Guyana Times - Wednesday, February 7, 2024

Operators trained as Health Ministry gears up to launch Suicide Helpline

P10 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 5635

THE BEACON OF TRUTH WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2024

Govt partners with Toronto University to make Guyanese more market-responsive – Pres Ali Page 3

... says human resource accreditation project in pipeline

ExxonMobil to drill 7 new wells this year – Routledge announces – says oil giant remains committed to Guyana operations

Teachers’ salaries increased by over 20% from 2020 – Education Minister

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Sugar worker charged, P2 remanded for Corentyne double murder

Representation of women in GDF now stands at 10.7% P18

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$37M in union Foreman dues deducted

by MoE paid over crushed to GTU annually by loader Man who at John suffered from ... threatens salary deductions, other consequences for striking teachers Fernandes Wharf epilepsy found dead in canal Page 10

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– Ministry informs Union it will no longer deduct dues

Page 19

CJ dismisses Carol Joseph’s challenge to Top Cop’s tenure extension

P2

P14 $143M surveillance projects launched to strengthen market access for Guyana’s cattle

2 NEWS Sugar worker charged, remanded for Corentyne double murder WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

he had stabbed Moore in self-defence, he has been contending that Moore is the one who had killed

LaRose.

Stanley has allegedly claimed that he and LaRose had been good friends, and

that LaRose had been waiting for him in the yard while he was in the woman’s bed.

Man who suffered from epilepsy found dead in canal

Murder accused Devon Stanley

D

ays after stabbing two men to death in a suspected triangular love affair, sugar worker Devon Stanley has been arraigned before Magistrate Peter Hugh in the Mibicuri Magistrate’s Court at Black Bush Polder, Corentyne on two charges of murder.

The 32-year-old Stanley was on Tuesday not required to plead to the indictments which stated that: on Saturday, February 3, 2024, he murdered 51-year-old Floyd Moore and 34-yearold Quacy La Rose, both of Alness Village, Corentyne, Berbice.

He has been remanded to prison, and the matters have been transferred to the

Murdered: Quacy La Rose

Murdered: Floyd Moore

Whim Magistrate’s Court for calling on February 22.

going on.

Stanley’s sister has since related that her brother explained that he killed Moore in self-defence, and he is alleging that Moore had attacked him with a knife and cutlass while he was trying to escape on his motorcycle.

It has also been reported that, as the events unfolded, La Rose, who was present at the time and was trying to make peace between the two men, was also fatally stabbed.

After committing the act, the accused Stanley had fled the scene, but he later surrendered himself to the Police; and while reportedly admitting that

RECAP

This accused was reportedly in the company of a woman in her house at Alness when Moore showed up and an altercation ensued, resulting in Stanley allegedly chopping Moore to death.

Moore had reportedly been acting on behalf of a taxi driver who had an interest in the young woman whom Stanley was ‘seeing’.

The taxi driver had allegedly invested lots of money in her, and on the day in question, she had not been responding to his messages; thus, he had requested Moore to find out what was

T

he lifeless body of 61-year-old S h a m n a r i n e Nowrang, called ‘Shammy’, was on Tuesday pulled from a canal at Bush Lot Corentyne, Berbice, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

Nowrang, who had been a farmer and resident of Number 56 Village Corentyne, had gone with his wife to visit her relatives on the previous day, and had eventually spent the evening there.

His wife Drupattie Nowrang told investigators that she and her husband had left home on Monday to attend a funeral at Bush Lot; and at about 7:00h on Tuesday, when she awoke and prepared breakfast, there was no sign of her husband. However, she had thought that he had gone for a walk around the village.

She was at the home

The man lying on the ground with his head in the canal

of another relative when, at about 8:30h, she was informed that her husband was seen with his head in a trench about two houses from where they had spent the evening.

The Police, in a release, have said that Mrs Nowrang

had this to say of her husband: "…is in an epilepsy case, and would often catch a seizure whenever he consumes alcohol."

Nowrang’s body is currently at Ramo Funeral Parlour awaiting a post-mortem examination.

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

BRIDGE The Demerara OPENINGS Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, February 7 – 02:30h-04:00h and Thursday, February 8 – 03:00h-04:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Wednesday, February 7 – 14:25h-15:55h and Thursday, February 8 – 15:15h-16:45h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunshine is expected during the day interrupted by light rain showers in the midmorning and mid-afternoon hours. Clear to partly cloudy skies are expected at night.

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

Winds: East North-Easterly to South-Easterly between 2.68 metres and 6.25 metres.

High Tide: 14:46h reaching a maximum height of 2.47 metres.

Low Tide: 08:17h and 20:55h reaching minimum heights of 0.94 metre and 0.68 metre.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2024

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14 17 21

10 11 LUCKY 3

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PAY DAY

PAY DAY

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2024

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COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$78.76/barrel

+0.22

Rough Rice London Sugar

$332.90/ton $653.40/ton

-0.43 0.00

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USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask Low/High

$2033.90 $2022.10

$2034.90 $2039.50

Change

-1.50

-0.07%

Govt partners with Toronto University to make Guyanese more market-responsive – Pres Ali …says human resource accreditation project in pipeline

T

he Guyana Government is partnering with the Toronto Metropolitan University to develop a partnership aimed at upskilling Guyanese.

The project, which is currently in the consultancy stage, will allow qualified and certified Guyanese to be accredited by the university, once the criteria for the project is finalised.

The Toronto Metropolitan University is ranked 601 in World University Rankings

by Times Higher Education and has an overall score of 4.3 stars.

When materialised, the initiative will allow Guyanese citizens to earn a higher level of professional qualification, which will play a pivotal role in helping them access higher-paying jobs.

This was disclosed by President Dr Irfaan Ali at the Private Sector Commission’s annual dinner on Monday evening.

The Guyanese Leader

President Ali during his address at the PSC’s Dinner on Monday evening

To address this issue, President Ali disclosed that the 2000 beneficiaries would also include qualified persons from the Diaspora.

“The Diaspora has to be part of wealth creation and wealth creation is investing in innovation, investing in research and development, investing in the market, investing in getting the right

The Toronto Metropolitan University

explained that some 2000 Guyanese will benefit from the transformational initiative, which, he noted, will address the country’s labour shortage crisis.

Among the beneficiaries will be unemployed young people qualified in the fields of auditing, accounting, software development, and healthcare, among others.

“Part of the arrangement is that the young people must be linked to the jobs that we’re training them for.

So, that’s 2000 persons, and I think those jobs will pay a minimum of US$25,000 to US$30,000 annually…We don’t need three million people living here by 2030, but what we need is three million people passing through our economy every year utilising the service that we’re creating…that is what drives demand and demand is what drives supply and supply is what drives expansion,” President Ali told those gathered.

In 2023, the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry announced that Guyana’s labour industry was short of approximately 100,000 persons.

This number includes thousands of people within the Guyanese Diaspora who are eager to contribute to the country’s development.

technical skills that’s going to help you,” the Head of State posited.

Labour shortage

The demand for labour locally has been growing exponentially as Guyana continues to undergo unprecedented transformation, and

as a result, major industries such as the construction sector are affected.

Some of the large-scale projects that have been permitted to import labour are the India-funded Ogle, East Coast Demerara-to-Eccles (East Bank Demerara) Bypass Road project and the new Demerara River Bridge project that is being undertaken by a Chinese contractor – China Railway and Construction Corporation (CRCC) Limited.

Guyana Times understands that CRCC contracted Bangladeshi workers who had built the FIFA World Cup stadiums in Qatar last year. Since India is financing the bypass road, there is a stipulation that a certain percentage of Indians are contracted to work on the project.

Skilled labour

According to the Public Works Ministry, finding skilled labour such as plumbers, carpenters, masons, and drivers, especially heavy-duty operators in Region Four, continues to be a difficult task for many contractors.

However, the Government is trying to expand the local supply of labour through

aggressive training programmes through the GOAL scholarship and Board of Industrial Training (BIT) programmes, as well as via the massive training school that is being established at Port Mourant in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

GRA staffing woes

These staffing woes are not only affecting the Private Sector. In 2023, the Commissioner General of the State-run Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Godfrey Statia, complained of having to grapple with staff shortages in key units within the agency relating to the petroleum sector, forcing it to outsource technical personnel.

Statia also highlighted that GRA staff are being lured away with lucrative offers from oil companies, in some cases, with salaries higher than his own.

