Guyana Times - Wednesday, April 26, 2023

“Guyana Shop Corner” creates positive vibes nationally

…consumers impressed with quality of

NWD miner charged for brother’s murder

Entry into UG, CPCE expanded with GOAL’s SCQF certificate – Manickchand announces …as 1450 persons complete programme

Sophia shopkeeper gets 3 years for possession of gun, ammo

Labourer crushed by log at Linden worksite

PPC to host 1-day training seminar for suppliers, contractors

Almost 16,000 scholarships already delivered to Guyanese – Pres Ali

...says investments in education aligned with development trajectory ahead

In less than three years, Government has been able to deliver almost 16,000 scholarships to Guyanese from across the different regions.

President Irfaan Ali disclosed on Tuesday that the scholarships were delivered through the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) and other programmes under the Public Service Ministry.

It also puts his Administration closer towards fulfilling their manifesto promise of 20,000 scholarships within their first term in office. Benefitting from these opportunities were a significant number of females, he stressed.

“We have delivered almost 16,000 scholarships already. I can guarantee you that there is no other country that can say out of 16,000 scholarships, more than 11,000 went

to female students,” Ali said while addressing the graduation ceremony for scholarship awardees.

The President underscored that education is an uplifting tool to oneself and the country. Investments in the education sector have been calculated to align with the development trajectory ahead.

Education is that tool that can unlock for you, a future that would be able to deliver greater prospects but more importantly, one that is supposed to deliver to our communities and our country, better citizens, more responsible citizens, citizens who are better equipped to serve our country.

Hospitality, health and technical sectors are some areas where person can develop a career path to service, Ali noted. In some of the budding sectors, there is a shortage of workers.

“Technical education and services are important areas in terms of employment generation in our country. Sometimes, we are not up to speed with the time. In the developed world, you would see persons with Master’s degree operating a heavy-duty equipment. There is dignity in every form of job,” the Head of State advised.

Launched in 2021, GOAL is a part of the Government of Guyana’s transformative agenda to have an educated workforce. GOAL, through partnerships with several international universities, provides a myriad of pertinent academic and vocational programmes: Certificate, Diploma, Bachelor’s, PostGraduate, Master’s, and Doctorate.

The primary objective is to deliver 20,000 scholarships by 2025 through a collaboration of agencies including the Education Ministry; Public Service Ministry, and the Labour Ministry. Public Service Minister Sonia Parag used the op-

portunity to speak on the Government’s commitment to ensuring students complete their respective programmes as she acknowledged their challenges.

“We understand the challenges. We understand what you have to go through and we will ensure that you reach that point, whatever that glass ceiling is that you want to shatter. Whether it be a PhD, whether it be a degree, we will ensure that we help you to overcome the hurdles,” Parag urged.

Director of

persons to apply for the various courses as the opportunity is still available, while lauding the Ali-led Administration’s efforts.

called

“I have lived in many countries and I have never seen a Government say ‘come and get a scholarship’ and you don’t have to serve. All you have to do is community service. Go and practice what you have learnt to your communities,” the Professor asserted.

(G12)

PPC to host 1-day training seminar for suppliers, contractors

The Public Procurement Commission (PPC) will host a one-day training seminar for suppliers and contractors, on May 31, at the Ramada Georgetown Princess Hotel at Providence, East Bank Demerara.

The PPC is mandated by Article 212AA(1)(b) of the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, and as enabled by S.17(2) of the Procurement Act, to organise training seminars among suppliers,

contractors, and public bodies with the aim of promoting awareness of the rules, procedures and special requirements of the procurement process.

The PPC encourages all suppliers and contractors to take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about the public procurement process and the role of the PPC. Presentations will include information on the procurement process, tendering tips and procedures, complaints

procedure, and the process of debarment of suppliers and contractors.

Besides the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) would also make a presentation on the tendering requirements as these relate to IDB-funded projects.

The objective of the seminar is to equip participants with the requisite knowledge to competently navigate the

public procurement system. Suppliers and contractors are required to register to attend the seminar. Registration opens on April 24 and closes on May 24, 2023.

To register, or obtain more information, persons are invited to contact the Commission on telephone numbers (592) 226-3729, (592) 231-7306, or (592) 2262364; or via email at publicprocurement@ppc.org.gy

GOAL, Professor Jacob Opadeyi

on

President Dr Irfaan Ali

Public Service Minister Sonia Parag

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, Apr 26 – 22:00h – 23:30h and Thursday, Apr 27 – 23:30h – 01:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Wednesday, Apr 26 – 07:20h – 08:50h and Thursday, Apr 27 – 08:30h – 10:00h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

There will be thundery showers and light rain showers during the day. Expect light cloud and thundery showers at night. Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: South South-Easterly to Easterly between 1.34 metres and 2.68 metres.

High Tide: 08:02h and 20:46h reaching maximum heights of 2.27 metres and 2.07 metres.

Low Tide: 14:13h reaching a minimum height of 0.98 metre.

Combating of TIP Bill (2023) State to now get power to go after foreign assets of traffickers for restitution

The Combating of Trafficking in Persons Bill (2023) was on Monday tabled in the National Assembly, proposing sweeping changes that will better protect at-risk persons from the scourge of human trafficking.

The Bill was presented to the National Assembly during the 63rd sitting, by Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud. According to her, the Bill will contain comprehensive measures to combat human trafficking. Once passed, the Bill will replace the Combating of Trafficking Persons Act of 2005.

“Mr Speaker, I present to the Assembly the Combating of Trafficking in Persons Bill (2023), Bill number six of 2023, a Bill intituled an Act to provide comprehensive measures to combat trafficking in person and for connected matters. And I move that the Bill be read a first time,” Dr Persaud said.

The Bill covers the recruitment, transportation and sheltering of a child, for the purpose of exploiting them for use in prostitution or the drug trade. In the Bill, a person’s past sexual consent or history, marriage or their immigration status, cannot be used against them. Additionally, the intentional withholding of identification papers is a criminal offence under the Bill.

LOTTERY NUMBERS

The transportation of anyone across the border for exploitation is also an offence that will carry, on summary conviction, a $5 million fine and up to 5 years in prison. Convicted persons can also have their assets forfeited to the State, whether local or overseas. The law also allows for restitution to be paid to victims.

Section 7(1) states “Where a person is convicted of trafficking in persons under this act, the courts shall order that person to pay restitution to the victim and shall be guided by information provided by the unit or any other agency or person, pursuant to the list set out in the second schedule.”

Section 8(1) states “All property, including money, valuables and other moveable and immovable property, of a person convicted of trafficking in persons under this Act that was used or intended to be used or was obtained in the course of the crime or as part of benefits gained from the crime shall be forfeited to the State.”

Among the cost that the victim will be compensated for are; medical and psychological treatment, physical and occupational therapy, cost of necessary transportation, temporary housing and childcare, lost income, attorney fees and other costs, compensation for emotional distress, pain and suffering and any other costs suffered by the victim as a direct result of

being trafficked. It was announced earlier this year that Guyana has been able to maintain its Tier One status in the United States Department of State 2022 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report. According to the report, “The Government of Guyana fully meets the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.”

“The Government continued to demonstrate serious and sustained efforts during the reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on

its anti-trafficking capacity; therefore, Guyana remained on Tier 1,” the report stated.

In a statement, the Home affairs Ministry had stated that, “This consistent result highlights the deliberate work deployed by the Government of Guyana, the TIP Ministerial Task Force and the collaboration of all stakeholders.”

In addition, the task force established an interviewing and screening centre for suspected victims of TIP. To date, 179 persons have been interviewed and screened includ-

ing Venezuelan migrants. Also, a gender-responsive and socially inclusive TIP training manual has been developed and is 95 per cent completed.

Moreover, a TIP Migrant Assessment was conducted in Leguan, in the Essequibo River, and a spot inspection at Buck Hall in Region Two.

On top of that, 10 anti-trafficking in person operations were carried out in Regions Four, Five, Seven and One. One case is presently before the court.

The task force also conducted outreaches, sensitisation and awareness sessions in Regions One, Two, Three, Four, Seven, Eight, Nine and 10. In addition, 230 migrants in various communities received sensitisation on the issue of trafficking in person in 2022.

Stakeholders from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, Guyana Police Force, Maritime, and Airport security officials, medical professionals, and education, welfare, and guidance officers received training in TIP in the various communities.

(G3)

Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Genuine collaborative approach

There are many social ills affecting the Guyanese society, especially the younger segment of the population; and programmes and support services to help address these issues could never be enough. For example, the use of illegal drugs and alcohol, crime, suicide, domestic and other forms of violence are having a huge negative impact on communities across Guyana. And now, more than ever, there is need for a genuine collaborative approach, with inclusive planning and coordination, where volunteerism is a key element, to help find practical and lasting solutions to these many ills.

We are well aware that sometimes young people feel there is no end or solutions to the problems they are facing, and hence they turn to various forms of anti-social behaviours, thereby creating more challenges for an already burdened society.

While the Government must play a crucial role in designing the relevant policies and putting in place the necessary legislative framework and other support mechanisms aimed at addressing these issues, this burden must also be shared by various actors within the society, such as religious groups, nongovernmental organisations (NGO) etc; since such problems affect everyone. For example, there is hardly any family in Guyana which was never touched directly or indirectly by suicide. Experts have pointed to the fact that about 90% of people who die by suicide had some sort of mental illness at the time of their death.

Many people die by suicide because depression is triggered by several negative life experiences, and the suffering person does not receive effective treatment or support. In many communities across the country, persons are crying out for attention; they need guidance, or simply someone to speak with; many want to find a way out of their misery. However, sometimes accessing that source of help is very difficult.

At present, there are quite a few NGOs, faith-based organisations etc offering such support services, but there is need for more to get involved. Those who are already on board should be commended for the work they are doing. Such work is invaluable, and must be supported and encouraged. A few new organisations are also coming on board, and some are expanding their services offered.

The role of the Private Sector should also never be underestimated. There is need for funding for many crucial programmes aimed at creating better opportunities for young persons, and businesses should step up to the challenge. Such programmes, once effectively implemented, would see our children and young people become well equipped with the necessary skills to develop themselves, and in turn contribute to the overall development of the country as a whole.

Former Caricom Secretary General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque had, some time ago, said the majority of victims as well as perpetrators of crimes reported by the Police are young males 18 to 35 years old. This is surely reason to be concerned, as right away one would begin to worry about the kind of future these persons would have, and the contributions they would make to their societies, if any at all.

Certainly, there is a great need for intervention in order to combat the challenges facing young people. In order to prepare young people for workplace success, job training programmes need to go beyond technical instruction and also teach “life skills” such as communication, reliability, and teamwork. This push to teach youths life skills has been validated by employers who have consistently reported that, above all, they want to hire employees who possess workplace-ready skills such as communication, teamwork, motivation and responsibility. Technical skills, they say, can be learned on the job.

We believe that if our young people are to move from the less mature and irresponsible ways of thinking and acting to making more mature and responsible judgments, and engaging in activities that are the hallmark of a socially productive adulthood, certain support systems must be provided.

A National Intelligence and Security Agency: At Long Last

By Daniel K. GiBran, Ph.D. Professor (retireD)

Finally, a government in Guyana has taken a bold and puissant step to establish through legislation a National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA). This step is the first cock’s crow heralding a new day for the Co-operative Republic. Now at last the citizens of Guyana can breathe a sigh of relief from fear and uncertainty that once stalked the land in days gone by. Well do we remember the wanton abuse of power from a chief executive who presided over a bunch of sycophants who unleashed a reign of terror on not a few.

