Guyana Times - Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Deadly piracy attack

will be

act for the court to allow them to return to society" – Judge

…duo convicted of killing 5 fishermen sentenced to death

The two men who were found guilty of the 2018 piracy attack that left five fishermen dead have been sentenced to death by Berbice High Court Judge Navindra Singh.

Premnauth Persaud, also known as “Sand Bat”, 47, of Cromarty Village, Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and 43-year-old Nakool Manohar, called “Fyah”, of Number 43 Village,

Corentyne, Berbice had faced two indictments for murdering five fishermen. Manohar has been convicted of murdering Bandara, called “Spanish Man” or “Dora”; Lalta Sumair, called “Bora” or “Puduck”; and Lokesh De Couite. These murders occurred on board the vessel Joshua SK 1418, which was attacked by pirates between April 14 and June 3, 2018.

Persaud has been convicted of killing Mahesh Sarjoo, called “Kuba” or “Vishal”; and Tilaknauth Mohabir, called “Camion”, “Palam,” and “Cold Record”, between April 14 and June 3, 2018 on board the vessel Romina SK 764, which had also been under attack during the incident of piracy.

State Persecutor Latchmie Rahamat said the victims were chopped, tied to anchors, thrown overboard and left to die. She pointed out that one of the two survivors who presented testimonies to the court related that it was Manohar who gave the orders to kill and rod. She reminded the court that the survivor said while he was in the water, he saw Manohar and others removing their catch and other valuables from their boat and placing them into their boat.

Rahamat pointed out that under the piracy law, persons who are found guilty of such acts should be sentenced to death.

Begged for mercy

During the sentencing on Tuesday, Persaud begged for mercy, telling the court that he is a father of two, while Monohar declined the opportunity to speak.

Justice Singh, in handing down the sentences, said the crime was a cruel, gruesome, cold-blooded attack on the fishermen. He said that based on the evidence which was presented to the court, and the fact that both men continued to proclaim innocence even after the jury found them guilty, they cannot be rehabilitated. The trial judge said it would be a reckless act for the court to allow them to return to society.

"It

a reckless

Sentenced to death, Premnauth Persaud, also known as “Sand Bat”

Sentenced to death, Nakool Manohar, called “Fyah”

Dead: Tilaknauth Mohabir Dead: Mahesh Sarjoo

Dead: Lalta Sumair, called “Bora” or “Puduck”

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2023

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Wednesday, Feb 1 – 02:00h to 03:30h and 14:00h – 15:00h and

Thursday, Feb 2 – 03:30h – 05:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Wednesday, Feb 1 – 13:30h – 15:00h and Thursday, Feb 2 – 14:15h – 15:45h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

There will be sunshine during the day. Expect partly cloudy skies at night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North North-Westerly to Northerly between 1.78 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 13:32h reaching a maximum height of 2.19 metres.

Low Tide: 07:00h and 19:44h reaching minimum heights of 1.16 metres and 1.01 metres.

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has taken a decision to adopt a report from the Chief Elections Officer (CEO) confirming changes to constituency boundaries and moving the Commission closer to holding elections - but not without a fight from the Oppositionnominated members of the Commission.

On Tuesday, Governmentnominated GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj provided this publication with an update on the statutory meeting and explained that a report confirming the changes to the boundaries was adopted based on a ruling by GECOM Chairperson, Retired Justice Claudette Singh.

The Opposition Commissioners – Vincent Alexander, Charles Corbin and Desmond Trotman – objected to this and claimed, among other things, that the criteria the former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government used to alter the boundaries, were decided on since 2009.

“The question is why are they relying on a historic 2009 process, when half of the Commission was not there, in fact of the seven people on the Commission, five were not there in 2009. And this process was conducted in 2016 and 2018, without reference to any such guidelines,” Gunraj questioned.

“They have failed to provide any documentation to confirm the guidelines. They are relying on pieces and bits of minutes and unconfirmed documents. Now after all this back and forth and the Chairman heard all of it, the Chairman ruled that the report will be adopted and we will proceed.”

According to Gunraj, this is nothing more than the latest in a series of delaying tactics by the Opposition Commissioners at GECOM. But he noted that Local Government Elections (LGE) is long overdue and every occasion during which the Government side has tried to remove the obstacles, the Opposition has been hellbent on imposing more obstacles.

“At this stage, once these constituencies are approved as the Chairman has done today, the next step is to extract

lists in accordance with those constituencies and by extension the entire country and then have those lists exhibited and go through the process.”

“Once we are done with this, we can set up timelines by which we can inform the Minister that we are in a state of readiness to hold elections. And thereafter he can set the date,” Gunraj noted, confirming that the March 13, 2023 date which was set last year is no longer possible.

It was decided last year that fourteen areas in which boundaries were modified by the former APNU/AFC Government, will be reverted in the lead up to the Local Government Elections when they are held, to allow for better representation.

Local Government and Regional Development Minister Nigel Dharamlall had announced at a press conference in November that changes were made after consultations with communities and residents in the interest of democracy building.

While the decision was made to revert boundaries to before they were changed in the year 2016, other communities which were previously not captured will be placed under townships and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils. In some areas, NDCs will also be merged or split.

“There are 14 areas that were affected in 2018 and we have decided that for better representation, that those areas go back to the 2016 constituency boundaries…We are

aware that local democracy is essential to the overall development of communities, our people and our country,” he commented.

In Region One, there will be an extension of the boundaries of Mabaruma township to capture Wauna, putting them under an institutionalised administration. Previously, in 2018 local polls, they were left out of the township as the Minister now assured of zero discrimination.

In Region Two, where the constituency boundaries collapsed or merged, he said this decision of the previous Administration will be reversed. In the Pomeroon River, due to difficulties in service delivery, there will be a merger to form one NDC of Kitty-Providence and MorucaFelix.

In Region Three, reverted boundaries will also follow for some NDCs to allow for better representation. Meanwhile

the Toevlugt-Patentia constituency will be extended to Free and Easy, capturing hundreds of residents.

In Region Four, reverting the boundaries will also be done for some areas where there was a consolidation of NDCs. In Region Five, Woodlands Farm had been expanded to include De Hoop access road residents who were left out of an administrative area. Other areas such as Mahdia, Lethem, Linden and Georgetown will remain the same. No boundaries have been contracted nor have the number of constituencies reduced, Dharamlall had further explained.

The complement of councillors will also increase in the 80 Local Authority Areas. In 2018, this number was 1192 councillors in 596 constituencies. For the 2023 polls, there will be 1220 councillors in 610 constituencies. (G3)

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Better service: dump ‘minibus culture’

Unacceptable attitudes of many of the minibus operators has been a sore point over the years, and seem to has worsened despite pleas from the public. Sadly, it’s not just one area of concern, but wide ranging within the service they provide, and to other road users.

Much has been said about the loud and lewd music which all, including schoolchildren, are forced to endure on a daily basis. There is no respite, and any objection by commuters is met with disdain, disrespect and wanton abuse in many cases. It appears that there is no consideration by these uncaring operators that they depend on the commuters for their livelihood.

In a country that is slowly becoming more service oriented, those who buy are given due importance as competitiveness increases. Maybe the time, for competitiveness in public transportation, which many believe has passed, is now. The provision of this service is bread and butter for the operators and many owners; however, safety for road users and the provision of a better service cannot be continually disregarded.

In an age when the wheel is no longer invented, lessons can be leant from some Caribbean countries that have the service regularised. Templates can be borrowed from countries that have both private and Government operated services. The power of choice not just empowers, in this case commuters, but brings competition that generally redounds in better services.

Of course, there is the argument of preference for some for what is currently provided by the minibus operators. The bottom line is that they do not speak for everyone. Those who have been shamed for speaking up against loud and profanity-laced music crave a service or system that would bring them much-needed relief. Same for the elderly, same for those with illnesses, and same for those who are harassed and pressured, sometimes physically, into a minibus.

Some commuters, based on knowledge, tend to choose the minibus they wish to travel in, so as to reduce the likelihood of being exposed to the blaring music, and to some extent avoid being subjected to indiscriminate driving. But sometimes circumstance may not allow for this, given urgencies, weather, and other related factors. There is also the scenario of the appearance of a “peaceful” minibus before the journey commences, but afterwards the music booms, trapping commuters. While some would disembark, others may not, for good reasons.

In fairness to operators, some are trying to provide a proper service, have shown respect to commuters, and abide by traffic laws. They would have, over time, highlighted challenges faced, including that from touts. While one expectation would be for them to be more vociferous and to advocate for change from within, it appears that the odds are stacked against them. From peer pressure and pressure to meet their daily target to influential owners of some minibuses, it is made difficult for change from within.

Running red lights, speeding, not returning change, some drinking while driving, cutting dangerously into the path of other drivers, demanding with their hands out that they must pass or get in front, carrying way in excess of the number of passengers legally allowed, and using roads that are not authorised as per their road service are some of the indiscretions commuters and other road users are forced to endure by some minibus operators.

What prevents other policy decisions to holistically regularise the minibus situation? Regularisation must be driven by the dire need to raise the standard of service and safety. It must not only be important for the creation of a friendly and caring image to tourists, but fundamentally to Guyanese who daily toil and make sacrifices here to pay requisite fares.

The overriding consideration must be the welfare of the commuters, and if this is taken on board, much-needed change can be forthcoming without the need for lessons from elsewhere.

APNU, AFC need to develop a longue durée perspective of economic transformation

Dear Editor, More than half a century ago, the distinguished French historian Fernand Braudel developed a temporal model of the world capitalist economy. In so doing, he specified three temporal rhythms; namely, the histoire événementielle, the conjuncture, and the longue durée. These translate into the short term, the medium term, and the long term.

I contend that the APNU+AFC are focused on the short term, something if adopted and operationalised, would be disastrous for Guyana, oil or no oil. As Braudel was fond to point out, the short term is that of the journalist, meaning a focus on recent events rather than the dynamics of structural change. For Guyana to lift itself out of the punishing injuries of poverty, it must adopt policies mindful of the longue durée, but articulated around the opportunities and constraints emanating from the world system above, and from the balances of social forces below.

Braudel also employed the concept of mentalities which designated the cultural outlook of elites. Elite culture, of course, has a huge influence on mass culture. This issue is of special significance to Guyana. The APNU+AFC, with their focus on consumption and on sharing out all the revenues earned from oil and gas, could infect the general population with this ideology of ‘spend-today-go-bankrupt-tomorrow.’

Thus far, the Guyanese people have resisted this crash-course in wild spending. In fact, feedback from across the country indicates

serious commitment to long term investments in infrastructure. Everywhere you go, people want a balance between high incomes today and investments in education, healthcare, security, and transportation, all of which would produce results for generations to come.

Guyanese writers are fond of likening our chances to those of Singapore and the Gulf States. I can assure we are not going there anytime soon, because those are special cases. More on this later. What we do know, however, is that countries such as Malaysia, which invested heavily in education and other kinds of infrastructure, were able to leapfrog at least one of W.W. Rostow’s stages of economic growth, based on a theory with the same name.

It might be instructive to know that the New Economic Policy in Malaysia from 1971-1990 was partially in response to ethnic conflicts there in 1969. The state committed substantial portions of the budget to education, with heavy emphasis on greater inclusion for the native Malays, who had hitherto not been fully ‘assimilated’ into the national development plans.

Similarly, today, the PPP/C’s 2023 budget is placing heavy emphasis on access to building out the infrastructure for Indigenous students as well as students in rural areas. Note that 70% of our population live in rural and hinterland areas.

The myopia of AFC economic thinking was clearly expressed in the speech of leader Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan. Early in his speech, Ramjattan used the word “paradigm” to describe

the new revenues from oil. The word was misused, or at best it was not used in the conceptual sense intended by Thomas Kuhn in The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (1962). Kuhn described the traditional, customary, expected and institutionally protected knowledges or ways of doing things (methods) as “normal science”. A scientific revolution occurs when those established ways are jettisoned and replaced by new ways of thinking; which is to say, when there is a structural movement resembling a shift in tectonic plates, RATHER than mere quantitative changes within the extant system.

A new paradigm implies abandonment of the old ways, old questions, and old answers. Instead of mere quantitative changes, there are qualitative changes, these last being more about the longue durée, pace Braudel.

In typical normal science fashion, Mr Ramjattan and APNU leader Mr Aubrey Norton see the new oil revenues in the same old ways, excepting for alteration of volume, of quantity. Put differently, they see more money, but want to do the same old thing, which is to spend it all out today, without concern for what comes next year, or in the next generation.