He went on to note that Government was losing staff from various State agencies to not only oil and gas companies but also other private companies as well. He said while this situation was concerning, at the same time Government was also pulling staff from the Private Sector.

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2024

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

Component to build curricula

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ducation should not be based solely on the amount of book knowledge stored in the brain, called banking, or by rote learning; but on critical thinking, the ability to create knowledge within the domain of practice, praxis. By extension, metacognitive and metalinguistic reasoning skills are part of this critical thinking. Within this framework, multiculturally designed curricula (the Australian model is exemplary) should define the instructional objectives, standards and goals of each unit, with teachers having a significant input, especially at the school level, to bolster grasp and ownership.

Besides direct subject content built into curriculum planning, skill sets and standards that foster intelligence, analysis, and synthesis have to be taught and modelled continuously, especially given that they are neither static nor immutable. The pedagogy of Pablo Freire is a good starting point in this respect.

For some time now, the Education Ministry has sought to strengthen instructional leadership and promote equitable learning via culturally responsive and effective instructional output and accountability. Within this context, the Ministry must enable methodologies that inculcate all of the above, and cater to various learning styles, paces, and intelligence types of all students.

The Workshop Model, for example, is a methodology that pushes students to be creative and responsible for their own learning. It enables students to take charge of their own learning, become active and engaged in their work, and development of understanding. It also is a language-inclusive approach that fosters language learning regardless of the subject content. It can be supplemented by various other approaches that may include: <Alternative Teaching:> a co-teaching model in which one teacher works with a small group of students as the other teacher instructs the large group. <Peer Instruction:> students work in pairs or small groups engaged in active learning from, and teaching to, their partners or the rest of the group. According to physicist and educator Eric Mazur of Harvard University, students can explain it in terms that other students can easily understand. <Small Group Work:> allows students to engage in process skills that are critical for processing information, solving problems, and evaluating management skills and self-responsibility through the use of roles within groups; assessment skills involved in assessing options to make decisions about their group’s final answers, and presentation skills, as each group must present to the whole class. <Flipped Classroom:> the teacher acts as a facilitator, monitoring students’ progress on assigned work, and stepping in to help when they get stuck. <Project-Based Learning:> students engage in projects, and are responsible for doing their own research and solving problems for themselves, with minimum guidance. Class time is devoted to group collaboration and class presentation of completed projects and what students have learned along the way.

Similarly, multiple evaluation yardsticks should be applied: standardised tests, often the only one used; project-based assessments; performance assessments; group work assessments; portfolios; game-based assessments; conferencing assessments, and peer and self-assessments that include use of checklists and rubrics.

In keeping with the physical and psychological needs of students, each teacher and school should be equipped with the necessary tools and mechanisms to promote inclusive learning, especially in depressed regions of the country. In addition to those mentioned above, other inclusive learning strategies include cooperative learning, independent practice, tiered lessons, and differentiated instructions; while fostering mechanisms include self-contained special education classes, homework help centres, resource rooms, push-in and pull-out services, and Individualised Education Plans (IEPs).

Finally, whole personality development via a pedagogical approach (emotional intelligence and fitness; character building, especially values and ethics; coping skills, including mental toughness, self-esteem, self-confidence, handling challenges and dealing with peer pressure; social fitness, including social responsibility, affirming norms, anti-violence, civic-mindedness, problem-solving and decision-making skills) in the education process, can reduce cognitive impoverishment and social and emotional under-skilling, thereby enabling both egalitarianism and equity in the education process.

This should thus not be outsourced to take place in a piecemeal, occasional manner, but be built into the instructional structure, and possibly as a component to the curricula.

US Ambassador to Guyana, HE Nicole Theriot, on Monday paid a courtesy call on First Lady Mrs Arya Ali, during which they had fruitful discussions on strengthening bilateral relations between Guyana and the US (Office of the First Lady photo)

GTU calling for strike seems ungrateful, unwarranted, illegal Dear Editor, The announcement of a strike by the Guyana Teachers Union General Secretary, who is also a PNC Member of Parliament, seems to be unwarranted at this time, when the Government just gave them some good salary increases and other benefits.

The Union must not have thought deeply about having a PNC MP making the announcement, rather than the Union President making the announcement.

So, charges that the strike is political may gain traction, in light of all the goodwill shown by the President and Ministry.

From the list released by the Chief Education Officer of things done to address teachers’ needs, it seems that the Education Ministry has been fairly responsive to teachers’ concerns. Minister Manickchand is known to be very responsive to teachers’ issues when things are brought to her attention.

True, we must return to honouring all Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) across the Public Service. But some of the recent goodies given by the Government after the President met with a group of teachers exceeded what is in the CBAs. This shows a willingness on the part of Government to go beyond the CBAs. Teachers should have to decide for themselves whether they would follow their union blindly and risk having their paychecks docked for unapproved absences, or whether they would push

Union leaders to continue to engage in ongoing dialogue with the Ministry about honouring all agreements.

There is sanctity in those agreements.

For its part, the Ministry needs to have a serious dialogue with the Union about the massive failure rate of students at both the National Grade 6 Assessment and the CSEC exams. The number one factor responsible for high student achievement is the quality of teaching. When students fail, it is largely due to the poor quality of teaching. There are many good, faithful teachers in the system. There are also some ineffective teachers in the system. Is the Union concerned about all our students passing?

Will the Union defend poor teachers who are ineffective in their jobs? Will the Union support the Ministry in terminating such ineffective teachers? The Ministry must push the Union to commit to supporting the cleaning up of bad teachers in schools where those are found. Will the Union support stronger accountability and education reform efforts to modernize Guyana’s education system, or will they fight for the status quo? They cannot only be concerned about “mo money, mo money” and most of our children are failing. How about parents’ rights and children's rights to a good education?

Truth be told, teachers are doing better in terms of benefits. That needs to be recognized. You cannot deny

the progress made. It would be dishonest to deny the improvements. More needs to be done, but resorting to strike action when other prerequisite steps have not been done smacks of bullying.

No good deed by Government should be punished. Schools teach conflict mediation. The teachers must demonstrate what they teach. The students are watching. In some countries, teachers are not allowed to strike or form Unions.

In Guyana, we can, but we

must use the strike weapon responsibly. It cannot be the first resort. I urge the teachers to continue to engage with the Ministry, and be reasonable with their demands. I urge the Ministry to move quicker, rather than slower. The country relies on a strong, powerful education system, where strong accountability is a priority.

Let’s work together in a spirit of compromise. Let’s do it for the children’s sake.

Sincerely, M Singh

GTU’s call for strike disappointing Dear Editor, I am writing to express deep concern and disappointment regarding the recent decision of the Guyana Teachers' Union (GTU) to call for a strike. As a concerned citizen and a parent, I find it disheartening that the very institution responsible for shaping the future of our nation's children has chosen to engage in actions that directly undermine their education.

It is essential to acknowledge the pivotal role teachers play in the development of our society. They are entrusted with the responsibility of moulding young minds and preparing them for the challenges of the future.

However, the recent actions of the GTU have not only betrayed the trust placed in them, but have jeopardized

the educational wellbeing of our children.

Resorting to strike action at this juncture is an irresponsible and counterproductive way to address these issues. The strike not only disrupts the continuity of education, but also sets a detrimental example for the very students whom teachers are meant to guide and inspire.

Education is the foundation of a nation's progress, and any hindrance to the smooth functioning of schools directly impacts the future of our country. The GTU should prioritize the interests of the students over their own, and seek alternative means of resolving their concerns, without resorting to actions that violate the law.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

5 ‘Mother ship’ for offshore Guyana to arrive soon NEWS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

– vessel to aid in curbing illegal fishing

A

‘mother ship’ procured by the Guyana Government for offshore Guyana is slated to arrive in the country very soon.

The sizable vessel, which will patrol Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), is part of the Government’s efforts towards enhancing national security, and in this case, curtailing illegal fishing.

The EEZ, according to the United Nations, is an area of the sea in which a sovereign State has exclusive rights to explore and harness the marine resources found there. For Guyana, oil exploration and production, and fishing is done in its EEZ.

The arrival of the vessel was announced on Monday evening by President Dr Irfaan Ali. In 2021, the President vowed that the capabilities of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) would be boosted to help monitor both the EEZ and Guyana’s land borders.