The passage of legislation to create NISA will put a stop to the abuse of this type of presidential power and at the same time through its information gathering and rigorous analysis (of said information) by its collection and analysis capabilities provide value-added to executive decision making. In short, this is another worthwhile step propelling Guyana forward into the twenty-first century. But it must be done right and with a keen sense of weighty responsibility. For this is a weighty step.

What is loosely called “intelligence” is not a new or novel phenomenon in statecraft. The intelligence function is traceable to Biblical times when Moses sent out 12 spies to gather “useful” information, not intelligence, about the lay of the land, its topography, peoples, resources such as food and water, and how much of a threat the peoples of this “promised” land posed to Israel.

In modern times, States, small and large, powerful and not so powerful, established national intelligence agencies

to gather secret information about the capabilities and intentions of other States in order to be prepared to respond to threats to their national security. For example, Guyana has no way of knowing what Maduro’s plans and intentions are, real or imagined, towards Guyana. Why, because it lacks a dedicated intelligence capability that will have the requisite mechanisms in place to find out. Flip this script for a moment and imagine the advantage Caracas has over Guyana. The Venezuelan Embassy in Georgetown has a number of “spies” working under diplomatic cover in Guyana. Maduro knows much more about Guyana’s secrets than his counterpart in Georgetown knows about Venezuela’s. Guyana’s Embassy in Caracas does not have any operator who is trained in espionage. The Venezuelan Embassy has quite a few as do the US, Russia, and China, operating in Guyana with a free rein. And Guyana’s counterintelligence capability is at best immature and inchoate.

This brings us to the functions of a national intelligence agency. But contrary to the adumbrations and fears expressed in one of the dailies a day ago, the citizens of Guyana have nothing to fear with the legal creation and operation of NISA. The guardrails that would and must be in place in the legislation combined with laws relating to the interception of communications should act as robust barriers against the abuses of political power. The idea expressed in that daily newspaper about the Director reporting and answerable only to the President is nothing to lose sleep over. The CIA, which was created by the National Security Act in 1947, is a good example. The Director of the CIA answers to and executes the directives of one person, the President of the United States of America. In other words, the CIA works for a customer of One. The GRU in Russia also works for a customer of one, Putin.

Unlike the GDF and the Special Branch of the GPF, State entities with Intelligence Units that gather a narrow bandwidth of information to execute specific functions such as logistics operations or crime-related information to solve a specific case, that of a national intelligence agency is broad in scope and gears toward protecting the nation’s interests. Information gathering, for example, is one of the primary functions of a national intelligence agency. This function involves collecting information

from varied sources, both domestic and international, in order to identify potential threats to national security. And this information can be collected through a variety of platforms that include signals intelligence (SIGINT), human intelligence (HUMINT), opensource intelligence (OSINT), and other technical mechanisms such as satellite imagery, acoustic and laser and infrared signals. Technical collection platforms are reliable, sophisticated and very costly, hence out of NISA’s range of acquisition capability.

After information of national security interests is collected, it is then rigorously analysed by the agency’s intelligence analysts to determine the potential threat to national security. Before providing a judgment or insight, the agency will assess or evaluate the credibility and reliability of the information and try to piece together the bigger picture. This rigor embedded in the analytical process is essential to helping policy makers make informed decisions about national security. In short, intelligence adds value to both tactical and strategic decision making.

Another important function of a national intelligence agency is counterintelligence. This involves identifying and then neutralising threats to national security posed by foreign intelligence operators, terrorist groups, and other hostile actors. Counterintelligence activities involve monitoring and surveilling potential threats, identifying potential vulnerabilities in government’s operational systems that could be exploited by foreign adversaries. Guyana needs a national intelligence agency with a robust counterintelligence capability to conduct surveillance of foreign operators. It must shake itself out of its long bout of senescence.

Finally, a national intelligence agency, legally created and functioning by strict adherence to the laws that govern its operations does not pose a threat to its citizens. The singular advantage such an agency has lies in its capability to collect secret information secretly. The time has come at this propitious juncture in its history when heightened interest in Guyana’s economic development comes calling, Parliament must do the right thing and act in the national interest to protect the country from threats to national security.

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Monday evening hosted a dinner meeting for Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Guo Haiyan, and other representatives of her office, at State House. The President was accompanied by Prime Minister, Brigadier (retired) Mark Phillips; Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo; Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd; Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Oneidge Walrond; Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues; and Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud. Guyana became the first English-speaking Caribbean country to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China in 1972

US Customs and Border Patrol policy permits seizure and search of cellphones

Dear Editor,

In May 2020, during that year’s election fiasco, a well-known attorney in Guyana indicated that it was believed that certain persons would pressure GECOM to prohibit the use of cellphones during the recount process. As such, I wrote about an important ruling from the US Supreme Court regarding searches and seizures of cellphones. See “Ban on cell phones is a gag on free speech during the electoral process” (SN, May 4, 2020).

In “Riley v California,” the court, in 2014, held that Police officers “must generally secure a warrant before conducting such a search” of a cellphone. Chief Justice John

Guyana

Dear Editor,

Roberts reasoned that a cellphone is “now such a pervasive and insistent part of daily life that the proverbial visitor from Mars might conclude they were an important feature of the human anatomy.”

It was a rare victory against Police officers, who historically have dominated civilians despite protections by the Fourth Amendment to the US Constitution in regard to “unreasonable” searches and seizures of our persons and effects. This is noted here because, while the US has stronger institutions, both Guyana and the US have law enforcement structures that are deeply discriminatory, often resulting in a racialised kind of “Rule of Law”

historically.

Invoking the Fourth Amendment, a number of mostly US citizens used this Riley case and sued the US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) and the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for warrantless and lengthy seizures of their cellphones /devices. Long story short, they lost their case at the federal appellate level (US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit) in February 2021, and a further effort to get the country’s top court (US Supreme Court) to consider the matter was later denied.

While courts may differ as to what is required for “basic” versus “advance” searches, as identi -

fied in CBP policy, the general rule is that CBP (and ICE) policy allows for warrantless searches and detention of electronic devices at the border or ports of entry (e.g., airports). The rule falls under the old “border search” exception to the Fourth Amendment warrant requirement for searches or seizures.

Unlike Police officers, these “border”/customs agents have long held extraordinary authority in order to protect the US and its territorial integrity. They are not obligated to answer to any foreign sovereign as to their prescribed immigration procedures. They work in tandem with the US Department of State, which at the day’s end is

the hand that gives and takes a visa to enter the US.

While CBP policy permits an officer to “detain electronic devices or copies of information contained therein for a brief reasonable period of time, to perform a thorough border search,” supervisory approval is needed for a number of stronger actions.

According to the Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, citing CBP policy, supervisory approval is required to detain devices after the owners’ “departure from the port or other location of detention”, or to extend detention beyond an initial 5 days, while a “third level of approval to extend a deten -

tion beyond fifteen days” is also needed.

Perhaps these tidbits of information may be instructive in the unfortunate situation that transpired (or allegedly transpired) against the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Permanent Secretary, Mae Toussaint Jr. Thomas, as reported in the press; and to others who travel frequently to the US, where thousands of phones have been, and continue to be, seized at ports of entry for all sorts of reasons, without anyone having to be on someone’s “list.”

Sincerely,

Rakesh Rampertab

can become that Second World state of the Caribbean

Over the weekend, we saw the Mayor and City Council conducting a demolition and cleaning exercise of the areas around the municipal markets of Georgetown. While some might be elated that the capital city is receiving a long-awaited facelift, I am not in the least impressed by this move.

In the first place, how

many times have we gone through this exercise? And the answer is: too numerous to mention. However, with no long-term plan in place, the areas quickly revert to their original state with those vendors crawling back to their usual vending spots.

The point is that when a mayor carries out this political posturing, the end result would be another exercise in futility. Just allow the situ-

Tribute to Harry Belafonte

Dear Editor, On Tuesday, the Great Harry Belafonte passed away. I am grieved, but I’m consoled that his life is one that must be celebrated.

As the world knows, he was a top-class entertainer, one of the best to have graced us. However, he was far more than that. He stood up against segregation racism and political prostitution. He defended Mandela and the ANC when they were called terrorists by the US Government, and

he stood by Martin Luther King in his hour of need. Further, he stood strong with Paul Robeson, a Communist and talented activist and entertainer. He always fought with the oppressed and downtrodden of this world. I join with progressive and democratic-minded people to mourn and celebrate this most worthy life. He will be remembered throughout the ages.

Sincerely,

Donald Ramotar

ation another week or two, and all those vendors would start making their way back to the same location to erect their shanty booths. Those precincts would again be a hub of illegal activities.

Let's face it: with no present or future plan for the City's development, one cannot envision any lasting changes being affected there.

Come next week or next month, the usual noise nuisance, traffic congestion, cursing, shouting, stinking effluent would return to those areas right here in downtown Georgetown. Change can come only when the PPP/C take control of Georgetown.

The PPP have already mapped out a long-term solution to the City's prob-

lems. Firstly, rebuild all the municipal markets, so that you can effectively remove the streetside vendors and place them in a proper place for vending. I would also make the proposal - if it is not already there - that these markets be built into modern mall-like structures, where vendors as well as shoppers can conduct

their business in a friendly and beautiful ambiance. Guyana is on its way to being a developing state - the most developed state in the Caribbean. The time to be that modern, Second World state of the Caribbean is now!

Respectfully, Neil Adams

NGSA Math Questions

Tuesday’s answers

National Assembly finalises nominees for Public Service Commission

…names submitted to Office of the President

The National Assembly has settled on two nominees for the long-awaited Public Service Commission (PSC), after over two years of work done by the Committee of Appointments that culminated this month.

In its eighth report to the National Assembly, the Committee of Appointments reported that it had settled on Mohandatt Goolsarran, former Director of the National Centre for Education Resource Development (NCERD) as the nominee of the Guyana

Public Service Senior Staff Association (GPSSA) and Janice Isabella Bowen, the nominee of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), as the National Assembly’s nominees for the PSC.

According to the committee, it meaningfully consulted with both the union and the association in arriving at those two names. This publication meanwhile confirmed with Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Issacs, that the report has formally been conveyed to the Office of the President as of

Mining pit fatal accident

Tuesday.

A perusal of the report, which was signed by committee Chairperson and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Teixeira, shows that the process to select nominees for the Public Service Commission has been ongoing since January 13, 2021.

At first, Vincent Bowman and Mortimer Livan were nominated to be members of the PSC. However, Bowman subsequently passed away.

“The Committee then agreed that the National Union of Public Service

BOSAI to hand over findings to Labour Ministry today

BOSAI Minerals will be handing over its findings from the fatal accident which claimed the life of Neptrid Hercules at the its Linden operations last month, to Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton today.

The report was completed and is said to include a number of recommendations coming out of the tragic incident and subsequent probe.

It was reported that Neptrid Hercules went missing in the early hours of the morning on Saturday, March 11, along with the CAT D9T Dozer which he was operating at the time.

This was as a result of a failure experienced by the overburden dump where he was working in the East Montgomery Mine, which caused them to be covered by the overburden material.