Both President Ali and Vice President Jagdeo, as well as Dr Ashni Singh, have been tireless in trying to get not only the Guyanese people, but the Opposition to understand that new and more money does not necessarily guarantee prosperity. Their efforts go beyond explaining the dangers of

Dutch disease or the resource curse. They ask different questions, the primary one being: How do we, as a people, use the oil and gas resources to chart a different, long-term course of socio-economic development that would be both economically and environmentally sustainable?

Their answer is one that might be best described as responsible pragmatism. Here the emphasis is on improving the human security of individuals and communities by investing in those salient dimensions of personal and community wellbeing that are self-reproducing.

The current world system is such that our resources are not necessarily at our full disposal. There are national governments, multilateral organisations, and social forces often in the form of NGOs that seek to manage our affairs from afar. We live in a world system grounded in, and governed by, hegemonic practices where national sovereignty can be severely compromised. This is why a big part of the new paradigm is us standing as one.

The limits of the possible are not of our own choosing, yet we must navigate this same system of economic and political power through the excellent quality of leadership at our disposal, combined with the resolve of a nation that stands together. Now, that is a new paradigm. Budget 2023 is a step in this direction. Oil is not merely an event; it must bring forth, and has brought forth, innovative ideas in this current conjuncture.

Sincerely,

Dr Randolph Persaud

President Dr Irfaan Ali accepted the Letters of Credence from Jorge Francisco Luis accrediting him as the Resident Ambassador of Cuba to Guyana on Tuesday at the Office of the President on Shiv Chanderpaul Drive. Guyana and Cuba established diplomatic relations 50 years ago (Office of the President photo)

Macroeconomic fundamental errors that must be corrected, interpreted correctly

Dear Editor, I wish to address a few macroeconomic fundamental errors, both in interpretation and calculation, made by the Hon. Volda Lawrence, M.P, and one of Guyana’s chartered accountants, Mr Christopher Ram.

In her budget debate presentation, the Opposition (MP) argued that the economy is caught up in the jaws of the oil sector by showing the share of oil exports of the total exports, which stood at over 80% in 2022 and is projected to remain over 80% in 2023. This argument was made in the context of the Dutch disease.

However, there is a fundamental error in this interpretation on the part of the Opposition member. The total value of exports for crude oil reflected in the balance of payment (BOP) account is in fact nominal exports, and not real exports. The nominal value of crude oil exports includes 100% of the crude oil produced offshore Guyana, which is correctly reported as part of the total export value for crude oil simply because it is a natural resource

owned by Guyana and produced in Guyana.

On the other hand, the real crude oil export value that Guyana actually earns in foreign exchange (FX) is from the portion that Guyana earns in profit oil. And as is well known by now, profit oil is a fraction of the total production of crude oil, calculated based on the profit oil formula in accordance with the fiscal terms in the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), and which is deposited into the Natural Resource Fund (NRF).

In a virtual discussion panel, Christopher Ram cited an incorrect figure representing the fiscal deficit obtained in 2022 of $193 billion. To arrive at this figure, Mr. Ram took the 11.8% fiscal deficit reported by the Minister in the budget speech and multiply it by (2021) GDP of about US$8 billion. Mr. Ram failed to observe that the fiscal deficit of 11.8% reported by the Minister is actually on the non-oil GDP figure for 2022, which stood at G$1.107 trillion, while the fiscal deficit relative to the overall GDP (2022), which stood at

G$2.918 trillion, is actually 4.52%, or $132 billion. This figure can be verified in the budget estimate (Vol.1).

Additionally, the fiscal deficit projected for 2023 is lower than 2022 at $92 billion, $40 billion or 30% less than in 2022.

Another poor interpretation by Mr Christopher Ram is in relation to the inflation rate, where he posited that he does not believe that Guyana’s inflation rate is as low as reported. In Ram and McRae’s Budget Focus report, Mr Ram contended that the 7.2% inflation reported for 2022 is the highest reported inflation in twenty years.

He cited in his report that the highest inflation rate reported in the last twenty years, barring the flood year in 2005, is 5.75% in 2021, which was attributed to imported price pressures compounded by shocks in the agriculture sector.

Again, Mr Ram is incorrect in the foregoing assertion in his report. The last twenty years would span the period 2003 – 2023. The highest inflation rate was

actually obtained in 2007 at 14% (see Budget Speech 2008). This was attributed to “imported price escalation, particularly in fuel and food categories; unseasoned rains, and flood conditions in food-producing areas exerting upward pressures on domestic prices. These were compounded by challenges in the transition to value-added taxes, where there was evidence that some retailers did not adjust for consumption tax transitional relief and input tax credits that they would have benefited from, and merely added the value-added tax on top of their existing prices” (Budget Speech, 2008).

For the readers’ benefit, when the VAT was introduced in 2007 at a rate of 16%, it replaced a consumption tax of 30% at the time.

Furthermore, while Mr. Ram may have his reasons, known to him only, why he does not believe that the low inflation of 7.2% obtained in 2022, which is projected to slow below 5% in 2023, he ignored altogether the impact of Government’s intervention to combat inflation that

No Lost and Found at CJIA, Timehri?

Dear Editor,

As a citizen of this country, and one who was a beauty Ambassador of Guyana for several years, I wish to express my view on the above caption. I love my country Guyana, and I love to see that we have infrastructure created for happiness, safety, security and convenience.

Of course, I know that no institution can ever be perfect, and so I am writing on the above to give a serious recommendation to the administrators of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri to please consider what I am saying, and implement it quickly. This implementation could save a lot of heartaches, as someone whom I know well had a very unfortunate experience, and suffered as a consequence.

I recall that when I was passing through the United Kingdom on my way to represent my country in the Miss Universe Pageant in Malaysia, an address book was dropped in London at the Heathrow Airport. I realised when I was in Malaysia that this address book had to have gone missing in London at the Heathrow. And upon my return to the Heathrow Airport, I made some inquiries, and was sent for a long walk in the massive airport to a Secure Small Room, where my address book was well secured.

As a result of my loved one’s experience recently

at the CJIA Timehri, I decided to check Trinidad; Barbados; JFK, New York; Miami International; Orlando International; just to verify whether they all have “Lost and Found”. And yes, I found that they all have Lost and Found. Upon enquiring about Guyana, they do not have Lost and Found. Imagine, this was quite a surprise to find that, at our airport, the administrators of the airport did not think of the necessity of having a Lost and Found.

Someone dear and near to me dropped their passport at CJIA. It would appear now in the Customs Department. The passport was found at CJIA and taken and kept at the Immigration Department. It was kept at the Immigration Department from the 20th December, 2022 to 30th January, 2023.

The name on the passport is that of an especially popular gentleman in this country. The Immigration Department should not be a Lost and Found, but If the Lost and Found should be operated out of the Immigration Department, that should be established. It should be properly documented, with proper recording system. I repeat for emphasis, that there is no Lost and Found at the CJIA airport.

On 30th January 2023, someone realized that no one had called this popular gentleman about his passport, misplacement of

which had caused that gentleman tremendous distress and confusion. The point is that the passport is now located. It is confirmed that CJIA does not have a Lost and Found.

The distress was unnecessary; if they had a Lost and Found at CJIA, it would have been recorded into that system. The staffers there would know to go and check their records quickly. They would know that they have a passport that was misplaced, or items that are misplaced, and that the passport or other items need to get to its/their owner/s immediately, especially if contact addresses and telephone numbers of the owner/s of the items are available.

It is normal for these kinds of losses by accidents to happen. The fact that our airports in our country and points of exit and entry at border access in our country have no Lost and Found does not speak well of our country as a tourist and commercial destination. There needs to be one established at the earliest opportunity at all points of entry and exit.

I hope authorities that govern the airports and border crossings would listen to my guidance to establish this important Lost and Found facility at various points of entry and exit into our country.

Sincerely,

Katherina Roshana

would have credibly and tangibly led to this outcome.

To this end, as I have explained in my own budget analysis report, the Government implemented a suite of measures to combat inflation, which is largely impacted by external factors within the global economy – that is, (1) imported inflation attributable to the fact that Guyana imports more than 80% of consumption goods, intermediate and capital goods. This aspect of inflation is impacted by events in the global economy, such as supply chain disruptions leading to cost-push inflation and demand-pull inflation, and (2) the inflationary impact within the domestic economy, which is also driven by strong domestic demand across all sectors, as demonstrated by the vibrant double-digit growth in the overall economy and in the

non-oil sectors.

The total estimated cost of the COL measures implemented by the Government in terms of direct cost to the treasury and foregone revenue to the treasury is approximately $89 billion. This represents 11.3% of the total budget, 28% of tax revenues, and 43% of the NRF withdrawal to finance budget 2023.

Effectively, the impact of these measures altogether would translate to about $404,545 on an annualised basis per household using a total estimated household of 220,000 as per the 2012 national census data – albeit indirectly. The indirect impact of these measures at the household level and on inflation cannot be ignored.

Yours sincerely, Joel

Bhagwandin

Foundation

NGSA Questions: Maths

Preparing for the NGSA

Studying is an important part of preparing for the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), and doing practice questions can help you to better study by identifying areas of strengths and weaknesses. Making a study guide is a good first step to kick the process off.

If you do it strategically, making your study guide can be an effective part of the studying process. Use this as an opportunity to organise, review, and make sense of your notes. The most effective study guides emerge from effective note-taking habits. It’s never too late to start implementing those. With strong foundations in place, you can begin to create your study guide:

Organise your notes. Sort through the information you already have, and arrange it in a way that makes sense for you. That could mean merging notes from your computer and notebooks into chronological or thematic order — like by topic or week or date.

Create a summary. After reviewing all your notes, create a summary sheet that synthesises the information into a few sentences. What is the main study point of the subject? Answering that question can help you focus on the next step.

Build an outline. With a handle on all that information, start creating an outline structure. Of course, this depends on the type of content you’re studying. If it’s a Social Studies or History exam, perhaps your outline has a page for each historical event. If it’s for a Maths or Chemistry test, maybe it’s by concept with practice questions and examples.(adobe.com)

1. What is the value of the underlined digit in 3629? (A)6 (B)60 (C)600 (D)6000

2. Which of the following represents a ratio? (A) 2/3 (B)2:3 (C)23% (D)2.3

3. Identify the pie chart

4.How many days are in a decade?

6. 4500m expressed in kilometres is

Fisherman’s head severed as speeding drunk driver kills 2 on pedal cycle

and was left on the northern carriageway.

As a result of the collision, the driver of the motor car lost control and ended up in a trench which is located on the northern side of the said road, approximately fifty yards from the point of impact.

Police said following the accident, the driver exited the vehicle and fled the scene.

It was a chaotic scene on the Essequibo Coast on Tuesday when residents were confronted with the beheaded body of a fisherman and the remains of another Essequibo Coast man following a fatal accident on the Devonshire Public Road, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam).

Dead are Mohan Maniram, 51, a fisherman of Hampton Court, Essequibo Coast, and Zamaan Rafeek, 22, Paradise, Essequibo Coast.

Police said the accident occurred at about 00:50h and involved motor car PAD 831 (black Toyota fielder wagon) owned and driven by a 21-year-old, and the two men who were on a bicycle.

Investigation revealed that motor car PAD 831 was proceeding west on the southern driving lane on Devonshire Castle public road at a fast rate of speed, while pedal cyclists Maniram and Rafeek were

proceeding in the same direction on the southern side of the road.

The driver of the car collided with Maniram and both men ended up in a

The lifeless body of Maniram was fished out of the trench and conveyed to the Suddie Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival and subsequently taken to the mortuary.

Shortly after, the lifeless body of Rafeek was discovered in the same trench on the southern side of Devonshire Castle Public Road, Essequibo Coast, clad in a yellow jersey and long black pants.

Based on information received, Police arrested the driver at about 01:30h on Tuesday and he was escorted to the Anna Regina Police Station and placed into custody. A breathalyser test was conducted on him, and the readings proved that he was above the prescribed limit of alcohol.

eral feet and rested at the corner of the parapet while the car plunged into a nearby trench.

“The head deh about 10ft away from him…we see everything but we couldn’t do anything, till this morning (Tuesday) around 3 o’clock, they move he from there and carry the parlour,” Bissoondai Maniram related.

trench which is located on the southern side of the road.

As a result of the accident, Maniram’s head became detached from his body

Speaking with Guyana Times, Maniram’s sister, Bissoondai Maniram, said that the two men were heading to the seaside to check on their seine, when the accident occurred.