In 2023, a report on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing was submitted to the Agriculture Ministry detailing that there were about 19,000 vessel-days when non-Guyanese flagged vessels were found in the country’s EEZ. According to the Head of State, Guyana loses “hundreds of millions of dollars” each year be-

cause of illegal fishing in these waters, so the Government has to act.

“We have negotiations going on with the French to have a mother ship established in our EEZ. That is a high cost, but it is a cost that we have to incur now,” he added.

Further, the President also informed members of the Private Sector that the Government was investing heavily in its security systems so that Guyana was protected from all threats.

As part of that focus, new scanners will be installed at the ports of entry and exit to prevent smuggling of any kind.

“The port security is very important, because

Government has been boosting the capacity of the Guyana Defence Force to monitor the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone as well as its land borders

we have to improve the trust people have in our port systems in Guyana.

And those who are managing ports you will have to understand that the ports

will come under a national security architecture and infrastructure so that everything that occurs on the ports can be accounted for,” Dr Ali explained.

He added that Guyana is currently partnering with the United Kingdom and Canada on a port security arrangement.

GTU’s illegal strike, and purported corporate support for teachers at picket line Dear Editor, “The rising tide lifts all boats” is a truism that holds, and so it is as Guyana’s economy grows; but some want their boats lifted as a priority, they also think their boats are more important and deserve to be higher.

Fuelled by wild assertions about the amount of ‘oil money’ being earned, there is a scramble for a ‘fair share’, with no thought for others, for sustainability, for infrastructure, for investment in youth through education and job creation. Public servants want more; teachers want more; nurses, Police, soldiers, everybody wants more! More! More!

The teachers are presently on strike for more, despite the lowest paid teacher earn-

ing $205,000 per month. The Police must be watching this with some amazement, as a Constable makes the same as a trainee teacher, and a corporal makes $134,000 per month although being saddled with many more responsibilities than an untrained graduate teacher.

I would think the Police need attention before teachers.

And then there are the nurses, who certainly deserve more. The point is: we (Guyanese) are all in the same boat, and it would take time for the improvements to come to our sector. The ‘oil money’ is funding less than 20 per cent of the 2024 budget; it cannot cover the present public sector salaries, much less fund selec-

tive increases.

The teachers have benefitted from full pay during the pandemic without a requirement to be at work, unlike the Police and nurses, who were deemed ‘essential’, and had to turn up or be fired. Full advantage was taken of the pandemic, and in many cases, teachers were paid up to two years without being ‘on the job’. On a regular day, there is 30 per cent absenteeism of teachers in schools. In any other service, heads would roll.

On Monday, February 5, Coretta McDonald announced that the GTU has acquired a corporate sponsor who would cover any strike relief payments as needed. In 2018, the GTU was audited by the

Auditor General after a complaint was made that the union was unable to meet strike relief payments if necessary. This corporate sponsor has not been named, nor has the support been quantified, so this appears to be a blank cheque or private arrangement between McDonald and the sponsor. I look forward to learning more about the sponsor in the coming weeks.

The ‘corporate sponsor’ statement was preceded by an assertion by McDonald that “many, many of our teachers are Afro-Guyanese, and this Government is anti-working (class); more than that, they look to punish a certain set of people, and because of that, our teachers fall into line.”

This is thinly veiled race-bait-

The needs of teachers must be balanced with national development priorities Dear Editor, The strike by the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) must not be viewed with myopic lenses. While the demands for better pay and improved working conditions are being made, it is essential to view these needs not in isolation, but as part of a broader spec-

trum of national priorities.

The Government's holistic plan of leveraging the oil revenues promises substantial benefits across multiple sectors, necessitating a balanced approach to resource allocation. In essence, the Government's strategy lies in its comprehensive vision for national development,

GTU’s call for...

It is my sincere hope that the Guyana Teachers' Union reconsiders its stance and adopts a more responsible approach to address the issues at hand. Open dialogue, negotiation, and collaboration should be the pillars guiding the resolution of disputes within the education sector. By so doing, we can ensure that the education of our children remains uninterrupted,

FROM PAGE 4

fostering an environment conducive to their growth and development.

I trust that constructive dialogue between the concerned parties is agreed upon. It is in the best interest of our nation to resolve these issues amicably and safeguard the educational rights of our children.

Sincerely, Brian Azore

one that equally considers the advancement of education, healthcare, infrastructure, social services, national security and economic growth.

This vision acknowledges that the newly acquired oil wealth presents an unprecedented opportunity for transformative development across Guyana.

However, it also requires prudent management and equitable distribution.

In this context, the teachers' strike raises complex questions about how best to integrate these demands within the national development agenda. The Government is tasked with the delicate balance of addressing the needs of all public servants, and not just teachers, while also laying the groundwork for long-term prosperity that would ultimately benefit

all Guyanese, including educators. It should be noted that oil revenues are only now beginning to flow into Government’s coffers.

The Government must ensure that solutions provided to teachers do not compromise the ability to invest in other vital sectors. The interconnectivity of sectors means that advancements in healthcare, infrastructure, and economic policies are inherently linked to the quality of education.

The Government has so far managed to strike a delicate balance between the promise that oil wealth brings with the responsibility to use these resources wisely, ensuring that the benefits are felt across all sectors.

Sincerely, Alvin Hamilton

ing, and is reminiscent of the PNC’s Volda Lawrence promising to give jobs to “people who look like me”, at a meeting at Congress Place in 2018. The charge by the Government: that the GTU strike is politically motivated, is supported by the presence of many non-teacher PNC activists in the picket lines.

Teachers have decided that ‘The squeaky wheel gets the grease’, and it is better to follow the noisemaker than wait for the tide. To facilitate them at the expense of other public sector workers would

be a folly, and would inevitably lead to ever-widening circles of labour disputes and unrest. A stern warning should be issued, and then firm action taken to rein in those who have this sense of entitlement at the expense of the rest of us. The strike numbers are not public, but I believe there were more than 70 per cent of the teachers in school today, which is higher than average; an irony that does not escape notice.

Sincerely, Robin Singh

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2024

06:00 (Sign on) Inspiration Time 06:30 Cartoons 07:00 Evening News (RB) 08:00 Stop Suffering 09:00 Guy's Grocery Games 10:00 Grand Designs 11:00 Paternity Court 11:30 Divorce Court 12:00 News Break 12:05 Movie - Betty's Bad Luck in Love (2024) 13:35 Wheel of Fortune 14:00 The Loud House S1 E13 14:30 The Tom and Jerry Show S4 E17 15:00 Indian Soaps 16:00 Drake & Josh S2 E4 16:30 Victorious S1 E15 17:00 The Young & The Restless 18:00 CNN 19:00 The Evening News 20:00 Stop Suffering 20:30 Stand-up Comedy 21:00 Manifest S4 E18 22:00 The Crown S5 E6 23:00 The Office S5 E13 23:30 Insecure S2 E7 00:00 Sign off

6 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

ExxonMobil to drill 7 new wells this year – Routledge announces …says oil giant remains committed to Guyana operations

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S oil major ExxonMobil has announced plans to drill and appraise at least seven new wells within the Stabroek Block in 2024, including two within the western boundaries of the oil field. The two wells are the Trumpetfish and the Redmouth.

Five of the wells are expected to guide the company in assessing the quantity and usability of the natural gas reserve in the Stabroek Block, particularly the eastern portion.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, ExxonMobil Guyana President Alistair Routledge said if the wells lead to commercially-viable resources, the company could drill additional wells in the area.

These activities, especially the planned exploration west of the Essequibo River, raise questions about the US oil major’s posture towards the threats coming from Guyana’s western neighbour, Venezuela.

In responding, Routledge reiterated that the company remained dedicated to its Guyana operations, expressing that “we remain committed to Guyana and pursuing business here and delivering on the commitments we’ve made…”

“We believe that the contract that we have with the country is valid under the local law…also under international law; we have

ing on Friday last following his engagements with Guyanese officials, the Commander of the Air Force arm of SOUTHCOM was questioned about the steps taken to counter the narrative being peddled by Venezuela that the US was setting up a military base in Guyana.

“That’s an interesting rumour. It’s not one that I’m aware has any foundation,” Major General Pettus had stated.

had the US, we’ve had the UK (United Kingdom), we have the Netherlands, we have forces [in the Region like] French Guiana, and they have been doing their work as part of this collective security. Caricom, as you know , has its own security component that we are a part of – The Regional Security System [RSS].

