Guyana Times - Wednesday, December 20, 2023.pdf

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

Issue No. 5589

THE BEACON OF TRUTH PRICE $100 VAT INCLUDED

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2023

Venezuela border controversy

Argyle Declaration prohibits Venezuela from infringing upon Essequibo – Min Todd tells National Assembly – as French Senate reaffirms support for Guyana

See story on page 3

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Construction worker killed following P16 2-vehicle collision along ECD corridor

West Berbice P man stabbed 13 to death during argument over domino game

– suspect tells Police victim ran into knife he had in hand

Buxton taxi driver accused of raping teen granted bail P8 P8 President Dr Irfaan Ali on Tuesday accepted the Letters of Credence from the High Commissioner of Belize to Guyana, Gale Miller-Garnett at the Office of the President in the presence of Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd, Ambassador Elisabeth Harper, and family members

Govt gets parliamentary approval for over $25B – monies to fund expanded work in supplementary funds programmes, cost-of-living interventions

Truck driver dies after fuel tanker topples along Aurora trail P8

Page 7

Body of missing ExxonMobil returns as Corentyne man title sponsor for 3rd Guyana Energy Conference found in shallow grave Page 12

– fishing buddies in custody

Page 13

P8

CIOG spearheads 12P medical outreach in Berbice, Linden

2 NEWS GT sanitation workers strike as City Council unable to pay retroactive increases, one-off grant WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

– over $48M needed to offset payment

O

n Monday, representatives of the Guyana Labour Union (GLU) met with the Georgetown Mayor and City Council’s (GM&CC) Finance Committee to discuss increases for staff who are responsible for cleaning the city within its 15 constituencies.

The GLU workers are expecting to also benefit from the 6.5 per cent retroactive salary increase and the $25,000 one-off cash grant announced by the Central Government for all public servants.

However, City Hall does not have enough funds to make such a hefty payout.

Guyana Times understands that the Town Council collectively owes the workers approximately $34 million in retroactive payment and $14 million in one-off grants.

Given the Council’s financial challenges, it was proposed during the meeting that the municipality pay the workers the one-off

Georgetown Town Clerk Candace Nelson

grant and a five per cent out of the 6.5 per cent retroactive increase. Unable to meet the demands, the GLU called for its workers to down tools.

In an exclusive interview with this publication, Town Clerk Candace Nelson stated that both parties were unable to resolve the issue amicably.

Some 12 constituencies except Constituency Two (Kitty/Subryanville); Five (Sophia/Liliendaal/

Turkeyen) and Six (Cummings Lodge/ Turkeyen) will be affected.

Nelson explained that the Council is mostly concerned about the cleanliness of markets, namely the Bourda, Kitty, and La Penitence markets, which are filled with heaps of garbage around the Christmas season.

“We are working on trying to see how we can get staff to do as much as possible but overall, we have our external contractors, they are still picking up garbage so that part is covered but the street orderly they are part of the sitting so you won’t find that gang going through, cleaning the streets,” Nelson stated.

She hinted that if the strike extends beyond the Christmas season, the Council will be forced to engage the Government for a bail-out.

“Unfortunately, the Council is not in a financial position to have any more external contractors. We

will have to seek assistance from the Government to see how best we can have persons fill in but to further indebt the Council, I’m not sure we can do that at this time,” she explained.

In August, the newly-elected Mayor of Georgetown, Alfred Mentore, announced that he is unsure of City Hall’s financial status, and has committed to having an audit of the organisation.

The Mayor, during the

La Penitence Market

tion for the current, questionable financial status.

“I am not going to take blame,” Mentore said, adding: “We don’t want to be taking blame for some previous Councillors.”

Claiming that it is an administrative duty to ensure City Hall’s financials are in order, Mentore maintained that he will not take the blame for the local organ’s position.

He related that the Council is ready and will-

President Bharrat Jagdeo had accused City Hall of several corrupt practices and according to him, there is consideration to have the audits ordered by the Central Government.

Further, he also acknowledged that there are remaining concerns over the selling and leasing of lands in the capital city through the City Council, which is controlled by APNU/PNCR. There have also been

Bourda Market

City Council’s first statutory meeting since the election of new Councillors, blamed his predecessors, the majority of whom were from the A Partnership for National Unit/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coali-

ing to outsource the necessary expertise to audit City Hall.

“We want a full audit of this place, we want a full understanding of what is going on…,” Mentore said.

Earlier this year, Vice

reported cases of obscure transactions involving the writing off or wavering of taxes to businesses arbitrarily without proper records of how amounts are arrived at or how the agreement came about.

GT man remanded on narcotics possession charges F orty-one-year-old Ray Yokum of Lime Street, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown, was on Tuesday remanded to prison on two counts of narcotics trafficking charges.

Police stated that the defendant was arrested on December 17 by a rank from the Lusignan Police Outpost following the discovery of 40 grams of cocaine and 1255 grams of cannabis in his possession.

He appeared at the Cove and John Magistrate's Court before Magistrate Lambert where both charges were read to him and he pleaded not guilty.

He will make his next court appearance on January 16, 2024.

Remanded: Ray Yokum

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Venezuela border controversy

BRIDGE OPENINGS

BRIDGE The Demerara OPENINGS Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, Dec 20 – 23:30h – 01:00h and Thursday, Dec 21 – no retraction.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Wednesday, Dec 20 – 10:30h – 12:00h and Thursday, Dec 21 – 11:40h – 13:10h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

Argyle declaration prohibits Venezuela from infringing upon Essequibo – Min Todd tells National Assembly – as French Senate reaffirms support for Guyana

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

WEATHER TODAY There will be sunshine and thundery showers during the day. Expect clear skies at night.

Temperatures should range between 24 degrees Celsius and 32 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 10:51h and 23:53h reaching maximum heights of 2.32 metres and 2.31 metres.

Low Tide: 16:51h reaching a minimum height of 0.91 metre.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2023

LOTTERY NUMBERS C

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Bonus Ball

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2023 DAILY MILLIONS

10 15 21

01 05 LUCKY 3

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Afternoon Draw

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Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

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PAY DAY

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2023

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FP Evening Draw

955

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COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$79.23/barrel

+1.64

Rough Rice London Sugar

$315.54/ton $614.80/ton

-0.79 +0.36

Live Spot Gold Bid/Ask Low/High Change

USD Per Ounce $2041.24 $2021.65

$2041.47 $2046.93

+13.63

+0.67

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Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd

he recently signed Argyle declaration prohibits Venezuela from interfering with Guyana’s administration of the Essequibo region, while a final resolution to the border controversy is sought at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

This position was affirmed by Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd, in response to concerns raised by the parliamentary Opposition during a sitting of the National Assembly on Tuesday.

Todd was questioned about the Argyle declaration that was declared by Presidents Dr Irfaan Ali of Guyana and Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela. The declaration, signed on Thursday last in St Vincent and the Grenadines, sees Guyana and Venezuela agreeing to keep the peace, and not use

threat or force amid the border controversy.

The parliamentary Opposition had been invited

Opposition MP Amanza Walton-Desir

to these historic talks but had declined. However, in the parliamentary sitting, Opposition Members came armed with several questions about the joint decla-

Senator Cédric Perrin, President of the French Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and the Armed Forces

ration.

Opposition Member of Parliament Amanza Walton-Desir, who shadows the Foreign Affairs Ministry, questioned whether efforts were made to expressly prohibit Venezuela in the declaration from taking any action to seize control of Essequibo. Minister Todd, who was part of the delegation in St Vincent, replied in the affirmative and when pressed by the Opposition Member why this was not expressly stated in the declaration, he had this to say.

“If the Honourable Member would have read the declaration carefully, she would recognise that it is implicit in the declaration and it’s mutually beneficial to both parties, beginning also with the title of the declaration, which speaks to peace within the Region. So it was incorpo-

rated within the content and context of the declaration,” Todd said.

This answer did not satisfy the Opposition, with Member of Parliament Amanza Walton-Desir stressing that this should have been expressly stated.

At this point, Minister Todd read sections of the declaration that prohibit Venezuela from taking any harmful actions against Guyana.

“The Honourable Member would recall that Venezuela agreed not to threaten or use force against Guyana, either directly or indirectly, in any circumstances including those consequential to any existing controversy between the two states,” Todd said, pointing to one of several instances that would bind Venezuela to keep the peace.

TURN TO PAGE 7

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guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2023

Views

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

Step up to the challenge

T

here are many social ills affecting 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; and domestic and other forms of violence are having a huge negative impact on communities across Guyana. And now, more than ever, there is a 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 solution to the problems they are facing, and hence they turn to various forms of anti-social behaviours, thereby creating more challenges for an alreadyburdened 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, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), 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 per cent 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 a 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 the services offered.

The role of the Private Sector should also never be underestimated. There is a 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 wellequipped 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 to combat the challenges facing young people. 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 sociallyproductive adulthood, certain support systems must be provided.

First Lady Arya Ali recently participated in the fifth Belt & Road Women’s Forum, which was sponsored by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CAFFC) in Sanya City, Hainan, China. During the event, she delivered one of the main addresses at the opening ceremony and used the opportunity to advocate for greater inclusion and equitable treatment of women in the labour force

Road safety is everyone's business Dear Editor, How often haven’t we heard the phrase ‘speed thrills but kills?’ But it enters through one ear, and exists the other without registering its significance or application for its avoidance, and it remains only a passing thought and comment for analytical purposes!

Our highways, roads and streets have been converted into race tracks to experience the thrill of the gooseneck turn with the pedal-to-the-metal effort on the long stretch. Patience has escaped our temperament, and “rush hour” is a foreign thing with a 6 O’clock morning to 6 O’clock evening Guyanese application, throughout the coastal belt.

A risk is always risky, and when indulged, one may be successful, or partially successful, or unsuccessful.

Pedestrians, bikers and motorists do incur different degrees of risk, thus exposing themselves to different levels of danger.

Users of the road whether walking, riding or driving - are always in a hurry, and deliberately take the following risks, which may be categorised: pre-mature risk, anticipated risk, calculated risk, dangerous risk, unnecessary risk, avoidable risk, careless risk, reckless risk, thoughtless risk, breath-taking risk, deadly risk, or costly risk. Why take a risk on the road when waiting a minute or two may make all the difference between being dead or alive; or, partially or severally injured; or, being safe and sound?

Common sense is a no-nonsense approach for

this sensitive subject, and being sane and sensible is a sober reality which should be the guiding factor when using the road. The ideal situation may never be realized in Guyana, simply because most users prefer to remain insensitive to this senseless situation, and are conscious or unconscious of their actions and inactions, but clearly do not care or are unconcerned about the consequences. A care-free attitude provides the breathing ground for perpetual and perplexed accidents, particularly for those who participate in poor or no judgement.

The holiday season has just commenced, and already so many accidents have been recorded with deaths as a result. Friends and families will not have the pleasurable company of a young Berbice businessman who was allegedly test-driving his vehicle last Friday at a fast rate, but lost control. Was it speed, poor judgement, or mechanical failure being the contributing factor to his demise?

Was this fatality the hand of fate, or could it have been avoided? Is there a lesson to be learnt? Is anyone paying attention?

Last Thursday, on the busy East Bank Road, a biker and his pillion rider lost their lives when they were involved in an accident with a lorry. Again, the usual scenario presented itself for this calamity, but the difference was with allegedly suspected criminal behaviour being deployed. A bitter lesson accompanies this tragedy, paying priceless dividends.

It is too late for those departed ones to be remorseful,

but it is not too late for those who favour indulging in this type of trauma. Hopefully, the young and restless will pay heed and want to commit not to repeat anything so dramatic.

Misfortune struck several people when they were injured in an unfortunate accident which occurred over a week ago, again on the dangerous East Bank Road.

Sadly, four people, including the driver, died. This time, observers reported that a minibus driven by an inconsiderate driver did what other drivers continued to do attempted to overtake a line of traffic and ended up on the wrong side of the lane, law and life. How many drivers and bikers are guilty of this negligence, endangering themselves and others, and not observing the laws of the road by being passionately impatient? Many would prove positive for the test!

When would bus drivers acknowledge that they owe their passengers the responsibility of driving with the application of the five Cs: care, caution, consideration, courtesy and common sense?

When will they drive while observing all traffic rules and regulations; driving with the five Ss in description: safely, soundly, soberly, sanely and simply? When will they drive not dangerously, destructively, dominatingly nor disruptively? When will they drive without loud or lewd music; driving with respect, regard and all requisite requirements; driving properly and presentively attired; driving with a clean, fully fuelled bus, with tyres already tested for adequate air; driving

with enough change; driving with the passengers’ comfort in mind; driving with the passengers’ interest and time in mind?

Other vehicle drivers are also very much guilty of most of the aforementioned aggravation. Many would say, “Keep on dreaming”, or, “Not in this lifetime.” Nothing is truer or more realistic. In common practice, most accidents occur because of negligence, inexperience, impatience, speeding, alcohol, poor driving skills, inattention, and not observing and applying all traffic rules, regulations and guidance.

In poor weather conditions, the need to adjust accordingly is not heeded.

The Police have their hands filled and their job cut out for them. They are trying to cope with uncontrolled and undisciplined road users, but are limited in number and resources. Some also do not respect their uniforms, and indulge in controversial matters in contravention and contradiction of customary compliance. The Police need to step up to the plate in controlling noise nuisance by motorists, which is an abuse of public privilege and privacy. Overtaking and undertaking is a key area for monitoring and ticketing.

Speeding is a sickening area, and needs to be curbed.

Overall, if road users can be responsible participators, many lives may be saved, and not lost. Road safety is everyone’s business. Do be the change for a change, and have a safe holiday season.

Yours respectfully, Jai Lall

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2023

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You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

Guyanese should not be distracted or concerned for one bit about Maduro’s obsession with Guyana’s domestic affairs

Dear Editor, At the meeting between President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali and President Maduro, the Attorney General & Minister of Legal Affairs, Hon. Mohabir Anil Nandlall, S.C., revealed that President Maduro had in his possession volumes of documents. Many of those documents were reportedly compilations of public commentaries in the local media about the ExxonMobil (XOM) and the Production Sharing Agreement (2016).

These are largely adverse commentaries and criticisms regarding ExxonMobil’s operations here in Guyana.

With that in mind, it is worth noting that the Nicolas Maduro regime, like his predecessor, is strongly anti-American, especially to the U.S multinational cor-

poration ExxonMobil. There is a background that underpins this view as to why Maduro is unusually hostile towards ExxonMobil in particular. To this end, over the past two decades, Venezuela has changed to become a problematic country, from an investment perspective.

Venezuela’s political and economic history supports the assertion that Venezuela has been, and continues to be, a risky place to make investments, especially for political reasons.

