate Wilmott

Scenes from the Windies Women Emerging players camp

A look at the contest between Santa Rosa (dark blue) and East Ruimveldt (light blue)

Chase’s Seon Cato ( centre, light blue) netted two to send his team to the semi-finals

Azizi Grant (17) netted the goal that needled former defending champions Christianburg Wismar

The venues and fixtures for the 2023 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) have been confirmed, with the tournament taking place from August 16 to September 24 in Saint Lucia, St Kitts & Nevis, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana.

The tournament gets underway in Saint Lucia with six matches at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground between August 16 and August 20, with home side the Saint Lucia Kings appearing in four of those fixtures.

From there the tournament moves on to St Kitts & Nevis with six matches at Warner Park between August 23 and

August 27 with four games for the home team, the Patriots.

The next leg of the tournament will take place in Barbados with the CPL returning to the country for the first time since 2019. With six matches scheduled for the iconic Kensington Oval, and four home games for the Barbados Royals, there will be lots of excitement about the tournament’s return. The matches will take place in Barbados from August 30 to September 3.

From September 5 to September 10, the tournament will be in Trinidad & Tobago. There will be four home games for the Trinbago Knight Riders and six matches in total.

The final leg of the

tournament will take place in Guyana with the matches running from September 13 to September 24. The knockout stages will be in Guyana again in 2023, with excitement already building after the successful running of the final last season.

Republic Bank CPL’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Pete Russell said: “We are very pleased that the tournament will be staged in five countries in 2023. As ever, the CPL is a chance for fans across the region and around the world to enjoy world-class cricket. And for the players from the Caribbean, it is an opportunity to showcase their skills and further their careers.” (CPL T20)

Guyana finish 5th at Junior Pan Am Hockey

10 unanswered goals for U-20 Women against Dominica

Guyana’s Under-21 male hockey team pulled off a scintillating victory over Brazil on Monday to finish their Junior Pan Am Hockey Championship campaign in fifth position.

The fifth-place finish was fuelled by their 3-2 victory over Brazil in a penalty shootout. During regular time, Shaquan Favourite and Warren Williams struck for Guyana in the 26th and

34th minutes, while Brazil tied the game up with goals from Lucas Varela and Luiz Santoro in the 28th and 33rd respectively.

Once, at the shootout mark, Warren Williams, Oshazay Savory, and Samuel Woodroffe secured Guyana’s three shots, while Brazil’s two successful shots came from Arthur Giro and Victor Godoy.

Guyana’s campaign at the Junior Championship

in Barbados included a 1-0 victory over the hosts and losses to the United States (3-0) and Canada (5-0).

Meanwhile, Guyana’s U-21 Women will continue their campaign in the women’s version of the Junior Pan Am Hockey Championship today, with a match scheduled against Uruguay.

The tournament was hosted at the Wildey Hockey Centre in St Michael, Barbados.

Six remarkable goals from Se-Hanna Mars, two from Jalade Trim, and one each from Heike Clarke and Glendy Lewis secured Guyana’s Under-20 women's national team’s second consecutive victory on Monday in the CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship Qualifiers in the Dominican Republic.

Head Coach Paul DeAbreu opted for an unchanged starting XI which read: Samantha Banfield (Captain); Nya-Grace Young (Goalkeeper); Se-Hanna Mars; Savannah Singh; Anika Sproxton; Shamya Daniels; Jalade Trim; Sandra Johnson; Glendy Lewis; Heike Clarke and Jayda Schoburgh.

Displaying confidence from the start of the match on Monday afternoon, the young Lady Jags defeated Dominica 10 - 0 in the Felix Sanchez Stadium in Santo Domingo.

It was forward Trim who struck quickly after the starting whistle, scoring the first goal just five minutes into the game,

followed by Mars’ thrilling five goals in the 14th, 16th, 19th, 31st and 37 minutes. Defender Clarke made the seventh goal at the 48th minute mark. Forward Mars scored her sixth goal in the 66th minute; Lewis in the 78th minute and Trim finished the game, scoring in the 90th+ 2 minute. It was a sensational performance by Guyana’s Under-20 Women.

Their victory was due to their high-energy levels, quality of play, and sound decision-making on the pitch.

Guyana Football Federation (GFF) President Wayne Forde congratulated the team and coaching staff on a solid win, and noted that the players showed discipline throughout the game.

“I would like to join the rest of Guyana in congratulating our girls and the coaching staff for yet another solid performance. The team remained disciplined throughout the game and worked really

hard to amass as many goals as possible. We have made tremendous progress over the past seven years in female football development, and we will continue to invest heavily in more leagues and competitions at all levels.”

On April 15, the young Lady Jaguars defeated Suriname 6-0 in their opening match. Guyana are in Group C with host nation Dominican Republic, Suriname, and Dominica.

A record 32 teams are in six groups – two groups have six teams and four groups have five teams each – competing between April 14 and April 23. The winner of each group will advance to the May 2023 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship in the Dominican Republic, joining top-ranked teams United States and Mexico.

Guyana play the Dominican Republic on Wednesday, April 19 at 18:00h (6 pm) in the Felix Sanchez Stadium.

Goalscorers (from left) Glendy Lewis, Jalade Trim, Se-Hanna Mars and Heike Clarke

Guyana’s men’s U-21 hockey team celebrate their victory