Guyana became a full member in 2022. And that is all part of this, what we call regional security. So, it’s

According to the Air Force Commander, the US military, especially through SOUTHCOM, has had a strong bilateral security partnership with Guyana, dating back several decades and spanning a vast range of areas. These range from military and medical capabilities to humanitarian assistance and disaster response.

“So, this is an ongoing relationship and I think that, specifically, tying any of these things to current events in Venezuela would be overstating the important [military cooperation] relationship that we’ve had since 1966, since the independence of Guyana,” the SOUTHCOM Commander posited.

Similar sentiments were expressed by GDF Chiefof-Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan, who pointed out that Guyana not only has military cooperation with the US but other Western nations as well as those within the Region.

Asked whether it is concerned that the GDF’s continued military engagements with various partners could be viewed by Venezuela as an act of aggression, Brigadier Khan contended that these collaborations were geared towards not only ensuring Guyana’s security but also the collective security and stability of the Region.

“The Region is made up of many actors, several countries, and no one country can say to themselves that they can do it on their own. We always need partnership, and partnership has been the foundation for collective security across this Region. We’ve not only

not Guyana alone; it’s not the US alone. But I must say the US has been a major part of bringing all the actors together,” the Army Chief pointed out.

Back in December 2023, the UK sent a Royal Navy patrol vessel to Guyana’s waters as part of a series of engagements in this Region – a move that was viewed

by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro as a threat to the peace and sovereignty of his country by the UK. He also said the deployment of the British warship to Guyana’s waters violated the spirit of the December 14, 2023 Argyle Declaration between the two South American neighbours signed in St Vincent and the Grenadines, and called for the vessel to be withdrawn.

However, President Dr Irfaan Ali declared that “Guyana has long been engaged in partnerships with regional and international States, aimed at enhancing internal security. These partnerships pose a threat to no one, and are in no way intended to be aggressive or constitute an offensive act against any State”.

Britain’s Defence Ministry had said the HMS Trent, a river-class patrol vessel, would take part in joint exercises with Guyana after Christmas.

In response to the deployment of the British naval ship, Maduro ordered “the activation of a joint defensive action of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces” off the coast of Guyana’s Essequibo region.

Those tensions were eventually calmed following the intervention of St Vincent and the Grenadines

ExxonMobil Guyana President Alistair Routledge

valid rights to the blocks in which we’re participating and the issue between countries needs to be dealt with – as it is being done – between the Governments, between the two countries,” he further told media operatives.

Routledge referred to the Argyle Declaration, and expressed optimism about the agreements reached between Guyana and Venezuela, particularly the commitment from both sides to not use force or issue threats of force to resolve the ongoing border controversy.

The ExxonMobil President also spoke about Guyana’s ongoing partnerships with the US and other nations, noting that such collaborations were “healthy”.

“I think the collaboration that we’re seeing for Guyana with other countries on the military front

as well as on the diplomatic and economic front reflects…I think it’s a healthy thing, I think it’s good for the Western Hemisphere that we see those collaborations and hopefully, it will continue,” Routledge stated.

In recent times, Guyana has been boosting its defence capabilities through several initiatives including robust engagements with global partners, including the US. Most recently, United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) Air Force Commander, Major General Evan Pettus visited Guyana where fruitful discussions were had on several security matters, including with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) on its air domain awareness and collaboration on advancing Guyana’s airspace awareness capacity.

During a media brief-

Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, in his role as interlocutor between the two nations following the recent Argyle Declaration.

Amid the height of the tensions late last year, ExxonMobil’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Darren Woods told CNBC that the oil major’s operations in Guyana would continue as normal, noting that “from our perspective, we know what we need to do in the country, develop those resources economically, environmentally responsibly, and do what we’ve been contracted to do, that’s what our organisation is focused on.”

He added, “I’m not sure Guyana is standing on its own…you’ve all seen what happens when nations’ sovereignty is challenged, there are a lot of actions taken, I think the world and outside community have grown pretty sensitive to that, so my expectation is there’s more support, more broad support in the international community to make sure that the right processes are followed to resolve this [controversy].”

Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), Exxon’s local subsidiary, is the operator of the Stabroek Block, and holds a 45 per cent interest, while Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd holds a 30 per cent interest, and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, holds the remaining 25 per cent interest.

However, Hess Corporation has agreed to merge with Chevron, and this transaction is expected to be closed in the first half of this year.

ExxonMobil currently has three Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels operating in Guyana’s Stabroek Block in offshore waters. The current production figures will be further buttressed by the Yellowtail and Uaru developments which are already underway and anticipated to contribute 250,000 barrels of oil each following their respective start-ups.

An application for the sixth development, the Whiptail Project, was submitted by the Stabroek Block operator, ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL), and its co-venturers.

The project is currently under review by the Government and once approved, will see Guyana producing just over 1.2 million barrels of oil per day by 2027. (G11)

NEWS

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CJ dismisses Carol Joseph’s challenge to Top Cop’s tenure extension

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cting Chief Justice Madam Roxane George, SC, on Tuesday dismissed the challenge filed by APNU/AFC Member Carol Joseph, a resident of Hopetown, West Coast Berbice, against the extension of acting Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken’s tenure in office

by President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali. In a written judgment, the CJ stated that, having considered submissions and arguments of both parties, she has agreed with the Attorney General’s arguments; and she ruled, inter alia, “the framers of the Constitution envisioned that if there is not a substantive Commissioner of Police, the statutory provisions that apply to a substantive Commissioner of Police would also apply to an acting Commissioner of Police”.

The ruling further stated that “Section 2 of the Constitution (Prescribed Matters) Act, which speaks to a ‘Commissioner of Police’, applies to both an acting and substantive appointee.

As such, there being no substantive Commissioner of Police, the extension granted under the Constitution and the Constitution (Prescribed Matters) Act to the acting Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hicken, was lawful.”

Further, the Chief Justice recognised that while the Court cannot direct that a substantive appointment be made to the office of Commissioner of Police, there cannot, at the same time, exist a vacuum in that important office. As such, the Constitution and the Constitution (Prescribed Matters) Act, in their wisdom, have provided for the extension in office of the acting Commissioner of Police.

On August 22, 2023, APNU member Carol Joseph challenged President Ali’s decision to indefinitely extend Clifton Hicken’s ten-

Carol Joseph

Acting Top Cop Clifton Hicken

Chief Justice Roxane George

ure as acting Commissioner of Police, claiming that this unlawful extra time in office prohibits the upward movement of ranks for no plausible reason.

In a fixed-date application (FDA) filed on her behalf by the law firm of Dexter Todd and Associates, Joseph contended, inter alia, that there is no legal basis upon which the Head of State can extend the tenure of an acting Police Commissioner.

Hicken became 55 years old —the age of retirement — last July.

In her filings, Joseph, Chief Scrutineer for the PNC-led A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Opposition, argued that Hicken was currently occupying the office of the Commissioner of Police in a temporary, acting capacity in accordance with Article 211 (2) of the Constitution of Guyana, and not as a substantive Commissioner of Police.

She noted that Hicken’s appointment as Police Commissioner was allegedly based on necessity: in the absence of a duly constituted Police Service Commission (PSC) and a Leader of the Opposition; however, she noted, those circumstances no longer exist.

In August of 2022, Justice George, SC, had affirmed President Ali’s appointment of Hicken as acting Police Commissioner, calling a

challenge to his appointment filed by the Opposition Chief Whip Christopher Jones “vexatious and an abuse of the court process”.

Justice George had ruled that the President, who is also the Commander-inChief of the Armed Forces, had consistently appropriately exercised his judgement, and had acted “out of necessity”, and that it was legitimate for him to take action in his “own deliberate judgement” to choose someone to serve as acting Top Cop in the absence of an Opposition Leader and the PSC. According to Joseph’s filing, the Constitution provides for an acting Commissioner of Police to serve only in a temporary capacity, and only until a substantive Commissioner of Police has been appointed, or until a substantive Commissioner of Police returns to office and resumes his/her functions.

Her filing had also said that Public Service Rules provide for an extension of tenure of someone who has attained the age of 55 years on the request of the Government, provided that that person is appointed to a “permanent pensionable position”. The position of an acting Commissioner of Police is not a permanent pensionable position, and the substantive position Hicken held at the time of attaining the pre-

scribed age of retirement was Deputy Commissioner of Police.