During the mid-1990s, Venezuela’s national oil company, PDVSA, implemented a policy known as the Apertura Petrolera (oil opening), which sought to mobilize the capital, technology, and managerial capabilities of international oil companies to maximize

the production of crude oil, while simultaneously reducing drastically the fiscal burden on hydrocarbons’ exploration and production activities. Of note, the policy achieved its objectives to a large extent. Production by Venezuela was a key factor behind the oil price collapse of 1998, and the paltry fiscal income generated by some of the Apertura era projects made them the most unfavourable –for the State – in the history of Venezuela’s petroleum industry.

The standard bearers of the Apertura were four large, costly and complex projects dedicated to the production upgrading (i.e., partial refining) and marketing (as synthetic crude) of extra-heavy oils. Three of these projects were at the centre of arbitration proceedings that

ConocoPhillips (COP) and ExxonMobil (XOM) initiated against Venezuela at the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) in late 2007.

These arbitrations featured some of the largest claims ever to have been made against a State by international investors: US$30 billion in the case of COP, and more than US$15 billion in the case of XOM. COP and XOM alleged that, in changing the fiscal conditions for the upgrading projects, and then restructuring them along the lines sketched above, the Venezuelan Government rode roughshod over their vested rights, treating contractual undertakings “as the proverbial scrap of paper” that they can disre-

Self-censorship remains the best option for our national-wellbeing Dear Editor, As Maduro’s aide plunked down volumes of notebooks on the desk at the beginning of the meeting with Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali, few could have guessed the contents would be the writings of Guyanese on the topics of the border, and of ExxonMobil’s operation in Guyana; but it was predictable as day follows night for those who think before using the pen.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall, who witnessed first-hand Maduro’s attempt to manufacture evidence and sell the thoughts of a few as those of the majority, felt compelled to share his thoughts and urge caution going forward.

Immediately, there have been bellicose challenges to Nandlall concerning his final paragraph: “In the future, therefore, those who

wish to travel this road by making such statements, or taking such actions, must now become alive to this consequential reality.” This was questioned by some as a threat to free speech.

Nandlall has made assurances that it is not, but I would posit that it is much like the Argyle Agreement: subject to change with circumstance.

Guyana has had a long, discomforting look down the wrong end of a gun barrel as Venezuela’s embattled Dictator Nicholas Maduro made use of the border controversy to bolster his flagging political career at home; and while the Argyle Agreement gives us respite, it may well be temporary, given Maduro’s level of desperation to hold onto power in an election year (2024).

From September 20, (the Referendum announce-

ment) to date, there has been no state censorship of any kind; Guyanese have shared every half-baked conspiracy theory they can dream up, fiction phrased as fact and stunningly accepted and repeated ad nauseam even after disproved or discredited.

A country facing an existential threat to its survival cannot afford this level of disinformation and chaos in time of crisis. It is clear to me that self-censorship failed, and when the next period of crisis arrives, we need to treat our Press and ‘Commentators’ differently.

Our Government should institute a review of statements, letters, opinions, and social media posts during the foregoing period, then invite all news entities to workshops to find solutions to any issues identified (there will be issues).

Self-censorship remains the best option for our national well-being, but there should be an effort to educate the public about the dangers of “reckless speculative pontification”.

Our Government should also make it pellucid that it is not toothless, should self-regulation fail. Giving aid and comfort to our enemies cannot, and should not, be tolerated; every country in the world allows for emergency powers in times of grave threat or war, and Guyana is no exception. Those who would put themselves in Maduro’s shoes and offer advice on how to conquer our homeland should see the inside of our jail cells, and enjoy our hospitality until they regain their senses.

Sincerely, Robin Singh

Weaponising immigration is a no-no Dear Editor, The recent news from Europe and the UK, indicating a concern over immigration becoming weaponised by foreign actors, should be a red flag for our Government.

Countries are concerned over the lack of regulations pertaining to receiving illegal migrants and exercising control over their influx.

As a result of this national security risk, countries are clamping down on illegal immigration and restricting the intake of refugees.

The Prime Minister of the UK recently said, “Our enemies will also see that we are unable to deal with this (illegal immigration), and then they will so increasingly use migration as a weapon, deliberately driv-

ing people to our shores trying to destabilize our societies”.

The current conflict with Venezuela should raise an alarm over the current influx of thousands of refugees from Venezuela. The Government and Opposition must work together in Parliament to ensure that we prevent the recent statement by the Prime Minister of the UK from becoming a reality in our own country.

Venezuela can disarm and remove troops from the border while still using the passive-aggressive strategy of weaponised migration to populate our Essequibo region, gain influence and intimate knowledge of the inner workings of our Government and the region; and, worst

of all, may use migration to gain knowledge of our armed forces.

Russia has used this strategy over the years to gain dominance in the eastern section of Ukraine, where their culture and language became dominant, leading to an easier annexation of that region of Ukraine’s territory.

We must restrict migrants’ access to Government jobs and enlistment into the Armed Forces and GPF, until Venezuela has accepted the ruling of the ICJ and relinquished its claim to Essequibo. Returning those migrants without links to direct family in Guyana back to their homeland in Venezuela must remain a top priority, and be acted

upon shortly.

The use of the area around the border, especially in the vicinity of Ankoko Island, for trade between our two countries would allow the refugees and migrants to establish themselves economically and socially with Guyanese in a safer environment. Such an opportunity, if provided, would help them develop their community in a part of the country that will also safeguard our nation against deceptive migration that can be weaponized by Venezuelan authorities seeking to conquer the Essequibo region. We must prudently act upon this promptly.

Best regards, Jamil Changlee

gard at their convenience… breaking all the commitments…made to induce investment.

In other words, XOM and COP contended that Venezuela, inter alia, enacted legislative amendments to the fiscal terms of the investment agreement that were more favourable to the country, which jeopardized the stability of and security of their long-term investments. According to XOM and COP, their legal proceedings were prompted by a commitment to uphold the principle of sanctity of contract. The oil companies would have bargained with PDVSA to obtain protection for their investments through specific compensation mechanisms, which made explicit reference to a limitation of liability on the part of PDVSA, and provided that foreign investors would be deemed not to have suffered any adverse economic consequences from government measures when the price of crude oil exceeded a certain threshold level.

In 2007, an arbitration panel awarded ExxonMobil US$908 million in compensation for Venezuela’s nationalization of its assets, less than 10% of what the company sought in the long legal battle against Venezuela. In 2017, a World Bank tribunal eventually ordered Venezuela to pay ExxonMobil $1.4 billion in damages.

One news report carried in one of the local newspapers, namely the Kaieteur

News, on December 22, 2019, cited a report by Globovision which stated that Venezuela’s politicians think that ExxonMobil is behind all the heavily imposed sanctions on the country by the United States. This view is not an improbable hypothesis, considering the geopolitics of oil, and it is a view also held by other experts.

It is interesting to note that Venezuela’s GDP as of 2012 stood at US$372 billion, which experienced a rapid decline in the years thereafter, to a low of US$92 billion in 2022, a regression to where the country was since 1998; that is, more than two decades ago.

With the foregoing in mind, readers would recall that in previous writings, this author had argued that the Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s recent statements and threats revealed the obvious: that is, he wants Guyana to become a failed State like Venezuela, by becoming anti-American and treat ExxonMobil in a manner similar to what Venezuela did in the past.

Therefore, Guyanese should not be distracted or concerned for one bit about Maduro’s obsession over Guyana’s domestic affairs.

He (Maduro) has his domestic affairs to take care of, such as an ailing economy to turn around, and an election to face in 2024.

Yours respectfully, Joel Bhagwandin

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2023 06:00 06:30 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:05 13:30 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:45 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 20:30 22:00 00:00

(Sign on) Inspiration Time Cartoons Evening News (RB) Stop Suffering Guy's Grocery Games Grand Designs Paternity Court Divorce Court News Break Movie - Christmas Bedtime Stories (2022) A TVG Christmas The Santa Clauses S2 E5 Indian Soaps Anthony Persaud – Season Greetings Sydney to the Max S2 E21 Austin & Ally S4 E4 The Young & The Restless Silvies Feature Jeewan Ki Roti CNN The Evening News Stop Suffering Movie - Home Sweet Home Alone (2021) Movie - Violent Night (2022) Sign off

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2023

Foundation ◄

Page

MATH QUESTIONS

1. What is the value of the underlined digit in 88 888 (A) 8000 (C) 80

6. Which is an acute angle?

(B) 800 (D) 8

2. Which is a prime number?

(A) 7 (B) 9 (C) 15 (D) 21 3 Which is a Roman Numeral?

(A) * (B) 0 (C) 9 (D) X

By Sr Rose Magdalene

7. Which of the following is a triangular base pyramid?

4. Angles are measured in (A) litres.

(B) squares.

(C) degrees.

(D) grams.

5. A multiple of 12 is (A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 21 (D) 24

Popsicle stick wreath Stock up on small and large craft sticks, then paint them three different shades of green. Glue the sticks to a 12" foam wreath, overlapping and mixing the shades of green as you go.

A red ribbon finishes off the look. (goodhousekeeping. com)

There are many flags in many lands right across the world they’re spread.

But there’s no flag in any land like our Golden Arrowhead.

Then hurrah for the flag, Guyana’s flag with its arrows gold, green and red.

For there’s no flag in any land like our Golden Arrowhead.

The golden arrow signifies, our precious gems and gold.

The green points to the forests lush.

The red our strength untold.

Let as all stand, salute our flag, our loyalty to pledge.

And promise always to revere, The golden arrowhead.

WORD SEARCH

GIVING DECEMBER ELVES JOLLY STOCKING

SANTA BELLS CHRISTMAS TREE

GINGERBREAD SNOW FAMILY LIGHTS

WINTER COOKIES CANDY CANE PRESENTS

NEWS

7

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt gets parliamentary approval for over $25B in supplementary funds – monies to fund expanded work programmes, cost-of-living interventions

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh

A

marathon session in the National Assembly that went well into the night ended with the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government getting parliamentary approval for well over $25 billion in supplementary funds.

The two financial papers in question – Financial Paper No 4 seeking approval for $1.8 billion and Financial Paper No 5 seeking approval for $24 billion – had been laid at the last sitting by Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh. They were eventually approved by the National Assembly on Tuesday after hours of being examined by the Committee of Supply.

These funds will go towards expanding the work programmes in various Ministries, agencies and re-

gions. Specifically, money was sought for $1.2 billion for the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), which is presently on high alert amid threats to Guyana’s territory of Essequibo from neighbouring, Venezuela.

It was explained that the money is for “defence and security support”, while a sum of over $527 million was sought for development programmes in Regions One, Six, Seven, Eight and Nine.

Monies were also sought for the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry.

Meanwhile, approval was sought for over $12.3 billion for the agriculture sector, which is earmarked for subsidising local organisations and providing the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) with additional resources to do drainage and irrigation works and combat the El Niño phenomenon.

Additionally, approval was sought for money spent on the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) in the form of $643 million to support operational costs, particularly paying sugar workers. At this point, however, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha was grilled by the parliamentary A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Opposition.

Not only was Mustapha forced to debunk claims that GuySuCo workers were not

Agriculture Mustapha

Minister

Zulfikar

paid last month, but he also emphasised the importance of the Government’s investments in Rose Hall in particular and GuySuCo in general… one of the largest employers in the country, whose mass firings under the former Government had sent shockwaves across the sugar belt.

“We reopened Rose Hall Estate, (and) Rose Hall Estate is now producing sugar and we have employed a total of 543 new employees and we employed these people because of the mechanisation programme. We have started, and I must also say, those persons are also from the area of Rose Hall, who were severed when the factory was closed,” Minister Mustapha said.

Approval for funding was also sought for the health sector, which will bene-

Argyle declaration prohibits...

FROM PAGE 3

French support

Meanwhile, Guyana’s support against Venezuela’s threats to its sovereignty continues, with Senator Cédric Perrin, President of the French Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and the Armed Forces, dispatching a letter of support to Guyana that was read out in the National Assembly

by Speaker of the House Manzoor Nadir on Tuesday.

In the letter, Perrin on behalf of the Senate expressed “deep concern” for the rising tensions between the two countries. However, he also welcomed the recent Argyle declaration signed between President Dr Irfaan Ali and his Venezuelan counterpart, Nicolas Maduro.

“While the meeting between President Maduro and President Ali on December 14, at the end of which the two Heads of State pledged not to resort to force, gives cause for some optimism, the territorial dispute between Venezuela and Guyana can only be re-

solved in compliance with international law, which must be determined by the forthcoming decision of the ICJ, to which Guyana has referred the matter.”

Perrin referred to earlier this year, when a French delegation of Senators arrived in Guyana led by Joslle Garriaud-Maylam and also featuring Catherine Dumas, Phillipe Falliot, Andre Vallini and Nicole Duranton and met with President Dr Irfaan Ali at the Office of the President.

During the visit, the French delegation reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening cooperation with Guyana. The French team also reminded that the French Parliament would always remain supporters of international law in the Guyana vs Venezuela case frontier and therefore stand by Guyana. This was reaffirmed by Perrin in his letter.

“As Senators you received on April 16 pointed out, the French Senate is committed to respecting your country’s sovereignty and security. We will there-

fore follow developments in the situation with utmost attention.”

“Rest assured that we will stand by your side in these circumstances. Please accept, Mr President, the assurances of our highest regard,” Nadir further read from the letter, which was signed by Perrin.

Venezuela has, in recent months, intensified its threats and aggression towards Guyana. In the Argyle joint declaration, the two Heads of State had also agreed that any controversy between the two States would be resolved in accordance with international law, including the Geneva Agreement dated February 17, 1966.

The two countries have also committed to the pursuance of good neighbourliness, peaceful coexistence, and the unity of Latin America and the Caribbean.

It was also agreed that both States would refrain, whether by words or deeds, from escalating any conflict or disagreement arising from any controversy.

(Jarryl Bryan)

fit from $3.9 billion to support the rollout of healthcare infrastructure. This sum includes $3.3 billion for the construction of the New Amsterdam Regional Hospital, which the Ministry said would add “to the suite of several new hospitals as part of Government’s broader agenda to modernise the health care system.”

Another area being covered by the supplementary financing is the education sector, with over $530.6 million being sought for additional funding under the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) loan for the skills development and employability project.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand was also grilled on her sector by the Opposition, regarding the funding being sought for her Ministry. She explained that the $31.7 million being sought for “school furniture and equipment” was going to go towards two schools in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) – Arthurville Primary School and Zeelugt Primary School.

However, Opposition Member of Parliament

Education Minister Manickchand

Priya

Natasha Singh-Lewis went on to ask the Minister how many Venezuelan children would benefit from these expenditures. In recent times there has been an influx of Venezuelan migrants in Guyana, particularly in Region Three where boatloads have landed and, in some instances, they were sent back home before they could land.

The question prompted the Minister to make clear the Government’s non-discriminatory stance.