GGMC personnel arrived on the site with a highly-advanced magnetic device on Sunday, March 12, which detected strong indication

of metal mass some 15 metres below the surface. The company was advised to use excavators to remove debris, which continued on Monday morning. The search continued until Tuesday, March 14, when Hercules’ body was found.

Hercules worked at the bauxite company for 42

years and was set to retire in October. He was the sole breadwinner for his family.

A formal investigation was ordered by the Labour Minister to determine what transpired. They included Chairman, Charles Ceres; Victor Fernandes from the National Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health (NACOSH); Jimmy Reece, Michael Howard and Krishna Ramdas of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC); Colis Primo from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Neza King and Darwin Bourne of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Department of the Labour Ministry; Legal Officer of the Ministry, Alyea Williams; and Emilia Maslen.

In 2020, 32 persons died in workplace accidents, with that number falling to 27 in 2021. In total, 184 workplace accidents were investigated last year, inclusive of 19 fatal events. (G12)

Employees, which represents public officers and classes of public officers in Guyana, should be invited to submit two nominees from which a selection would be made to replace Mr. Bowman on the Commission…” the committee reported.

The name of John Tull was then submitted by the National Union of Public Service Employees. Subsequently, consultation was broadened to include more organisations. After the withdrawal of a nominee from the process, the GPSSA submitted Goolsarran’s

name to join Bowen, who had already been nominated in November 2021. Bowen and Goolsarran were unanimously selected by the committee and recommended to the President for appointment.

It was only earlier this month that President Dr Irfaan Ali had assured that the PSC would soon be constituted and that once this is done, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) will follow. The Head of State was at the time responding to questions posed during a press conference to wrap up a two-day Cabinet outreach in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).

According to President Ali, the composition of the JSC requires the Public Service Commission to be placed. To this end, he announced that they are “finalising the work” of the PSC.

“There are outstanding issues from Parliament and some other agencies to have the Public Service Commission up… [But] I can promise you very, very soon [the PSC will be constituted,” the President posited.

When the PSC is appointed, Ali pointed out “…we’ll then be able to move to the full comple-

ment of the Judicial Service Commission… As soon as that is done, the Judicial Service Commission will come in effect and then we move towards the different matters that the Judicial Service Commission has to look at.”

When it comes to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), Article 198 (1) of the Constitution of Guyana states that the members must be comprised of the Chancellor of the Judiciary, who will be appointed as Chairman, the Chief Justice, the Chairman of the Public Service Commission and any other members appointed to the Commission. (G3)

Guyana Public Service Senior Staff Association nominee Mohandatt Goolsarran

Committee of Appointments Chairperson and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Gail Teixeira

BOSAI Operator Neptrid Hercules

WBD man accused of stealing over $2M in construction items remanded to prison

26-year-old Devindra Moteeram of Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara (WCD), who was accused of stealing more than $2 million in items from several persons along the East Bank of Demerara (EBD), was remanded to prison.

Moteeram was arrested on Thursday last and charged the following day for the offences. He made a virtual appearance at the Diamond/ Golden Grove Magistrate’s Court where he pleaded not guilty to all the charges and was refused bail.

The first charge stated that between

March 25 and 26, he broke into a storage bond of Aranco Services Inc and stole several items including 52 sash windows, six awning windows, two buckets of oil paint, and two electric saws totalling $1,181,000. The incident occurred at the Young Professionals Scheme in Prospect, EBD.

Additionally, Police stated that between March 28 and 29 at Prospect, EBD, Moteeram broke into a storage bond of Ghansham Rajpaul, a 27-yearold contractor, and stole a Total generator worth $85,000

Further, Moteeram was ac-

Just another day...

…in the land of vacuity

Your Eyewitness is pretty sure that, like him, most of you, dear readers, didn’t notice that last Sunday was “World Book Day”. Yawn…yes it was!! He was too taken up dealing with mundane matters, like getting that next meal in this age of galloping inflation, to pay much attention to whatever went on to commemorate the day! Did ANYONE do anything?? But there’s a larger question that needs to be asked: Do we really need to read books??

cused of breaking into the property of Anil Singh, a 37-year-old manager of Premier Insurance Company, and stealing a generator, a compactor, a grinder, an electric saw, an electric drill, a water pump, and a welding plant worth $610,000

Police stated that the incident occurred at Covent Garden, EBD, between March 28 and 29, 2023.

Lastly, Police stated that Moteeram also broke into a storage bond owned by Kamrul Baksh, the Director of Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), and stole a Yamaha generator, a Hilty Total Drill, a Total Sander, a Total Screw Gun, and other equipment totalling $910,000.

This incident, the Police stated, occurred between April 3 and 4 at New Providence Housing Scheme, EBD.

Meanwhile, the suspect was remanded to prison on all the charges and will make his next court appearance on May 15.

Now, don’t get your Eyewitness wrong. He has no problem with READING, as such. He just has a problem with reading BOOKS!! And this isn’t some recent fad. Back when he was sent to school in short pants – which exposed his knobby knees – some teacher literally beat out of him whatever chance there was of loving books!! Being a tad precocious, he already could make out words on pages by that time, thanks to his patient big sister. It was the books the teachers insisted he read that scarred him. He just couldn’t stand that Rampat family, or Pat and Roy!!

But seriously, folks, your Eyewitness’s motto when it comes to reading books is: The person who only reads books but doesn’t put what he reads into practice is really wasting his time!! Cause that’s the only way you can tell whether the book served any purpose!! And as he grew up in Guyana, nothing happened that disabused him of that notion. Take our early political leaders – Burnham and Jagan. Burnham was a fella who just loved reading. The man could even read in French!! Which is still all ‘Greek’ to your Eyewitness!! Burnham said he particularly loved reading a book by an Italian fella named Machiavelli – and that’s pretty much why our country was ruined!! Machiavelli was a plotter par excellence, who wrote you gotta look out only for number ONE. And the Devil take the rest!! And take us he did!

Jagan also said he loved reading books – but HIS favourite was by a German fella named Marx. And what did that do for him – and also for us, since he was our earliest leader?? Got him kicked out of office by the Americans, that’s what – and us kicked from pillar to post since the 1960s!! So, do you blame your Eyewitness for being a bit leery about books?? So, he’s pleased as punch that, nowadays, with a smartphone in his hand, all the information he needs on anything is right at his fingertips!!

Reading books also makes you forget to think for yourself.

So, he does a lot of thinking (with his eyes closed!) about whatever needs to be done, then fact-checks the plan he came up with!! Voila!!

…to destroy Earth

The day before “Book Day” was “Save the Earth Day”. And if it’s possible, your Eyewitness is even more cynical about this day!! As usual, there was a theme – this time, “Invest in our Planet." Now, what the heck was this?? Invest?? Doesn’t this theme give the perfect cop-out to those who’re doing the greatest harm to the planet?? Haven’t they been telling us for the last 200 years – think the “Industrial Revolution” – that they’ve been doing just that??

The thing is, no one’s really concerned about the Earth - they’re just concerned about themselves. So, what we ought to be doing is to talk about saving ourselves - and our descendants!! As Guyanese, let’s talk about saving our coastland, where 80% of us live – yet we’re busy building all kinds of fancy high rises on the oceanfront, that’s gonna be swept away by the sea. But most of all, it’s the developed world that caused the problem of who should be talking –and walking the talk!!

…in paradise

Your Eyewitness spent last weekend at one of our coastal resorts. And he can report that, even though he’s seen the white cliffs of Dover and the pyramids of Egypt, the beauty of our scenery beats them hands down!!

Remanded: Devindra Moteeram

FIU team lauds Guyana’s Anti-Money Laundering framework

– as AG lobbies for fast-tracking application to join Egmont Group

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall, SC, on Tuesday met with a visiting delegation from the Financial Intelligence Units (FIU) of Trinidad and Tobago and the British Virgin Islands during which he underscored the importance of accelerating Guyana’s application to join the Egmont Group.

He added that Guyana is becoming a sophisticated economy attracting large investments and as such, creating a strong regulatory framework to protect its growing financial sector is of paramount importance to the Government.

He stated that the visit is timely and took the opportunity to update the team on the various pieces of legislation currently in draft to strengthen and update Guyana’s AML/CFT regime and to meet the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) international standards, including amendments to the principal AML/CFT Act, a Bill to create an omnibus agency as a supervisory authority for unsupervised entities, and a draft Real Estate Bill which will provide the regulatory frame-

work for real estate agents and developers.

The visiting delegation comprised Acting Director of the FIU, Trinidad and Tobago, Nigel Stoddard and the Director of the Financial Investigation Agency, British Virgin Islands, Errol George.

The team, according to a release from the AG office, is currently in Guyana conducting an on-site visit with regards to Guyana’s application to join the Egmont Group of FIU.

“Subsequent to their visit, the delegation will provide a report to the Egmont Group in July in Dubai for consideration. If successful, this will enable Guyana to join the Egmont Group in early-2024. Guyana’s joinder to this important international institution will significantly enhance its FIU institutional capability to access 1 international platform and to receive and be able to disseminate vital information and intelligence in relation to organised crime, terrorist financing, and other local and cross-border illicit activities,” the release added.

Commended

However, the delegation

commended Guyana on its current AML/CFT framework and the consistent exchange of information and cooperation within this domestic network. The delegation also hailed Guyana’s FIU for executing Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with almost all of its counterparts across the Caribbean and other key stakeholders.

During their visit, the delegation met with the Finance Secretary, the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), representatives from the Bank of Guyana, Guyana Securities Council and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

They are also scheduled to meet with reporting entities including the commercial banks and the Guyana Immigration Service.

Meanwhile, accompanying the Attorney General at the meeting were the Director of the FIU Guyana, Matthew Langevine and Anti-Money Laundering/ Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Officer

attached to the Attorney General Chambers, Rommel St. Hill.

L-R: Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Officer attached to the Attorney General Chambers, Rommel St Hill; Acting Director of the FIU, Trinidad and Tobago, Nigel Stoddard; Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall; Director of the FIU Guyana, Matthew Langevine and Director of the Financial Investigation Agency, British Virgin Islands, Errol George

Members of the FIU team in discussion with Attorney General Anil Nandlall

Labourer crushed by log at Linden worksite

NWD miner charged for brother’s murder

Thirty-three-yearold Gordon Henry of Eclipse Falls Top Village, North West District (NWD), who was wanted for the murder of his brother, was on Tuesday arraigned for the heinous crime.

He made a virtual appearance before Magistrate Dylon Bess at the Port Kaituma Police Station and was not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that on May 5, 2018, he murdered his brother, Clinton Henry.

As such, he was remand-

Charged: Gordon Henry

ed to prison until June 6.

It was reported that after being on the run for five years, Henry was on Thursday last arrested at Five Star Landing, Region One (Barima-Waini).

Police reported that ranks went to a shop that is operated by a 24-year-old female, to search for arms, ammunition and narcotics but instead intercepted 33-yearold Gordon Henry.

As such, the wanted murder suspect was told of the offence committed and cautioned, during which he stat-

ed “Da man wudda kill me if I didn’t kill he”. He was escorted to Port Kaituma Police Station where the charge was instituted.

It was reported that the now dead man was imbibing with his brother, Gordon Henry, in front of their parents’ home at Yambay and was later found with a wound to his head.

He was taken to the Port Kaituma Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The suspect had gone into hiding until his arrest last week.

Trio on trial for 2017 murder of Demerara River vendor

Tragedy struck at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) Ground in Linden on Tuesday when 43-year-old Cledwin Richards, a resident of the SoesdykeLinden Highway, lost his life in a freak accident.