It had also been contended that the Constitution (Prescribed Matters) Act provides that the President may extend the tenure of a substantive Commissioner of Police, and not an acting Commissioner of Police; and that that extension must be given in advance of retirement.

Further, it had been argued that President Ali did not consult with the Leader of the Opposition before issuing the letter to extend the term of the acting Commissioner of Police after he had attained the age of retirement; that the doctrine of necessity no longer applies to the tenure of the office of the acting Commissioner of Police, and that there is no legal basis for the President to extend the tenure of the current acting Commissioner of Police.

It was also contended that the President has no authority to extend the tenure of the acting Commissioner of Police, and that the powers of the President are subject to, and are constrained by, the Constitution; and any order, direction, or action made by the said executive President in violation of, or

ultra vires the Constitution, is of no force or effect.

Additionally, she had contended that there is no matter of necessity, as there are currently multiple Assistant and Deputy Commissioners of Police in the Guyana Police Force (GPF); an official Leader of the Opposition; a PSC with a duly appointed chairman; and there is no state of national emergency in Guyana.

Joseph had been seeking several declarations and orders from the court, including a declaration that the purported extension given by the President was unlawful, ultra virus, and therefore of no force or effect; that the President has no legal authority to grant an extension to the acting Commissioner of Police to continue acting in the capacity of Commissioner of Police after he has obtained the age of retirement; and an order directing Hicken to immediately vacate the office of acting Commissioner of Police, to pave the way for that office to be occupied by a new person below the age of retirement.

President complied with Constitution

In response, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC, had dismissed questions raised about the extension of Hicken’s tenure in office by saying that there are no provisions in the Constitution to prevent such a move.

He contended that a recommendation from the Chairman of the PSC following consultations with its members, and meaningful consultations with the Leader of the Opposition are requirements for both the substantive and acting

positions, the Legal Affairs Minister noted.

He also said that Article 211 (1) of the Constitution mandates that “the Commissioner of Police and every Deputy Commissioner of Police shall be appointed by the President acting after meaningful consultation with the Leader of the Opposition and the Chairperson of the Police Service Commission, after the Chairperson has consulted with the other members of the Commission”.

Moreover, he said that Provisions for a person to act in the office of the Police Commissioner are outlined under Article 211 (2) of the Constitution, and the provisions contained in Article 211 (1) shall apply to such an appointment as they apply to the appointment of a person to hold that office.

Nandlall consequently argued that, “…if the holder of that office, whether substantively or by virtue of an acting appointment, can be extended, then I see no reason and no principle which confines that extension only to a substantive appointee, and not an acting appointee. There is nothing in the Constitution that makes that distinction.”

In March 2022, Hicken was appointed to act as the country’s Commissioner of Police following the retirement of Nigel Hoppie, who had previously held the post. Hicken reached the age of 55 years last month.

He previously headed the Police Force’s Operations Department, and had served in many capacities, including Commander of the then ‘A’ Division (Georgetown) and ‘B’ Division (Berbice). He had also headed the Force’s Training Centre.

8 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Breaking down…

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…the teachers' strike

t is just too bad that “the strike” as a weapon of workers against employers earned a lasting reputation as a political action – a rebellion, if you will - to bring down the Government in the 1960s. Before that, workers had been fighting the foreign companies - who owned everything, and who exploited them. While the colonial Government backed the foreign companies, it wasn’t directly under threat, and strikes weren’t considered as threatening its survival.

All of that changed in 1962 – 1964, when the US and Britain decided to oust the democratically elected PPP Government. They used the urban labour unions that supported the PNC to launch strikes that degenerated into ethnic riots and widespread arson, followed by a counterstrike by the PPP-affiliated sugar workers in the sugar belt.

The PPP was duly ousted, and the (politicised) genie was never put back into the bottle. Ultimately, the greater losers were the workers, since their legitimate struggle to better their working conditions and wages became politically tainted.

But what made this reputation stick wasn’t just historical memory, but the actions of trade union leaders who openly identify with the political parties!! While, from one perspective, it might be seen as rational, since, when “their” party gets into Government, they might be rewarded, they were also susceptible to being ignored when the table was turned!! The classic case of this recently was when Granger – who’d been a soldier scab breaking the sugar strike in the 1960s – became President. It was clear he had a long memory – helped by his training as a historian.

When he unilaterally shut down four sugar estates and threw 7000 sugar workers into the streets, it was so much for workers' rights!!

And we reach the present strike by the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU), whose General Secretary isn’t just a card-carrying member of the PNC, but one of its more tempestuous MPs!! The PPP was scarred early on by its ouster through strike actions by the Public Servants; who, to repeat, were overwhelmingly members of the PNC, and were skittish. Even when they finally returned to office in 1992, they faced a punishing strike in 1999 by Public Service workers; which almost brought them to their knees, since it “coincided” with wider, violent PNC street protests that exploded into riots.

So, while the GTU may have a point in that the PPP Government hasn’t followed the collective bargaining agreement, they haven’t done their cause any good by the GTU leaders’ inflammatory POLITICAL statements on PNC platforms. So, where does your Eyewitness see this strike going? The subject government ministries have already dubbed the strike “illegal”, and they ain’t backing down.

The GTU’s gonna emerge broken - like the Oppositionaffiliated GPSU has been. Solidarity never!! …the Mid-East muddle There’s so much going on in the Middle East right now that we need a guide map to help make some sense!! Since this is the Bible Belt, maybe it’ll help if we use Biblical language?? We gotta go back some 4000 years or so – yep, the fight is THAT old – when God Himself told the Israelites this was their “Promised land”. In one instance, the Amalekites crossed them and God told them to COMPLETELY wipe them out – even “sucklings”!!

In the intervening millennia, the Jews were scattered across Europe, the Middle East, and even to India. After Hitler gassed 6 million of them during WWII however, the Brits decided to have them return to the “Promised land”.

Were they acting in place of God?? The trouble was that, by that time, the place was called “Palestine”, and there were Arabs living there, along with other folks.

700,000 Palestinians were “dis-placed” into what is now Gaza and the West Bank. And the present cycle of violence was started! …of Parliamentary power-sharing Freed of his indecent exposure charge, the PNC’s whip has complained that the Sectoral Committees haven’t been meeting. Aren’t two of those Committees’ Chair rotated annually with the Opposition?

Why haven’t THEY been calling meetings??

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

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

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Teachers’ salaries increased by over 20% from 2020 Education Minister – threatens salary deductions, other consequences for striking teachers A

s the strike by teachers jumped into the second day, Education Minister Priya Manickchand related that, only last week, Education officials met with the Guyana Teachers’ Union to address several issues that had not been addressed out of the 41 demands proposed to the Ministry.

“We have met 25 of their demands, and we have granted and done 28 other things - 28 other actions, some personal, some professional that are to (their) benefit. Of the ones that we didn’t do, two are for GTU Executives: they want duty-free for themselves, not the teachers, and two are unlawful; and we are talking about the rest,” Manickchand stated during a televised programme on Monday evening.

The GTU has proposed a 25 per cent salary increase for 2019 and a 20 per cent increase for every other year from 2020 to 2023, but the minister is holding out that the Government has increased teachers’ salaries by more than 20 per cent after taking office in 2020.

“From 2020 to now, we have raised salaries for teachers by over 20%, and then the President took some very innovative action. All graduate teachers – so the salary scale is the way it is done – low, middle, high. Most of the graduate teachers were on the lower side; he said all of them (should) automatically (be) moved to the high scale of that salary scale. We had this problem where teachers were getting the wrong salary, and he said no, we will fix all of that from 2020 to now; so, people were backdated. Last year October, we fixed it, and

it cost us $700M to fix that,” Manickchand explained.

She has reiterated that the Government is not obligated to agree to the multiyear agreement proposed by GTU. In addition, she noted that the Education Ministry would be pumping $1.8 billion in school supplies and cash grants to teachers in 2024, to assist them with the preparation of their classrooms.

She is maintaining that the industrial action called

by GTU is ‘illegal’, and has warned that there would be consequences if teachers participate in the strike.

Over the past two days, teachers have downed tools in support of the strike called by the GTU, and many of them have voiced their concerns about the 6.5 per cent salary increase imposed on teachers.

The Education Ministry has said it has accepted the opinion of the Labour Ministry: that it is illegal to pay teachers who do not report for duty without a legitimate reason.