“As many children as are

falling in the catchment of the Zeelugt Primary School, regardless of whether they are Guyanese, male, female, Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Brazilian, or Venezuelan, they will get an education at that school. And a good quality, sound education,” a fired-up Manickchand said.

The Public Works Ministry was also catered for, with approval being sought for over $1 billion for the maintenance of roads, procurement of equipment and $79 million for the Transport and Harbours Department, as the country continues to undergo massive infrastructural transformation.

Funding was, meanwhile, sought for the Office of the Prime Minister, including more than $188 million to provide additional resources for the Linden Electricity Company Incorporated to sustain Ituni’s operation, the Mahdia Power and Light Inc and Kwakwani Utilities.

Additionally, monies will go towards funding under the Government of India’s Line of Credit “due to an acceleration in the delivery of solar photovoltaic systems”. (G-3)

8 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Truck driver dies after fuel tanker topples along Aurora trail

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32-year-old man lost his life on Monday after the vehicle he was driving encountered a mechanical problem, causing it to run off a trail at Aurora in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni).

The dead man has been identified as Tyron Anthony, a resident of Supenaam, Essequibo Coast in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

Police reported that the accident occurred at approximately 17:35h when the vehicle Anthony was operating – a fuel tanker with registration GAD 3757, owned by Demerara Transportation Limited – experienced a mechanical failure along the Aurora/ Tapir trail.

Checking…

F

Dead: Tyron Anthony

At the time, the vehicle was negotiating a turn on a downward slope, thus causing the driver to lose control. The vehicle reportedly veered off the trail and toppled several times before coming to a halt.

Anthony was ejected from the tanker but was

Mahaica resident charged with armed robbery

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ayad Mohamed, 22, a fisherman of Lancaster/Unity, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was on Tuesday granted bail in the sum of $70,000 on an armed robbery charge.

Mohamed made a virtual appearance before Magistrate George during which the charge was read to him. Police stated that on November 14, 2023, the defendant robbed Naresh Luke, 47, and Bhajart Jaggernauth, 33, both of Unity, Mahaica.

The details of the robbery were not released to the press.

However, Mohamed pleaded not

Charged: Rayad Mohamed

guilty and was granted bail. He will make his next court appearance on February 6, 2024.

The truck that was involved in the accident

subsequently pinned.

A concerned passerby discovered the man in an unconscious state and promptly transported him to the Aurora Medical Centre. Regrettably, upon arrival, Anthony was pronounced dead.

This is the second accident that claimed the life of a driver in Aurora in just a matter of weeks.

Thirty-six-year-old Joseph Licorish from West Watooka, Wismar, Linden, died after colliding with another vehicle a few weeks ago while working in the Aurora mine.

At the time of the accident, Licorish was driving a motor lorry, TL-001, and as he descended a hill fully loaded with stones, he collided with another truck. It

was reported that Licorish was approaching the other vehicle at a fast rate and swerving into its lane.

The driver of the other vehicle said he tried to avoid a collision but due to the short distance, the front portion of Licorish’s truck collided with the right-side front portion of his lorry, causing it to flip on its left side.

As a result of the collision, both drivers received injuries. The entire cabin of Licorish’s truck was dislodged, with Licorish pinned inside.

Licorish was pulled out of the cabin by other workers and was rushed to the Aurora Medical Centre but was pronounced dead. The other driver was treated and sent home.

Buxton taxi driver Lusignan accused of raping labourer gets 8 teen granted bail months on ammo possession charge D

ecorcy Hatton, a 25-year-old taxi driver of Company Road, Buxton, East Coast Demerara (ECD), who was accused of raping a teenage girl, was granted bail in the sum of 250,000.

The accused appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court and was not required to plea to the charge which stated that he committed the act on October 10, 2023.

The charge was instituted against him by Police ranks of the Cove and John Police Station who investigated the matter. The matter will be called again on January 29, 2024.

T

Charged: Decorcy Hatton

wenty-one-year-old Vishnu Persaud, a labourer of Lusignan, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was on Monday sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment on a possession of ammunition charge.

Persaud was arrested on Friday last by a rank attached to the Vigilance Police Station and charged with possession of ammunition without licence, contrary to Section 16 (2) (a) of the Firearms Act, Chapter 16:05.

However, he appeared at the Vigilance Magistrate's Court before Magistrate Fabayo Azore on Monday where the

…on friends

or all our history, we have been taught that we are all one happy imperial family on which the sun never set. We used to look with pride at the patches of red across the globe that signalled our “togetherness”.

As Independence loomed, the Brits lumped our colonies into one federation or another for easier administration – depending on where we were: from the Federation of Malaya (1948-1957) to the Federation of the West Indies (1958-1962).

In our case, since we all came out of slave plantations and were ruled and schooled by the same iron fist, we developed a strong bond of “West Indianness”; but that didn’t last too long. It all came apart in 1962, when the Jamaicans felt they were carrying the small islanders on their backs and voted to leave the Federation.

Trinidad soon followed, when Eric Williams quipped, “One from ten leaves zero!!” While you may think the Oxford grad was mathematically challenged, the point he was making was that, with all our WI “oneness”, the different territories would be weighing the burdens versus the benefits of remaining as a family. From his perspective, he was channelling Plato – whom he’d studied at Oxford!!

– that “there can only be real friendship between equals”!!

Trinidad also left in 1962!! And, of course, from then on even though his old friend Arthur Lewis begged and cajoled - he left the “Little 8” on their own, as his burgeoning oil industry made Trinis live high off the hog!

The only place where we were a “West Indian Family” was on the cricket field; and even then, there was constant squabbling about why players from some countries were never picked!! Well into the new millennium, Trinidad complained that the rest of what had now become “Caricom” looked at them as an ATM machine!

And we arrive at the present, where any number of Caricom PMs are insisting we “keep the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace” – even in the face of Venezuelan bullyism and threats to our sovereignty. There’s no question there appears to be a strong bond of friendship between our Pressie and PMs Mottley and Gonzales; and on this basis, maybe there’s an acceptance of their good intentions towards us. But even before the Argyle Meet, your Eyewitness had also noted that they were just as friendly with Mad Maduro of Venezuela!!

Plato’s student Aristotle reflected on his master’s aphorism, and concluded there are actually three types of friendship. The first two – based on usefulness and pleasure given – are based on self-interest, while “true friendship is only between good people similar in virtue! So, do they think Mad Maduro’s their friend due to self-interest (PetroCaribe?) or due to sharing similar “virtues”??

Your Eyewitness says, “Show me your company…”!! …the ballots So, now that we know the recount of the last elections is constitutionally valid, your Eyewitness hopes the Opposition and their camp followers gonna quit with their nonsense about an “illegally installed regime” being in power!! But he’s waiting for the other feet – the other petitions about the elections - to drop. And even this just-appealed-andrejected foot might go to the CCJ, where they still haven’t learnt that ever since they exposed how mathematicallychallenged they are with their “33 not the majority of 65” spiel, they’re looked at with raised eyebrows!!

But, simultaneous with their insistence that the PPP rigged the elections – from the outside! – some of them have now jumped on the limb that claims the (now legal) recount uncovered enough “discrepancies” to show that the PNC won in any case! They claim the recount showed “150 stuffed ballot boxes; 47 ballot boxes without papers; 1278 missing oaths of identity; 61 dead voters; 4687 absent voters”!!

Well, show the Court, nah?? …on state friendships Your realist Eyewitness accepts there can be friendships between states. The defining elements of such friendships are “setting aside grievances, escaping geopolitical competition, and constructing a relationship that precludes the prospect of armed conflict”. Venezuela ain’t our friend!!

Jailed: Vishnu Persaud

charge was read to him. He reportedly pleaded guilty and as such, the sentence was imposed by the presiding Magistrate.

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

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

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Preliminary report of national census due by 1st half of 2024 – Finance Minister

...says completed report will be ready by next year-end

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he 2023 population census became a subject of discussion in the National Assembly on Tuesday, with Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh revealing that a preliminary report is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2024 and the final report, by next year-end.

Dr Singh was at the time responding to questions from A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Opposition Member of Parliament Annette Ferguson. Not only was he asked for a projected timeline to complete the census report, but also how much enumerators were being paid.

“We share the concern for a timely completion of the census. I want to assure the Honourable Members on the other side that we would like a timely completion… we should have a preliminary report by the second quarter of 2024. And subsequent to the preparation of that preliminary report, the Bureau will require a further four to six months for the preparation and completion of all reports.”

The Finance Minister spoke of some of the challenges faced by the Guyana Bureau of Statistics in carrying out its mandate including inclement weather, competing national interests and persons not making themselves available to be counted.

“The Bureau of Statistics has, on a regular basis, been

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh during the sitting of the National Assembly on Tuesday

keeping me informed on the progress of the fieldwork and the challenges that they have been encountering. And these challenges are, I believe, unknown to us. They include various instances of inclement weather.”

“Competing national events, including around census time there was the big period of cricket which meant a lot of people were out of their homes. A lot of instances of respondent unavailability. So, the Bureau has been keeping me advised of the challenges they’ve been encountering However, Dr Singh noted the efforts that have been made by the Guyana Bureau of Statistics to ensure everyone is counted. Further, he had pointed out that Guyana is not alone in the timeline it takes to complete its census, noting that Guyana is part of a regional census-taking cycle. When it comes to pay-

ment for the enumerators, the Finance Minister noted that enumerators received a flat fee of $80,000, as well as travelling and telephone allowances and performance bonuses.

In October, Chief Statistician at the Bureau, Errol La Cruez had said that the Bureau is striving to ensure accuracy, validity, and quality in the process and its data. He had noted that while the initial phase of enumeration was completed, additional enumeration was being conducted.

“There were households that we were not able to meet, there were persons that we were not able to meet when we did the initial pass, and we are now working to reach out to those persons to be able to count everyone,” he stated.

He had said the Bureau strives to achieve 100 per cent coverage in the census and is reaching out to several

Demerara Bank introduces VISA Purchase Alerts

D

emerara Bank on Tuesday announced the introduction of the VISA Purchase Alerts for all VISA card holders. This new feature enables users to receive instant email notifications whenever their VISA card is utilised for in-store, online transactions or other bank ATM transactions.

“In today's era of increasing online transactions, it is imperative for our customers to remain vigilant and closely track their card activity. VISA Purchase Alerts act as a crucial tool, delivering an additional layer of security and assurance through transaction alerts,” the bank stated in a release.

To sign up for this feature, card holders are required to visit https:// purchasealerts.visa.com/ vca-web/check; enter and

validate their active email address; securely add their VISA card information to the VISA alerts portal and finally, once registered, customers will receive real-time email notifications every time a transaction is processed using their VISA card.

“Demerara Bank en-

courages all of our VISA Debit cardholders to embrace this convenient and secure feature. The registration process is quick, straightforward and significantly enhances the protection of your VISA card usage.”

Enumerators during the census exercise

agencies to identify individuals or households that have not been counted.

“We are also checking administrative data, which is looking at data from utility companies and other data sets, where we have information on households, the location of households. We would’ve used information from the Ministry of Housing, and this is all to ensure that we reach everyone and we are continuing that effort to get as close as possible to 100

per cent coverage of the population.”

“We are also checking the quality of the data to see if there is anything that we need to go back into the fields and correct, or if there are any quality issues that need to be addressed before we bring a close to the census operation,” the Chief Statistician had further explained, adding that the Bureau is hopeful that field activities may be completed by the end of the year.

The National Population and Housing Census is a process where all persons in Guyana are counted. The census provides detailed information on the population size, age structure, educational attainment, labour force, housing, and many other socio-economic characteristics.

Persons who have not been counted in the census can reach out via WhatsApp or telephone at 701-8700 or 701-8701. (G-3)

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

$13B in disposable income injected into Guyana’s economy in December 2023 – Dr Singh

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Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh

ore than 54,000 public servants, teachers, members of the Disciplined Services, and Government pensioners have received their 2023 increases, for salaried employees that represents payment of the 6.5 per cent retroactive salary increase announced by Senior Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh on December 10.

Dr Singh thanked the staff of the Finance Ministry and Finance Departments of the various Government agencies who worked tirelessly and diligently to ensure that the increases were paid out in time for the Christmas season to eligible persons.

The Ministry also ensured that the 12,000 members of the Disciplined Services along with civilian employees of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) (for the first time) received the one-month tax-free bonus. In addition to the 6.5 per cent salary increase received, as part of a $5 billion cost-of-living allocation, the Government paid out a 25,000 one-off taxfree cash grant to public sector employees. A oneoff $35,000 cash grant was also allocated to persons with disabilities receiving public assistance while old age pensioners also benefited from the $25,000 one-off cash grant.

These amounts have placed a total of over $13 billion in the hands of all of the above categories of persons.

Dr Singh highlighted the importance of persons receiving these payments before Christmas, which will stimulate economic activity across the country. “…an injection of this nature has tremendous positive multiplier effects in the economy, because it generates the consumption that it stimulates at

the household level, then feeds into the retail trade and that then feeds into the wholesale trade and that then feeds into production,” he explained.

Moreover, members of the Disciplined Services and health workers received salary adjustments in January 2023 reflective of announcements made

by President Dr Irfaan Ali on November 24 and December 12, 2022, respectively. With regard to health sector workers, the salary adjustment to the tune of $1.5 billion benefited more than 5000 healthcare professionals, while an estimated 8000 members of the Disciplined Services benefited from their salary adjustments which increased their disposable incomes by over $1 billion annually.

For 2023, the Government also announced salary adjustments and other emoluments for teachers as follows: All graduate teachers (holders of a relevant Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Guyana, a degree-awarding institution under the GOAL Programme, or a degree certified by the National Accreditation Council) shall be moved to the maximum of the scale applicable to the post they currently occupy. This will benefit over 4000 teachers at an additional annual cost of $1 billion, effective from December 1, 2023.

Teachers will receive an education allowance of $10,000 monthly for holders of a Bachelor’s Degree; $20,000 monthly for a Master’s Degree and $30,000 monthly for a Doctorate.

This revision benefits over 4500 teachers.

Any preexisting allowances paid in relation to the

Post Graduate Diploma in Education (DipEd) will remain in place.

The Remote Areas Incentive will be adjusted upwards from its current level to $20,000 monthly, effective from December 1, 2023, to the benefit of over 2400 teachers.

All teachers who hold a substantive appointment as a Senior Master/Mistress/ Head of Department or above and are within three years of retirement and have not previously received a duty-free concession on a motor car shall be entitled to one duty-free concession for 1 motor car up to 1500cc.

Dr Singh has noted that other than salary increases, Government’s approach

to improving the lives of Guyanese involved improvements and upgrades to essential services under the numerous policies and plans the Administration has been administering.

Some of the measures include the reviving of the “Because We Care” cash grant for schoolchildren, pensioners’ water subsidy, removal of taxes on various commodities as well as the resumption of the onemonth tax-free bonus for the Disciplined Services.