The sister said that after the car collided with the men, Maniram’s head

Meanwhile, the mother of Rafeek, Saleena Shakoor, told this newspaper that her son was the sole breadwinner and was always there to make sure that she received

was left on the roadway while people went searching for his body in the vicinity. They claimed that after Rafeek's body was flung into a nearby trench, the mangled bicycle was hurled sev-

a daily meal.

“My son is the sole breadwinner of my family...he provides everything for me and he usually fish with his friend who also died in the accident to provide and support the family. My son went missing so I went to the Anna Regina Police Station and made a report and they told me my son was involved in an accident and he died and his body was picked up in the trench,” the grieving mother said.

Both families are calling for swift justice for their loved ones.

Dead: Mohan Maniram and Zamaan Rafeek

Rafeek’s body that was recovered from the trench being removed by undertakers

Mohan Maniram’s sister Zamaan Rafeek’s mother

Electrician on $650,000 bail after discharging cousin’s gun in bar

slapped with three charges.

On Tuesday, the 33-yearold man appeared at the Cove and John Magistrate's Court before Magistrate Fabayo Azore, where the charges were read to him, and he pleaded not guilty to all.

The charges read were

1) possession of ammunition without a licence, Contrary to Section 16 (2)(a) of the Firearm Act, Chapter 16:05 (eleven .32 rounds of ammunition); 2) possession of a .32 Taurus without being the holder of a firearm licence;

3) discharging a loaded firearm within 100 yards of public way.

…of corruption

Bhaishnauth

Gurpersaud, the electrician of Belle West, Canal Number Two, West Bank Demerara, who was arrested by Police ranks on Friday at the '626 Bar' at Good Hope, East Coast Demerara (ECD), after he allegedly discharged a loaded firearm, was

On the gun and ammunition possession charges, he was granted $250,000 bail each and for discharging the loaded firearm, he was released on $150,000. The cases were adjourned and will continue on March 20.

Police had reported that on Friday last at about 23:40h, Gurpersaud and his 28-year-

old cousin, a businessman of Bel-Air Village, Georgetown, who is a licenced firearm holder of a Taurus pistol, were at the ‘626 Bar’ consuming alcohol when the electrician, who had his cousin’s firearm in his possession, took out the pistol from his waist and discharged a shot in the air.

Following the incident, the Police were alerted and responded. The firearm along with matching rounds of ammunition were found in the waist of Gurpersaud pants,

Police said. According to Police, after further enquiries, the man claimed that the firearm was given to him by a friend, whom Police later learnt was his 28-year-old cousin that was also drinking with him at the bar.

Both men were escorted to the Vigilance Police Station along with the firearm, ammunition, and spent shell. The area was combed, and one .32 spent shell was recovered.

(G9)

So, here we are again, being graded by an international organisation!! Now, this isn’t something we can just shrug off in this globalised, seamlessly interrelated world into which our oil is propelling us so much faster. Your Eyewitness’s head is spinning with the speed - yeah, in the Exorcist!! This time it was “Transparency International” that rates countries as to how well (or “bad”) they’re doing in the corruption sweepstakes. And your Eyewitness does see it as a sweepstakes when every country is corrupt to one extent or another. The point is, countries have to make it APPEAR that everything is on the up and up. TI allocates a score of zero to 100 based on a score where zero means TOTAL corruption and 100 means floating with the angels!! And even they had their corruption – remember Lucifer?

Cause how’s it that Suriname’s tied with us at a score of 40, when they literally had a drug dealer and a murderer for President – one who remained the power behind every Government for four decades? Not to mention the fella’s on Interpol’s watch list!! So, what are the criteria that TI uses to judge countries?? According to its website, “The data sources used to compile the CPI specifically cover the following manifestations of public sector corruption: Bribery; Diversion of public funds; Officials using their public office for private gain without facing consequences; Ability of governments to contain corruption in the public sector; Excessive red tape in the public sector, which may increase opportunities for corruption; Nepotistic appointments in the civil service; Laws ensuring that public officials must disclose their finances and potential conflicts of interest; Legal protection for people who report cases of bribery and corruption; State capture by narrow vested interests; Access to information on public affairs/ government activities”. Whew!!

Now, how does TI get its data?? It claims that “each country’s score is a combination of at least 3 data sources drawn from 13 different corruption surveys and assessments. These data sources are collected by a variety of reputable institutions, including the World Bank and the World Economic Forum.” We also know it has got a local affiliate with a long-running battle with locals. It seems to have its own axe to grind, and doesn’t step on the toes of its friends in the woke community in which it circulates.

Now, we’re 85th out of 180 countries that were rated – meaning that, for some reason, more than 20 countries slipped off TI’s radar!! This means that, of those countries, according to TI, we’re less corrupt than more than half of them out there!! Not bad, if one considers all the oil money flowing in, and therefore the opportunities must’ve increased exponentially!!Dem a watch we!!

…and bubbles

As we enter the big leagues with our oil finds – and don’t think for a minute they’ll be easing off at our present confirmed 13 billion barrels– we gotta watch out for economic challenges that come with the territory. Remember what Johnson said about the rich being the ones with gout because of their rich diet?? Similar challenges face poor countries suddenly coming into BIG money!!

One of these is the creation of “bubbles” in the economy. That is, in particular areas of economic activity, at various times, there will be feeding frenzies as the nouveau riche smell blood…er, profits…and jump in all at once. So, the old law of supply and demand kicks in and prices in that area reach for the sky. Right now, in Guyana, we can see a bubble developing in the housing sector – even though the Government’s making it so easy for everyone to get a house. The problem – as indicated – is with the speculating moneyed local and foreign folks!!

Until the bubble bursts!!

…historical concessions

After the Dutch PM apologised for Dutch African slavery, one would’ve thought that the local Afro-centric organisations would’ve protested the fella not mentioning Guyana by name.

After all, Berbice, Essequibo and Demerara were some of their largest slave colonies!!

The firearm and ammunition (GPF photo)

Charged: Bhaishnauth Gurpersaud

$1.1B of GuySuCo’s $4B budget for reopening Rose Hall Estate

The Government’s efforts to reopen the Rose Hall Estate will see a whopping $1.1 billion being expended. This sum represents more than 50 per cent of a $2 billion allocation from Budget 2023, under a line-item titled contribution to local corporation, Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

On day two of examining the budget estimates, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha was quizzed about the $2 billion earmarked as contributions to GuySuCo. He explained that of this amount, $1.1 billion has been allocated to Rose Hall Sugar Estate, which the former A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government had closed.

“I have here the disaggregation. One semi mechanical trailer, four fix frame tractor, fertiliser application, boom sprayer, 200 drainage tubes, 260 cane punts. And we could have saved these monies.”

“When they closed the

estates, they left the punt to rot. Now we have to build back those punts… 400 slink chains, five bell loaders. These are the things for Rose Hall,” Minister Mustapha further explained, also pointing out that 75 per cent of work on the Rose Hall factory is completed and almost 3000 hectares of cane is ready for harvesting in the second crop.

Also included in the $1.1 billion is a $539 million al-

location that will go towards completing works in the factory and $50 million on road works in the surrounding area. According to the Minister, $452 million has been allocated to Albion Estate and $300 million to start construction on the packaging plant, $287 million for Blairmont and $56 million for Uitvlugt Estate.

Mustapha further emphasised that the Government will return GuySuCo to profitability. He noted that GuySuCo was much more profitable in 2015, when they first left office. That is until the APNU/ AFC entered office.

“The honourable member is talking about profit. GuySuCo will become profitable again. We have to work. They ran down GuySuCo. I mentioned it, that when we came out of Government in 2015, GuySuCo was producing 231,000 metric tonnes of sugar. And in 2019, GuySuCo gone down to 91,000 metric tonnes. So that’s the point they took GuySuCo,” the Minister said, even as the Opposition

heckled.

In response to questions from APNU Member of Parliament Vinceroy Jordan, Minister Mustapha also revealed that the Government is making and will continue to make changes at the managerial level at GuySuCo.

“This is one of the plans, as I said, and when you have plans you have to contin-

ue to update plans. And one of the plans is to ensure we have packaged sugar. The management of GuySuCo, yes.”

“We are looking... we’ve made changes recently and we will continue. We’ve moved managers, we’ve replaced managers and we’ll continue to do that. That’s a work in progress. And we’ll continue to bring new man-

agers into the system, with new ideas,” Mustapha also said.

In his budget presentation, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh had made a number of predictions for the year. These include predicting that real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will grow by 25.1 per cent in 2023, as oil production increases.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha

…$452M for Albion Estate, $300M for packaging plant

…$287M for Blairmont, $56M for Uitvlugt

The Rose Hall factory

Police’s ability to handle vulnerable groups lifted with $73M US-funded project

Emphasising that unprofessionalism damages the administration of the Guyana Police Force and service to the people, a US-funded $73 million project has been launched to enhance response to vulnerable populations.

The United States Embassy on Tuesday hosted the launch of the Strengthening Guyana Police Force Training to Improve Responses to Vulnerable Populations project, implemented by the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF).

US Ambassador SarahAnn Lynch explained that the US$369,000 project enhances domestic and regional security through transparent delivery of inclusive services.

“The United States’ commitment to security assistance and human rights in Guyana is a key pillar of our

foreign policy through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative. CBSI is a shared regional security partnership, the United States has invested nearly $1 billion in Caribbean security since 2010. Through CBSI, the United States provides

training and capacity building to help Guyana as law enforcement maintain the highest levels of professionalism,” Ambassador Lynch underscored.

Over the years, Guyanese law enforcement officers have benefitted from train-

ing at the International Law Enforcement Academy, gaining exposure to new policing skills. She noted that Public Servants have returned to immediately implement these practices in their communities.

The aim is to decrease dangerous encounters with vulnerable groups, such as youth, women, as well as migrants; and improve the GPS’ ability to interact with these groups.

“There’s always more to be done, as we know; and security professionals in every country in the world will tell you that citizen security is a priority that needs constant attention, but it’s also a chal-

lenge that is certainly not unique to go on or anywhere else. This project is one way we are working to support Guyana’s efforts to successfully handle new challenges, just as police forces in the United States are wrestling with similar issues and updating their own training,” the diplomat stated.

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn expressed that the Police Force still subsumes under the operation of a colonial one, citing a need for more empathy and tactics to support the country’s developmental trajectory.

“The question of violence against women - domestic violence; question of children, trafficking and courses and so on, are issues which impact most the most vulnerable persons. They are most impacted either as victims, but also those perpetrators, because sometimes they feed off of each other in terms of relationships and the dynamics in the communities.

“We have our oil and gas development. We have new challenges in transnational crimes, drugs, guns, trafficking in persons, smuggling, and all other things which people are aware of, but we still have a great deal of poverty to overcome. The only

way we can assure peace in our country is to have law enforcement and other related agencies to up their game,” Benn expressed.

Misconduct, unprofessionalism

He reminded that when there are cases of misconduct or unprofessionalism, the Force is significantly affected in the delivery of justice.

“There are mostly good Police, but the problem is when there is misbehaviour, recklessness, unprofessional conduct, it hurts everyone and it hurts the development of the Police administration and quality of service to the people.”

The Minister expressed that Amerindians live the most precarious lives in Guyana, where vulnerability in relation to crime and development are experiences. However, when law enforcement engages from the coastland, there is a disconnect. As a result, 300 Indigenous persons graduated a few days ago, and will be integrated into the Force.

Deputy Commissioner Calvin Brutus stated that the Guyana Police Force is guided by legislation, standing orders, standard operation procedures, and the overarching direction of their Strategic Plan.

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn, Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch, and Deputy Commissioner Calvin Brutus with other officials at the launch

New plague of ‘disorderly’ crime needs more attention – Benn

Serious crimes in Guyana have been on the decline for the past two years, but Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn has underscored the need to tackle the new plague of disorderly crime.

At an event on Tuesday, the Minister stated that much work is needed to understand the approaches in tackling crime. In recent time, there have been reported cases in which disorder escalated to criminal matters, and persons were charged.

“Much of our crime is disorderly crime, and so there are many approaches we have to take to the problem of crime in Guyana. We have to do better work ourselves as Guyanese to understand who we are; where we go offtrack; where we go ballistic; and what are the best options and changes we have to make to avoid situations,” the Minister expressed.

To this end, he shared that efforts should be geared at creating better models for youths to follow, and decrease the types of street ac-

tivities currently witnessed.