“The Government is the Government of law and order. The Government will do what is required to be done to make sure the system has order in it. We can’t allow people to walk off from teaching, we can’t allow people to stop teaching; we have children in these classrooms, they have to learn, they have to be taught, they are in exam classes, and they have SBAs,” she declared.

“We have children who depend on these teachers, so there are rules about what you do and how you do it.

And we are advised by the Ministry of Labour that this is not a lawful strike and there are consequences,”

Manickchand added.

Further, she said that amidst the calls by GTU for industrial action, most teachers turned out for work on both days.

Meanwhile, Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton has reiterated that industrial action called by the GTU is illegal, since the parties are still in talks. He said, “The thing is, the fact that you still have an ongoing conversation between the two parties, there is no need for the Chief Labour Officer to get involved to conciliate.

There is nothing to conciliate, because there is a conversation and the partner is getting the outcome out of the conversation,” he said.

The GTU has indicated that strike action will continue, but it remains optimistic that Government would agree to meet as soon as possible.

In response to Government’s plan to cut

the salaries of teachers who are on the picket line, and to discontinue the deduction of union dues from the salaries of the teachers, the Union’s GS, Coretta McDonald, has described it as “wicked and dictatorial.”

Remuneration packages for teachers

Back in November 2023, President Dr Irfaan Ali had announced approximately $1.9 billion in measures for teachers, including salary increases and duty-free allowances; and had outlined upward adjustments to the salaries and allowance of graduate teachers, including holders of relevant Bachelor’s degrees from the University of Guyana (UG), a degree-awarding institution under the GOAL Programme, or a degree certified by the National Equivalency Board.

“All graduate teachers… shall be moved to the maximum of the scale applicable

to the post they currently occupy. This will benefit over 4000 teachers at an additional annual cost of $1 billion, effective from December 1, 2023,” he had said.

Teachers will also receive an additional education allowance of $10,000 monthly for bachelor’s degree holders, which would be equivalent to $120,000 annually; $20,000 monthly for master’s degree holders, which translates to an additional $240,000 annually; and $30,000 monthly for doctorate degree holders, which is equivalent to $360,000 more annually.

With regard to Remote Areas Incentive (RAI), an upward adjustment was announced from its current level to $20,000 monthly, effective from December 1, 2023.

The President had said this would benefit more than 2400 teachers. For example, these adjustments and salary increases would see a Graduate Senior Mistress/Head of

Department now having their current salary move from $243,069 to $262,917. This, with the inclusion of the revised education allowances, represent an overall 12 per cent increase.

In the case of a Graduate Senior Assistant Master or Mistress working in the hinterland, this category of worker will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $223,232 to $243,076, and would also benefit from the inclusion of the revised education allowances and RAI. In relation to duty-free allowances, the Guyanese Leader disclosed that all teachers who hold a substantive appointment as a Senior Master/Mistress or above, and are within three years of retirement and have not previously received a duty-free concession on a motor car, shall be entitled to this benefit for a motor car of up to 1500cc.

Operators trained as Health Ministry gears up to launch Suicide Helpline

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony; PAHO/WHO Representative to Guyana, Dr Luis Codina; facilitators and participants

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s the Health Ministry prepares to launch its Suicide Crisis Helpline, operators are currently undergoing a three-day workshop to enhance their knowledge and skillset to respond to persons needing support.

The training is a collaborative effort between the Mental Health Unit and the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO).

It is being held at the Cara Lodge Hotel on Quamina Street.

With the Ministry's com-

mitment to undergo a revision of the National Mental Health Strategy Plan, the Suicide Crisis Helpline Workshop is crucial and timely.

Over the next three days, individuals designated as operators for the hotline will gain the necessary skills and knowledge needed to manage patients and develop Standard Operating Procedures guidelines for the Helpline.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony used the platform on Monday to note the recent progress made in crafting ro-

bust legislation for mental health and suicide prevention.

"With the help of PAHO and other experts, we were able to pull the document together and have a comprehensive piece of legislation.

Before, we were working under the ordinances of 1934...

In the Criminal Section of that law, if you attempt suicide, you can go to jail for two years. So, we needed to change that, and we provided for several aspects we wanted to cover,” he said.

TURN TO PAGE 16

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$143M surveillance projects launched to strengthen market access for Guyana’s cattle

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha at the launch

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n an effort to guard against food-related diseases while advancing the food production sector, the Government of Guyana has collaborated with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) to launch two critical projects to enhance traceability for food products and achieve export certification for bovine (cattle) and other small animals.

Execution of the “Development of a Food Products Traceability System for Pineapples and Leafy Greens in Guyana” and the “Bovine Tuberculosis (BTB) and Bovine Brucellosis (BB) to Improve Market Access” projects will be done through funding from grants from the Bank’s Special Funds Resources totalling a whopping €636,000 or approximately $143.17 million.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, while

delivering remarks during the launch ceremony held at the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, on Tuesday, highlighted the projects’ importance. He said that they addressed critical challenges while unlocking new opportunities for growth and development.

In underscoring the importance of having an agricultural traceability system, Minister Mustapha stressed that an effective one could promptly identify, single out, and remove unsafe food products from the market.

“We are pleased to undertake these two projects, which will enhance our agricultural capacity, with the support from the Caribbean Development Bank and facilitated by the European Union Economic Partnership Agreement, CARIFORUM, and the Caricom Standby

Facility. The first project, the Development of a Food Products Traceability System for Pineapples and Leafy Greens in Guyana, is a transformative initiative that underscores our commitment to ensuring quality and safe food. A traceability system in the agriculture and food sector is particularly important, and an effective one can promptly identify, single out, and remove unsafe food products from the market. Food traceability is a requirement for access to specific regional or international markets. For Guyana to become a major exporter of agriculture products, we are ensuring that systems are in place for us to meet all the requirements,” the Minister explained.

With regard to the second project, Mustapha said that it would address critical issues impacting Guyana’s livestock industry.

“The second project, Bovine Tuberculosis and Bovine Brucellosis to Improve Market Access in Guyana, will address critical issues impacting our livestock industry. These diseases not only pose significant health risks to our cattle population but also hinder market access for our farmers. By addressing these challenges headon, we are not just protecting the livelihoods of our farmers but also fortifying Guyana’s position as a reli-

Minister Mustapha along with other officials during the launch of the projects on Tuesday able supplier of high-quality livestock products.”

EPA and CSME Standby Facility Project Manager Cyril Gill, who gave an overview of the projects, related that they were based on developing a strategy towards eradicating tuberculosis and brucellosis in bovines as well as establishing a food traceability framework.

“As it relates to productivity, this project is based on developing a strategy towards streamlining the eradication of the two diseases and we expect that with the framework in place to manage the reduction of these two diseases, we can have better control towards the food systems that we have in the Guyana borders so that we can supply other regional member states with effective and efficient food throughout the system. As

it relates to the leafy greens and pineapple project, this project is primarily to establish a food traceability framework. What will be essential here is that this project is being set as the pilot project that can be expanded and taken across other areas in the agriculture sector,” he explained.

He added that the primary focus would be on Regions Four and Five where the Government has provided a number of initiatives such as the shadehouses that have been established.

“These areas that we’re focusing on: we saw as prime opportunities to develop these key initiatives because of the high consumption of these products. We also found that many youths were employed in these sectors and we thought it necessary to provide that devel-

opmental support in these areas,” the Minister said.

Given the high production of pineapples and leafy greens in Regions Four and Five and the importance of these products to ensuring food security, the traceability pilot will centre on agrofood stakeholders for these products and within the aforementioned regions in Guyana.

BTB and BB are both highly-contagious zoonotic diseases that have a serious impact on farmers and the farming industry in Guyana.

BTB in particular is infectious to cattle as well as other animal species while the BB disease spreads rapidly in unvaccinated animals with affected cows aborting once after exposure and thereafter giving birth to full-term dead or weak calves.

$37M in union dues deducted by MoE paid over to GTU annually

– Ministry informs Union it will no longer deduct dues

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he Education Ministry has informed the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) that the Government would no longer deduct union dues which are remitted to the union.

This decision, the ministry has said, is in keeping with the ruling by Chief Justice Ian Chang in the case of Guyana Public Service Union vs Nanda Gopaul (number 584W/2000-Demerara).