According to reports,Richards, who had also been known as ‘Fatboy’ or ‘Junior’, was working along with a 65-year-old operator from Stewartville, West Coast Demerara, preparing piles at the construction site to be driven into the earth when he walked on one of the six piles which were stacked on each other and reportedly slipped

and fell between another set of piles that were on the ground.

As a result, the pile on which he was walking reportedly tumbled and fell on his head, pinning him in the process.

The incident was reported to the Police, who arrived on scene to that the other workers had already removed the pile and Richards’s motionless body was lying on the ground. The injured man was taken to the Linden Hospital Complex, where he was pronounced dead.

His body is awaiting a post-mortem examination.

A 12-member jury was on Monday empanelled to hear the trial of

Chandrapaul Persaud, also called ‘Raju’ or ‘Duffy’; Heralall Ramdhan, also

called ‘Baba’ or ‘Roshan’; and Jagishwar Dhanai, also called ‘Toto’, who

are accused of murdering Dhanpaul Dookie, also called Pauline, back in 2017. This trial is being presided by Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry in the Demerara High Court.

In their arraignment, the trio pleaded not guilty to the charge, which stated that between July 24 and 26, 2017, at Uitspa Village in the Demerara River, they murdered Dhanpaul Dookie. It was reported that on the day in question, Dookie, then a 51-year-old vendor, was stabbed to death during a robbery.

TURN TO PAGE 17

The labourer’s body lying motionlessly after the incident (Photo credits Info10)

Entry into UG, CPCE expanded with GOAL ’s SCQF certificate – Manickchand announces …as

1450 persons complete programme

of Guyana will be accepting the SCQF as eligibility to enter. The Cyril Potter College of Education will be accepting SCQF as eligibility to enter.”

“I’m reporting today that other universities are saying to us ‘let’s work together to make this SCQF and the GED that we are doing eligibility for entry into their universities across India, Europe, the West Indies,” the Minister informed.

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications

Framework (SCQF), currently offered under the GROW programme through the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL), is now being accepted as eligibility for entry into the University of Guyana and the Cyril Potter College of Education.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand made the announcement on Tuesday at the National Cultural Centre, as she addressed

the graduation ceremony for students who completed the programme.

Earlier, these persons could not have commenced studies at UG or CPCE, but this is about to change.

Now, other universities are also willing to collaborate to accept such qualifications, she added.

“I want you to know that it doesn’t stop here. We have been feverishly working…and very pleased to report that the University

Over the course of two years, 1450 persons successfully benefitted from the SCQF programme. This a breakdown of 568 persons in 2022 and 882 persons in 2023. Out of this number, 88 per cent have already started their university journey.

Manickchand lauded the graduates for taking the opportunity when it was new to the country.

“All of you took the opportunity offered and it was brand new at the time. You trusted us and you came onto the programme and today, you are graduands. Today, you are giving your-

self a whole new life, a whole new opportunity. I am very pleased to report that 88 per cent of you have already entered a university.”

According to the Minister, the aim is to build the lives of Guyanese so that they can thrive and adequately support their families.

“Two years ago, that was not possible. Two years ago, you didn’t dream of entering

university because you didn’t have the eligibility criteria or the qualifications. You sit here as testimony of what can happen when people believe in you,” she expressed.

Valedictorian, Candaice Smith noted in her speech, that she attained eight subjects at CSEC and hails from the Essequibo county. She is grateful for the opportunity since her academic life had

its ups and downs.

“The journey in my academic life was not a walk in the park but I would not trade it for anyone else’s… For me, going to UG or university I desired was as far as I could have gone, it was just a dream. Getting a job at the end of my school life took precedence,” Smith shared.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand

The graduation ceremony for SCQF certificate graduates on Tuesday

Govt passes Bills to roll back DPP’s powers, increase Appeal Court Judges

ABill to curtail the powers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to direct Magistrates to charge individuals and another that will increase the complement of Court of Appeal Judges, are among the Bills that were passed in the National Assembly on Monday.

On Monday, the Criminal Law (Procedure) Amendment Bill of 2022 was passed by the PPP/C Government in the National Assembly. The Bill amends Section 72 of the Criminal Law (Procedure) Act, which had previously allowed the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to order the committal of a defendant to stand trial. Now, the DPP must make an application to a Judge to have someone recommitted to stand trial.

The passage of this Bill has its origins in the Marcus Bisram case. Back in 2020, Bisram was rearrested on the direction of DPP Shalimar Ali-Hack. However, the DPP believed there was sufficient evidence to try him for the murder of carpenter Faiyaz Narinedatt. This was despite a Magistrate ruling that there was no prima facie case against him.

Bisram would challenge the DPP’s actions at the Caribbean Court of Justice

(CCJ), which found that Section 72 was unconstitutional. The Government subsequently brought its amendment last year, with Attorney General Anil Nandlall assuring on Monday that there is a reason Section 72 was left on the books for so long. And it has to do with a colonial era legal clause that preserved remnants of colonial law in Guyana’s Constitution.

“We gained independence in 1966 and our Constitution was then promulgated… so how then did a provision that appears, on its face, to be so fragrantly in violation of natural justice, of under-

mining the Judiciary, escape the eyes of so many great judicial minds? It has to do with the existence of a provision in our Constitution, which is referred to as and it exists in all Commonwealth Constitutions, it is called the saving laws clause.”

“So, pre-existing constitutional laws were allowed to be inconsistent with the Constitution, by the Constitution itself. But future laws cannot be inconsistent with the Constitution, because they would be unconstitutional. That is also in the Constitution,” Nandlall explained.

Court of Appeal Judges

The other piece of legislation, the Court of Appeal (Amendment) Bill 2022, was also passed on Monday. It will increase the number of Court of Appeal Judges from not less than two and not more than five, to not less than five and not more than nine. The Attorney General explained the reasoning for this.

“A larger complement of appellate Judges also creates the potential for greater degree of specialisation and cross-specialisation by Judges. Such an innovation will not only improve efficiency and speed, but can

lend to a higher quality of jurisprudence. In the same manner that Guyana has become one of the attractive investment destinations, we hope Guyana will be seen as an attractive destination for judicial appointments.”

“The expectation is not only to attract Judges from the Caribbean, but the wider Commonwealth and possibly the United Kingdom. This expectation is not grounded in any sinister design, but simply to attract quality and competence,” Nandlall said.

Nandlall has previously complained about the long delays surrounding Judges issuing rulings. Earlier this year, Nandlall had noted that Judges have been repeatedly delinquent in complying with the Time Limit for Judicial Decisions Act –a law enacted over a decade ago which, inter alia, sets the time limit for the delivery of oral or written decisions in civil cases.

Section 4 (1) of the Act states: “A Judge who presides at the trial of a civil case shall give a written or an oral decision and reasons for the decision at the conclusion of the hearing of the case or as soon as possible after the conclusion of the hearing but not later than 120 days from the date of the conclu-

sion of the hearing.”

Section 5 of the statute further states: “Where the Court of Appeal or the Full Court hears an appeal, a Judge on behalf of the Court or each Judge of the Court shall give a written or an oral decision and reasons for the decision at the conclusion of the hearing of the appeal or as soon as possible after the conclusion of the hearing but not less than 30 days from the date of conclusion of the hearing.”

The Act, which also requires Justices to do a report in relation to their compliance with that very law and

table same in the National Assembly annually, applies to Judges of the Court of Appeal, High Court, and the Full Court.

While he admitted that there is a shortage of Judges and no Judicial Service Commission (JSC) – the constitutional body responsible for the appointment of Judges – to ensure that vacancies are filled in the Judiciary and the Magistracy, Nandlall assured that “every effort” is being made to establish the JSC which expired in September 2017.

And once the JSC is reconstituted, Nandlall said Judges will be appointed as there is a Bill in the National Assembly that is intended to increase the number of Judges at the Court of Appeal threefold. “We are going to appoint an abundance of Judges required for the task at hand,” he assured.

“Once we accomplish that, then I believe that the Judiciary should be held accountable and those laws will have to be enforced and persons’ constitutional right to have a fair trial within a reasonable time,” he had said while pointing out that the Judiciary is a very important, and highly self-regulatory constitutional body.

(G3)

Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC

Director of Public Prosecutions Shalimar Ali-Hack

Vending must be done in structured, organised manner – Minister Dharamlall tells Regent St vendors

Days after the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (GM&CC) demolished several illegal structures around Georgetown, including Regent Street, Local Government and Regional Development Minister Nigel Dharamlall told aggrieved vendors that it is crucial that they ply their trade in a structured and organised manner.

On Sunday, the Mayor and City Council (M&CC)

demolished several illegal structures that were hindering the city’s drainage system in preparation for the rainy season but this move has caused some rebellion by the vendors, who claimed that they rely on their stalls to earn a living.

However, Minister Dharamlall met with the vendors and reassured them that their livelihoods would not be disrupted and that no one would be displaced. He also encouraged them to

work with the Government to keep the drains and parapets clean to reduce the risk of flooding caused by backedup garbage and heavy rainfall.

“We had received reports that there are rumours that stalls were being broken under the instructions of the Government… this is not the position of the Government, we would like people to ply their trade, but do so in a very structured and organised way…”

As such, he stated that a clean-up exercise has been scheduled for Sunday, in which the vendors have agreed to participate. This is a positive step in the right direction toward better waste management and flood prevention in the area.

The M&CC’s decision to clear the area was also supported by Town Clerk (ag) Candace Nelson, who explained that it was necessary to prepare for the rainy season. City Engineer

Colvern Venture echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that flooding would affect a large amount of people in the area and that action needed to be taken to prevent it.

“The exercise was basically to alleviate flooding in the city. Just a few days ago we had water on the land, and we have persons who were affected, even the vendors themselves were affected…so what we did was to take the initiative to come out and to remove the block-

ages”, she added. In the wake of the Minister’s visit, the vendors requested that bins be placed along these areas to facilitate better waste management.

“We want cohesion, I will like to suggest that we try and provide bins…over the news I keep hearing the vendors have the place dirty… passers-by throw their rubbish in the drains”, the acting Town Clerk noted.

Some of the structures along Regent Street are still intact

Minister Nigel Dharamlall along with Acting Town Clerk Candace Nelson meeting with vendors on Tuesday

Ramsammy’s Ruminations

Opposition’s normalisation of lies, misinformation and hypocrisy

APNC MP in Parliament, Jermaine Figueira, has complained that there is no ethical and equitable distribution of resources in Guyana under the PPP Government. This is in spite of the many investments in health, education, infrastructure, job creation, housing, small business investments supported by the Government, etc. For example, in health care, Budget 2023 is investing a minimum of $126,000 per capita in Region 10, compared with $92,000 per capita in Region 6 and $110,000 per capita nationally. The investment in the LindenMabura Road is a game-changer for Linden, the re-establishment of the call center has created hundreds of jobs. The new housing schemes are providing homes for people.

In contrast, when the PNC-led APNU/AFC Government was in place between 2015 and 2020, the call center was closed, no housing programme existed for Region 10, health fell apart, and no major infrastructure programme was in place. But MP Figueira is not in a morally right place to be talking about ethics and equity.