“When you speak about disposable income, you have to speak, first of all, about adjustment to salaries…We have also adjusted upwards several specific categories of public sector employees. Some as

high as 50, 60 and 70 per cent. We have recently announced the cash grant of $25,000 to every single public servant,” Minister Singh pointed out.

The implementation of these measures including the Government’s housing initiatives has, no doubt, altogether enhanced the lives of Guyanese all across the country, including public servants, who are among the nearly 30,000 individuals who have benefited.

In addition to this, public servants have also benefited from reduced interest rates at various commercial banks to assist persons in constructing their homes at affordable costs.

“We take a holistic and comprehensive view of

well-being. We look at the things everybody wants.

They want to earn a better income, of course. And so, our aspiration is to make sure that people are able to earn a better income over time. But people also want other things, other aspects of well-being. Like being able to live in a community that has decent roads, being able to access good quality healthcare, having your elderly parents be able to access a decent pension,” Dr Singh explained further.

President Ali has continued to reiterate that his government’s focus is on a holistic plan of improving workers’ lives with salary increases being one aspect of the benefits that will be provided.

12 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

ExxonMobil returns as title sponsor for 3rd Guyana Energy Conference

President of ExxonMobil Guyana, Alistair Routledge

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xxonMobil Guyana has once again offered its full support for the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo billed for the Marriott Hotel from February 19 – 22, 2024.

The Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo announced ExxonMobil Guyana as the title sponsor for the third consecutive year. As a global leader in the energy sector, ExxonMobil's support underscores its commitment to advancing dialogue and collaboration in the dynamic landscape of the energy and supply chain industries.

The Secretariat for the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo said it is pleased that ExxonMobil Guyana has chosen to be associated with this high-profile event in this capacity.

Commenting on the sponsorship, President of ExxonMobil Guyana, Alistair Routledge said, “Our continued support for this event is an undeniable signal of our commitment to contribute to the robust growth of the local energy sector and sustainable development of Guyana.”

On the other hand, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Conference, Kurt

Baboolall believes that the company’s participation at this level is a testament to the success of the two previous conferences.

He said, "We are honoured to have ExxonMobil Guyana as the title sponsor for the third consecutive year. Their unwavering commitment to our conference underscores the significance of our shared goals in promoting advancements and collaboration within the energy sector.”

The conference, to be held under the theme, “Fuelling Transformation and Modernisation” is expected to assemble an impressive line-up of industry experts, policymakers and foreign officials to the benefit of local and international entrepreneurs.

ExxonMobil Guyana will play a pivotal role in shaping discussions, sharing insights, and contributing to the overall success of the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo.

The collaboration will provide a platform for the company to showcase its commitment to innovation, people and sustainability.

The Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo is an annual

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Conference, Kurt Baboolall

event that brings together industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to discuss the latest developments, challenges, and opportunities in the energy and supply chain sectors.

The conference aims to foster collaboration, innova-

tion, and sustainable practices for the future of the industry.

Opportunities are available for other companies to offer their support as sponsors in the Platinum, Diamond, Gold and Silver categories.

While it varies, sponsorship opportunities allow for a wide range of branding and exposure for building a network and expanding operations.

Persons and companies interested in booking any of the sponsorship packages are advised to visit the website www.guyanaenergy.gy to download and complete the sponsor registration form.

General delegate registration for the conference and expo is also open for in-person and virtual participation and persons can do so by also visiting the website before February 10, 2024.

Exhibitions are hosted simultaneously with the main conference and exhibition packages are available separately for those interested.

CIOG spearheads medical outreach in Berbice, Linden

T

The team that was part of the exercise in Corriverton

he Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) over the past weekend hosted a medical outreach for the general public at the Corriverton Primary School and Prosville Adventure, Wismar, Linden, respectively.

The outreaches were supported by the Guyana Cancer Foundation, National AIDS Programme Secretariat, National Blood Transfusion Services, Mike's Pharmacy, Sunflower Counselling & Consultancy (Guyana Inc), International Development Relief Foundation, Ministry of Public Health, and the West Demerara Medical Outreach Team.

The primary object of the initiative was to provide medical assistance to the general public. The services provided at the outreach were blood pressure, glucose, HIV and STI testing.

A young Lindener being looked at during the medical outreach

Dentistry and ENT Services, mental health counselling, and optometry with medical advice from general and specialty doctors and provision of overthe-counter and prescription medication were also provided. The medical team was able to provide care to over 500 persons, inclusive of the elderly, children and the differently abled.

In addition to the medical services provided, the

recipients were issued with items that catered for their daily needs inclusive of hand sanitisers, disinfectant wipes, face masks, clothing, adult and children diapers, footwear, etc.

The CIOG expressed gratitude to all the supporting partners for their continued assistance and cooperation including doctors, nurses and other personnel.

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Body of missing Corentyne West Berbice man stabbed man found in shallow grave to death during argument over domino game T

he body of a coconut water vendor, who had gone missing for five days, was on Tuesday found buried in a shallow grave in the backlands of Crabwood Creek (CWC), Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

Thirty-seven-year-old Ghowcharran Persaud, a father of two of Grant 1805 CWC was last seen on Thursday when he left his brother’s home to go fishing with two friends – “Ameer” and “Bharrat” – and was due to return on Saturday.

His brother, Pravesh Persaud, said periodically he would go on fishing outings with friends who would take them into the backdam and they would return with their catch to sell, but this was not the case this time.

“If he going with anybody he does come and tell me who he going with. He does call me ‘Buddy Boy’.

So he say “Buddy Boy, we going and catch fish”. Ah asked him with who and he say ‘Ameer’. When he pick up his bag to walk out of the yard, the same ‘Ameer’ come with his bike and pick him up,” the brother explained.

The aggrieved brother related that on Saturday, one of the dead man’s friends informed him that Persaud was shot at the Ling Canal Conservancy, which is about ten miles into the backdam.

“Ameer say that ‘Bharrat’ run and shoot at them and he hear a noise from my brother but he couldn’t turn back because ‘Bharrat’ was after him. ‘Ameer’ say that is five shots he fire on them.

After my brother fall down, ‘Ameer’ run and come to make his report.”

On Saturday, a search party which included Police officers, went to the location in search of the missing man during which they stumbled

– suspect tells Police victim ran into knife he had in hand

A

Murdered: Ghowcharran Persaud

upon a bloodstained spot, thus raising some suspicions.

However, on Tuesday the search party discovered the shallow grave with the body therein. The shallow grave was found under a tree a short distance from where the bloodstains were found.

“Me want justice for my brother,” Pravesh Persaud said.

Meanwhile, Police have detained the two friends as the investigation continues.

Only recently, the body of Chetram Ramjattan, called “Buck Crab”, of Kilcoy Settlement, Corentyne, who went missing for four days, was found without his head in a drain close to a house occupied by several Venezuelan nationals.

One week later, Simon

Wills, 28, a Venezuelan national, was charged and remanded to prison for the gruesome murder.

Following the discovery of Ramjattan’s headless body, the suspect led the Police inside a house where the head was retrieved.

It was reported that the man’s sister last saw him on Saturday, November 25, when he had visited her at her home.

She explained that on that day, her brother had left her house to go visit their other sibling and was going to return, but he never did.

After the discovery of the body was made, she went to the mortuary, where she was told that the body had several stab wounds. (Andrew Carmichael)

West Coast Berbice (WCB) resident was stabbed to death on Tuesday during a game of dominoes at Middle Street, Paradise.

The dead man has been identified as Dwayne Byass called “Eddo”, 27, of Golden Fleece, WCB. Police stated that the self-employed man along with the suspect, a 26-yearold man called “Buck Boy” were at a shop playing dominos during which the two had an argument and a fight ensued.

The suspect reportedly whipped out a knife and dealt one blow to the now dead man’s left side abdomen, after which he escaped. the injured man reportedly collapsed in the shop and was picked up by his cousin, who rushed him

Dead: Dwayne Byass

Murder suspect: Nascio Allen

to the Mahaicony Cottage Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Reports are that one wound was seen on the left side abdomen, with the intestine protruding.

However, according to the Police, Nascio Allen, the alleged suspect, made his way to the Weldaad Police Station, where he

reported that the victim had attacked him with a piece of wood thus resulting in him defending himself.

He alleged that during the commotion, the now dead man ran into a knife which he was carrying in his hands. As such, he was promptly arrested as investigations continue.

14 NEWS ERC takes sensitisation exercise Massy Group brings to Moruca, surrounding villages joy to over 700 children WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

O

A Massy Distribution’s Annual Kids’ Christmas party

ver 700 children across Guyana were treated to an unforgettable Christmas experience, as the Massy Group recently hosted annual Christmas parties and gift-giving activities in the communities and surrounding areas where their

fy the children who would receive gifts in the Rupununi, Massy Stores donated toys to the Demerara Lioness Lions Club's Children and Senior Citizens Christmas Party.

Also, gifts were distributed to children in attendance at Massy Stores Ruimveldt's Christmas Tree

Mickey, Minnie Mouse & Mrs Claus at Massy Distribution’s Annual Kids’ Christmas Party

branches are located.

The event aimed to bring joy to the children during the holiday season.

Massy Stores, Massy Gas, Massy Distribution, Massy Services, and Massy Motors all contributed to the activities that catered to children in several communities including Ruimveldt, Agricola to Bagotstown, Plaisance, Vryheid's Lust, Montrose, La Bonne Intention, Mon Repos, Good Hope, Enmore, Non Pareil, and Rupununi.

While Massy Motors and Massy Services partnered with Eripan to identi-

Guyana, Navin Thakur said, "At Massy Group, our commitment to the communities we serve never ends. Our companies believe in making a positive impact all year round by supporting various organisations and charities.

We are proud to remain actively involved in the devel-

A child receives a gift from Santa at Massy Stores Ruimveldt

Lighting events. Massy Gas and Massy Distribution gave gifts to children from the East Bank and East Coast communities, respectively.

During the festive celebrations, the atmosphere was filled with excitement as the young attendees had the opportunity to meet and interact with Santa Claus and Disney cartoon characters, who made special appearances to spread holiday cheer.

Speaking about the company's Christmas community outreach activities, Senior Vice President of Massy

opment and growth of the communities in which we operate. Because for us, being a responsible corporate citizen is not just a seasonal endeavour, it's a professional duty."

Massy Group's commitment to the communities they serve extends beyond the Christmas season.

Throughout the year, the companies support and assist various organisations, charities, and educational institutions, ensuring that they remain involved in the development and growth of the communities across Guyana.

T

ERC Chairman Shaikh Moeenul Hack and ERC staff handing over toys to children during the outreach

he Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) continues its mission to foster harmony and good relations through Regional sensitisation initiatives. On Monday, the Commission conducted an outreach exercise in the Moruca Sub District in Region One, Barima-Waini.

During the outreach, which was held at the Paloma Benab, Kumaka, the ERC team edified the residents on the functions of the ERC and informed them of efforts towards achieving its constitutional mandate.

The team engaged with residents to understand the challenges faced in their respective communities, inclusive of Santa Rosa, Manawarin, Rincon, Waramuri, Parakese, and others.

Responding to concerns of issues raised, ERC committed to investigating matters within their functions and to aid in the referral of those that require intervention from other agencies/

A resident makes his contribution during the outreach

ministries.

This collaborative effort received support from Toshaos and Community Support Officers (CSOs) in these villages and satellite communities.

ERC's team was led by Chairman Shaikh Moeenul Hack and comprised of Commissioners Reverend Rodwell Porter, Deon Dick (Ras Khafra), Chandrowtie Sarran, Norris Witter,

Ashton Simon, CEO, Gomin Camacho, and Secretariat staff.

The team also distributed toys among the village children, bringing the festive spirit of Christmas to life.

ERC remains steadfast in its commitment to combat discrimination and enhance tolerance and harmony throughout Guyana.

15

Ramsammy’s Ruminations ARGYLE FURTHER ENHANCES PRESIDENT IRFAAN ALI’S ALREADY STERLING REPUTATION

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resident Irfaan Ali and Guyana astutely turned Nicolas Maduro’s threat against Guyana into a threat against the whole region, making Maduro’s annexation attempt violate the zone of peace in the region.

Even the naysayers acknowledge that the Argyle Agreement was a momentous achievement for President Irfaan Ali. He made every Guyanese proud. He ensured that Nicolas Dr Leslie Ramsammy Maduro and Venezuela knew, without a doubt, that Guyana stood with the truth on our side; that Guyana would not be intimidated; and that Guyana did not stand alone. If anything, Venezuela knows for sure after Argyle that no leader, no country in the Americas, supports any country that threatens the zone of peace in the Americas, and for that reason, Venezuela stands alone. President Irfaan Ali accomplished through diplomacy what others in other parts of the world are failing at: he mobilized the whole world to be in Guyana’s corner. President Ali ensured that President Maduro returned home knowing that he stood alone, not even his citizens stood with him.

Ralph Ramkarran got it right – in every which way, President Irfaan Ali and Guyana came out with exactly what they wanted out of Argyle.

The one thing Maduro wanted was for Guyana to return to bilateral negotiation on the border dispute, abandoning the International Court of Justice (ICJ). He did not get that. But while Guyana got what we wanted, we allowed Maduro to save face. Having threatened to annex by force - a pathway that was always doomed - he returned and was able to say that the two countries would never contemplate military action, and that they would engage in regular consultation to avoid military options and any action that led to tension.

President Irfaan Ali and Guyana were the aggrieved parties, and many advised that he refuse the diplomatic initiative of CARICOM and CELAC, led by Prime Minister Gonsalves of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and President Lula of Brazil. But our President took the mature route and accepted dialogue, as long as the ICJ pathway was not jeopardised.

For more than a year now, Russia has been pummelling Ukraine.

Neither President Putin of Russia nor President Zelenskiy of Ukraine has the vision or willingness to solve their dispute through diplomacy.

Israel and Palestine have made Gaza the latest example of a genocidal war, totally rejecting diplomacy. The powerful nations around the world have not tried to cajole these countries on the path of diplomatic resolution. The ABCE countries, the most powerful countries on earth, have failed to promote diplomacy as the preferred way to resolve these conflicts. CARICOM and CELAC, much less powerful than the ABCE countries, have shown that maintaining the zone of peace is a powerful incentive for the countries of CELAC and CARICOM to be fair arbiters, insisting on diplomacy.

Guyana readily accepted the diplomatic pathway when Venezuela was being reckless and was using its bellicose and bullying tactics to threaten annexation. In this sense, Guyana has shown that diplomacy works, because what can Nicolas Maduro do now? He promised Presidents and Prime Ministers and the world, in the Argyle Agreement, that he would stop his warmongering against Guyana.

If only others followed Guyana’s path, the world would be a better place.