“Further, the Ministry took into consideration the current unlawful industrial action which has become wholly politicised, the barrage of threats disseminated

by GTU across the country, as well as the racist sentiments

and ethnically divisive rhetoric which will never be tolerated by this Government as we continue to build our beautiful ‘One Guyana’,” the MoE has said. <<Guyana Times>> understands that about 4500 out of the 13,500 teachers who are represented by the union are currently on strike. Every month, $700 is deducted from each unionized teacher and remitted to the GTU. This adds up to about $3.1 million monthly, and approximately $37 million annually.

The MoE is reiterating that most of the Union’s requests were agreed on by both parties, thus resulting in several benefits for teachers

across the country.

These include: 1.

The removal of the Child Development Index Card (CDIC) as a required school document.

2.

The removal of the General Scheme of Work as a curriculum document.

3.

The weekly preparation of lesson plans, rather than daily.

4.

All trained teachers being eligible to be a Senior Assistant Master/Mistress after 6 years, rather than 7.

5.

A total of 50 duty-free vehicles to teachers per year PLUS the granting of a duty-free concession to all senior teachers who have 3 years left to serve and have not received

a concession previously.

6.

All teachers being provided termly with grants to purchase teaching materials.

7.

All CPCE pre-service trainees being paid $90000 rather than a $10000 stipend per month, except a trainee teacher refuses same.

8.

The Ministry of Education requested the Teaching Service Commission and the School Board Secretariat to do 2 senior promotion cycles per year, so that more teachers can be promoted and earn higher salaries.

9.

A general waiver letter to allow teachers to travel abroad without collateral.

10. The issuance of one waiver letter to cover the teacher’s contracted period.

11. The holders of the Technical Teachers’ Certificates being appointed as Assistant Masters/ Mistresses.

12. The creation of more senior vacancies in nursery, primary and secondary schools.

13. The reduction in teaching periods for secondary teachers.

14. The assignment of an assistant teacher to senior teachers in primary and nursery schools.

15. The appointment of floating teachers to schools to reduce the workload and substitute for teachers who are absent.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand

16. The implementation of the EMIS system which would eliminate most aspects of manual record-keeping.

17. An Open Day policy which is held centrally and regionally to address teachers’ concerns.

18. The appointment and upgrade of all teachers who attended UG without official release and permission before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

19. A reduction in the number of teaching practice for CPCE teachers.

20. The institution of a digitalized senior promotion process.

21. A simplification in the Teacher Upgrade Process after improved qualifications.

22. The substitution of the bead teachers’ monthly report with a reduced digital version.

23. A waiver for the issuance of the permanent trained

teachers’ certificate.

24. The placement of guidance and counselling officers in secondary schools to assist with the disruptive behaviours of students.

25. The continuous placement of data entry clerks in each school to assist with digital record-keeping.

26. The removal of the quota system to attend UG. 27. The introduction of a Teacher Support Unit within the Ministry of Education.

Meanwhile, the Education Ministry has again expressed its gratitude to all teachers who continue to report for duty towards ensuring that the nation’s children receive the education they rightfully deserve.

The Government of Guyana, the release added, will continue to work tirelessly towards improving the conditions of all teachers across this nation.

15

Ramsammy’s Ruminations The critics cry foul and weep when those they criticize return the favour

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P Bharrat Jagdeo really is a nightmare for some people. One MP has even been practising how to stab him.

A certain columnist appears not to be able to sleep at nights for thinking about the VP. This certain columnist, who will remain nameless in this column, on a daily basis, mercilessly and savagely attacks the Government, with particular venom for VP Bharrat Jagdeo.

Dr Leslie Ramsammy He often resorts to the vilest personal attacks, calling the VP names reserved for the vilest of human beings. In the last two or three weeks, the attacks have been particularly vitriolic, and the newspaper that publishes these vulgar attacks is abrogating its responsibility within the free speech realm of ensuring decency, fairness, integrity and dignity.

VP Bharrat Jagdeo was asked to comment on these attacks during one of his recent press conferences. The VP reluctantly responded that he is not in any way intimidated or concerned about the personalised attacks, because it is coming from someone who has no credibility, no following in Guyana, and who makes claims of personal accomplishments that only he sings praises over. This particular columnist’s morbidly obese ego convinces him that he can bamboozle the Guyanese public; even though, by and large, they have unequivocally ignored his rantings as that of a man consumed by hate.

But the fact that the media got VP Jagdeo to allocate valuable minutes to briefly accord him his “15 seconds in the limelight” has really miffed the “thin-skinned” columnist. He has gone berserk, and his invective and foul language to describe VP Jagdeo has gone from vile to abhorrent and contemptible.

The same columnist has been on a perpetual rant against EXXON and Bharrat Jagdeo since August 2020. For him, EXXON is the worst capitalist exploiter ever, and VP Jagdeo is the chief local sellout in the pocket of EXXON. He completely ignores that the EXXON deal was signed in 2016 when VP Jagdeo was the Leader of the Opposition, and Raphael Trotman, the columnist’s former boss, was Minister of Natural Resources; and his friends, like David Granger and others, were in charge of the PNC/APNU/AFC Government that signed this infamous deal that we all agreed was not the best deal for Guyana.

He is one of the dishonest, reprehensible Guyanese who, before August 2020, believed the deal was the best possible deal that Guyana could have negotiated. There was never one instance when he was publicly critical of the EXXON deal before 2020 August. For this dishonest columnist, everything about the deal: the royalty, the profit-sharing arrangements, tax provisions, ring-fencing, signing bonus, flaring provisions, etc., was the best possible deal with EXXON, as long as the PNC-led coalition was in charge. Because the well-planned rigging of the elections did not materialise, and the columnist’s friends and benefactors lost power, he has now heaped the flaws and missteps at the feet of Bharrat Jagdeo, demanding that the VP MUST correct the wrongs his friends did.

It is the PPP Government that is optimizing returns from a bad deal while maintaining global credibility and positing Guyana as a law-abiding state holding strong to international contract laws.

While the brazen columnist waxes lyrical daily within the bosom of a free press, courtesy of a democratic Government, he daily lashes out at the Government for incompetent governance.

But he was, between 2015 and 2020, an integral part of those who were the custodians of Guyana’s gold reserves, which stood at about $25B in the Bank of Guyana. By 2020, the gold reserves had dwindled to almost nothing. This know-it-all columnist takes no responsibility.

He never once saw anything wrong when, under his friends in APNU/AFC, the Bank currency reserve, which was about $81B in 2015, had miraculously morphed into an overdraft of about $148B by 2020; when a US$30M loan was taken by NICIL for GuySuCo but was barely used to support GuySuCo; when that Government spent out most of the EXIM Bank of India’s US$54M that was supposed to improve the infrastructure of the health sector, but there was nothing to show for it by 2020; when they rented an old house at about $15M per month to store some condoms and some obsolete equipment; when they bought $96M worth of medicines for more than $600M; and when they kept spending millions for multiple feasibility studies for the Demerara River Bridge, but not a grain of sand was poured for the bridge, which is only now taking shape under the PPP. It is unfair to blame VP Bharrat Jagdeo for these examples of colossal bad governance, and that is precisely the point: President Irfaan Ali, VP Jagdeo and the PPP Government were not responsible for the “bad” EXXON deal, a deal they inherited and are trying to ensure Guyana gets as much as it could from it. But if, just because they replaced the columnist’s friends, VP Jagdeo and his colleagues could be blamed for something they were not remotely near to, then by the same token, the columnists could be blamed for what the Government he supported did.

What is “good for the goose must be good for the gander”.

VP Bharrat Jagdeo is never shy about saying what he thinks.

For those of us who choose to publicly criticize others, whether they deserve it or not, we must learn to be “thick-skinned”. Those whom we attack and those we are critical of will often respond. This cowardly columnist wants to dish it out, but vehemently protests when he is on the receiving end, as if he never heard that “what is good for the goose is good for the gander”.

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

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

16 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Allegedly mentally-ill man terrorising Berbice community – residents calling for tougher Police action in dealing with matter A

n allegedly mentally-ill man has reportedly been terrorising and verbally abusing residents of the community of Union, also known as Number 29 Village, on the West Coast of Berbice (WCB) in Region Five (MahaicaBerbice).

The suspect’s recent attack was carried out on Saturday last, when he was caught on CCTV camera hurling stones at a house in the area.