When it comes to lies, misinformation, and hypocrisy, none of us should be surprised when members belonging to the Opposition show they are poster boys and girls for the same. But somehow, we are still shocked when we see one of them misinforming people, when we see one of them guilty of hypocrisy. For example, we have seen Cathy Hughes being hypocritical many times before. Yet when she got up in Parliament and hypocritically objected to someone heckling her husband’s name in Parliament, most of us were still shocked at her audacity.

This is the same woman who just a few short months ago stood in Parliament, read a prepared speech, and disparaged a young Guyanese woman professional who is not a member of Parliament, was not present in Parliament, and has no way of defending herself. Cathy Hughes shamelessly attacked her and breached and violated the Standing Orders of Parliament. She had no apologies, even though she was forced to withdraw her statement. In and out of Parliament, she showed no regret, no remorse, for violating the rights of a Guyanese woman. This is the same Cathy Hughes that tried to object to her husband’s name being heckled in Parliament by someone who was not making a parliamentary presentation. It was sheer hypocrisy.

Hypocrisy, in fact, has been normalized by the members of the PNC, AFC, WPA and the other one-person parties that shamelessly pretend they represent anyone in Guyana. When Aubrey Norton stood in front of a few hand-picked reporters to tell them that his party, the PNC and the now defunct APNU which Norton try to pass on to the nation as something real, had submitted two Mondays ago an almost full slate of candidates, it was sheer hypocrisy, it was not telling the truth, it was utter misinformation.

Here are the facts – out of 610 constituency seats available in the LGE 2023, Norton’s PNC-led APNU only presented candidates for 279 seats, just about 45% of the seats available. Of the ten municipalities, Norton’s PNC, disguised as APNU, presented candidates for only nine municipalities, but failed to present candidates for all the seats in those non- municipalities. Norton’s APNU could not find candidates to compete either in the constituencies or in the PR elections in Lethem. Out of the 70 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), Norton’s PNC was only able to present candidates for 15 of them. It is disgraceful for a party that has been in existence for more than 65 years, a party that has ruled Guyana for thirty-three years. The fact is Norton misinformed the nation because, as it turned out, Norton’s party is not contesting most of the seats and most of the Local Government Areas (LGAs).

Norton’s take on the fact that his party could not find candidates for most of the seats and for most of the LGAs, while the PPP is contesting all 610 constituency seats and all 80 LGAs, including all ten municipalities, is that his party paid no one to be a candidate and that the PPP bought, paid people to be candidates. The truth is that Norton found an unwilling population of people who did not want to be candidates, and even when he could have found candidates, he could not find people willing to sponsor candidates. Indeed, in many constituencies and in many LGAs, the PNC is guilty of forging people’s signatures and using people’s names in secret. Even before a ballot is cast, the PPP has won 331 constituency seats and hundreds of PR seats in municipalities and NDCs where there are no contests.

In addition to MP Figueira, another PNC MP also made the same allegations of unethical and inequitable distribution of resources. How more hypocritical can these people be? Did MP Annette Ferguson forget that when young Guyanese sought and were denied scholarships by the APNU/AFC Government, they still found money to give scholarships to her and her cabinet colleague Nicolette Henry, and the children of ministers? These scholarships were from American and British universities. The truth is that Aubrey Norton and his colleagues in the PNC and the so-called APNU and the AFC are out to normalize hypocrisy.

Sophia shopkeeper gets 3 years for possession of gun, ammo

intelligence operation that was conducted by the Station Sergeant and ranks from Timehri Police Station on Saturday.

Police stated that on the day in question at about 14:40h, ranks intercepted a Toyota Hiace (Pitbull) minibus bearing registration number BAD 6749, at Sarah

Johanna, EBD.

As such, a search was conducted on the passengers but nothing illegal was found on their person but further checks in the minibus unearthed a .32 Taurus pistol with its serial number filed off and 16 live rounds of .32 ammunition hidden under a seat.

Several persons were questioned and based on investigations, two persons –Anthony and a 24-year-old carpenter, both of C Field Sophia, were arrested. Further investigations led to charges being instituted against the shopkeeper.

Thirty-four-year-old Jermaine Anthony, a shopkeeper from the Sophia Squatting Area, Greater Georgetown, was on Tuesday sentenced to three years’ imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition charges.

Anthony appeared before Magistrate Dylon Bess at the Diamond/Golden Grove Magistrate’s Court where the charges were read to him. After pleading guilty, he was given a threeyear jail sentence.

The shopkeeper was arrested during a Police-led

Entry into UG, CPCE...

FROM PAGE 11

Currently, applicants can either apply for a Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) Levels 5 and 6 diploma or a General Education Development (GED) diploma under GOAL.

The SCQF diploma is a comprehensive preparatory programme to be delivered within a three- to six-month period targeting applicants who have at least completed Grade Nine of their secondary education or sat the CSEC examination, but did not obtain passes in four subjects. The students are to study seven courses: Communications, Business, Mathematics with Excel, Behavioural Management, Marketing, Introductory Economics, and International Relations. The diploma is internationally accredited and is offered by the Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA). The SQA is the national awarding body in Scotland responsible for the development, accreditation and certification of qualifications.

Meanwhile, the GED diploma is offered through Texila American University (Guyana) and other partners. It is an intensive threemonth programme targeting applicants who were unable to write or who did not attain passes in five subjects at the CXC/CSEC level. The GED is equivalent to the United States of America High School Diploma. (G12)

Dr Leslie Ramsammy

The gun and ammunition found in the minibus

Remanded: Jermaine Anthony

“Guyana Shop Corner” creates positive vibes nationally

…consumers impressed with quality of locally-produced products

Thousands of Guyanese across Guyana now have access to more agro-processed commodities manufactured locally as the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) collaborates with members of the business community to increase local consumption of these products through awareness and accessibility.

In January 2023, the Guyana Marketing Corporation intensified its efforts to establish more Guyana Shop corners at various supermarkets across the country to increase the accessibility of agro-processed commodities produced locally.

Since the commencement of the “Guyana Shop Corner” initiative, a total of 43 supermarkets are on board to further expand the range of local agro-processed commodities offered to consumers within their communities.

As part of the Initiative, the Guyana Marketing Corporation provides all branded materials to be used for the “Guyana Shop Corner” along with products lo-

cally produced at an affordable cost for participating supermarkets.

According to Guyana Marketing Corporation’s Marketing Manager, Richard Hanif, the exercise has cascading benefits at all levels of the business cycle. “Through greater awareness of our products produced locally, especially since many of these products are manufactured using internationally accepted guidelines from fresh ingredients grown locally under environmentally friendly conditions, our consuming public is guaranteed affordable, wholesome foods and other products which in some cases are creating a stir on both regional and international markets.”

Hanif noted that many emerging agro-processors are embracing the initiative since it provides a pathway for market penetration locally through greater accessibility and awareness of their products and importantly, economic empowerment for young entrepreneurs and women.

In an Invited comment, Proprietor of Kumaka Grocery, Kumaka Waterfront, Region

One (Barima-Waini), Clarence

Hinds praised the “Guyana Shop Corner” initiative and expressed

satisfaction with regard to the affordability and excellent packaging of locally manufactured goods. Meanwhile, Uncle Junior, a resident from White Water, also in Region One, was pleasantly surprised at the extensive range of products manufactured from materials grown here in Guyana and lauded the “Guyana Shop Corner” as an excellent initiative.

Meanwhile, Proprietor, Tru Value Supermarket, Yarrowkabra, Linden-Soesdyke Highway, Wendy Sajon remarked that not only is it making local products more accessible but also helps the business community in timely sourcing and restocking these products through the Guyana Marketing Corporation.

In Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), Khan of Savannah Inn Supermarket, located in Central Lethem, remarked that she is a strong advocate for local content and is extremely excited and pleased to have such a wide variety of local products in her supermarket.

Mrs Khan of Savannah Inn supermarket

Clarence Hinds

Hydromet Office to install automatic weather stations in interior to improve domestic aviation

In an attempt to improve hydrometeorological service in the hinterland regions, a whopping $275 million was allocated for the installation of automatic weather stations at 17 interior locations.

These areas include Mabaruma, Port Kaituma, Matthew’s Ridge, Orealla, Kamarang, Mahdia, Paramakatoi, and Lethem. These stations are expected to provide weather data on a 24-hour basis to the Hydromet Office, which will be beneficial to the aviation sector.

This is according to Chief Hydrometeorological Officer, Dr Garvin Cummings on Tuesday.

“These are all in the hinterland, in close proximity to hinterland airfields, to ensure that pilots traversing those routes will have adequate information to determine the best flight route to keep [individuals] and cargo safe as they travel to these hinterland locations,” Cummings Added.

With respect to marine services, about $50 million will be spent on the procurement and installation of two meteorological buoys offshore Guyana to provide meteorological and oceanographic data and information.

“This undoubtedly will enhance our services for fisherfolk and marine traffic as well as those concerned with coastal zone management and national defence and security,” Cummings said.

Further, 30 million will be spent to improve water quality modelling services to ad-

dress biological and heavy metal testing capacities. This is in an effort to expand Hydromet’s Water Quality Laboratory to provide a wider range of services to its stakeholders.

With regards to agrometeorology – which largely refers to the use of weather data in improving crop production –Hydromet continues to collaborate with strategic partners to further improve their services within the agriculture sector.

“[Under] this initiative, farmers in every region have been taught how to use location-specific climate data and information to improve farm-level decision-making,” the Hydromet officer added. “This initiative continues to grow across the country.”

Cummings also added that over $15 million was invested towards improving the management of groundwater resources.

Additionally, over $30 million has been invested since 2021 to improve climate modelling capabilities. “This will allow us to expand the range of climate products available

to our stakeholders to improve decision-making at a climate timescale,” Cummings said, adding that the department is hopeful that the products will be available by the first NCOF of 2024.

Hydromet Office has also benefited from other investments from the World Meteorological Organisation’s Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF).

“Guyana was recently selected from the first batch of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to benefit from grant support to improve our basic weather observational network,” Cummings said. “This will see an initial investment of US$170,000 that will help us to complete a gap analysis of weather network to determine what is required [on the international level.]”

This will also include a more comprehensive country Hydromet diagnostic that looks at the wider hydrometeorological services to examine where the weaknesses and gaps are, from which a report will be provided that will give recommendations for the modernisation of the department.

“These are all efforts made by the Government and our external partners to improve the quality of hydrometeorological services by improving decision-making at all levels to ensure that our country to the lines of climate change becomes resilient to withstand all of the impacts [or] at least to reduce the risk associated with extreme events,” Cummings concluded.

Security officer gets bail on rape charge

Thirty-six-year-old Devon Williams also called “Lootie”, a security officer of Fyrish, Corentyne, Berbice, and of Wismar, Linden, was granted bail on Tuesday on a rape charge.

Williams appeared virtually before Magistrate Clive Nurse at the Linden Magistrate’s Court and

was not required to plead to the offence of rape.

Police stated that the act was committed between August 11 and 12, 2022.

The accused was granted bail in the sum of $150,000 and the matter was adjourned until May 22.

Trio on trial for 2017...

It was reported that two of the suspects resided on the East Coast of Demerara and were employed by the late Dookie. The third was reportedly a resident of Uitspa village whom the two masterminds had allegedly contacted days before the murder.

Police have stated that the farmer had been stabbed twice to his abdomen, once to his lower back, once to his hip, once to his forehead, and once

above his right eye. After committing the act, the suspects made their way into the man’s home, from whence they raided money and jewellery, among other items, before escaping.