“We want to bring in more penalties. Some of the issues which we see on the streets these days would suggest we have a young population that is reckless. Sometimes adults are not the best examples to our youths, so we have to hand over a new situation and new examples to the next generation,” he explained.

The Minister also pointed towards handling criminal matters differently, through avenues like the Community Policing Groups.

“We are putting quite a large bit of money this year in the Community Policing Groups; over $100 million. We would like the Community Policing Groups, which have expanded to over 7,000 members, to

be the eyes and ears to the Police Force, and to have sufficient skills to engage in such a way that would not bring harm to anyone,” he told stakeholders.

During his budget debate last week, Benn stated that as part of the Government’s efforts to improve public trust in local law enforcement agencies, active efforts are being undertaken to ensure that engagements between Police and citizens are less lethal.

The Government’s policies and programmes have seen a 20.6 per cent reduction overall in serious crimes between 2015 and 2022. In fact, in recognition of good policing coupled with professional, well-trained officers being critical to promoting order, safety, and a welcoming environment, some $140 million has been allocated in Budget 2023 to improve the capacities of about 3000 security personnel, which would result in heightened public confidence and support of local law enforcement institutions. (G12)

“I does use it to hunt on the farm” – man with illegal gun to Police

The shotgun that was found at Naamless, EBE

A40-year-old farmer, who hails from the East Bank of Essequibo (EBE), was arrested by Police on Monday during a raid operation after he was nabbed with a suspected shotgun and cartridges.

It was reported that a team of Police ranks from Regional Division Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), spearheaded by an Assistant Superintendent, conducted the raid on Monday between 12:00h and 13:00h at Naamless, EBE.

During the search, it was reported that one of the ranks observed a black and

cream haversack, hanging on a nail under the farmer’s house. The bag was retrieved and searched in the presence of the farmer, and inside the bag was a brown handled shotgun along with five cartridges.

He was asked if he is a licensed firearm holder but he replied saying “No”.

He was immediately arrested and in response replied, saying: “Is my thing, I does use it to hunt on the farm.”

The farmer was escorted to Parika Police Station, along with the firearm and cartridges and remains in custody pending charges.

(G9)

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn

Budget estimates $18.2M upgrade to Arthur Chung Centre in light of infamous Mace grab

erators, leaf blower, transmitter, tracking cameras, dining tables and a vacuum pump,” Walrond explained.

Back in December 2021, a number of Opposition

Members of Parliament (MPs) grabbed the Mace, and struggled with the Speaker and Parliament staff for possession of the Mace. This occurred as they tried to disrupt the sitting of the National Assembly on December 29, 2021 during their protest against readings of the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) Bill.

In December 2021, proceedings in the Arthur Chung Conference Center (ACCC) descended into chaos when Opposition Members of Parliament grabbed the Speaker’s Mace, resulting in its damage. In light of this incident, a sum of $18.2 million has been set aside in Budget 2023 to make upgrades to the facility – which is now accommodating the sittings of the National Assembly.

During Tuesday, day two of examination of the

budget estimates, Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Oneidge Walrond was asked about upgrades to the ACCC. Walrond explained that the $18.2 million for upgrades is necessary because of the infamous ‘Mace grab’ of 2021.

“In the context of the recent assault on the Arthur Chung Conference Center, Mr. Chairman, certainly the video camera footage… more security cameras to be installed, flag poles, more computers, receivers, refrig-

While they were able to remove the Mace, a replica Mace was brought out and used to ensure the passage of the bill. MPs also made their way into the audio and video control rooms of Parliament and in the process destroyed equipment.

Following investigations, the Parliamentary Committee of Privileges delivered its report, recommending the suspension of the MPs involved for violating Standing Orders and established customs

and practices regarding acceptable behaviour of Parliamentarians.

The Committee of Privileges was tasked with considering a Privilege Motion which stated that the Opposition Members, in attempting to prevent the second and third readings of the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) Bill, had conducted themselves in a gross, disorderly, contumacious, and disrespectful manner, and had repeatedly ignored the authority of the National Assembly and that of the Speaker, thereby committing contempt and breaches of privileges.

In the wake of this, Opposition Chief Whip Christopher Jones, Ganesh Mahipaul, Sherod Duncan, Natasha Singh-Lewis, Annette Ferguson, Vinceroy Jordan, Tabitha SaraboHalley and Maureen Philadelphia were, in July of last year, officially suspend-

ed without pay for breaching the National Assembly’s Standing Orders by participating in the infamous grabbing of the Speaker’s Mace -the most significant symbol in the National Assembly. They have since resumed their seats in the National Assembly.

Two weeks ago, the court ruled against their application to overturn their suspensions. Justice Damone Younge, in her ruling, sided with the respondents’ arguments that the internal affairs and procedures of the National Assembly, including the discipline of its members, are not justiciable by any court. She therefore held that the High Court had no jurisdiction to hear the MPs’ case.

Citing a plethora of cases from the Commonwealth, the High Court Judge said that when it comes to the internal operations of the National Assembly, that

body is vested with exclusive control over the management of its proceedings, subject only to the Constitution.

According to her, the powers exercisable under the Standing Orders of the National Assembly are not subject to the provisions of the Constitution, having to do with the protection of the fundamental rights and freedoms of an individual.

Further, Justice Younge added that the Constitution does not make provisions for the fundamental rights provisions to be applicable to proceedings in the National Assembly. She said she is also inclined to the view that the MPs, having taken an oath of office, are bound by, and subject to, the rules governing the operation of the National Assembly, made pursuant to Article 165 (1) of the Constitution and in its Standing Orders, including those relating to the discipline of its members. (G3)

Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Oneidge Walrond

A scene from the infamous Mace grab of December 2021

GOAL online application opens for graduate programmes

The online application portal for Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) 2023 graduate programmes is now open, offering over 60 programmes from 12 institutions locally and internationally.

GOAL recently collaborated with two new institutions which were added to its pool of partners: the University of Petroleum and Energy Studies; and India and Michael University, Bahamas.

Some new postgraduate programmes available in 2023 include postgraduate diplomas (PGDs) in Power Management, Renewable Energy, and Solid Waste Management. Similarly, new Masters programmes include Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, Infrastructure Management, National Security and Intelligence Studies, and Digital Innovation and Intrapreneurship.

“We encourage potential applicants to follow the instructions carefully when

completing the online application form. It is important to submit only the documents requested, and ensure they are scanned with clarity before being uploaded to the online portal,” a statement shared on Tuesday detailed.

Prospective applicants are also advised to review their applications before submitting, and pay keen attention to the requisite academic qualifications for the programme they are applying for.

Essential documents required for the application process are: recent passport-size photograph; National ID Card or biodata

page of passport; copy of the bachelor’s degree certificate from a recognised university; a transcript from a recognised university; and updated curriculum vitae (CV) with details of work experience. The CV should include two references with their names, email addresses and contact telephone numbers.

“All academic certificates and documents should be certified by a registered/ accredited Justice of Peace or Commissioner of Oaths. Certificates/documents not certified will be deemed invalid.”

To register and apply, applicants can go to: www. goal.edu.gy and click on the

Police’s ability to handle...

However, he noted that there is a need for inclusion of programmes for contemporary law enforcement duties. Some of the groups which need attention include the LGBTQ community; Indigenous people; women; children; persons with mental health issues, among others.

Brutus detailed, “We

looked at the training curriculum used for many decades and came to the realisation that there is much need for a revision and programmes that touch on contemporary law enforcement duties, emotional intelligence, handling and treating with vulnerable groups, which were not getting the priority as it should.”

FROM PAGE 10

To begin the project, PADF will work with the GPF in reviewing current training and standing orders specifically for vulnerable populations, and analyze standards and procedures regarding the use and response to violent and nonviolent crimes, de-escalation tactics, tactics to deal specifically in Guyanese communities.

APPLY button. The online portal closes at midnight on Wednesday, February 22, 2023.

As at December 2022, over 7,000 GOAL scholarships were awarded to citizens. GOAL ushers in a new era of higher tertiary education. It plays a significant

role in mitigating the challenges facing persons living in remote and riverine areas.

Government is on track to fulfil its commitment of delivering 20,000 online scholarships in just over two years, with a budgetary allocation of $1.8 billion

in Budget 2023. It is significantly higher than the $1.3 billion that was allocated in budget 2022. This is a collaboration between the Education and Public Service Ministries to build human capacity to advance and sustain the ongoing transformation. (G12)

Ramsammy’s Ruminations

T

3 months’ jail, $30,000 fine for man caught with ganja, Molly

But, in particular, recognition is given to one particular young woman professional. She is blazing a new path for the Guyana Learning Channel (GLC), leading the GLC for just over two years now, with distinction. This young woman is an example of how the new Guyana is being driven by the increasing number of young women professionals, who are paving pathways for both young women and men to play roles in the development path of our country. Young Anisa Mohamed is one of those young professional women.

In Budget 2023 debate, Opposition MPs could not present a cogent counter to the Government’s proposals in Budget 2023. Not that we expected them to, in any case. Still, we expected that they would not descend into their usual insults and demonisation of people. But then we might have expected too much. One of the senior MPs from the Opposition, a former senior minister in the disastrous APNU/AFC Government, Cathy Hughes, in fact simply went too far. Demonising persons - especially young professionals, and particularly young women professionals - must be unequivocally rejected by all decent Guyanese. We just cannot allow the baseless attacks on young professionals by giving persons who are paid as MPs a pass for insulting young professionals, especially when these professionals are not present to defend themselves.

Ms. Hughes decided to bring up in Parliament the name of Anisa Mohamed, who has nothing to do with Budget 2023. This is a young woman professional who has committed her life to work for her country, who has not done anything to wrong people like Cathy Hughes. Her only “fault” is she chose to work with the PPP Government. In no way the name of Anisa Mohamed belonged in the debate. But for Ms. Hughes, Anisha Mohamed has no right to work with the Government she supports. Because she worked alongside the PPP before the elections, for Ms. Hughes, that alone was reason she was not eligible for any job. It is, of course, in the DNA of the political party Ms. Hughes associates with and defends, even as that party brazenly tried to steal an entire election in the plain view of the whole world.

Ms. Hughes’s attack was not just a brazen attack, it was cowardly and despicable. Ms. Hughes knows nothing about Anisa Mohamed. All she knows is that Ms. Mohamed was one of thousands of young people who decided they had had enough of David Granger and APNU/AFC (PNC), including the likes of Cathy Hughes. In the absence of any credible reason for attacking Budget 2023, Ms. Hughes decided to focus her Budget 2023 debate presentation on attacking young Guyanese women. Anisha was one of the young women she odiously attacked.

With nothing of substance to criticise Budget 2023, Ms. Hughes decided she would insult and deride Ms. Mohamed by insinuating that the only reason she got the job as head of the GLC was that she was a relative of Minister Priya Manickchand. There is no reason or clue for anyone to come to a conclusion that the only reason Ms. Mohamed got her job at the GLC is because she is related to Minister Priya Manickchand. Nothing exists that would make anyone believe that there is any blood relationship between Minister Manickchand and Ms. Mohamed. It was a sheer wicked invention. There is an “l” word that editors tell us not to use. The Speaker of the National Assembly has banned its use in Parliament, but I have no apologies to make for saying it bluntly – the MP who made the remarks in Parliament deliberately lied.

Ms. Mohamed is an example of the young generation of women who have stepped forward to play a role in the development of Guyana. I have seen her commitment and dedication to what she does, including a remarkable stint so far at the GLC. I know for sure that her accomplishments at the GLC in every way whatsoever far exceed the total accomplishments of those who ran the GLC under the APNU/AFC tenure. The GLC reaches thousands more today than it reached in August 2020. In fact, there is no evidence that the reach improved between 2015 and 2020. But the content of the Guyana Learning Channel has been revolutionised since August 2020.

In retrospect, I hope Ms. Hughes has the decency to recognise that her attack was unwarranted, and that she needs to apologise. Ms. Hughes has allowed the DNA of the PNC to contaminate her own family’s sterling DNA. It is time that she takes a step back and recognise that, in Ms. Anisa Mohamed, Guyana has a role model for young women to lead Guyana into a new era; an era of progress and prosperity; an era wherein Guyana is the model for other countries. No entity with the likes of an Anisa Mohamed would go wrong. We are privileged we have the likes of Ms. Mohamed carrying our flag.