Now President Irfaan Ali stands as an admired global leader, one who mobilized the whole world to say to the huffing and puffing Nicolas Maduro, “Hands off Guyana, we will not tolerate breaching the zone of peace”. But CELAC and CARICOM have shown the ABCE countries that they can adopt the same strategy to bring about peace in Ukraine and Palestine.

Before Argyle, President Irfaan Ali was already adorned with an enviable reputation as the People’s President. President Irfaan Ali returned home to Guyana with a reputation considerably enhanced.

He faced a bully and had the bully whimpering home, forced to save face among his citizenry. Nicolas Maduro for weeks bellowed, huffed and puffed, and threatened a nation. But he also jeopardized the zone of peace for a whole region. He conducted a fake referendum in which 90% of his citizens refused to vote, bellowed that his countrymen and women mandated him to annex two-thirds of Guyana’s territory, mobilised his military along Guyana’s border, appointed a governor for what he termed a new state of Venezuela called Guayana Esequiba, established a headquarters, a kind of capital for the new state, and passed a budget for Esequiba. He was beating his chest and threatening to take two-thirds of Guyana.

Our President assured his countrymen and countrywomen that Guyana will not back away from the ICJ path we embarked on in 2018; that Guyana will demand both countries observe international law; both countries commit never to violate the zone of peace that exists in the Americas; that Guyana will continue to exercise its sovereignty over the whole of Guyana, including Essequibo; and that the Government of Guyana will continue its developmental agenda across Guyana, with its borders which were determined with finality in 1899.

Maduro promised he would stop the ICJ pathway; he went home knowing that the ICJ pathway is irreversible. While insisting Venezuela does not recognize the authority of the ICJ, he knows that the ICJ decision is binding on all UN countries. He mobilized his military in a direct threat to invade Guyana; he returned home promising to never act militarily against Guyana. He claimed his people mandated him to annex Guyana; he returned home promising to observe Guyana’s 1899 borders. He announced before Argyle a new State of Guayana Esequiba; he returned to Venezuela having signed an agreement that he would not act on establishing a new state. The whole world let him know that not one country anywhere recognizes any new Venezuelan state called Guayana Esequiba. In every way, Nicolas Maduro failed.

But President Irfaan Ali returned to Guyana with a mission accomplished.

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

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

16 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Construction worker killed GFS records 807 grass/ following 2-vehicle collision rubbish & 510 building along ECD corridor fires for 2023 – Min Benn

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn

A

construction worker was on Monday evening killed in a two-vehicle collision along the Montrose Public Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD). Dead is 29-year-old Daniel McCalmon of West La Penitence, Georgetown.

The accident reportedly occurred at about 22:05h and involved two pickups – one registered to the National Insurance Scheme bearing plates, PAD 1720 and another, GMM 8060.

At the time of the accident, the NIS vehicle was being driven by a 44-yearold resident of Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke-Linden Highway,

The accident scene at Montrose

while an 80-year-old man of Dasrath Street, Triumph Village, ECD, was the driver of the other.

Police stated that the NIS vehicle was proceeding along the Montrose Public Road at a fast rate and whilst in the process of negotiating a left turn, the driver lost control and collided with the centre median of the roadway.

As a result, the vehicle ended up in the other lane, thus colliding with McCalmon, who was at the time doing roadworks.

As a result of the collision, McCalmon was dragged by the NIS vehicle,

which subsequently collided with GMM 8060 which was proceeding in the opposite direction.

Both vehicles came to a halt, with McCalmon pinned under the NIS pick-up. The injured man was picked up in an unconscious state, placed into a vehicle and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

A breathalyser test was conducted on the driver of the NIS vehicle, which showed that he had alcohol in his system. He was taken into custody and is assisting with the investigation.

Hinterland transformation takes off with $5B infrastructural investment

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$5 billion infrastructure revolution is set to sweep across the hinterland regions, promising a transformative makeover to benefit residents in Regions One, Seven, Eight, and Nine.

These initiatives promise improved connectivity and transportation networks across these regions.

Region One: The rehabilitation and construction projects encompass various critical areas, including: Kwebanna to Kumaka (Phase 1), which will be undertaken by Quality Deliverer to the tune of $201,308,910.

San Jose Main Access (Phase 2) executed by Aruca Investment – $89,798,021.

Rehabilitation of compound internal roads, Mabaruma, by Supreme Contracting and Supplies at a cost of $198,334,710.

Stelling Road, Port Kaituma, is being undertaken by International Import and Supplies to the tune of $189,356,551.

Region 7: Rehabilitation of Bartica/Potaro Road (Phase 1, Mile 3-4) by Kanhai’s Engineering to the tune of $284,243,400.

Rehabilitation of

A

t Tuesday’s sitting of the National Assembly at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn disclosed alarming statistics regarding fire incidents in 2023 while shedding light on the challenges faced by the Guyana Fire Service (GFS).

He noted that 807 grass/rubbish and 510 building fires were recorded thus far for 2023.

Defending a request for $24 million in supplementary funding for fuel and lubricants for the Fire Service, Benn emphasised the pressing need for additional resources due to a surge in fires, exacerbated by the prevailing El Nino conditions.

“There has been a large

requirement for fire responses, as we have El Niño upon us…”

He added that the increased ambulance calls – 6140 – further heightened the demand for fuel to sustain emergency services.

Benn, responding to inquiries from Shadow Home Affairs Minister Geeta Chandon-Edmond about the reasons for additional funds, highlighted the unfortunate rise in maliciously set fires and the challenges posed by fake emergency calls.

Despite these hurdles, he justified the $24 million request as essential to ensuring the GFS's continued effectiveness.

“There have been several malicious settings of fires… the Fire Service also has the ambulance

service attached to it…we had increased calls and several fake calls… the sum is just $24 million,” Benn explained.

Discussing recent acquisitions, Minister Benn revealed strategic investments, including two excavators, a new firefighting unit at the airport, a specialised ladder for rescue operations, and various smaller vehicles. These additions aim to enhance the GFS's capabilities and response efficiency.

In the 2023 budget, the GFS was allocated $545 million to advance critical facility works, with an additional $489 million earmarked for procuring firefighting equipment. This included water bowsers, tenders, and the installation of 148 fire hydrants, reinforcing the commitment to bolstering the firefighting infrastructure.

A separate allocation of $20 million was designated for the comprehensive training of fire officers.

As the Guyana Fire Service takes proactive measures to address the evolving challenges of fire incidents, these strategic investments underscore the Government's commitment to the safety and well-being of the nation.

Female prisoners to be temporarily housed at Timehri Prison

Road construction in one of the regions

Newton Road, Byderabo Hill Top, which is being executed by C Baboolall Construction at some $103,463,115.

Rehabilitation of internal roads, Bartica Sections 1, 2, and 3 with a collective allocation of over $178 million among various contractors.

Region 8: Rehabilitation of community roads in North Pakaraimas, a substantial sum of $295 million is dedicated to this critical area.

Mahdia Main Access Road (Phase 2): Blackrock Development Co Inc will utilise $73,599,217 for this phase of rehabilitation.

Rehabilitation of Princeville Road secured

by Curtis Garraway & Sons Construction to the

tune of $25,421,200.

Region 9: Rehabilitation of Beverly Hills Drive, Lethem, is being executed

by D & R Construction and Machinery Rental to the tune of $150,110,000.

Rehabilitation of internal roads in St Ignatius, undertaken by Beerdat Harrinandan Construction at some $145,642,655.

Rehabilitation of roads in South and Deep South will be undertaken by Theodore Faria General Contracting Service totalling some $231,987,428.

These initiatives underline the Government’s commitment to enhancing infrastructure and fostering connectivity for Guyanese countrywide.

The Timehri Prison

T

he female inmates presently housed at the New Amsterdam Prison are expected to be temporarily transferred to the Timehri Prison to facilitate ongoing construction works.

This was according to Acting Director of Prisons Nicklon Elliot, who emphasied that the decision to relocate the inmates is to facilitate the construction of the $1.6 billion New Amsterdam Prison.

Elliot highlighted that the female inmates will only be housed at Timehri Prison until the completion of the new female prison at Lusignan, which is slated

for the first quarter in the new year. Upon the completion of the Lusignan facility, the female prisoners will be permanently relocated there.

As part of the logistical shuffle, male prisoners previously housed at Timehri Prison have already been transferred to the Lusignan Prison to accommodate the incoming female population.

Family members seeking information about the transferred prisoners can contact the Timehri Prison location through phone numbers 261-2265, 2610018, or 261-0019. “…or Officer-in-Charge,

Assistant Superintendent of Prisons, Michelle Boyce on 645-4531, Prisoners’ Welfare and Correctional Officer Tassa McGarrell on 641-5458, Chief Prison Officer Jennifer James on 616-4172, and Chief Prison Officer Marrel Farley on 623-6132 for further information,” the GPS added in a release.

This strategic move ensures the safety and security of both male and female inmates during the transitional phase of prison reconstruction, reflecting the commitment of the prison authorities to uphold the welfare of the incarcerated population.

NEWS

17

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Setting aside tensions, Cuba's Christmas not Taiwan President offers aid so merry this year as economic crisis grinds on to China after deadly quake

T

C

uban craft vendor Melani Ramos says she is feeling pretty down ahead of the holidays this year, as shelves that are bare and friends and family lost to a record-breaking exodus off the island mean there is little Christmas cheer to go around.

Few homes, she told Reuters, would enjoy the aroma of roast pork, black beans and cassava, traditional Cuban favourites for the holidays.

"You see everyone enjoying Christmas in the movies. It just makes me sad," she said.

"It's a very quiet day here for a day that should mean unity, hope and family."

Cuba's economy - saddled

by US sanctions, a tourism shortfall and a lingering pandemic hangover - is nearing collapse, with fuel, food and medicine shortages rampant, public transportation scarce and tensions running high.

The crisis has spurred a record-breaking migration of nearly half a million people who have arrived at the US border alone in the past two years, according to US Government statistics.

The food situation on the communist-run island this holiday season is acute for many.

Inflation has driven up prices for even basic items like eggs, while salaries for state workers remain stagnant.

People sell products on the porch of a house with Christmas decorations during the Saint Lazarus annual pilgrimage in Rincon, Cuba, December 16, 2023

Production of pork, rice and beans - all staples on the traditional holiday dinner table - has plunged 80% in 2023, according to the Minister of Agriculture, Ydael Perez, in statements on television.

The Christmas holiday has had a checkered past in Cuba even in the best of times.

Former leader Fidel Castro initially described his revolution as atheist and erased the date from the Cuban calendar in 1959.

He later softened his stance towards the Catholic Church and reinstated Christmas as a public holiday in 1997, a goodwill gesture ahead of a trip to the island by the late Pope John Paul II. For some Cubans, keeping the Christmas spirit alive is

important despite the difficulties.

"For me this little tree is very valuable... I have never stopped displaying it," said 59-year-old Havana resident Raquel Contreras, as she decorated a small artificial Christmas tree with ornaments, some homemade and others that looked antique.

She said she had put her tree up in her home "even in times when the celebration was frowned upon."

Yaqueline Areces del Rio, 38, is unemployed and her younger brother recently migrated, she says, but she and her family make the effort to decorate a tree anyway.

"We always try to put it up ... because it is something that has united our family," she said. (Reuters)

At least 100 elephants die in droughtstricken Zimbabwe park, a grim sign of El Niño, climate change

A

t least 100 elephants have died in Zimbabwe's largest national park in recent weeks because of drought, their carcasses a grisly sign of what wildlife authorities and conservation groups say is the impact of climate change and the El Nino weather phenomenon.

Authorities warn that more could die as forecasts suggest a scarcity of rains and rising heat in parts of the southern African nation including Hwange National Park. The International Fund for Animal Welfare has described it as a crisis for elephants and other animals.

"El Nino is making an already dire situation worse," said Tinashe Farawo, spokesman for the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority.

El Nino is a natural and recurring weather phenomenon that warms parts of the Pacific, affecting weather patterns around the world. While this year's El Nino brought deadly floods to East Africa recently, it is expected to cause below-average rainfall across southern Africa.

That has already been felt in Zimbabwe, where the rainy season began weeks later than usual. While some rain has now fallen, the forecasts are generally for a dry, hot summer ahead.

Studies indicate that climate change may be making El Ninos stronger, leading to more extreme consequences.

Authorities fear a repeat of 2019, when more than 200 elephants in Hwange died in a severe drought.

"This phenomenon is recurring," said Phillip Kuvawoga, a landscape programme director at the International Fund for Animal Welfare, which raised the alarm for Hwange's elephants in a report this month.

Parks agency spokesperson Farawo posted a video on social media site X, formerly Twitter, showing a young elephant struggling for its life after becoming stuck in mud in a water hole that had partly dried up in Hwange.

"The most affected elephants are the young, elderly and sick that can't travel long distances to find water," Farawo said. He said an average-sized elephant needs a daily water intake of about 200 litres (52 gallons).

Park rangers remove the tusks from dead elephants where they can for safekeeping and so the carcasses don't attract poachers.

Hwange is home to around 45,000 elephants along with more than 100 other mammal species and 400 bird species.

Zimbabwe's rainy season once started reliably in October and ran through to

March. It has become erratic in recent years and conservationists have noticed longer, more severe dry spells.

"Our region will have significantly less rainfall, so the dry spell could return soon because of El Nino," said Trevor Lane, director of The Bhejane Trust, a conservation group which assists Zimbabwe's parks agency.

He said his organisation has been pumping 1.5 million litres of water into Hwange's waterholes daily from over 50 boreholes it manages in partnership with the parks agency. The 14,500-square-kilometre (5600-square-mile) park, which doesn't have a major river flowing through it, has just over 100 solar-powered boreholes that pump water for the animals.

Saving elephants is not just for the animals' sake, conservationists say. They are a key ally in fighting climate change through the ecosystem by dispersing vegetation over long distances through dung that contains plant seeds, enabling forests to spread, regenerate and flourish. Trees suck planet-warming carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.

"They perform a far bigger role than humans in reforestation," Lane said. "That is one of the reasons we fight to keep elephants alive." (Jamaica Observer)

aiwan President Tsai Ing-wen expressed condolences to China on Tuesday and offered her Government's help after an earthquake killed more than 100 people on the northern edge of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau.

Tensions between Taipei and Beijing, which views the democratically governed island as its own territory, have soared in the past four years, as China seeks to assert its sovereignty claims with political and military pressure.

But setting that aside, Tsai offered via a statement on the X social media platform her "sincere condolences" to all those who had lost loved ones.

"We pray that all those affected receive the aid they need, and we hope for a swift recovery. Taiwan stands ready to offer assistance in the disaster response effort," she added, writing in English and simplified

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen speaks during the Yushan Forum in Taipei, Taiwan, October 11, 2023

Chinese characters, which are used in China but not Taiwan.