However, after three days, the man’s body was found by persons who had gone to check on the cause of his absence. The Police were immediately contacted, and an investigation was launched, during which the three suspects

FROM PAGE 10

were arrested and charged with the murder.

During the Preliminary Inquiry, the state had provided evidence against the trio beyond a reasonable doubt, and as such, they were committed to the High Court for trial. The three suspects are represented by legal counsel, while Prosecutors Cicelia Corbin, Simran Gajraj and Rbina Christmas are presenting the state’s case.

Chief Hydrometeorological Officer, Dr Garvin Cummings

Rape accused: Devon Williams

US, EU, Latin American countries meet to encourage Venezuela elections

Asummit meant to reinvigorate talks between the Venezuelan Government of Nicolas Maduro and Opposition political parties, attended by representatives from 19 countries and the European Union, produced no concrete results on Tuesday, though a further meeting was planned.

The meeting in Bogota, hosted by Colombian President Gustavo Petro with support from the United States, included Spain, the United Kingdom, Argentina, Brazil and others.

The meeting was meant to help Maduro and the Opposition restart stalled talks in Mexico focused on free elections and the possible lifting of sanctions against the Government.

Some attendees "will inform President Nicolas Maduro, the Opposition political parties and civil society of the results for their evaluation and comments", Colombian Foreign Minister Alvaro Leyva said after the meeting, adding another summit will be held to continue work.

Attendees found common ground over the need for free elections and lifting of sanctions parallel to agreements between the two sides, he said.

Petro met over the week-

end with representatives from the Unitary Platform alliance, which represents some of Venezuela's Opposition. Neither the Opposition nor the Government participated directly in the summit.

The Mexico talks, held briefly last year and in 2021, are supposed to provide a roadmap out of the long-running crisis.

The Biden Administration has no desire to maintain sanctions into perpetuity, deputy national security advisor Jon Finer told Journalists, reiterating it would take concrete steps toward elections for them to be lifted.

"It is about taking real, measurable, concrete steps in the direction of democracy," he said.

The Opposition contends that ruling party control of

Mexican immigration official arraigned on detention fire charges

The leader of Mexico’s immigration agency has been arraigned in court on charges of failing to ensure safety inside the country’s migrant detention centres, following a fire last month that killed 40 migrants and asylum seekers.

the electoral authority impedes transparent elections.

The Government and the Opposition last year signed a deal to create a United Nations-administrated humanitarian fund with frozen assets held in the international financial system.

But slow establishment of the fund and other delays caused by a change in Opposition leadership have created impatience towards US bureaucracy among the opposition and Maduro.

Venezuela's Government reiterated the need for "unilateral, illegal and damaging" sanctions to be lifted in a statement published via Twitter by Foreign Minister Yvan Gil.

Venezuela's return to talks will follow the creation of the UN-administered fund.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Brazil's Lula: Russian invasion of Ukraine unacceptable, but let's talk peace

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva criticised the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Tuesday, but said no one is talking about peace in what he called an "insane war".

Speaking during a visit to Spain, Lula said he is committed to finding a peace formula to end the conflict.

"I understand the European view of this war. It is unacceptable that one country invades another, but it is a war in which I do not see anyone talking about peace," he said in speech at a business conference.

Lula angered many in

the West this month when he called for the US and European allies to stop supplying arms to Ukraine saying they were prolonging the war, prompting a White House spokesperson to accuse him of "parroting Russian and Chinese propaganda".

After the backlash, the Brazilian leader toned down his comments and on a visit to Portugal and Spain he has condemned Russia's violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity.

In Spain, Lula again called for more peace efforts "so that Ukraine can keep its territory", backtracking a recent suggestion that the invaded country needs to

make concessions to end the war and Russia should return recently invaded territory but could keep Crimea.

Lula talked about investments by Spanish companies in Brazil, mentioning a major infrastructure programme to be launched in May that will be "promising" for Spain's firms.

"We want to attract a new wave of Spanish investments," he told the business audience.

Brazil and other members of the Mercosur trade bloc are discussing concluding a trade agreement with the European Union that he hopes will happen before the end of the year, Lula said.(Excerpt from Reuters)

Criminals operating in organised alliances – Jamaican National Security Minister

National Security

Minister Dr Horace Chang says there has been a shift in the mode of operations of criminals who are now operating in organised alliances to hit high-value targets.

Describing the perpetrators as “criminal terrorists”, Chang said “these kinds of criminal activities tend to generate heightened national concern, such as the stealing of ATMs and the targeting of cash-in-transit and other cash-heavy locations.

He was speaking Tuesday as he made his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives under the theme: “TechnologyTransforming the Force for Good, Securing a Nation”.

Chang noted that while inter-gang wars have been reduced, the impact of criminal terrorist alliances carrying out these types of activities have significantly impacted the national psyche.

He sought to assure that the police are on top of the sit-

Francisco Garduno, leader of the Mexican Immigration Institute, faced a court hearing on Tuesday, where Prosecutors presented evidence showing he should have closed facilities that did not meet safety requirements.

Prosecutors have previously noted that the case indicated a “pattern of irresponsibility” on the part of the immigration institute.

The deadly fire has brought heightened scrutiny to the conditions that migrants and asylum seekers often experience in countries

locked

such as Mexico, where critics say they are frequently subjected to abuse and denied basic rights.

The fire on March 27 caught international attention after a video circulated, showing guards making no effort to free a group of 68 men

Harry Belafonte dies at 96

Harry Belafonte, the singer and actor who smashed racial barriers in the US, has died at home in Manhattan, aged 96.

One of the most successful African-American pop stars in history, he scored hits with “Island In The Sun”, “Mary’s Boy Child” and the UK number one “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)”.

But his greatest achievements were as a campaigner for black civil rights in the US.

He died of congestive heart failure, said his spokesman Ken Sunshine.

Often dubbed the King of Calypso, Belafonte was born in Harlem, New York, in 1927.

A high school dropout, he joined the Navy during the Second World War, working as a munitions loader at a base in New Jersey.

After the war, he pursued his dream of becoming an actor, studying drama at Erwin Piscator’s famed Dramatic Workshop alongside the likes of Marlon Brando, Walter Matthau and Tony Curtis.

Caribbean dock workers), both of which featured on his third album, Calypso.

Released in 1956, it topped the Billboard charts and was said to be the first album by a solo artist to sell more than a million copies in the US.

Makeba.

Bob Dylan made his first recorded appearance playing harmonica on Belafonte’s 1962 album, Midnight Special.

uation.

“The police have built up intelligence, analysed their activities and are developing effective strategic deployments. We continue to expand and improve our intelligence capabilities to ensure they have all the tools required for strong effective policing, including legislative tools such as the zones of special operations (ZOSO) and states of public emergency (SOEs),” Chang said.

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

He paid for the classes by singing at New York clubs, where he was backed by groups that included Miles Davis and Charlie Parker.

That led to a recording contract and, in a search for material, Belafonte began to study the folk song archives at the US Library of Congress, alighting on the Calypso music his parents had grown up with.

It proved to be a wise move. The handsome young star sparked a fad for the genre with songs like "Jamaica Farewell" and "Day-O" (a song about

His success was such that he was the first black person allowed to perform in many upmarket US venues – including some that had been off-limits to artists like Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald.

He made his Broadway debut in the musical John Murray Anderson’s Almanac in 1953, for which he won a Tony Award for supporting actor. He later appeared in films, scoring his first lead role in Island in the Sun, where he starred alongside James Mason, Joan Fontaine and Joan Collins, with whom he had an affair.

Over his career, he recorded more than 30 albums, including collaborative records with Nana Mouskouri, Lena Horne, and Miriam

A close friend of Martin Luther King, he was a visible supporter of the civil rights movement, who bankrolled several anti-segregation organisations and bailed Dr King and other activists out of jail.

He also campaigned against poverty, apartheid and Aids in Africa; and became an ambassador for Unicef, the United Nations children’s fund.

In 1985, he organised the charity single "We Are the World", an all-star musical collaboration that raised money for famine relief in Ethiopia.

After seeing a grim news report on the famine, he decided that American artists needed to raise money in the same way Bob Geldof and Midge Ure had done with the song "Do They Know It’s Christmas?" a year earlier.

(BBC)

in a cell at a Ciudad Juarez detention centre. Prosecutors have said that private security guards asked officials for permission to release the detained men when the fire began but were told not to do so.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Colombian Foreign Minister Alvaro Leyva attend an international conference on the political crisis in Venezuela, at Palacio de San Carlos in Bogota, Colombia, April 25, 2023 (Reuters/Luisa Gonzalez)

Harry Belafonte

Mexican National Immigration Institute chief Francisco Garduno faces charges for allegedly failing to keep migrant detention centres safe [Christian Chavez/AP Photo]

Around The World OIL NEWS Oil dips 2% on economic woes and stronger dollar

Oil dropped 2% on Tuesday after two sessions of gains as deepening concerns of an economic slowdown and a stronger dollar outweighed hopes of higher Chinese demand and lower US crude stocks.

Brent crude fell by US$1.96, or 2.4%, to settle at US$80.77 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate crude dropped US$1.69, or 2.2%, to settle at US$77.07. On Monday, both contracts rose by more than 1%.

US consumer confidence dropped to a nine-month low in April, feeding worries about a recession the day after regional lender First Republic reported a flight in deposits of more than US$100 billion, stoking fears of a potential banking crisis.

"Oil prices looked as if they were going to mount a rally before old banking worries re-emerged," said Phil Flynn, an analyst at Price Futures Group.

The dollar rose on deepening worries about corporate earnings and the global economy. A stronger dollar pressures oil demand by making the commodity more expensive for buyers holding other currencies.

Gold prices also were flat as the dollar strengthened, while US stocks fell as weak earnings fanned economic fears.

Investors remained wary that possible interest rate hikes by inflation-fighting central banks could slow economic growth and dent energy demand in the United States, Britain and the European Union.

The US Federal Reserve, the Bank of England and the European Central Bank are all expected to raise rates at their coming meetings. The Fed meets May 2-3.

Oil traders also worried that weak refining margins globally could force refiners to curb oil buying.

"The near-term pressure has been from rising interest rates and refinery run rate margins contracting, which could be a sign demand is slipping," said Dennis Kissler, senior vice president of trading at BOK Financial

Early in the session, oil prices rose, supported by optimism that holiday travel in China would boost fuel demand and by expectations of a drop in US crude inventories.

Involuntary and planned supply cuts also lent support. Iraq's northern oil exports have shown little sign of an imminent restart after a month-long standstill, while members of the OPEC+ producer group prepared for the start of voluntary output cuts in May.

Traders were awaiting US stockpiles data from the American Petroleum Institute on Tuesday. Analysts expect crude inventories to fall by about 1.7 million barrels. (Reuters)

Biden, 80, makes 2024 presidential run official as Trump fight looms

Ukraine says Russian missile strike on museum kills 2

ARussian missile has hit a museum building in a Ukrainian city, killing at least two people and wounding 10 others, part of a barrage of strikes coming as Ukraine is readying its forces for an expected spring counteroffensive.

Ukrainian officials said on Tuesday that the Russian military used S-300 air defence missiles to attack Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region, hitting the museum of local history in the city centre. The Russian military has repeatedly used S-300s, which Ukraine’s air defences can’t intercept, to attack ground targets.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted a video from the site that shows the ruined building and emergency responders examining the damage.