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

here is a growing number of incredible young women professionals who are playing a vital and leading role in defining the new, exciting Guyana. Within the last two weeks, the first ever womenonly surgical team began their work at the GPHC. It is an incredible moment for our country. We congratulate the young Guyanese women, mostly from ordinary families, who represent Guyana’s first ever all-women surgical team. This is also the first ever in Caricom, and might even be among the very first in the world.Charged: Durant Fredericks

D

The 46-year-old was on Tuesday slapped with two counts of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking and appeared at Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court.

When the charges were read to him by Magistrate Ruschelle Liverpool, Fredericks pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment. He was also fined $30,000.

Police had reported

Growth in the non-oil economy is meanwhile projected to reach 7.9 per cent this year, driven by continued expansion in construction, other crops, and wholesale and retail trade and repairs, alongside a rebound in gold mining.

Major developments are expected in the sugar sector, including higher performance from existing estates and production from the reopened Rose Hall Estate. An output of almost 61,000 tonnes of sugar and the growth of the subsector by 29.3 per cent, are expected in 2023.

After taking office in 2020, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government had also announced in the Emergency Budget presented in September 2020, that some $5 billion would be injected into the sugar industry for the phased reopening of the closed estates.

GuySuCo was allocated a further $2 billion in Budget 2021 by the PPP/C Government for capital works to be undertaken at the various estates to help in the turnaround of the sugar industry. Last year GuySuCo received $1 billion in supplementary funds from the Government.

And in Budget 2023,

The illegal drugs that were found in Fredericks’s possession

urant Fredericks, an unemployed resident of Block 8 Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was on Tuesday jailed for three months after he admitted to possession of marijuana and molly.that ranks were on mobile patrol at about 22:45h on Saturday and while in the vicinity of Republic Drive, Beterverwagting, Fredericks was observed riding a pedal cycle heading south. He was wearing a one-strap camouflage bag around his neck and acting suspiciously, Police said. Reports are that he parked his bicycle at a corner shop on the eastern side of the road and began to walk away. As a result, the ranks exited the vehicle. They searched the suspect, and a black pouch within the said bag was examined, where 34 ziplock plastic bags were discovered, each containing leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis.

A further search was conducted and seven transparent plastic bags con-

$4 billion was allocated. According to Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh in his budget speech, the

taining several crystal-like substances suspected to be Methamphetamine/Molly were found.

He was arrested and escorted to the Beterverwagting Police Station with the canna-

bis and Molly, which were weighed and photographed in his presence.

The cannabis amounted to 16.66 grams, while the suspected Molly amounted to 1.5 grams. (G9)

FROM PAGE 9

diversified and modernised sector, ensuring its sustainability and economic viability. (G3)

MP Hughes’s attack on young woman proves Opposition has no respect for women

$1.1B of GuySuCo’s $4B...

“Go after it!” – Black Panther star to students on chasing their dreams

…to be conferred with honorary doctorate from UG today

Guyana-born British actress Letitia Wright on Tuesday engaged students from various schools across the country where she spoke about the struggles she has faced in her journey to success as she encouraged the starstruck audience of young people to never give up on their dreams.

Wright, famously known for her role in the Black Panther movie franchise, returned to her homeland on Friday night.

On Tuesday, she attended a special programme in her honour hosted at the Queen’s College auditorium where she witnessed a cultural programme and interacted with students from over 40 secondary schools countrywide.

Prior to her visit at Queen’s College, she visited Patentia Primary School, West Bank Demerara.

In delivering remarks to the crowd, Wright reminded that it is important for young people to never feel inadequate.

“God made us all equal and with the opportunity to thrive,” she expressed.

“Whatever it is you wanna do…go after it…put 110% into it!”

Wright revealed that she faced several hurdles in her journey to success, with many people telling her that she could never make it. In

this regard, she reminded the youths that anything is possible with hard work.

“I just want to encourage anyone that feels unseen, not heard, not loved

“I am the daughter of this soil, I am Guyanese, I am so proud to be Guyanese,” Wright told the crowd.

Wright is on a visit to Guyana at the invitation of

Development and on Sunday the majestic Kaieteur Falls. She was also taken on a tour of the city and had several engagements with drama and production groups in

…I wanna encourage any child here that just wished someone would see them… you are wonderfully made, you have purpose in this life, I want to encourage you as you journey through life, it’s not going to be easy.”

“Keep chasing after your dreams.”

Wright was born in Guyana and migrated to the United Kingdom at the age of eight.

President Dr Irfaan Ali.

On Friday last, Tourism Minister Oneidge Walrond and First Lady Arya Ali also welcomed Wright at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, calling her an inspiration for children in Guyana to follow their dreams.

On Saturday, she visited the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and

the country.

Today she is expected to receive the key to the city from the Mayor of Georgetown, and also be conferred with an honorary doctorate from the University of Guyana.

Back in November, President Irfaan Ali had congratulated Wright on

the success of Wakanda Forever, the sequel of Black Panther, and had extended an invitation for her to visit her homeland.

Wright co-starred in the 2018 film Black Panther, playing the role of Shuri, King T’Challa’s sister and princess of Wakanda.

She reprised the role in Avengers: Infinity War, which was released two months later.

Wright then returned as Shuri for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which depicts Shuri becoming the new Black Panther following the death of T’Challa. This film marked her first leading role.

Wright had also appeared alongside Donald Glover and Rihanna in Guava Island, a short musical film released by Amazon Studios.

Students of Patentia Primary School welcome actress Letitia Wright

Wife killer jailed for 25 years

Brazil readies task force to expel miners from Yanomami lands, officials say

Brazil is preparing a task force of armed forces, Police and Government agencies to expel illegal gold miners who invaded the Yanomami Indigenous reservation, officials said on Tuesday.

More than 20,000 wildcat miners are blamed for bringing disease, violence and hunger that have caused a humanitarian crisis for isolated Yanomami villages on Brazil’s largest Indigenous reservation, on the border with Venezuela.

Defence Minister Jose Mucio said the military was needed to drive out the miners, who were well armed and had helicopters.

Wife killer Suraj

Veersammy has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for the 2020 murder of his wife, Devika Narinedatt. The sentence was handed down on Tuesday by Berbice High Court Judge Navindra Singh.

The 34-year-old killer had initially been indicted for the capital offence of murder, but during his arraignment, he opted to plead guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter.

He unlawfully killed 24-year-old Narinedatt, called “Vanessa”, on April 9, 2020.

In April 2020, the partially decomposed body of the woman was discovered in a barrel floating in a trench at Belvedere, Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

After interrogation, Veersammy told detectives that the woman had threatened to end their relationship, and this had angered him and he had retaliated. Veersammy hanged the young woman, and then stuffed her body into the

barrel. State Persecutor Latchmie Rahamat, in pointing out the prevalence of the offence, called on the court to impose a sentence which reflects the nature and prevalence of the offence.

Veersammy told the court that he was sorry.

Justice Singh said he would receive a 30-year sentence, but deducted 10 years for the fact that he did not waste the court’s time and offered a plea to the lesser offence of manslaughter. Additionally, three years were taken off of the sentence representing the time Veersammy had spent in incarceration awaiting trial.

However, Justice Singh added five more years for the fact that it was as a result of a domestic issue. He said people should learn to walk away. A further three years were added to the sentence for the fact that Veersammy had been a repeat offender, as he was sentenced four times prior for simple larceny and robbery under arms.

He will be eligible for payroll in 20 years. (G4)

“We will soon confront them. We need to root out this evil,” Mucio said in an interview with Band TV.

With Army troops on the ground, the Navy will patrol rivers and confiscate miners’ boats and dredges while the air force will control the airspace and force suspi-

During their trial, Special Prosecutor, Attorney-atLaw Rahamat, and State Prosecutor Nafeeza Baig called to testify Doronodeo Persaud, called “Archie Boy”, and Deonarine Goberdan, called “Tatar”, both fishermen and survivors of the piracy attack. Three survivors recounted that Goberdan was the captain of Romina SK 764 while Doronodeo Persaud was a crew member of Joshua SK 1418. The survivors recounted the harrowing ordeal of seeing their fellow fishermen being beaten, chopped up, tied to weights, and then thrown into the Atlantic Ocean.

Goberdan and Doronodeo Persaud recalled that

cious planes to land, he said.

Joenia Wapichana, who in a few days will become the first Indigenous person to head the Government’s Indigenous affairs agency, Funai, said President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has pledged to end illegal mining on protected reservation

Premnauth Persaud, whom they had known prior to this incident, was among the pirates who attacked a group of Guyanese fishermen. The pirates wore no face coverings.

Alexander Denheart, called “Shame Face”, an eyewitness, testified that the piracy attack was in retaliation for the execution-style killing of Somnath Manohar, Nakool Manohar’s brother. Somnath Manohar was gunned down on March 30, 2018 (Good Friday) in Suriname during a driveby shooting. Denheart said that as Nakool Manohar lit the fire to burn his brother’s body, he instructed him and others that they must “go

lands.

Speaking to Journalists on the Amazon-based journalism platform Sumaúma, Wapichana said she could not give details of the imminent operation in order to not alert the miners who have invaded the Yanomami territory.

FROM PAGE 2

and kill out all the Guyanese fishermen like how they killed out his brother.”

According to him, Nakool Manohar ordered them to “make the sea red”, while warning them that if they did not do what he asked, Premnauth Persaud would kill them.

He testified that he did not want to kill anyone, so he contacted his sister, who sent money for him to return to Guyana from Suriname via the ‘backtrack’ route.

Aside from these five fishermen, 15 others are still missing and are considered dead. The badly decomposed remains of the fishermen were discovered in Surinamese waters, and

“We have to let the Police forces organise the operation in secret; the message from President Lula is that it will happen soon and cannot delay long,” she said.

Wapichana said the task force, as in past offensives against illegal miners, will involve the Federal Police, environmental protection agency Ibama, Funai and several Ministries, as well as the military.

The miners have polluted waters with mercury used to separate metal from ore and earth. They fly supply planes to clandestine airstrips in the jungle and use the rivers to take heavier machinery and fuel to their prospects, which are muddy ponds where they dredge for gold in forest clearings.

Medical studies show that the mercury used by the miners has killed the fish and contaminated the water that the Yanomami rely on.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Police had to rely on DNA testing to properly identify the corpses.

Nakool Manohar was represented by Senior Counsel Mursaline Bacchus, while Premnauth Persaud was represented by Attorney-atLaw Horatio Edmondson.

In a statement after the judge’s sentencing, Director of Public Prosecution, Shalimar Ali Hack, said, “The rule of law prevailed in the trial and sentence in this case. Justice has been done to the fisherfolks who lost their lives in a most inhumane and gruesome manner, and to their families, who lost their loved ones while pursuing an honest living.” (G4)

Jailed: Suraj Veersammy Dead: Devika Narinedatt

"It will be a reckless act...

Indigenous leader Joenia Wapichana

Brazil's Lula says working for economic stability

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said on Tuesday he strongly supports "economic stability" and wishes for both fiscal and social responsibility during his term, while also pledging to work towards clean energy alternatives.

Investors fear Brazil may face a spending wave under the leftist leader, with his economic team currently working on a new fiscal framework to replace the constitutional spending cap.

Meanwhile, Brazil's net creation of formal jobs fell 26.6 per cent in 2022 from the previous year, Labour Ministry figures showed on Tuesday, but it still showed a strongly positive result on the back of the post-pandemic recovery.

Brazil added a net 2.038 million formal jobs in 2022, down from 2.777 million in 2021, according to the Government adjusted series.

The services sector again boosted the result, with 1.177 million jobs created last year. There were job openings in the remaining four sectors covered by the Labour Ministry: retail (+350,110), industry (+251,868), construction

Americas rights body calls for stronger reproductive protections

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) on Wednesday called for countries in the Americas to reinforce protections for women and girls seeking abortions, after observing measures that "go backwards" last year.

"Both material and formal measures were observed that go backwards in the guarantee of reproductive rights free of all forms of violence and discrimination," the IACHR said in a statement.

El Salvador "stood out", it said, for 30 and 50-year sentences for homicide imposed on two women last year, despite rights activists saying they suffered miscarriages.

The small Central American country, which has some of the world's harshest anti-abortion laws, bans all terminations even if the pregnancy poses a risk to the woman's life or results from rape or incest.

Even in countries where abortion is partially legal, the IACHR said girls and teens who became pregnant as a result of rape or incest faced difficulties accessing healthcare.

In Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Panama, medical and legal professionals helping provide access to abortions permitted under national laws faced threats of legal action, according to the IACHR.

(+194,444) and farming (+65,062).