Taiwan's Fire Department said it had assembled a search and rescue team of 160 people, four dogs and 13 tonnes of supplies ready to go to China if requested. China has not said whether it will allow in any overseas rescue teams.

Tsai has offered condo-

lences to China before for disasters, including last year after an earthquake in Sichuan province.

Taiwan, which frequently suffers its own earthquakes, sent a rescue team to China in 2008 after a massive temblor struck the same province of Sichuan, killing almost 70,000 people and causing extensive damage. (Reuters)

Brazil's First Lady to sue Musk's X over hacked account

B

razilian First Lady Rosangela “Janja” Lula da Silva said on Tuesday she will sue Elon Musk-owned social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, after having her account hacked last week.

The alleged hacker entered Janja's account on Dec 11 and posted several messages, including insults against the First Lady and President Luiz

Inacio Lula da Silva, as well as misogynistic slurs.

"I still don't know if I have to sue them in the US or in Brazil, but I will sue them," Janja said in a live broadcast alongside Lula.

She also called on Brazil to regulate social media platforms, saying they must be held accountable for their users' actions.

Lula agreed that social media regulation was

needed globally, but voiced his concerns around the complexities of the issue.

"It's a challenge to know how we could deal with it without imposing censorship," the leftist leader said.

"I know the European Union already did some regulation. We will have to watch very closely what the United States, what China are doing as well."

(Reuters)

18

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2023

guyanatimesgy.com

Regional

Ex-Haitian Senator sentenced Paraguay jail: Fighting to life in prison over cockerels seized in deadly raid President's assassination E

F

ormer Haitian Senator John Joel Joseph was on Tuesday sentenced in a Miami court to life in prison over his role in the July 2021 assassination of Haiti's last President, Jovenel Moise.

The nighttime killing of Moise in his Port-au-Prince residence created a destabilising power vacuum which violent armed gangs exploited to expand their control over the island nation, driving a catastrophic humanitarian crisis.

In October, the former senator became the third of 11 defendants - including Colombian mercenaries accused of carrying out the killing and foreign businessmen suspected of funding the plot to plead guilty in the case.

According to his proffer statement, Joseph was present at meetings where plans for the assassination were discussed, including on the night before the murder happened.

He admitted in the statement to providing support for

Then Haitian Senator Joseph Joel John speaks in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, October 29, 2009 in this still image taken from video

the plot, including rental vehicles, introductions to gangs whose backing was sought and attempted to procure weapons.

The first two to plead guilty in relation to the case, a Chilean-Haitian man and a retired Colombian army officer, were sentenced to life.

Mario Palacios, another ex-Colombian soldier

who pleaded innocent last year, is expected to change his plea this Friday.

Earlier this month, a former US Drug Enforcement Administration informer accused of helping make the mission look like a US Government operation also pleaded guilty and is expected to be sentenced early next year. (Excerpt from Reuters)

leven inmates and a Police officer were killed in a stand-off between inmates and security forces at a jail in Paraguay on Monday.

Prisoners opened fire on Police as they entered the jail in the capital Asunción to transfer a notorious drug lord, Armando Javier Rotela.

Police said Rotela controlled a part of the jail dubbed The Jungle, where he ran a small supermarket.

Officers also seized three pit bulls and several fighting cockerels.

Police commissioner Nimio Cardozo said Rotela, who leads the criminal clan of the same name, lived in comfort in The Jungle along with his pregnant wife, his dogs and his cockerels.

Cardozo told journalists that it had taken 2500 soldiers and police officers to regain control of the Tacumbú penitentiary.

He said that one policeman had died from a bullet wound to the head and another was seriously injured.

Concerned relatives tried to gain access to the jail following the raid

Dozens more inmates and security personnel were also wounded in the gunfight.

Cardozo said about 700 inmates, including Rotela himself, had been relocated to other prisons.

The authorities have been trying to break up the Rotela Clan and weaken the grip it had on Tacumbú prison for months.

In October, more than 20 prison guards were held hostage by the inmates, who demanded that the Government drop its plans

to transfer members of the Rotela Clan.

The guards were eventually freed but the incident showed the power the Rotela Clan wielded inside the jail.

President Sebastián Peña, who was sworn into office in August, has promised to break up the group.

The Justice Ministry said inmates who had been removed from the overcrowded penitentiary would be dispersed to jails across the country. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Sky-high inflation takes a toll on Brazil's Congress approves Government mental health in Argentina target to eliminate primary deficit in 2024

B

razil's Congress approved its budgetary guidelines bill on Tuesday, setting the goal of eliminating the primary deficit by 2024, but including a provision allowing for a limited reduction in expenses even if it implies not achieving the fiscal goal.

During a joint session, Senators and Deputies approved the proposal.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said in October it was unnecessary to erase the budget deficit by next year given the importance of funding for priority projects and construction investments.

That remark sent a chill through markets and sparked intense Government debates about a potential re-

laxation of the goal before it was voted on by Congress.

But Lula decided to maintain the proposed zero fiscal target, which has always been viewed sceptically by economists due to its high reliance on extra revenue, after Finance Minister Fernando Haddad convinced the leftist President that any spending cuts would be limited.

Under new fiscal rules approved by leftist Lula's Administration, annual expenses should grow no less than 0.6% and no more than 2.5% above inflation, with the additional constraint of being limited to 70% of revenue growth.

This framework works in conjunction with the definition of a target for Brazilian public accounts, which was

set as zero primary deficit for 2024.

The Finance Ministry had argued that the minimum increase of 0.6% in expenses should always be met, regardless of its impact on achieving the fiscal target.

Under the bill approved, allocations following the spending rule of the Government's new fiscal framework should not be subject to limitations.

In practical terms, this interpretation is expected to cap government budget cuts in 2024 at about 23 billion reais (US$4.69 billion).

Economists had estimated that without this provision, the figure could reach 53 billion reais. (Excerpt from Reuters)

P

sychologist Jesica Bianchiotti, 35, still remembers the days when most sessions with her patients began with a chat about the weather or the results of the latest football match.

But those days are long gone. With Argentina facing one of the worst economic crises in its recent history, sessions now start with conversations about politics, rising prices and how hard it is to make ends meet.

“Things have changed a lot. The majority of my patients now come with issues related to anxiety, fear, problems with sleeping, all related to the uncertainty we all live with — how impossible it is to

make long-term plans,” said Bianchiotti, who works in the greater Buenos Aires area.

Argentina boasts the third-largest economy in Latin America — but it has been beset by financial turmoil for decades, fuelled by political instability and massive international debt.

This year, inflation hit record levels, rocketing higher than 140 per cent. The value of Argentina’s currency has plummeted as a result.

Even basic food shopping is a challenge for some.

Against that backdrop, professionals like Bianchiotti are reporting an increase in stress-related conditions.

Argentina, though, has devel-

oped a way to grapple with the problem: It has the highest rate of psychologists per capita in the world.

A 2015 study estimated that, for every 100,000 Argentinians, there are 194 psychologists — a rate more than three times higher than the next closest countries, Finland and Norway.

Psychotherapy is so popular that certain practitioners, like Gabriel Rolon, have achieved celebrity status, appearing on TV and radio shows. In 2022, psychology was also one of the most sought-after career paths at the University of Buenos Aires, second only to medicine.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Latin America unemployment near decade low in 2023, may reverse Mexican President says his country next year, UN labour agency says is world's leading cultural power

M

exican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Tuesday declared his country to be the foremost cultural power in the world, praising its ethnic and culinary diversity and international appeal.

Lopez Obrador, a veteran leftist, has overseen a vigorous drive to recover historical artifacts from former European colonial powers and travelled to every corner of Mexico during years of campaigning for the presidency, which he won in 2018.

"I'll keep saying it until it's internalised, because they were manipulating us for centuries. Mexico is the first cul-

tural power in the world.

Mexico, our country," he said after being asked during a press conference about Mexico City topping a recent Time Out poll on the best cities worldwide for culture.

"There is no other country, with all due respect," he added.

After mentioning China and India as possible rivals, he explained that Mexico had a mosaic of 60 cultures and ethnicities and a potent legacy in science, astronomy and mathematics.

"You don't have that elsewhere. Where is there such a variety of foodstuffs, foods, dishes that there are in the

country?" the 70-year-old President said.

Mexico's population of around 130 million is just a fraction of that of China and India, which have more than 1.4 billion people each.

Lopez Obrador said earlier this year that Mexico is safer than the United States, although its homicide rate is around four times higher than its northern neighbour.

He also demanded apologies from Spain and the Vatican for human rights abuses committed during the 16th century conquest of the Aztec Empire under Hernan Cortes and his local allies.

(Reuters)

U

nemployment in Latin America and the Caribbean fell in 2023 to its lowest level since 2014, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) said on Tuesday, but an expected economic slowdown in 2024 could reverse recent post-pandemic gains.

In a new report, the ILO sees unemployment in 2023 at 6.3%, below last year's 7.2% and a major rebound from the 10.6% unemployment rate in 2020, when COVID-19 lockdowns left millions without jobs.

Regional joblessness was the lowest since 2014, when unemployment was at 6.0%, according to past ILO reports.

The UN agency said the average unemployment rate in this year's first three quarters was 6.5%. "By including the seasonal effects of the regional labour market," the unemployment rate through 2023 is estimated to be 6.3%, it said.

An economic slowdown in the coming year could spike unemployment, the ILO cautioned, citing forecasts from the International Monetary Fund and the UN's Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) that see growth waning.

ECLAC sees the Region's economies growing just 1.9% next year, below the 2.2% growth forecast for 2023.

"This would mark a second consecutive year of sluggish economic activity for Latin America and the Caribbean, which would resemble the situation that the region experienced in the years prior to the pandemic," the ILO report said.

In this context, "it is likely" that the regional unemployment rate for 2024 will tick up to between 6.5% and 6.8%, the report said.

If such a slowdown is accompanied by lower inflation, job growth may still continue, the ILO said, a scenario that would favour creation of informal jobs lacking the benefits of formal employment.

(Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2023

19

Around the World OILNEWS OIL NEWS Israel keeps pounding Gaza,

Houthis vow more Red Sea attacks

Oil rises 1% as I Red Sea shipping concerns unnerve traders

O

il prices rose more than a dollar a barrel on Tuesday, extending the previous session's gains after attacks by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi militants on ships in the Red Sea disrupted maritime trade and forced more companies to reroute vessels.

Brent crude futures rose US$1.28, or 1.6%, to settle at US$79.23 a barrel, the highest since Dec 1. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures for January delivery, which expired after settlement on Tuesday, rose 97 cents, or 1.3%, to settle at US$73.44 a barrel, also the highest in over two weeks.

The US on Tuesday announced the creation of a task force to safeguard Red Sea commerce from attacks by Iran-backed Yemeni militants. The Houthis have vowed to defy the US-led naval mission and keep hitting Israeli targets in the region.

"How long this will go on for is also an unknown, unnerving the market," said Fiona Cincotta, senior analyst at City Index. "Despite the launch of the operation to ensure safe passage through the Red Sea major shipping firms are still steering clear."

On Monday, oil prices rose nearly 2% after a Norwegianowned vessel was attacked and BP said it had paused all transit through the Red Sea. A number of other shippers have since made similar announcements.

About 12% of world shipping traffic passes up the Red Sea and through the Suez Canal.

"The events in the Red Sea are increasing geopolitical risk," said Rob Thummel, managing director at Kansas-based energy investment firm Tortoise Capital. "This is causing oil prices to move higher as traders assess the potential for a supply disruption tied to increasing geopolitical risk," Thummel added.

Though the attacks on shipping have boosted the risk premium, other analysts said impacts to oil supply are currently limited.

"For now the impact is limited as oil keeps flowing, just with longer journeys translating in higher transportation costs," UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said.

Goldman Sachs analysts also said the disruption was unlikely to have a large effect on crude and liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices because opportunities to reroute vessels suggest production should not be directly affected.

Also in focus this week is the latest snapshot of US supplies. US crude inventories are expected to decline by 2.2 million barrels, a Reuters poll showed. (Reuters)

sraeli forces pounded the shattered Gaza Strip on Tuesday while Yemen's Houthis vowed to defy a US-led naval mission and keep targeting Red Sea shipping in support of the Palestinian enclave's ruling Hamas movement.

Israel's campaign to eradicate Hamas militants behind an Oct 7 massacre has left the coastal enclave in ruins, brought widespread hunger and homelessness, and killed nearly 20,000 Gazans, according to the Palestinian enclave's Health Ministry.

Under foreign pressure to avoid killing innocents, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the war will not stop until a remaining 129 hostages are freed and Hamas is obliterated after its fighters' slaying of 1200 Israelis.

The conflict has spread beyond Gaza, including into the Red Sea where Iranaligned Houthi forces have been attacking vessels with missiles and drones. That has prompted the creation of a multinational naval operation to protect commerce in the area, but the Houthis said they would carry on anyway, possibly with a sea operation every 12 hours.

"Our position will not change in the direction of the Palestinian issue, whether a naval alliance is established or not," Houthi official Mohammed Abdulsalam told Reuters, saying only Israeli ships or those going to Israel would be targeted.

"Our position in support of Palestine and the Gaza Strip will remain until the end of the siege, the entry of

A

t least four people have been killed as a massive storm barrelled along the US east coast, bringing power outages, flooding and flight delays.

A woman died in floodwaters outside Charleston, South Carolina, and three men in north-eastern states were killed as the storm moved towards Canada.

Millions of East Coast residents were on flood watch and more than 600,000 were without power on Tuesday morning.

Lingering into Tuesday, the storm was expected to snarl up holiday travel.

The weather brought widespread heavy rain that led to river flooding and flash flooding, the US National Weather Service (NWS) said.

Some areas were "experiencing road washouts". Wind gusts reached nearly 70 mph (113km/h) along the southern New England shoreline.

The first storm-related death was confirmed

in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Nancy Morrow, 72, was killed after she got stuck in a vehicle submerged in water, officials said. Officers jumped in the water to try to save her.

In Hanover, Massachusetts, on Monday an 89-year-old man, Robert Horky, died after strong winds knocked a tree on to his trailer, causing severe head trauma, local officials said.

A 40-year-old man, whom Police have not yet named, died in Windham, Maine. A tree fell on him while he was trying to clean debris from his roof, authorities said.

And in Pennsylvania, 73-year-old Allan "Ray " Nolt died on Monday morning after his vehicle was submerged in high water, according to coroner's office in Lancaster County.

Drier weather is expected in the coming days, according to the NWS, allowing some of the flooding to recede.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

food and medicine, and our support for the oppressed Palestinian people will remain continuous."

Announcing the naval operation, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said

in Bahrain that joint patrols would be held in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, which encompass a major East-West global shipping route. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Putin says Russia is ready to talk on Ukraine

P

resident Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Russia would be prepared to talk to Ukraine, the United States and Europe about the future of Ukraine if they wanted to, but that Moscow would defend its national interests.