Ukraine is preparing for a new massive counteroffensive, relying on the latest supplies of Western battle tanks and other weapons [Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters]

“The terrorist country is doing everything to destroy us completely,” Zelenskyy said. “Our history, our culture, our people. Killing Ukrainians with absolutely barbaric methods.”

Zelenskyy said that a museum worker was killed,

and Kharkiv regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov later reported that the body of another victim was pulled from under the rubble.

Syniehubov said that three people were hospitalised and seven received minor injuries.

Kupiansk was captured by Russian forces in the earlier stages of the Russian invasion but was reclaimed by Ukrainian forces in a surprise counteroffensive in September that saw the Russians driven out of broad swaths of the Kharkiv region.

A woman also died in Russian shelling of the town of Dvorichna, near Kupiansk, and two civilians were killed in the eastern Donetsk region, according to the Ukrainian presidential office.

Meanwhile on Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree allowing Moscow to take temporary control over foreign assets if Russian assets abroad are seized, Tass news agency reported. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Sudan lab seizure poses biohazard risk during lull in battles

Fighting in Sudan eased on Tuesday and more foreigners and locals fled the capital Khartoum, where marauding combatants created what a UN agency said was a "high risk of biological hazard" by seizing a laboratory. The World Health Organisation (WHO) said one of the warring parties had taken control of a national health facility that stores measles and cholera pathogens for vaccinations, and ejected the technicians.

It gave few details and did not say which of the two sides - the army or the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) - had captured the lab, which also contains a major blood bank.

Evacuees from war-torn Sudan sit inside a military plane as they wait to be processed by members of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) upon their arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya, April 24

An exodus of embassies and aid workers from Africa's third-largest country has raised fears that civilians who remain will be in greater danger if an alternative to hos-

Remote work clause in focus as Canada's public strike reaches Day 7

tilities is not found before a shaky three-day truce ends on Thursday.

US President Joe Biden's national security team is continuing to talk to Sudan's ri-

val military leaders to work towards a durable end to the fighting and humanitarian arrangements, a White House spokesperson said on Tuesday.

The clashes have paralysed hospitals and other essential services, and left many people stranded in their homes with dwindling supplies of food and water. The WHO has reported 14 attacks on health facilities and is relocating staff to safety.

Yassir Arman, a leading figure in a civilian political coalition, the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC), urged humanitarian groups and the international community to help restore water and electricity, and send generators to hospitals. (Excerpt from Reuters)

President

Joe Biden launched his re-election bid on Tuesday with a promise to protect American liberties from "extremists" linked to former President Donald Trump, who he beat in 2020 and might face again in 2024.

Biden made his announcement in a video released by his new campaign team that opens with imagery from the Jan 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol by Trump's supporters.

"When I ran for president four years ago, I said we're in a battle for the soul of America, and we still are," Biden said. "This is not a time to be complacent. That's why I'm running for re-election."

"Let's finish this job. I know we can," he said.

He described Republican platforms as threats to American freedoms, vowed to fight efforts to limit women's healthcare, cut Social

Security and ban books, and blasted "MAGA extremists."

MAGA is the acronym for the "Make America Great Again" slogan of Trump, who is the early frontrunner in the Republican primary race. If he wins, he will face off against Biden again in the November 2024 election.

Biden, 80, must overcome Americans' concerns about his age in order to win re-election, with 44% of Democrats saying he is too old to run, a Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on Monday found.

Trump, 76, also faces concerns about his age with 35% of Republicans saying he is too old.

The poll showed that a majority of registered voters don't want either Biden or Trump to run again.

Biden would be 86 by the end of a prospective second term, almost a decade higher than the average US male's life expectancy. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Canada's largest federal strike in years reached its seventh day on Tuesday as public and private unions watched to see if remote working would be built into the collective bargaining agreement.

For the 155,000 Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) on strike, the main sticking point is wages.

However, this is the first new contract to be negotiated since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, which forced millions to work remotely and has given the union an additional negotiating point.

In January the Federal Government mandated that workers return to the office at least two days a week by April 1, upsetting many who argued that they were more efficient working from home.

"A lot of other workers are watching to see what's going to happen because this is a fundamental issue in so many workplaces," said Katherine Nastovski,

an assistant professor in work and labour studies at York University.

"If they do get the remote work language in the collective agreement, then others will be inspired to do the same."

PSAC, which names remote work as its second priority after wages, said on its website that it is time to look to the future "by enshrining remote work protections" into collective agreements.

While the union acknowledges that not every job can be done remotely, it says it wants to stick up for those that can.

On Tuesday the Treasury Board said remote work remained a sticking point.

It said in a statement to Reuters that it "cannot agree" enshrining remote work into collective agreements because it would restrict "managers' ability to manage their teams", undermining services and team-building. (Excerpt from Reuters)

US women arrested in Sydney with golden gun in luggage

AUS woman has been arrested in Australia after a 24-carat gold-plated gun was found in her luggage.

The woman, who has not been identified, arrived in Sydney from Los Angeles and did not have a permit for the firearm, the Australian Border Force (ABF) said.

She could face up to 10 years in jail.

In a statement, an ABF official said that sophisticated detection technology had helped stop a dangerous weapon from entering the country.

"Time and time again, we have seen just how good ABF officers are at targeting and stopping illegal, and highly dangerous, goods from crossing Australia's border," ABF Commander Justin Bathurst said.

Officials said the 28-yearold woman was charged and appeared before the Downing Centre Local Court on Monday, where she re-

ceived bail.

She could also face the cancellation of her visa and removal from Australia, pending the outcome of the court proceedings.

Airline passengers on domestic flights in the US can travel with firearms in a checked bag when they are unloaded and locked in a hard-sided case. Travellers must also tell airline representatives that they intend to travel with the weapon during check-in.

But in 2022, record number of firearms was confiscated from US airport passengers. A total of 6301 guns were taken at checkpoints as of mid-December, the transportation Security Administration (TSA) said.

By contrast, Australia has some of the most comprehensive firearm laws in the world. They were enacted after 35 people were killed in 1996 by a gunman in Tasmania. (Excerpt from BBC News)

DAILY HOROSCOPES

Don’t let things get to you. Concentrate on how to make things better. A lifestyle change may be the answer, but putting a short-term plan in place will ease stress and point you in a better direction.

(March 21-April 19)

Push forward with enthusiasm, trust and belief in yourself. Dedicate time to something that matters to you. The information you share and the help you offer will prove inspirational.

(April 20-May 20)

Be careful whom you trust. Offering too much information can be just as harmful as not offering enough. Balance and integrity will affect how situations unfold.

(May 21-June 20)

PEANUTS

(June 21-July 22)

A realistic attitude will help you conquer your long-term goals. Be open to suggestions and join forces with people heading in a similar direction. Use your imagination.

Think twice before you make an unnecessary move. Pay more attention to the long-term effects your decisions have on your life. Take time to reinvent the person you want to become.

(July 23-Aug. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Pick a lane and proceed. Learn all you can and connect with people who can help you. Your attitude will be yours to choose. Don’t miss out because you neglect to join the fun.

Paint an image in your mind and turn it into a reality. Engage in a conversation with someone you find interesting. Stay alert, and you’ll avoid being suckered.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

Do your best to expand your mind, close a deal or team up with someone who brings out the best in you. Build a home base that adds to your strengths and counteracts your weaknesses.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Mix business with pleasure. Mingling with people who offer something special will result in ideas that lead to financial gain. Prepare a space that is conducive to following your dream.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Spend more time at home, nurture meaningful relationships and put more thought into what makes you happy. Set priorities that align with where you see yourself heading.

Keep your thoughts to yourself. Protect what you have and be willing to let go of what you no longer need or use. It’s up to you to find balance in your life and make necessary changes.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

Self-improvement will bring the highest reward. Take a step in a direction that challenges you to set goals and work hard. Embrace an adventure that encourages growth and prosperity.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

“One Guyana” male & female volleyball tournaments rated a great success

The Berbice Volleyball Association (BVA) has successfully hosted a “One Guyana” male academy volleyball tournament and a female extravaganza tournament at the Guyana Sugar Corporation’s (GuySuCo) Training Centre at Port Mourant on Saturday April 22nd and Sunday April 23rd, 2023. Teams that contended for the male academy were Falcons of Orealla, #47 Challengers, GTVPM 1, GTCPM 2 and Berbice High School. GTCPM1 and Falcons of Orealla played in the finals, after a two-zone playoff. Due to inclement weather and bad light, the final was reduced to a 30-point battle, for which Falcons drew first blood at 30-

27 in a thrilling final.

First- and 2nd place trophies and medals were presented accordingly. The best libero trophy went to Staffon Lewis of GTCPM; best setter trophy went to Acaduan Andrews of GTCPM; the best defense trophy was awarded to Ronaldino Felix of Falcons; the best spiker’s trophy went to Lawrence France of Falcons, as did the MVP trophy.

In the female extravaganza, Orealla Seniors, Orealla ‘B', Orealla Under-16, Hopetown Ninjas, Rollers Females and GTCPM Females were the participants. The games were played in two zones, after which the Orealla Females defeated GTCPM in yet another thrilling final.

First- and second-place trophies and medals were presented accordingly. The best setter’s trophy went to Amisha Mohabir of GTCPM, while the best spiker’s trophy as well as the MVP trophy went to Arianna Herman.

The tournament was held to select under-16 male and female squads, a senior female squad and an under-17 male squad to represent Berbice in national tournaments.

The BVA President, in his invited comment, lauded Berbice for the bold venture taken, and highlighted that youths are the vanguard in development of volleyball in Guyana. He also thanked the National Sports Commission (NSC); the GuySuCo Apprentice

Training Centre; Poonai's Pharmacy; Anil, proprietor of Circuit Centre Store; the Region 6 Regional Democratic Council

(RDC), and Spready's Bakery for their sponsorship and support.

The next tournament will be an inter-school tournament

to be held in Region 6, with both male and female secondary school teams participating in three zones.

The winners’ row

The winning Male Falcons team of Orealla

The winning Under 16 Females of Orealla

Headley-Weekes Tri-Series tourney 2023… Developments in local boxing…

Nandu becomes 9th Guyanese to get call-up

Guyana Harpy Eagles’ (GHE) opening batsman

Matthew Nandu is the latest player from the Guyana team to be called up to participate in the Headley -Weekes Tri-Series tournament

A former West Indies U19 opening batsman, Nandu made his first-class debut during this year’s West Indies Championship (WIC), where he finished with 273 runs from five (5) matches, including a century on debut against Barbados in the first round.

He joins fellow Guyanese Kevlon Anderson, Ashmead Nedd, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Gudakesh Motie, Kevin Sinclair, Veerasammy Permaul, Nial

Smith and Tevin Imlach as nine players who have now been selected from the successful GHE team that won the WIC just a few weeks ago.

The President and Executive members of the Guyana Cricket Board have, in a statement, congratulated Nandu and the other Guyanese players selected for the series.

The Headley-Weekes TriSeries will continue today, when the matchup between Team Weekes and West Indies Academy bowls off at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua. West Indies Academy drew first blood in the series, defeating Team Headley by 7 wickets last week.

Poole on stream to complete IBA Cut Technician’s course

The historic IBA Cut Technician’s Course has been successfully completed by three-star tactician Sebert Blake, and Guyana Boxing Association’s Technical Director Terrence Poole will be the second Guyanese to participate in this significant programme, which will be conducted at the Men’s World Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from May 1st-4th.