In December, which traditionally records negative prints, the country closed 431,011 formal jobs, above the expectation of closing 371,500 jobs according to a Reuters poll. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Jamaica willing to send security forces to Haiti, says Holness

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says Jamaica stands ready to send members of the security forces to Haiti as part of an international effort aimed at restoring stability to the violence-torn French-speaking Caribbean nation.

Holness gave the commitment during a ministerial statement in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

“Jamaica will be willing to participate in a multinational security assistance deployment to Haiti under the appropriate jurisdictional parameters to support a return to a reasonable level of stability and peace, which would be necessary for any inclusive democratic process to take root,” shared Holness.

“Both the JDF (Jamaica Defence Force) and the JCF (Jamaica Constabulary

Force) have been alerted to this possible course of support and they would have started to plan for such eventualities as part of their routine situational awareness and response readiness,” the Prime Minister added.

He told the House that the Jamaican Government and Jamaicans were “deeply concerned about the hu-

manitarian and security crises being experienced by Haitians”.

He also noted that “the people of Haiti continue to have their human rights threatened by powerful gangs and militias which perpetrate heinous crimes, including killings, kidnappings, and acts of violence against women and children”. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

While many US states protect access to abortion, the body highlighted the overturning of the landmark Roe v Wade ruling, which for close to half a century established a constitutional right to abortion.

The IACHR praised Colombia's decriminalisation of abortion through 24 weeks of gestation last February, as well as moves by Mexican states, including southern Quintana Roo, to allow abortion within a set number of weeks.

Quintana Roo state borders Guatemala, which has hardened punishments for women who abort to up to 25 years in jail. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Persad-Bissessar

calls for ex-AG and current AG to be fired

Trinidad and Tobago

Opposition Leader

Kamla PersadBissessar has called on Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley to axe Attorney General Reginald Armour, SC, and former AG and current Rural Development and Local Government Minister Faris Al-Rawi.

She is calling for their firings for the State's failure to put in a defence against the malicious prosecution claim of nine men who were eventually ordered to be compensated, collectively in the sum of over TT$20 million after being acquitted of the murder of businesswoman Vindra Naipaul-Coolman.

Shervon Peters, Devon Peters, Anthony Gloster, Joel Fraser, Ronald Armstrong, Keida Garcia, Jameel Garcia, Marlon Trimmingham, and Antonio Charles were among 12 men who went on trial for Naipaul-Coolman’s murder.

On Monday, High Court Master Martha Alexander awarded each person TT$2.1 million in damages for malicious prosecution. She also ordered TT$200,917.56 for exem-

plary damages and the cost of an expert witness of TT$68,000.

Additional interest will be added to the damages for each man, at a rate of 2.5 per cent, from May 29, 2020, to January 30, 2023.

In a release issued on Tuesday afternoon, PersadBissessar asked why didn’t the former AG (Al-Rawi) and current AG Armour defend the State against the claim of malicious prosecution; and why did they fail to file any evidence to oppose what turned out to be

TT$20 million-plus assessment of damages, even after the claim had been filed eight months ago.

She asked, “Were AlRawi and Armour asleep at the wheel for eight months?”

She called for a thorough review to determine whether Al-Rawi had an “incompetent and negligent approach to this matter,” and if, “he acted deliberately or recklessly in the discharge of his duties.”

(Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

T&T taekwondo coach killed in front of dojo

Police investigating the killing of 38-year-old Siobhan Rogers say they have no clear motive for her murder.

However, one theory is that she may have been killed because of a recent business she started. According to that theory, Rogers was “stepping on some toes”.

Rogers was seated in the front seat of her part-

ner’s car, near his business, Edson Breedy Taekwondo, at Abercromby Street, Maracas, St Joseph, on Monday, about 20:45h.

Rogers worked as a lab director at Apex Diagnostics, located at First Flats, Maracas, St Joseph.

According to a police report, Rogers’ partner, 35, a doctor, told police he was securing his business when an AD station wagon pulled

up and a man with a black bandanna over his face approached the vehicle – a Corolla – in which Rogers was seated and opened fire on her.

Rogers’ partner said he ran away when the shots were fired and returned shortly after to find her slumped over in the front passenger seat.

He then jumped into his vehicle and drove to the Eric

Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope, to seek medical attention for her. She was examined but later pronounced dead at about 21:13h.

Police processed the scene and recovered two spent 40-calibre rounds and one live 40-calibre round.

Guardian Media understands that at the time of the shooting, officers of the Professional Standards

Bureau were in the yard of the St Joseph Police Station and heard the gunshots. A message was immediately sent out to their colleagues.

Rogers was described by close friends and family as “one of the sweetest and most genuine souls”.

One woman wrote on social media that Rogers was her daughter’s Taekwondo coach and called for justice, saying, “This is my daugh-

ter’s TWD coach who she absolutely adores, and the coach of many other children. What a senseless, cowardly act. How do you explain to a five-year-old that she has no class today because someone murdered her coach right in front of their dojang. This place has descended into hell, totally gone through, and we eh riot yet.”

(Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva holds a joint news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (not pictured) at the Planalto Palace, in Brasilia, Brazil, January 30, 2023 (Reuters/ Ueslei Marcelino)

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar

Police patrol Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Tuesday, January 31, 2023, after the funeral for three officers who were killed in the line of duty. The officers were killed in an ambush by gang members in the capital on January 20 (AP photo)

Oil prices settle steady on higher US demand, weaker dollar

Oil prices closed steady on Tuesday after recovering from a near three-week low, drawing support from a weakening dollar and on data showing that demand for US crude and petroleum products rose in November.

The more active second-month Brent contract settled at US$85.46 a barrel, up 96 cents or 1%, while the US West Texas Intermediate crude futures settled at US$78.87 a barrel, up 97 cents or 1.3%.

More volatility on the day of expiration kept the frontmonth contract under pressure as traders closed positions, said Mizuho analyst Robert Yawger. The front-month contract settled at US$84.49 a barrel, down 41 cents.

During the session, front-month Brent and WTI futures touched their lowest in almost three weeks as traders worried about prospects for further interest rate increases and abundant flows of Russian crude.

The Brent April futures and US front-month WTI gained after the US Energy Information Administration reported that demand for US crude and petroleum products rose 178,000 barrels per day (bpd) in November to 20.59 million bpd, the highest since August.

Crude benchmarks were also supported by a weaker US dollar, UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said. This makes dollardenominated crude cheaper for foreign buyers.

The dollar index turned negative after US data showed labour costs increased at their slowest pace in a year in the fourth quarter as wage growth slowed, bolstering expectations of the Fed slowing its interest rate increases.

Investors expect the Fed to raise rates by 25 basis points today, with increases of half a percentage point by the Bank of England and European Central Bank the following day.

An OPEC panel is likely to recommend keeping the group's output policy unchanged when it meets today, delegates told Reuters on Monday.

However, Tuesday's weakness in front-month Brent prices may cause concern in the group, Yawger said. This widened the contango in the market, which occurs when futures prices show a commodity's price is expected to be much higher in the future.

A Reuters survey shows 49 economists and analysts expect Brent crude to average more than US$90 a barrel this year, the first upward revision since a poll in October, with gains likely driven by demand from top consumer China. (Excerpt from Reuters)

1 million barrels in the week to Jan 27, a preliminary Reuters poll showed, while gasoline inventories were expected to have gone up. (Reuters)

Huge crowds march across France, raising pressure against Macron's pension reform

Hugecrowds marched across France on Tuesday to say "non" to President Emmanuel Macron's plan to make people work longer before retirement, with pressure in the streets intensifying against a government that says it will stand its ground.

Opinion polls show a substantial majority of the French oppose increasing the retirement age to 64 from 62, a move Macron says is "vital" to ensuring the viability of the pension system.

The French Interior Ministry said that a total of 1.272 million people took part in the protests nationwide, up slightly from the first nationwide demonstration on Jan 19. In Paris, a total of 87,000 people marched, compared to 80,000 on Jan 19, it added.

Union leaders at a joint news conference at the end

Around the World

Russia claims village on outskirts of Bakhmut in big push in east

Russia claimed on Tuesday to have captured a village just to the north of Bakhmut, a city it is trying to surround in a major push for what would be its biggest battlefield prize in Ukraine since last summer.

A Belarusian volunteer fighting for Ukraine told Reuters from inside Bakhmut that Russia was shelling the city constantly and its troops were trying to encircle it. Fighting was under way building by building, the volunteer said.

There was no immediate response from Kyiv to Moscow's claim about the village of Blahodatne, and Reuters was not immediately able to verify the situation there. It came three days after the head of Russia's Wagner Group said the mercenary force had seized the village in an attack Kyiv said it had re-

Lebanon to devalue currency by 90% on Feb 1, central bank chief says

north.

Were it to force Ukraine to withdraw from the city that once held 75,000 people, it would be Moscow's first major gain since it took the similarly-sized cities of Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk in July.

During the fighting for Bakhmut, two civilians, a boy and a 70-year-old-man, were killed by Russian artillery on Tuesday, regional governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said. Four others were wounded in the attack, he said.

of the march said they would organise more strikes and demonstrations against the reform on Feb 7 and 11.

Marching behind banners reading "No to the reform" or "We won't give up," many said they would take to the streets as often as needed for the government to back down.

"For the President, it's easy. He sits in a chair ... he can work until he's 70, even," bus driver Isabelle Texier said at a protest in SaintNazaire on the Atlantic coast.

"We can't ask roof layers to work until 64, it's not possible."

Striking workers disrupted French refinery deliveries, public transport and schools, even if, in several sectors, fewer walked off the job on Tuesday than on the 19th as a cost-of-living crisis makes it harder to skip a day's pay.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Lebanon will adopt a new official exchange rate of 15,000 pounds per US dollar on Feb 1, central bank governor Riad Salameh said, marking a 90 per cent devaluation from its current official rate that has remained unchanged for 25 years.

The shift from the old rate of 1507 to 15,000 is still far off the parallel market, where the pound was changing hands at around 57,000 per dollar on Tuesday.

The change will apply to banks, Salameh said, leading to a decrease in the equity of the institutions at the centre of the country's 2019 financial implosion.

Analysts expect the shift to have less impact on the wider economy, which is increasingly dollarised and where most trades take place according to the par-

allel market rate.

The pound has lost some 97 per cent of its value since it began to split from the 1507 rate in 2019.

Salameh told Reuters that commercial banks in the country "will see the part of their equity that is in pound decrease once translated into dollars at 15,000 instead of 1500."

In order to ease the impact of this shift, banks would be given five years "to reconstitute the losses due to the devaluation," he said.

Salameh said the change to 15,000 was a step towards unifying multiple exchange rates, in line with a draft agreement Lebanon reached with the International Monetary Fund last year that set out conditions to unlock a $3 billion bailout. (Excerpt from Reuters)

pelled.

Blahodatne, which sits on one of the main roads into Bakhmut about 5 km (3 miles) north, was captured with the help of aerial support, Moscow's Defence Ministry said.

Russian forces have made clear, if gradual, advances in the area in recent weeks, notably capturing the salt-mining town of Soledar to Bakhmut's

Ukrainian military spokesperson Serhiy Cherevaty said in televised comments that the Ukrainian army in Bakhmut had been provided "with everything necessary," after it repelled Russian attempts to gain control of an important supply line.

Separately, a large Russian force has launched an assault against the Ukrainian-held bastion of Vuhledar this week, further south along the same eastern front. Russian officials have claimed to have secured a foothold there, while Kyiv says it has largely repulsed that attack so far. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Green comet expected to be visible for first time in 50 millennia

Agreen-hued comet is expected to be the most visible to stargazers today as it shoots past Earth and the sun for the first time in about 50,000 years.

Discovered less than a year ago, the dirty snowball last passed near Earth during Neanderthal times, according to NASA.

The cosmic visitor will swing by our planet within 42 million kilometres (26 million miles) today before speeding away again, unlikely to return for millions of years.

This harmless comet already is visible in a clear northern night sky with binoculars and small telescopes, and possibly the naked eye in the darkest corners of the Northern Hemisphere.

It’s expected to brighten as it draws closer and rises higher over the horizon through the end of January, and is best seen in the predawn hours. By February 10, it will be near Mars, a good landmark.

Stargazers in the

Southern Hemisphere will have to wait until next month for a glimpse.

Finding a remote location to avoid light pollution in populated areas is key to catching a nice view of the comet as it journeys past our planet heading away from the sun and back toward the solar system’s outer reaches.

While plenty of comets have graced the sky over the past year, “this one seems probably a little bit bigger and therefore a little bit brighter and it’s coming a little bit closer to the Earth’s orbit,” said NASA’s comet-and asteroid-tracking expert, Paul Chodas.