Putin, who sent troops into Ukraine in 2022, has repeatedly said he would be prepared to talk about

peace, though Western officials say he is waiting for the US presidential election in November before making a genuine effort.

"In Ukraine, those who are aggressive towards Russia, and in Europe and in the United States - do they want to negotiate?

Let them. But we will do it based on our national interests," Putin told a meeting of the defence leader-

Italy court hands lifetime sentence to Storms in US northeast Pakistani parents in 'honour killing' case kill 4 and leave thousands without power

Palestinian children inspect the site of an Israeli strike on a house, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, December 19, 2023

A

n Italian court sentenced two parents to lifetime imprisonment on Tuesday for killing their teenage daughter after she refused to travel to Pakistan for an arranged marriage.

The so-called honour killing of 18-year-old Saman Abbas, who went missing in April 2021, shocked Italy.

Her father, Shabbar Abbas, was convicted by the court in the northern city of Reggio Emilia along with the victim's mother, who remains at large. The girl's uncle was sentenced to 14 years in prison while two cousins were acquitted.

The verdict was at a court of first instance and can be appealed.

The father had wept and protested his innocence in testimony to the court on Tuesday.

Shabbar Abbas had been extradited to Italy in August to face trial after he was arrested in his village in eastern Pakistan on suspicion of murder. His wife is believed

to be in hiding in Pakistan.

The remains of Saman Abbas were found near her family home in the town of Novellara in November 2022, some 18 months after she went missing. She was eventually identified by her dental records.

Saman Abbas, pictured wearing red lipstick and a red headband, has become one of the symbols of public concern in Italy over violence against women by family members or partners.

The killing last month of a university student and the arrest of her ex-boyfriend for the crime prompted a wave of demonstrations in towns and cities across Italy.

Prosecutors said the family of Saman Abbas was angered when they found out she had a boyfriend in Italy.

They alleged that she was killed when she returned to the family home to collect some documents after living nearby for a while under the care of social services. (Excerpt from Reuters)

ship in Moscow.

"We will not give up what is ours," Putin said, adding that Russia did not intend to fight with Europe.

Russia controls about 17.5% of the territory that was internationally recognised as part of Ukraine when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.

Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, and last year said the four additional regions of Ukraine that its troops

partially control are part of Russia. Kyiv says it will not rest until every last Russian soldier is ejected from Ukraine.

Russian troops, Putin said, now had the initiative on the battlefield.

He said Russia's defence industry was responding faster than that of the West and said Russia would continue to upgrade its nuclear forces and keep its combat readiness at a high level.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

20

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2023

guyanatimesgy.com

ARCHIE

DAILY HOROSCOPES Prepare to pivot and take advantage of an opportunity. Learn all you can and make your move. Changing how you handle or earn money will require attention to ensure you get what you want.

(March 21-April 19) Explore the possibilities and search for the path that leads to what you want.

A financial gain, gift or intriguing opportunity will point you in the right direction and open doors.

PICKLES

(April 20-May 20)

(May 21-June 20)

Surround yourself with people who bring out the best in you, and you’ll get things done quickly. An unexpected change will favor you. Share your intentions with someone you like collaborating with.

Keep an open mind and refuse to get pulled into an argument or no-win situation. Focus on your goals and surround yourself with people willing to contribute. Choose love over discord.

PEANUTS

(June 21-July 22) Ask and you shall receive. Talking to colleagues will help you find solutions to problems. Attend an event or function to get you in the spirit of the season.

Rethink your strategy.

(July 23-Aug. 22) You can please the people you love without going over budget. Start new traditions that fit into your lifestyle and take a moment to enjoy the festive season.

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

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

Consider your options before leaping forward. Knowing what you are up against will help you decide how to get what you want. Pick up the pace while maintaining common sense. Put a budget in place.

Explore the possibilities. Change is apparent, and pushing for what you wish to achieve will show strength and open a window of opportunity. Keep your emotions out of the mix.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Question anyone trying to push you down a questionable path. Don’t buy into someone else’s journey. Build a life that excites you and gives you the freedom to exercise your rights.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Take a moment and gather the facts; if you act in haste, you’ll hit a roadblock.

Take inventory and consider what you need and what you can discard. It’s time to pay it forward.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Emotional spending will lead to trouble. Refuse to let anyone talk you into purchases that jeopardize your finances.

Keep life simple and avoid people who enjoy taking risks.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19) A good plan will get you further than scrambling. Use your persuasive powers to enlist the help you need to finish things on time. Don’t forget to take care of renewals and financial matters.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2023

21

IPL 2024 Auction…

Starc, Cummins bag record deals; Rizvi is uncapped millionaire …Powell, Joseph, Rutherford, Hope among West Indian buys

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ustralia fast bowler Mitchell Starc has shattered the record for the most expensive player at an IPL auction, after being bought

by Kolkata Knight Riders for INR 24.75 crore (US$2,982M approx.). He surpassed the winning bid of INR 20.50 crore (US$2,470M approx.) that Sunrisers Hyderabad had made for Pat Cummins, Australia's ODI World Cup-winning captain, less than two hours earlier at the IPL 2024 auction in Dubai.

Starc came up for bidding in the first set for fast bowlers the fourth set of the day - and the battle for him began between Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals. However, it was swiftly taken over by Gujarat Titans and KKR, the only franchises with more than INR 30 crore left in their respective purses at that point, and KKR won the final bid.

The last time Starc featured in an IPL auction was in 2018, when KKR had signed him for INR 9.4 crore.

He didn't play in that season though, because of injury; and hasn't played in the IPL since 2015, in fact.

"I've probably prioritised international cricket firstly for a long time whilst having a bit of a taste of IPL and Big Bash in Australia," Starc said after his bid. "I've always held firm that I've wanted to play my best cricket for Australia and make myself available for Australia where I can. At the same time, the temptation to go back to IPL and how exciting it is to be involved in such a great tournament - big names, big players, big stages - it's too hard to pass up. There's a place to play all of it. It's just being mindful and putting the work ethic into being able to do all of it."

Before Starc's record bid, Sunrisers had spent INR 20.50 crore (US$2,470M approx.) to sign Cummins, staving off competition from Royal Challengers Bangalore to get their man. Cummins's price has surpassed the record of INR 18.50 crore that Punjab Kings had paid for England allrounder Sam Curran at the 2023 IPL Auction. Cummins had skipped the 2023 IPL to focus on international cricket; his previous highest auc-

tion price was INR 15.50 crore, when KKR had signed him in 2020.

"Pumped to be joining SRH for the upcoming IPL season," Cummins said after he was sold. "I've heard a lot about the Orange A r m y ; I've played at Hyderabad a few times, and always loved it, so can't wait to get started.

Shai Hope has been in excellent form in the shorter format as of late

Great to see another Aussie in Trav Head over there as well. I think we're going to have a lot of fun this season, and hopefully plenty of success."

Sunrisers Head Coach, Daniel Vettori, said they were able to spend that much on Cummins because they already had most bases covered. "Someone else desperately wanted him as well, that's why he got pushed to that high number," Vettori said.

"Because our team is relatively settled, and we have the budget and we have already picked up Travis Head and (Wanindu) Hasaranga, we felt like we'd covered most things that we wanted at the auction, so we had the ability to spend that much."

ODI World Cup performers get big paydays New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell and Rachin Ravindra, Australia batter Travis Head, South Africa allrounder Gerald Coetzee, and Sri Lanka quick Dilshan Madushanka landed IPL deals on the back of impressive performances in the recent ODI World Cup in India.

Mitchell was fiercely fought for by Capitals, Punjab, and Chennai Super Kings, and was finally bought for INR 14 crore by CSK after entering the auction at a base price of INR 1 crore. Ravindra was also bought by CSK for INR 1.8 crore.

CSK had also wanted to

buy Head, the Player of the Match in the ODI World Cup semi-final and final, but lost him to Sunrisers, who signed him for INR 6.8 crore.

Both Coetzee (INR 5 crore) and Madushanka (INR 4.6 crore) were signed by Mumbai Indians for a total of INR 9.6 crore. These were their first two buys at the auction.

Afghanistan allrounder Azmatullah Omarzai also found a home at Titans, alongside his countrymen Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad.

Uncapped Indians earn big bucks UP top-order batter Sameer Rizvi, Jharkhand wicketkeeper Kumar Kushagra, and Vidarbha middle-order batter Shubham Dubey, three of the players in ESPNcricinfo's picks for most in-demand uncapped Indian players at the auction, earned big IPL deals.

Dubey went first, with Capitals going after him with intent, but he eventually got sold to Royals for INR 5.8 crore.

Rizvi's name came up not long after, and if Dubey's fee was the highest paid for an uncapped batter with no IPL experience, topping the INR 5.25 Punjab paid for Shahrukh Khan in 2021, the record didn't last

4.6 crore at the 2023 auction, and then released him; but they entered the bidding for him once again, and took the price up towards INR 8 crore, at which point they lost him to Punjab.

Australians Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc shattered and re-shattered the record for IPL buys

one between Punjab - who had released him prior to the auction - and Titans. His price soared until it stopped at INR 7.40 crore, with Titans getting the big-hitting middle-order batter.

Titans also tried to buy back left-arm quick Yash Dayal, who eventually went to RCB for INR 5 crore. Titans, however, picked up another left-arm quick, Sushant Mishra, for INR 2.2 crore, while left-arm M Siddharth went to LSG for INR 2.4 crore.

One of the biggest surprises came late in the auction when the uncapped 21-yearold Robin Minz, a wicketkeeper from Jharkhand with a base price of INR 20 lakh, was up for bidding. Four teams want-

Guyanese Sherfane Rutherford was snapped up by KKR

long - Rizvi earned INR 8.40 crore after CSK beat off Titans and Capitals for his services.

Kushagra, for a while, threatened to top Rizvi's bid, but Capitals got him for INR 7.20 crore, after fighting off competition from CSK and Titans. A scrap for Shahrukh was expected, and there was

ed him, first CSK and MI, and then SRH, before he was eventually sold for INR 3.6 crore to the Titans. An aggressive batter from Gumla, Minz has not played any domestic T20 cricket. One of his three coaches is Chanchal Bhattacharya, who also coached MS Dhoni. Minz idolises Dhoni, and was select-

ed for a Mumbai Indians camp earlier this year.

The surprise big buys The 2024 auction had begun with a surprise, when West Indies T20 captain Rovman Powell was signed for INR 7.4 crore by Rajasthan Royals, who spent more than half their auction purse on one player. Powell's previous auction price was INR 2.8 crore, which Capitals paid for him in the 2022 auction.

West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph was also hotly fought for by CSK, Capitals, Lucknow Super Giants, and RCB. He had been released

by Titans, who had paid INR 2.4 crore for him in the 2022 auction, and was signed for INR 11.50 crore by RCB, who needed an overseas fast bowler after having released Josh Hazlewood, Wayne Parnell and David Willey.

Australian left-arm quick Spencer Johnson, who plays for Brisbane Heat in the BBL, was another big surprise buy during the accelerated round towards the end of the auction. Having entered the auction at a base price of INR 50 lakh, Johnson's price skyrocketed as Capitals and Titans bid for him. He eventually went to Titans for INR 10 crore, as Titans needed an overseas fast bowler as back-up for Josh Little.

Having lost Johnson to Titans, the Capitals picked up Australian quick Jhye Richardson shortly after for INR 5 crore.

After picking up overseas quicks Coetzee and Madhushanka, Mumbai bought a third overseas fast bowler in 29-year-old Sri Lankan Nuwan Thushara, who has played five T20 Internationals. KKR and RCB began the bidding for him, but MI eventually won the bid at INR 4.8 crore.

South African batter Rilee Rossouw had gone unsold when he came up for bidding in the early part of the auction, but he was in big demand during the accelerated round at the end of the day. Capitals had bought Rossouw for INR

How did the capped Indian players fare?

The most expensive Indian player at the 2024 IPL auction was fast bowler Harshal Patel.

The bidding for him began between Titans and Punjab, and then between Punjab and LSG, before he was finally sold to Punjab for INR 11.75 crore.

Allrounder Shardul Thakur (INR 4 crore) will return for his second stint at CSK, who signed him for INR 4 crore. The last time Thakur had been sold at the auction, he had gone for INR 10.75 crore to Capitals in 2022.

Fast bowlers Umesh Yadav and Shivam Mavi were also in high demand. SRH and Capitals tried to sign Umesh, but Titans eventually did so for INR 5.8 crore. Mavi became LSG's first buy at the 2024 auction, when they outbid RCB by spending nearly half their remaining purse to sign him for INR 6.4 crore.

Jaydev Unadkat, who once commanded a bid of INR 11.4 crore in the 2018 auction, was sold for INR 1.6 crore to Sunrisers.

The steal deals Sunrisers picked up Sri Lanka leg-spinning allrounder Wanindu Hasaranga at his base price of INR 1.5 crore as a like-for-like replacement for Adil Rashid, whom they had released. The last time Hasaranga had been sold, at the 2022 auction, RCB had paid INR 10.75 crore for him.

Capitals managed to sign England batter Harry Brook for INR 4 crore. Brook had been signed by Sunrisers for INR 13.25 crore last year, and subsequently released after an unremarkable maiden IPL season.

Other West Indian picks Also attracting the attention of the bidders was explosive Guyanese batsman Sherfane Rutherford, who now heads to the Kolkata Knight Riders franchise. Rutherford’s services were bought for INR 1.5 crore, or US$181,000.

Having gone unsold in the first round, the Delhi Capitals took another look at Barbadian batsman Shai Hope, and picked up the West Indian white ball captain for INR 75 lakh, or US$90,500.

Akeal Hosein, Keemo Paul and Odean Smith were some of the other West Indian players in the auction list, but went unsold with their base prices at 50, 75 and 50 Lakh respectively. (ESPNCricinfo)

22 Inaugural Climb Guyana West Demerara Cricket Assn 40-over tournament…

Cup set for December 23 Big wins for Belle Vue, VNS, La Grange teams launch in Rupununi …Nine teams lined up in Battle of the North T

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2023

T

he pulse of competition will beat loud this holiday season with the December 23 launch of the inaugural Climb Guyana Cup - The Battle of the North in Aranaputa in the North Rupununi.

Nine exceptional teams are gearing up for an epic showdown for glory and cash prizes at the Aranaputa Sports Ground on December 23 and 24.

FC Basin, Piowamak FC, Strikers, Challengers, Surama/Wowetta, Toka, Three Hills, Spartans and Falcon football clubs are all in the running to become the inaugural champions of the Climb Guyana Cup. A random Open Draw on December 23 will decide which teams will face off against each other in the thrilling knockout first round. At the conclusion of the knockout round, group winners will advance to the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final round.