The official invitational missive from IBA, signed by Development Officer Chris Roberts, OBE, detailed the primary aim of the course as development of a Cutman Technician in each national programme, which would provide pugilists with the essential treatment to avert

TATA IPL 2023: Mumbai Indians vs Gujarat Titans…

and manage injuries such as hematomas, lacerations, and nose bleeds. The course would also diminish hand injuries with the mastery of hand-wrapping techniques.

“The main objective of the course is to help develop our Cut Technicians and increase the pool of specialists around the world, as well as to broaden the knowledge of coaches, doctors, and physiotherapists about hand wrapping techniques and facial injury care of the athletes”, the correspondence stated. The course is eligible only to officials affiliated with the national federation, and who are already registered for the impending Men’s World Championship, to be staged from April 30th to May 14th in the capacities of team coaches, doctors, and/or physiotherapists.

With the removal of head guards, IBA states, the importance of experienced cutmen to assist boxers cannot be understated. Thus, the world governing body has crafted a course that would train and equip cutmen with the requisite aptitudes to prepare combatants before, during, and after fights.

-through efforts of Miller, Manohar, Tewatia

Batting fireworks in the death overs and five wickets shared by Afghan spinners Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad gave hosts Gujarat Titans their second win in a row, as they steamrolled Mumbai Indians for their second straight loss on a hot and humid evening in Ahmedabad.

After comfortably defending the big score of 207 for 6, Titans jumped to second place with 10 points, the same as tabletoppers Chennai Super Kings. Mumbai's death bowling came in the spotlight again, with Jofra Archer sitting out with an illness, Arjun Tendulkar not bowling in that phase, and their quicks leaking 70 runs in the last four overs, after conceding 65 in the same phase against Punjab Kings in their last game.

After Shubman Gill's fifty and a boundary-laden partnership of 71 off just 35 balls between Abhinav Manohar and David Miller for the fifth wicket, Mumbai's batting firepower fizzled against the Afghanistan spin duo, as only one of their top six crossed 25, and they fell short by 55 runs after being reduced to 59 for 5 in the 11th over.

Gill lays the platform Tendulkar kept it tight with his inswing early on; it had Wriddhiman Saha caught down leg, and along with Jason Behrendorff, he kept Titans to 33 for 1 after five overs. Gill then started his onslaught by milking Cameron Green for 17 in the last over of the powerplay, with a powerful pull, a scythe through off, and a stunning lofted straight drive for six, to power the run rate past eight. Mumbai brought on Piyush Chawla immediately, and Hardik Pandya holed out to long-off immediately for 13. But that didn't deter Gill's tempo. He drilled Chawla through the covers for four, and smashed Kumar Kartikeya to the leg side next over to reach a 30-ball fifty and lead Titans to 84 for 2 at the halfway mark.

The take-off from Manohar, Miller and Tewatia

Gill and Vijay Shankar holed out to long-on against the spinners in successive overs, and at 103 for 4 after 13 overs, the innings could have tilted either way. Manohar bravely took on a miserly Chawla, and tilted the pendulum in Titans' favour in

such a way that Mumbai never recovered. With the field spread out, Chawla started the 15th over with two full deliveries, and Manohar blasted both to the cover boundary. On the fifth ball, Manohar charged down and smoked a straight six, which made it a 17-run over, the same runs Chawla had conceded in his first three.

There was no stopping Manohar and Miller after that. The duo hammered three

the chase. Kishan poked, jabbed and prodded at many such Shami deliveries to score eight off his 13 balls, and he crawled to 10 off 17 at the end of the powerplay.

From the other end, Hardik fired in deliveries around 140145kmh with outswing, and took Rohit's return catch off a leading edge for just 2, before also beating Green's swings many a time in the powerplay, which saw Mumbai struggling on 29 for 1.

The Rashid-Noor strangle

Titans unleashed the Afghan spinners together after the powerplay, and Rashid struck immediately. He first had Kishan caught off a heave on the leg side to end a painful stay of 13 off 21, and three balls, he trapped Impact Player Tilak Varma for 2 with the help of a review.

Green had by then collected two sixes, and he slammed a third off Noor in the ninth over, even though the asking rate had crossed 14. Noor then landed a double blow himself, by rattling Green's stumps in the 11th over,

and he also had the big-hitting Tim David caught off a full toss for a two-ball duck.

Titans demolish Mumbai Indians SCOREBOARD

batches of back-to-back sixes in the last three overs - with the help of Rahul Tewatia - and gave Mumbai's bowling lots to think about before their next game.

Manohar used his brute force to slam Green for the first of those batches in the 18th over, Miller did it with his golf swings to end Meredith's last over, which also saw Manohar hole out to long-off for 42 off 21. And Tewatia swept his first ball for six, before slamming two more off Behrendorff's slower ones in the last over on the leg side to finish on 20 off 5.

Miller's dismissal for 46 off 22 on the penultimate ball was hardly a consolation for Mumbai, because by then Titans had crossed 200.

Shami's masterclass

The WTC final is still one month and a half away, but Mohammed Shami was so accurate with his pace and swing early on that Mumbai and India captain Rohit Sharma might have something to smile about. Maybe not.

Shami fired in one quick delivery after another outside Ishan Kishan's off stump, and made him look like a deer caught in the headlights, which meant Mumbai never took off in

At 59 for 5 after 11, Mumbai hardly any chance of bouncing back. Apart from a cameo from Suryakumar Yadav, Mumbai will be thrilled about unearthing another young batter, the 22-year-old Nehal Wadhera from Punjab. Wadhera manipulated the field to find gaps, hit big sixes down the ground and on the leg side, and impressed with his temperament under pressure, even if the chase was virtually over when he batted. He and Suryakumar took down Noor for 15 runs in the 13th over, and Wadhera finished with 40 off 21, studded with three sixes and as many fours, even as Mumbai stumbled in another big chase.

(ESPNCricinfo)

The programme will comprise one theoretical session and extensive practical segments, which will be followed by respective assessments.

Blake, who is part of a small cadre of three-star coaches in the Caribbean, is the firstever Guyanese to participate in, and successfully complete, the programme -- which occurred at the Women’s World Championship in New Delhi, India from March 15-31. Blake scored in the 90th percentile.

GBA President Steve Ninvalle has said, “This is the development of our human capital, and this is how you cultivate the discipline from a personnel perspective. The advancement of the sport, and by extension the athletes, can only occur if the teachers - essentially the trainers and coaches - possess the requisite and ever-evolving knowledge to impart to their students.

“We envisage creating an assembly line of qualified and knowledgeable coaches; that is the vision of the GBA. We anticipate, as in the historic case with Blake, similar success for Poole, which is to the benefit of the overall boxing ecosystem.”

Guyanese batsman Matthew Nandu

GBA’s Terrence Poole

An opportunity to recognize hinterland schools

Milo Schools’ U18 Football Tournament 2023… - Vansluytman on Santa Rosa victory

Athrilling final of the 2023 Milo Schools’ Under-18 Football Tournament was scripted last Sunday at the Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground on Carifesta Avenue in Georgetown, when Santa Rosa Secondary of Region One (Barima-Waini), ironically debutants in this year’s tournament, became first- time winners of the championship by defeating the feared Chase’s Academic Foundation by five goals to three.

The tale of Santa Rosa’s come-from-behind victory over Chase’s Academic Foundation is by now no secret, the former having gone on to win on kicks from the penalty mark after regulation and extra time ended with the scores locked at 3-3.

Speaking with Guyana Times Sport, Captain of the victorious Santa Rosa team, Roy Vanslyutman, revealed that the Santa Rosa comeback was all due to their belief in themselves and refusal to give up.

“We believed! Although we

went down two goals, we keep our heads high. The coaches talked to us, and we believed,” Vansluytman shared. The youngster added, “Well, we didn’t give up, that’s the main thing. We keep pushing and pushing.”

Asked how they felt coming up against the fearsome Chase’s Academic Foundation, the Santa Rosa captain admitted that a

bit of nerves had come into play. “We were kinda nervous, but confident also, because of the run we had. It was a great run. Quite confident, but a little nervous also,” he revealed.

About their comeback from being two goals down, Vansluytman divulged a little about their half-time pep talk with coaches Earl Richards and Barry Atkinson.

Vansluytman explained, “The coach told us, going back from halftime, the score is nilnil. Just think about the next half, and try to win it. That’s some of the tactics.”

The story of Santa Rosa’s triumph has been a hot topic on social media platforms since that memorable victory on Sunday night, and it is a spotlight that

the team captain is grateful for. When asked about what the victory would mean for his team and school, Vansluytman explained that it is another boost for hinterland football.

“I think it does a lot! You know, it recognizes hinterland schools, like more schools from the hinterland get opportunity,” the teenager reasoned.

Regarding future tournaments, Vansluytman added: “We’re confident! We have a lot of good young players that didn’t make the squad this year, and a lot are finishing school.”

Besides the championship, Santa Rosa also won the award for being the most disciplined school in the competition.

Guyana has been overachieving –– GHB President Philip Fernandes

Just last week, Guyana’s men’s and women’s under-21 national teams competed at the Junior Pan American Hockey Championships in Barbados, and finished respectively finishing 5th and 6th in those competitions.

While it was a commendable feat on the part of the teams, Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) President Philip Fernandes has labelled Guyana’s performances on the international stage as an ‘overachievement’, considering the resources available to the sport.

The GHB has long been lamenting the lack of an artificial turf for outdoor hockey - a resource that can be a game changer for the sport - and Fernandes disclosed in a recent interview that there would be only so much the Guyanese hockey teams can do while training on grass surfaces.

“I think that Guyana has been overachieving in the international circuit. If you talk with people in

international hockey, they all say the same thing: What Guyana has been able to achieve, what we’ve been able to produce, is greater than what we should be able to do at this stage,” the GHB President has declared. He added, “Our results against nations, all of whom have

artificial hockey pitches on which to train, on which to play, means that there’s no way Guyana should be winning matches internationally.”

Fernandes went on to highlight the dedication of Guyana’s hockey fraternity, citing it as the reason for their success.

“Our success has been largely due to the passion that our players and coaches have locally, and the kind of time and effort we invest in the game,” he said.

“We train harder than the rest, that is what has kept us alive. But I can’t help but feel that it is coming to a stage where we can’t sustain it,” Fernandes bluntly said.

The explanation behind his reasoning stems from the constant evolution of teams from countries who have better

resources. The GHB president explained, “Every time we go and compete and we have good results, the opposition then can go back to the drawing board, go back to their artificial surfaces, and train again, improve what it is that they’ve not done well. Meanwhile, the young people of Guyana come back to the flooded fields and the occasional gymnasiums that they use and try to make do and improvise with what substandard facilities we have.

“And this is a tremendous impediment! All the strides that you make leading up to tournaments basically end up being lost again because we’re not able to improve ourselves at the same rate as people who have adequate facilities to do so,” Fernandes explained.

At the recently concluded Pan Am Junior Games, Guyana’s men pulled off a stunning victory over Brazil in what was probably the highlight of that tournament for the junior national teams.

The Santa Rosa team were treated to a hero’s welcome upon their return to Region 1 (Antonio Torres Photo)

Santa Rosa Captain Roy Vansluytman was adjudged the tournament’s MVP

Guyana’s hockey teams have been overachieving on the international stage, according to GHB President Philip Fernandes