Nicknamed “dirty snowballs” by astronomers, comets are balls of ice, dust and rocks and wander towards the inner solar system when they’re dislodged from various gravitational forces, becoming more visible as they venture closer to the heat given off by the sun.

Fewer than a dozen comets are discovered each year by observatories around the world. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Ukrainian servicemen set up a mortar for firing it towards positions of Russian troops, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, on the outskirts of Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, December 30, 2022

A money exchange vendor holds Lebanese pound banknotes at a shop in Beirut, Lebanon, January 19, 2023

DAILY HOROSCOPES

Don’t let a power struggle deter you from forging ahead. Stand tall, do your thing and leave nothing to chance. Precision, attention to detail and confidence will be your keys to success.

(March 21-April 19)

Don’t jump too quickly. Assess situations and masterfully make your way forward. Call the shots instead of being at someone else’s beck and call. It’s time to let your light shine.

(April 20-May 20)

Timing is critical when dealing with people who want to stand in your way. Get ready to dodge negativity and outsmart anyone who interferes with your plans. Keep your eye on the target.

PEANUTS

(May 21-June 20)

Try something new. Use your skills to outshine the competition. Don’t be afraid to be different or embrace change. How you move forward will determine how well you do.

(June 21-July 22)

Wipe that serious look off your face. You can have whatever you want if you use your charm to get others to help you. You’ll gain the respect and backup required to get things done.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(July 23-Aug. 22)

If you hesitate, you’ll miss an opportunity. Timing is crucial; seize the moment and reach your next goal. It’s time to expand your mind. Attend networking or social events and work the room.

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Choose your words wisely to avoid being left out. What you do, not what you say, will help you stand out and give you the means to take the lead. Put your energy where it counts.

TODAY’S WORD — PENCHANT

(PENCHANT: PEN-chent: A strong and continued inclination or liking.) Average

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

Embrace whatever comes your way. Take on responsibilities that raise your confidence and put you back on top. Refuse to let anyone put you down or take control. Be a leader.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Don’t follow someone when you should be doing your own thing. Put your energy where it counts and nurture meaningful relationships. Build a loving environment.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

Keep your dialogue simple, to the point and very convincing; you’ll get the reaction you want. A change at home will be the pick-me-up you need to appreciate what you have.

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Pay attention to details, update documents and read the fine print when dealing with official or sensitive issues. Stay on track, let people come to you and do your research.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

Certain suggestions will make you question your next move. Call on those you trust to offer sage advice. A quick change of plans will deter someone from getting in your way.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

WPL player auction likely to take place on February 11 or 13 …Mumbai could host first edition

The inaugural Women’s Premier League (WPL) player auction is likely to take place on February 11 in New Delhi, or on February 13 in Mumbai. A final decision will be made by the

BCCI this week.

Originally, the BCCI was looking to hold the players’ auction on February 6 in Mumbai. It would have allowed the five newly-minted franchises just under a

month to get ready for the inaugural WPL season, which is expected to take place between March 4 and 24. However, the BCCI was forced to change that plan for two reasons. One, the majority of the owners of the five WPL franchises also own teams in the ILT20 in the UAE and the SA20 in South Africa, and the finals of these tournaments are scheduled to take place on February 11 and 12 respectively.

The owners of three IPL teams - Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Capitals - along with Adani Group and Capri Global, secured the five franchises by paying a cumulative total of INR 4669.99 crore (US$572. 78 million ap-

Arsenal sign Jorginho from Chelsea in £12m deal

Arsenal have signed Italy midfielder Jorginho from Chelsea in a £12m deal. The 31-year-old, who joined Chelsea from Napoli in 2018, was in the last six months of his Blues' contract. He passed a medical on Tuesday, and signed an 18-month contract, with the option of a further year.

"Jorginho is a midfield player who has intelligence, deep leadership skills, and a huge amount of Premier League and international experience," said Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta. "He has won in his career, but still has the hunger and huge willingness to contribute here. We are so pleased to sign Jorginho, and welcome him and his family to the club."

Jorginho has said he was a "bit surprised" at the move, which he called an "amazing challenge".

Speaking to the Arsenal website, he said playing for Arteta was a "big influence" in his decision, and added: "I know he tried a few times to get me before, and it didn't happen due to other reasons, not because of my wishes. I just can't wait to be on the pitch, to be honest. Everything has happened so fast.

"It's an important shirt. It's an amazing club, a big one, and I'm really excited and happy to be here. I'll try to just bring positive energy, hard work, and my experience to help the team. It's what I always bring with me."

The Gunners turned their attention to Jorginho

after having two bids rejected by Brighton for Ecuador midfielder Moises Caicedo.

Brighton said Caicedo was not for sale, and he looked set to remain at the club after the 11pm deadline.

Jorginho becomes Arsenal's third signing of the January window, the club having previously bought Poland defender Jakub Kiwior from Spezia for 20m euros (£17.6m) and Belgium striker Leandro Trossard, who moved from Brighton, for £21m.

Mikel Arteta's side are five points clear at the top of the Premier League, with a game in hand on the sides immediately below them.

Jorginho scored 29 goals in 213 appearances for Chelsea, winning the Champions League, Europa League, Uefa Super Cup

and Fifa Club World Cup during his time at the club.

He was born in Brazil, but moved to Italy at the age of 15, and opted to play for the Azzurri at international level.

Capped 46 times, he was part of the Italy side that beat England to win Euro 2020 at Wembley in July 2021, and will wear the number 20 shirt for the Gunners.

Arsenal sporting director Edu said: "Jorginho is an established professional with a strong mentality, who brings quality and experience into our squad. He is a player who fits our style of play, and he joins us at a very good moment, where he can contribute in a key position to help maintain our momentum. We welcome Jorginho to Arsenal."

(BBC Sport)

The inaugural WPL season could be played entirely in Mumbai to ease players’ travel schedules in the immediate wake of the T20 World Cup prox) in what is the biggest deal in women’s cricket.

While Adani Sportsline, the sports arm of the Adani Group, bagged the Ahmedabad franchise, Capri Global, a non-banking finance company, picked Lucknow as its home base. The three IPL teams - Mumbai, Capitals and Royal Challengersstuck to the same cities that operate as their hubs in the IPL - Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru.

Four of the WPL franchises own teams in the ILT20: MI Emirates, Dubai Capitals, Gulf Giants (Adani), and Sharjah Warriors (Capri). The owners of Mumbai and Capitals operate teams in the SA20: MI Cape Town and Pretoria Capitals.

The second reason is that the franchises have had limited time to assemble their coaching staff, which would be a key factor while picking players at the auction. Accordingly, it is understood that the franchises collectively requested the BCCI to postpone the auction from February 6 to a later date.

WPL first season likely to take place in Mumbai

The BCCI has earmarked two venues in MumbaiBrabourne Stadium and the DY Patil Cricket Academy in Navi, Mumbai - to host the 22 matches that would comprise the inaugural WPL season.

The key reason for limiting the tournament to one city is the potential logistical

challenges the BCCI fears it could face due to the WPL starting close on the heels of the Women’s T20 World Cup, which ends in South Africa on February 26. With less than a week available to fly to India, playing at just two venues in the same city would remove travel obstacles and keep players ready for the matches, which would be played in a tight window.

Jhulan Goswami to join Mumbai as bowling coach and mentor

Former India fast bowler Jhulan Goswami has been roped in by Mumbai as bowling coach and mentor. While Mumbai have not made the news public, the development was disclosed by former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who has re-joined Capitals as team director, after serving as BCCI President from 2019 to October 2022.

Goswami, who is 40, retired from international cricket last year. Ganguly said the Capitals had also been keen on roping in Goswami, who took 355 international wickets across formats, the most by any bowler in women’s cricket.

“Jhulan has gone to Mumbai,” Ganguly told media at Eden Gardens on Tuesday. “We had given her an offer, but she is going to Mumbai.” (ESPNCricinfo)

Mo Farah to say emotional goodbye at London Marathon

Mo Farah is preparing to say an "emotional goodbye" to his home support, after confirming his participation in April's staging of the London Marathon.

The four-time Olympic champion, 39, expects 2023 to be his final year of racing before retirement. But he is unsure if the marathon will be his last competitive event, because he has said he will take it "one race at a time".

"Without the fans, I don't think I would have ever achieved what I have," said Farah. "It is just nice to say goodbye, and I think it will be quite emotional."

Commonwealth Games 10,000m champion Eilish McColgan will make her marathon debut in the event on 23 April. Both Farah and McColgan were due to run in 2022, but had to pull out because of fitness problems.

The London Marathon returns to its pre-pandemic spring slot for the first time in three years, and will be broadcast live on BBC TV, iPlayer and online.

Mo Farah has run the London Marathon three timesfinishing fifth in 2019, third in 2018 and eighth on his debut in 2014

“I just want to give myself one more shot” - Mo Farah

A hip injury prevented Farah, who turns 40 in March, from taking part in last year's event, and this will be his first full marathon since 2019, when he came in fifth.

The British marathon record holder is set to contest his fourth London Marathon, and has a best finish of third

in 2018 - the year he also went on to claim his only major marathon win in Chicago.

"It has been an amazing career, and for me to take part in London Marathon is a big deal," said Farah. "I have always said it would be nice to win it one day, but it takes a lot."

The six-time world track champion, winner of the Big Half in London in September, has raced just seven times since October 2019. Although he failed to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics, and surprisingly lost out to club runner Ellis Cross at the London 10,000 last May, he admits that competing for his country still motivates him.

"I am very proud of what I have achieved, and I just want to give myself one more shot and see what I can do. But I have nothing to prove," Farah has added. "I'm not going to go to the Olympics, and I think 2023 will probably be my last year.

"At the same time, if it came down to it towards the end of the year, and I was picked for the country, then I would never turn that down."

(BBC Sport)

Jorginho joins an Arsenal side that are five points clear at the top of the Premier League, and have a game in hand over secondplaced Manchester City

Sourav

Ganguly has informed the media that “Jhulan has gone to Mumbai”

Sports Policy in focus this year – Minister Ramson Jr

The long-awaited National Sports Policy is set to get some attention and possible completion in 2023, according to Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr, who made this revelation last Saturday during the second edition of the National Sports Conference, which was hosted at the National Cultural Center.

“That’s going to be big on our objectives to achieve this year,” the Sport Minister disclosed to athletes, officials, administrators and other stakeholders in the sports fraternity on Saturday last.

Ramson Jr went on to

list various reasons why the completion of the Policy had been put off, one of which entailed the need to include the National Sports Academy programme.

Ramson explained, “And I put it on this year, for 2023, because we could not reasonably and sensibly complete a Sports Policy that did not include first a sound analysis of where we were. We needed to take stock of where we were as a country, having frank discussion of where we are falling short and what should that policy contain.

We could not also produce a policy that did not contain the National Sports

Comilla Victorians complete highest chase in Bangladesh Premier League history

-Hope’s 91* in vain as Charles blasts 107*

struck on the wrist with the second ball of the innings. This brought Captain Imrul Kayes to the wicket, and he and Mohammad Rizwan put on 22 before Kayes was dismissed for five in the third over.

Rizwan was then joined at the crease by Johnson Charles, and the two put on a display like that of Hope and Iqbal in the Tigers’ innings. The pair put on what turned into a match-winning 122-run partnership, before Rizwan was dismissed for a 39-ball 73 in the 14th over.

Academy,” Ramson added. The National Sports Policy is a project that Ramson Jr. inherited at the change of Government in 2020. Prior to that, the Policy’s draft was first released on June 20, 2018 by then Minister with responsibility for Sport, Dr George Norton. The Policy was a fo-

cal campaigning point in the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) manifesto back in 2015. A year after its release in 2018, Minister Norton had exclusively shared with Guyana Times Sport that the policy was ‘almost there’. However, no other progress was disclosed since then.

Australia Tour to India 2023…

“Last time we got served a green top”

-Smith says as he defends abandoning tour game in India

Johnson Charles

West Indian batsman Johnson

Charles produced a magnificent 107 not out to lead the Comilla Victorians to a seven-wicket win over the Khulna Tigers in the Bangladesh Premier League at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

The Tigers took first strike after the Victorians won the toss and elected to field first -- a decision that looked like the right one when Mahmudul Hasan Joy

was dismissed by Pakistani pacer Naseem Shah in the third over with the score on 13.