This two-day event promises to be exhilarating, and each match will be divided into two twenty-minute halves, resulting in a total playing time of forty minutes.

This condensed format promises to deliver fast-paced, action-packed games, keeping the excitement levels high throughout the tournament.

Climb Guyana Founder Amanda Wilson-Falloon has said the tournament, a fusion of the company's Christmas festivities and commemoration of its third anniversary, will showcase the exceptional skills and passion of the top teams in the North Rupununi.

“We have had another amazing year, collaborating once again with various villages across the Rupununi to promote local tourism through thrilling competitions. One standout event was the Republic Race, held in February in partnership with Rockstone Village, which left

a lasting impression on both participants and spectators,” Wilson-Falloon shared.

“Building on this success, we decided to combine our Christmas and anniversary celebrations, creating a unique and unforgettable experience. As Climb Guyana reached its monumental third milestone in November, we are thrilled to return to the vibrant landscapes of the Rupununi, ready to showcase a captivating blend of talent and camaraderie with the highly anticipated launch of the Climb Guyana Cup,” she detailed.

In the opening ceremony, feature remarks will be made by Rupununi Football Association (RFA) President Norbert Williams, North Rupununi Football Association (NRFA) President John Abraham, Aranaputa Chairwoman Gillian Rodrigues, and Climb Guyana Region Nine Director Alphonso King.

he West Demerara Cricket Association (WDCA) recently bowled off their new 40-over tournament, being powered by the generosity of Businessman Jitendra Kishour and his wife Neelan, and Belle Vue, VNS Cricket Club, La Grange, and Canal Sports Club were among the most recent winners in the fiercely contested competition.

The Belle Vue Cricket Team defeated their All Youths counterparts by 139 runs. Batting first, Belle Vue put up a total of 241, with Lucian Sam striking 66 runs while Devon Harris added 25.

Anthony Carrington was the pick of the All Youths bowlers in claiming 2 for 37.

In the chase, All Youths were bundled out for 102 runs, with H Persaud topscoring with 28. The duo of Joshua Loknauth (2 for 10) and Randy Ramrup (2 for 16) were instrumental with the ball in effecting the win for Belle Vue. Over at Canal Sports Club Ground, VNS Cricket Club got the better of West Demerara Legends, whom they thrashed by 231 runs. VNS batted first and posted 274 for 9, with Michael Subadar missing out on a century, as he hit 99 runs; while Aditya Kadarnauuth, who was also in fine touch, registered 88.

“One Guyana” Basketball Premier League…

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Playoff pairings revealed

fter months of exhilarating action at the National Gymnasium, the Group Stage of the inaugural “One Guyana” Premier League, which commenced on August 12, 2023, showcased potential basketballers for national selection to represent Guyana on the international stage, eight teams sealing their respective places in the playoffs set for January 13.

The eight teams that advanced to the playoffs are as follows: from the Harpy League Conference Pacesetters, there are the Black Mambas, Ravens, Kwakwani Untouchables and UG Trojans.

In the Harpy Eagle Conference, the Playoffs will see Pacesetters, who copped first place against Ravens in a three-game series; while Kwakwani Untouchable, coming in second, will play Black Mambas in third place in a three-game series in which the winner will move on to the Conference Finals.

The Jaguar Conference will see Stabroek Eagles, unbeaten in the group stage, coming against Kobras in a three-game series; while

Players, organizers and officials at the launch of the “One Guyana” Basketball Premier League

UG Trojans, coming in second place, will battle Bounty Colts, in a mixture of young and experienced, in a threegame series in which the winner will move on to the Conference Finals.

The top four teams qualify for the playoffs, in which the number one-ranked team plays the team ranked fourth, and the number two

team plays the third-ranked team.

The winners of the playoff games will then advance to their Conference Finals, where they will play the best two-of-three games to determine who advances to the National Finals.

The tournament-winning team would receive $1 million along with trophies,

while the runners-up would receive $500,000 plus trophies.

This Tournament has been made possible by sponsorship from the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry; G-Boats Guyana; National Sports Commission, Guyana Basketball Federation, and Georgetown Basketball Federation.

Narendra Persaud

Avinash Shardandan

Bowling for the Legends, Avinash Shardandan took 5 for 38 and Imtiaz Sadik took 2 for 46.

In reply, Legends could muster only 67 all out, with Tikoo Safeek contributing 19 runs and Chris Mangal contributing 12 to this small total. Joshua Rahaman took 5 for 11 for Canal, while Emmanuelle Martin picked up an impressive 3 for 3.

Joshua Rahaman

Mohan Chaitram also contributed a well-played 37 to the VNS total.

Bowling for the Legends, Chris Mangal was spot on with 4 for 18, while Avinash Shardandan took 3 for 35.

In their reply, the Legends suffered the humiliation of being bowled out for just 43 runs. Ravindra Ramnarine looked to be the only batsman who could stand up to the VNS bowling, hitting 14 runs.

Aditya Kadarnauuth was the man with the golden arm, gifting VNS with a 6-fer in which he conceded just 13 runs.

Meanwhile, La Grange whipped the Goed Fortuin team by 90 runs on their own home Ground. La Grange batted first and posted 213 all out, with Naresh Persaud producing the top-score of 61 and Tyron Carrington hitting 45 and narrowly missing out on his half-century. Goed Fortuin’s Jarmain Ramroop claimed 3 for 28.

In response, Goed Fortuin found themselves in all sorts of trouble, and were eventually bundled out for 123 runs. K Famery was the only man to put up a resistance, hitting 37 runs, while La Grange’s Christopher Gurdyal was the pick of the bowlers, taking 2 for 23.

A separate fixture saw Canal Sports Club beating West Demerara Legends by a whopping 204 runs.

Canal got to 271 runs before being bowled out in the first innings, with Narendra Persaud slamming 126, while Vishwanauth Jadunath hit 40 and Yogendra Singh added 36 to the defendable total.

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2023

23

WI vs England: 2023 T20I Series, Game 4 of 5…

ENGLAND LEVEL SERIES – in rain of sixes at Tarouba – Salt produces back-to-back tons after IPL snub

W

hoever said, "Don't answer back", had never been overlooked for a big pay cheque, or found the belligerence of Phil Salt. Responding to his IPL auction snub overnight, and resuming where his unbeaten century in the third match had kept England alive in this series, Salt thrashed a 57-ball 119 to set West Indies an eye-watering target of 268 if they wanted to end it now.

They couldn't, and fell to a 75-run defeat in Tarouba as England drew level at 2-2, setting up a decider at the same ground on Thursday.

After losing the toss and admitting he would have liked to chase too, England captain Jos Buttler combined with Salt for a second century opening stand in a row, to set England off towards 267 for 3, the second-highest score by a Full Member nation in T20Is. Salt reached his century off just 48 balls en route to England's highest individual T20I score. After Buttler fell for 55, Salt found willing partners in Will Jacks, and Liam Livingstone who reached an unbeaten half-century.

In an entertaining match that yielded 33 sixes, the third-most in men's

T20Is, Andre Russell scored five of them and Nicholas Pooran four, but even combined, they couldn't better Salt's 10. The West Indies were bowled out inside 16 overs, with Reece Topley taking three wickets and Sam Curran and Rehan Ahmed each taking two.

0 12 39

Andre Russell struck a 24-ball fifty

England's opening salvo

England milked 12 runs off T20I debutant Matthew Forde in the first over. All but one of them went to Salt,

SCOREBOARD

West Indies (T: 268 runs from 20 ovs) Brandon King c Topley b Ali Kyle Mayers c Woakes b Topley Nicholas Pooran † c Brook b Curran

then smashed for 16 runs off three balls at the end of his first over, Pooran dishing out some Jacks-style hitting at #3 as West Indies raced to 58 for 2 after just four overs. But Pooran fell for an impressive 39 off 15 when Harry Brook took a wonderful catch, running in from long-on and diving forwards to hold onto one struck high

Phil Salt celebrating as he reached his century

Phil Salt has recorded back-to-back T20I hundreds

England (20 ovs maximum) Phil Salt † b Russell 119 Jos Buttler (c) c Powell b Holder 55 Will Jacks lbw b Hosein 24 Liam Livingstone not out 54 Harry Brook not out 6 Extras (w 9) 9 TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 13.35) 267/3 Did not bat: Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Rehan Ahmed, Adil Rashid, Reece Topley Fall of wickets: 1-117 (Jos Buttler, 9.5 ov), 2-173 (Will Jacks, 13.4 ov), 3-246 (Phil Salt, 18.3 ov) • DRS BOWLING O-M-R-W Matthew Forde 3-0-54-0 Akeal Hosein 4-0-36-1 Kyle Mayers 1-0-7-0 Jason Holder 4-0-55-1 Gudakesh Motie 4-0-55-0 Andre Russell 3-0-37-1 Sherfane Rutherford 1-0-23-0

ing has also been a problem; and, as Livingstone met Forde with a triumvirate of sixes in the 18th over, that hadn't changed. It took Russell nailing his yorker with a hint of reverse swing to remove Salt, bowled through his legs as he tried a reverse sweep, but not before he had taken England past their previous best to-

Shai Hope c †Salt b Woakes 16 Sherfane Rutherford lbw b Rehan Ahmed 36 Rovman Powell (c) b Rashid 4 Andre Russell c Brook b Topley 51 Jason Holder c Jacks b Rehan Ahmed 0 Akeal Hosein c Ali b Curran 15 Matthew Forde c Buttler b Topley 3 Gudakesh Motie not out 0 Extras (b 2, lb 6, w 8) 16 TOTAL 15.3 Ov (RR: 12.38) 192 Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Brandon King, 0.1 ov), 2-32 (Kyle Mayers, 1.5 ov), 3-58 (Nicholas Pooran, 4.1 ov), 4-78 (Shai Hope, 5.2 ov), 5-106 (Rovman Powell, 7.5 ov), 6-120 (Sherfane Rutherford, 8.5 ov), 7-120 (Jason Holder, 8.6 ov), 8-160 (Akeal Hosein, 12.3 ov), 9-169 (Matthew Forde, 13.5 ov), 10-192 (Andre Russell, 15.3 ov) • DRS BOWLING O-M-R-W Moeen Ali 1-0-20-1 Reece Topley 3.3-0-37-3 Chris Woakes 2-0-25-1 Sam Curran 2-0-25-2 Rehan Ahmed 3-0-42-2 Adil Rashid 4-0-35-1

Sherfane Rutherford struck some powerful blows in 36 off 15

who cleared the rope at longon, and followed that immediately with a drive through mid-off for four. Buttler joined in with a superb reverse-swept six off Akeal Hosein, then a sweep for four next ball, before Forde conceded 22 runs off the fifth over; so that by the end of the powerplay, England were flying at 68 without loss.

It compounded West Indies' bowling woes in the powerplay. They have taken only one wicket inside the first six overs of England's innings so far this series, with Salt and Buttler racking up opening stands of 77, 9, 115 and 117. Salt brought up his fifty off just 23 balls with back-to-back fours off Russell.

Of all England's power hitting during their union, Buttler's effortless 83-metre six over extra cover off Gudakesh Motie looked like being the shot of the day, until it was followed straight away by another maximum, dispatched even deeper into the stands at long-on to bring up his half-century off 26 deliveries. Buttler perished a short time later, when he picked out Rovman Powell at long-on off the bowling of Jason Holder, but he had helped put his side in an excellent position after 9.5 overs.

Salt, the seasoned centurion

Salt picked up where he had left off with an unbeat-

en 109 off 56 balls in the previous game, and then some.

After Buttler went, Salt simply carried on, launching three sixes in a row off the start of Sherfane Rutherford's first over. Will Jacks kept tempo with his partner, taking England past the 150-mark with a reverse sweep for four, and nonchalant six over back-

tal in the format of 241 for 3, scored against New Zealand in 2019.

Livingstone pounced on a Holder full toss to reach what was only his second fifty in 37 T20Is, with a swept four through square leg, and he rubbed it in when Holder's yorker flew off his outside edge through third man for one more boundary.

Hits keep coming

Brandon King was reportedly taken for X-rays after being struck on the knee by the ball while fielding early in England's innings; but he reappeared to open the batting, only to fall first ball to an understandably attacking mindset. Looking to cut a Moeen Ali deliv-

Nicholas Pooran fell to the first ball of Sam Curran's spell

ward square leg off Hosein, as he and Salt muscled their stand to 55 off just 19 balls.

It ended on 56 just three balls later, when Jacks was pinned lbw by Hosein after a nine-ball 24.

When Salt brought up his century, he tore off his helmet and launched a scream skywards, becoming only the second man from a Full Member nation - and third in all - to register backto-back hundreds in T20Is. As if West Indies’ early bowling troubles weren't enough, their death bowl-

ery, he managed only a top edge, which found the hands of a leaping Topley at short third.

Pooran proceeded to smash 20 off the last four balls of the over, culminating in a mammoth 93m six over deep midwicket. Topley conceded 12 runs off the next over before he had Kyle Mayers held second grab at midwicket by Chris Woakes, who had awoken to the news that he'd been picked up by Punjab Kings in the IPL auction. Woakes was

in the air off Curran.

Salt and Buttler teamed up in more ways than one, with the former taking the wicketkeeping gloves to give his captain "a different perspective from the field", Buttler told broadcasters.

Salt stayed in the action with a simple catch to remove Shai Hope off Woakes.

By the end of the powerplay, West Indies were 87 for 4, with Rutherford looking set to let loose. He did with three consecutive fours in Rehan's first over, to take West Indies to the 100-mark in the seventh.

Task too tall

Adil Rashid entered the attack in the eighth over, and his fifth ball accounted for Powell -- a peach that deceived the West Indies skipper and crashed into off stump. Rehan saw two balls in three sent over the fence at deep midwicket, first by Russell, then by Rutherford.

But Rehan responded with two wickets in as many deliveries: Rutherford lbw, and Holder caught by Jacks at deep midwicket for a firstball duck.

By the halfway point of the innings, England returned to seam, with Curran removing Hosein, and Buttler who was fielding at cover taking a simple catch off the bowling of Topley to dismiss Forde, who had made his international debut when West Indies sealed a 2-1 victory in the ODI leg of England's visit.

Russell maintained his defiance, smashing a 108-metre six off Topley to move within one boundary of his fifty, and passing the mark when Brook misfielded just inside the rope at longoff; but when he holed out to Brook next ball, it was all over. (ESPNcricinfo)

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2023

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

Pg 23

WI vs England: 2023 T20I Series, Game 4 of 5…

– in rain of sixes at Tarouba – Salt produces back-to-back tons after IPL snub Pg 21

“One Guyana” Basketball Premier League…

Pg 22

pairings revealed IPL 2024 Auction…

Starc, Cummins bag record deals; Rizvi is uncapped millionaire …Powell, Joseph, Rutherford, Hope among West Indian buys

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