That wicket brought Tigers skipper Shai Hope to the crease alongside Tamim Iqbal, and the pair put on a T20 batting masterclass, blasting the Comilla bowling all over the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. A 184-run second wicket partnership between them helped the Tigers reach 197 after 19 overs, before Iqbal was finally dis-

FROM PAGE 23 ►

Three debutants set ...

Barbados Pride:

Shane Dowrich (Captain), Camarie Boyce, Shamarh

Brooks, Jonathan Drakes, Keon Harding, Chaim

Holder, Akeem Jordan, Nicholas Kirton, Jair

McAllister, Shayne

Moseley, Zachary

McCaskie, Shamar

Springer and Kevin

Wickham. Vasbert Drakes is Head Coach.

The Guyana Harpy

Eagles squad: Leon Johnson (Captain), Veerasammy

Permaul (Vice Captain),

Chandrapaul Hemraj, Matthew Nandu, Kemol

Savory, Tevin Imlach, Anthony Bramble, Kevin

Sinclair, Nial Smith, Ronsford Beaton, Akshaya

Persaud, Ashmead

Nedd, and Shamar

Joseph. The Manager is Albert Clements, and the Head Coach is Ryan

Hercules. The Assistant Coach is Garvin Nedd, the Cricket Analyst is Keshava Ramphal, and the Physiotherapist is Angelica Holder.

First ball of the GuyanaBarbados clash bowls off at 10:00h Eastern Caribbean

Time.

Meanwhile, day one of the game between Windward Islands

Volcanoes and Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in Grenada saw 11 wickets fall. Windward Islands made 243 all out in 63.1 overs, while Red Force were 50-1 in 21 overs.

Tevyn Walcott made 87, while Sunil Ambris scored 55. Bryan Charles had 4-46 and Terrence Hinds had 4-72. Darren Bravo is unbeaten on 32 for Red Force, and Jeremy Solozano is on 18.

missed five runs short of a magnificent hundred. Iqbal hit 11 fours and four sixes in 61 deliveries.

In the end, Khulna ended their 20 overs on 210-2, with Hope ending not out on 91. His knock came off just 55 balls, and included five fours and seven sixes.

The Victorians’ reply got off to the worst possible start when top batsman Litton Das was forced to retire hurt after being

Charles continued on his merry way, and brought up a magnificent hundred with a six over cover in the 18th over. His knock came off 53 balls, and included five fours and 10 sixes. He closed proceedings with a six in the 19th over to help Victorians complete the highest chase in BPL history.

The Victorians now have 12 points from nine games, and have secured their spot in the playoffs with a game to spare. (Sportsmax)

SCOREBOARD

Khulna Tigers (20 ovs maximum)

BATTING R B

Tamim Iqbal c Khushdil Shah b Mosaddek Hossain 95 61

Mahmudul Hasan Joy

lbw b Naseem Shah 1 5

Shai Hope (c) not out 91 55

Azam Khan † not out 12 4

Extras (b 1, lb 2, nb 5, w 3) 11

TOTAL 20 Ov

(RR: 10.50, 112 Mts) 210/2

Did not bat: Yasir Ali, Mark Deyal, Amad Butt, Mohammad Saifuddin, Nahidul Islam, Nasum Ahmed, Shafiqul Islam Fall of wickets: 1-13 (Mahmudul Hasan Joy, 2.4 ov), 2-197 (Tamim Iqbal, 19.1 ov)

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Naseem Shah 4-0-34-1

Tanvir Islam 4-0-42-0

Ashiqur Zaman 3-0-29-0

Mustafizur Rahman 4-0-39-0

Mosaddek Hossain 4-0-48-1

Khushdil Shah 1-0-15-0

Comilla Victorians (T: 211 runs from 20 ovs)

BATTING R B

Litton Das retired hurt 4 2

Mohammad Rizwan † c Hope b Nasum Ahmed 73 39

Imrul Kayes (c) c Mahmudul Hasan Joy b Shafiqul Islam 5 3

Johnson Charles not out 107 56

Khushdil Shah c Nasum Ahmed b Amad Butt 12 10

Mosaddek Hossain not out 4 1

Extras (lb 1, nb 1, w 6) 8

TOTAL 18.2 Ov (RR: 11.61, 99 Mts)213/3

Did not bat: Jaker Ali, Tanvir Islam, Naseem Shah, Mustafizur Rahman, Ashiqur Zaman Fall of wickets: 0-4* (Litton Das, retired hurt), 1-22 (Imrul Kayes, 2.1 ov), 2-144 (Mohammad Rizwan, 13.4 ov), 3-203 (Khushdil Shah, 17.5 ov)

BOWLING

“I think we’ve made the right decision to not play a tour match,” says Steven Smith

Steven Smith has defended Australia’s decision to not play a tour game ahead of their upcoming four-match Test series in India. He pointed out that during their last Test tour of the country in 2017, the only tour game was played on a “green top”, which did not help them prepare for the kind of pitches they went on to face in the series.

“We normally have two tour games over in England. This time, we don’t have a tour game in India,” Smith said at the Sydney airport, before the team’s departure for India. “The last time we went (to India), I’m pretty sure we got served up a green top (in the tour game), and it was sort of irrelevant.

Hopefully, we get really good training facilities, where the ball is likely to do what it’s likely to do out in the middle, and we can get our practice in.”

In the build-up to the India tour, members of the Australian Test squad not participating in the BBL had a preparatory camp in Sydney. There the curators produced scuffed-up pitches to replicate Indian conditions.

“Often (there’s) no real connection between that practice game into the first Test match. We feel as though we can control the surfaces here,” Andrew McDonald, the Australia Head Coach, had said of the training pitches. “(We) get a bit more control in Bangalore to replicate what we’re going to come up against, and then we go into Nagpur fresh, and hopefully it pays dividends

at the back end.”

Australia will arrive in Bengaluru, where they will train for five days before heading to Nagpur for the first Test, starting on February 9.

“There’s been assurances given (about pitches in Bengaluru). We’ll get there, and most ground staff around the world are pretty good at allowing us to get what we want. We’ll wait and see,” he said.

Steven Smith: “Better off having our own nets”

The Australians had faced India A in the tour game in 2017 at Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium. They had piled up 469 for 7 before declaring in the first innings, with Smith and Shaun Marsh racking up centuries. India A made 403 in reply, and the Australians were 110 for 4 when the match ended in a draw after three days.

In the Test Series, Smith went on to score 499 runsthe most from either sideincluding three centuries, but India came from behind to win the Series 2-1.

“We’ll wait and see when we hit the ground. I think we’ve made the right decision to not play a tour match,” Smith, who was not a part of the camp in Sydney, as he was involved in the BBL with Sydney Sixers, said. “We’re better off having our own nets and getting spinners in and bowling as much as they can.”

Australia have not won a Test Series in India since 2004, having lost each of the four Series since.

(ESPNCricinfo)

Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr addressing the National Sports Conference on Saturday last

Speechless Amsterdam in awe of Sportsman of the Year nod

Alook of disbelief was formed on Desmond Amsterdam’s face when his name was announced as the Sportsman of the Year 2021-2022 at the National Sports Awards on Sunday night at the National Cultural Center (NCC).

As Amsterdam collected himself and headed to the stage, where Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr waited to present him the coveted award, Boxing Coach Terrence Poole, M.S, leaped to his feet in a surprise move as he cheered for his protégé.

However, the boxer could not sum up what he felt about this astounding achievement.

“This means a lot to me. This is going to give me the drive, you know, to work more hard and achieve greater things in 2023.

This is going to help me so I can qualify for the CAC Games, the Pan American Games,” Amsterdam told media operatives following the awards ceremony. He added with a smile, “Basically, I appreciate it. Really proud of myself.”

According to Amsterdam, who battled his way to two bronze medals at the AMBC Elite Championships and South American Championships in 2022, the achievement is all owed to hard work.

The Guyanese pugilist explained, “It’s all about hard work; hard work and dedication, you know.

Beating the early morning dew, it was hard, and I feel so proud that the Boxing Association, the Director of Sports, recognised my hard work and dedication. I am sure that I will continue to work hard and

make my country proud.”

Viewing the Sportsman of the Year award as motivation, a speechless Amsterdam has declared

GFF releases ‘2022 Year in Review’

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has released its ‘2022 Year in Review’, “summarising a period defined by the collective resilience and determination of our members, players, fans and stakeholders to bounce back from the COVID-19 restrictions and set a path of steady recovery”.

The special edition is packed with striking photos and stories capturing memorable moments over a 12-month period, commencing with the Lady Jaguars player Annalisa Vincent securing a four-year scholarship to Graceland University in the USA, and including other activities, such as the national teams’ international matches, the launch of the FIFA Football for School Programme, and the prestigious “One Guyana”

President’s Cup.

The more-than-60-page edition also captures memories of a year during which football development strategies were reshaped to address new issues and to embrace new processes of delivery.

“ ‘The Year in Review’ summarises how the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), with the support of our members, the Government of Guyana, players, fans and corporate Guyana rose to meet the challenges of 2022 by adapting to achieve our football development goals,” President Wayne Forde has shared.

The Federation reached key milestones in 2022, including the history-making return to play with the simultaneous launch of the senior men’s leagues by regional associations, the

amendment of the constitution to bring the GFF in line with the latest FIFA and CONCACAF statutes, and the empowerment of regional associations so they can decide the best strategies to optimise local goals in order to meet national targets.

Soft copies of the ‘Year in Review’ have been posted on the GFF social media platforms and shared with its community of stakeholders.

his intention to go for gold at the next Olympic Games.

“Right now I don’t have words to explain how ex -

cited I am right now,” the boxer expressed. He added, “But I will keep working, working hard to capture my dream. That’s (my)

main focus right now: to make it to the 2024 Paris (Olympics) and make my country proud. Try to capture the gold medal.”

Quizzed about what he would say to those younger, up-and- coming athletes, Amsterdam identified discipline as the key.

“My advice to them is: always believe in your dream; always believe in yourself; always be consistent in everything that you do,” Amsterdam shared.

The boxer continued, “I would advise them to continue doing what they’re doing: put in the work and be disciplined.”

In addition to his two international medals, Amsterdam became Guyana’s highest ranked amateur boxer in 2022, according to the International Boxing Association (IBA). (Jemima Holmes)

West Indies 4-Day Championships…

Three debutants set to play for Guyana Harpy Eagles

By Brandon Corlette in antigua

Captain of the Guyana Harpy Eagles, Leon Johnson, has confirmed that at least three players will make their debuts against defending champions Barbados Pride at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.

Speaking exclusively with this daily publication in Antigua, Johnson has described the mood in the camp as good, despite ‘noise in the media’ during the past week.

In relation to the ‘noise in the media’, Johnson made a shocking revelation on the Mason and Guest radio programme when he said he saw the team on Facebook, and the Guyana selectors came out for the first time to make surprising calls in the media during a press conference.

"A lot has been out there during the past week, but we are professionals. Guys will put that behind them and work hard over the couple days. There should be at least three guys making their debut tomorrow, and guys are excited about that," the skipper said.

The four newcomers in the squad are Matthew Nandu, Kemol Savory, Ashmead Nedd and Shamar Joseph. Guyana will be without last season centurions against Barbados Pride, Gudakesh Motie and Tagenarine Chanderpaul, both of whom are doing West Indies duties in Zimbabwe.

Despite some rain around Antigua, the Guyana Harpy Eagles had two good sessions. "Yes, very good. Guys got here on Sunday evening. We had training (two days). The weather affected us on the eve of the match, but we had a good training session prior, in the nets. The net looked similar to the pitch

out there," Johnson added. Giving his opinion on the surface of the pitch, Johnson

Pride will be without Shai Hope, Kemar Roach, Jason Holder, Raymon Reifer, Kyle

said: "A bit different from what we usually have. We usually play against the Leeward Islands here, but the pitch seems to be void of grass, but the pitch seems pretty dry. It may be a pretty flat pitch."

Meanwhile, Barbados

Mayers, Roston Chase and Jomel Warrican. Apart from Hope, the others are doing Test duty for the West Indies.

Disfavoured

Desmond Amsterdam receiving his Sportsman of the Year award from Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr

GFF President Wayne Forde

The GFF also shared a detailed list of international and local tournaments in which Guyanese participated in

Test keeper Shane Dowrich will be aiming to lead the team from the front against the Guyanese.

Leon Johnson batting on the eve of the match Shamar Joseph is a newcomer in the team

Matthew Nandu is expected to debut (Brandon Corlette photos)

Coach Garvin Nedd with Ashmead Nedd