These attacks have reportedly been occurring periodically since 2016, and concerned residents have related that while reports are made to the Police and responses are forthcoming, a permanent solution is needed. Even the homes of Police officers, including a Presidential Guard, have been targeted, they say.

In Saturday’s attack, Marian Joseph related that at about 2:50h, she heard stones crashing down on her sister’s property, and upon

Windows that were broken after the suspect hurled bricks at the homes

enquiring, she realized that the suspect was throwing stones. Soon after, he turned his attention to her house.

“And he was cussing and saying that he was going to murder all of us. And then he came in front of my gap; he has a cutlass in his left hand and a stone in his right hand.

He pelt straight to my place and broke the window,” she detailed.

Joseph said Saturday’s incident was reported to the Police, but the response is not what her family had been expecting. “When you go and report to the Police, they

might come and stand on the street and call for the man.

The man would not come out of his gate, he would start up his chainsaw and they would stay for about 10 minutes and then they move away.

Up to now, no Police can’t come and see the damage on my place,” Joseph told this publication on Monday.

She has said that while some people in the community are contending that this man is of unsound mind, she believes he is fully in control of his thoughts and actions.

Joseph has said she was eventually taken to the hos-

pital for treatment for anxiety-related conditions.

Another resident, Marcus Lewis, related that the suspect had gone to his daughter’s workplace, two villages away, and had hurled treats at her; and his home had been targeted on Saturday.

His car had also been damaged by stones thrown by the man. According to Marcus, this is not the first time his vehicle had been damaged by

this individual. On one occasion, the court had ordered that the man replace the entire back door of the car, after he had damaged it.

The man implicated in these allegations had previously been found guilty of assaulting a neighbour, and a fine had been imposed on him by a magistrate while the neighbour had sued him for compensation. This man is reportedly a rice farmer.

Operators trained as Health Ministry ...

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hile highlighting the ongoing efforts to implement the National Plan for Mental Health and Suicide, he disclosed that the strategic plan is set to be launched in the first quarter of this year.

According to the Minister, now that mental health services have been decentralised, there are indications that some affected communities were overlooked in previous years.

"When we look at our stats, whether for suicide or mental health issues, we'll see a lot of information about the coastal regions, and we take for granted that this is where the problem is prevalent. But now that we start taking services to some of the interior locations, we realise that they have similar problems, but before we weren't capturing the data,” the Minister explained.

FROM PAGE 10

Dr Anthony further added that with the shortage of trained personnel to provide counselling throughout Guyana, a telepsychiatry project was implemented to reach individuals in remote regions.

"We don't have a lot of trained people. We need to train more people in mental health. And while we don't have enough trained people, we started something last year where we wanted to use technology to reach people, so we've introduced telepsychiatry and in one particular region, after we had a tragedy, we introduced telepsychiatry to the community and all the communities that were affected and link them to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

In that way, rather than having a specialist on-site and going to the remote communities, at least we have a bridge where they can come and get

help,” Minister Anthony declared.

He mentioned that with the addition of 25 telemedicine sites across Guyana, they will be able to create potential opportunities to provide telepsychiatry to those in need.

Meanwhile, PAHO/WHO Representative to Guyana, Dr Luis Codina stated that a new and strategic plan for mental health was crucial, since it would contain activities addressing the implementation of a helpline and other measures within Guyana.

Among those present were the Director of the MoH Mental Health Unit, Dr Timothy Morgan; the Temporary Advisor at PAHO/ WHO and workshop facilitator, Dr Lakshmi Vijayakumar; Clinical Psychologist, Head of Psychological Services Training and Education, Dr Mark Constantine and other officials.

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

MoE rolls out $1.8B School Supplies Cash Grant initiative nationwide

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Education Minister Priya Manickchand and teachers during the distribution exercise in Region Two

he Education Ministry kicked off its School Supplies Cash Grant distribution exercise on Monday in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) amid strike actions by teachers along the Essequibo Coast and around the country.

The grant was implemented in September 2023 and is aimed at providing financial relief to teachers, helping to improve and manage classrooms more effectively and getting relevant supplies promptly at a preferred quality.

Under the grant, teachers are allowed to purchase the necessary office, field and janitorial supplies needed for their classrooms.

As such, a total of $1.8 billion will be distributed

to schools across the country and cater to the expenses expected to be incurred for two school terms.

Schools along the coastline will receive $4500 per student per term while hinterland schools will receive $5500 per student per term.

In nursery and primary schools along the coast, teachers will be receiving $3500 per student while $1000 will remain with the school’s administrative department to offset expenses in common areas.

Similarly in hinterland nursery and primary schools, $4500 will be given to the teacher and the remaining $1000 will be used by the school’s administrative department to offset common expenses.

For secondary schools,

the monies will be given to Heads of Departments who will then consult with his/her teachers to decide which items are most needed for their departments.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand visited the Essequibo Coast to distribute the grant at the Anna Regina Secondary School and the Abram Zuil Secondary School while senior Education Officers were fanned out across the coast.

Auditors were present to ensure the transparency and accountability of the programme as is the case with every other cash grant for which the Ministry had responsibility.

Delivering brief remarks in Region Two, Manickchand stated suggestions were taken into

consideration following the first distribution process to make the implementation of the grant more effective.

She noted that one of the changes made was to the list which guided teachers in their purchases.

The Minister explained that a request was made to the Finance Ministry to budget the grant under Subvention for Grants, which will result in wider latitude for what can be bought.

The other complaint teachers had was that some headteachers did not give

to the school and another sum to the teacher.

It was noted that to ensure the programme is transparent, teachers are still required to present receipts of their purchases.

Additionally, a memo will be sent out detailing the distribution of the grant.

Upon returning from the Essequibo Coast, Minister Manickchand visited the Central Bank of Guyana, where she witnessed the monies for the grant being transferred into the bank accounts of 41 schools across the country.

Teachers’ Association bank account to transact business.

Some schools that received their grants via bank payments were New Campbellville Secondary School, Dora Secondary School, Auchlyne Primary School, Patentia Secondary School and Soesdyke #2 Nursery School.

This programme forms part of the Government’s commitment to supporting teachers and advancing the provision of high-quality education. The grant’s implementation, together

Parents and teachers at the initiative’s roll-out the grant to teachers and bought in bulk what they thought teachers needed which defeated the purpose of the grant. The change this year is to give one sum

This is a significant development as previously; most schools did not have a bank account, and many teachers were not keen on utilising the Parent-

with the other initiatives, has been providing teachers with the tools they need to deliver the curriculum and achieve notable outcomes.

18 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Representation of women in GDF now stands at 10.7% A

s the Women’s Army Corps of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) celebrates its 57th anniversary, emphasis was placed on the strides made by women throughout the years in the national security architecture of the country, with a call being issued for more women to take up roles in the military.

Army Chief, Brigadier Omar Khan on Tuesday revealed that women make up 10.7 per cent of the organisation, and highlighted that this was a remarkable achievement in the nation’s quest for gender equality and inclusivity.

“This may seem like a fair

improvement, but I believe there is room for improve-

Army Chief, Brigadier Omar Khan

ment for women and their service to the nation through the military,” he said.

Khan’s remarks underscored the evolving landscape

within the military, where women have transcended

Colonel Lorraine Foster

traditional barriers to excel in various roles. From combat positions to crucial support functions such as intelligence, logistics, and medical services, female soldiers are making their mark across diverse sectors of the Force.

“You did all this despite the challenges. As a wife, as a mother, and even as you are administering a home… You have truly been a remarkable being in giving service to our country…but, I look forward to improvement in how you conduct and execute your duties…,” he said.

Head of the Women’s Army Corps, Colonel Lorraine Foster echoed Khan’s senti-

Scenes from the Women’s Army Corps of the Guyana Defence Force anniversary event

ments, emphasising the importance of recognising and nurturing female talent within the military. She articulated a vision of empowerment, resilience, and commitment among female service members, advocating for an environment where they are valued as indispensable assets to national defence.

“We have to ensure that we maintain the desired level of fitness and body mass index. I desire for us to have a vibrant corps of women who are capable of operating in any theatre or environment….,” she said.

Colonel Foster added that she would ensure that mechanisms were in place so that no female would feel disadvantaged or taken advantage

of.

“I challenge you, therefore, to let persons see our strength and how we can contribute. None of us must use our gender as an excuse for a free pass. We can be all the Force requires us to be… I would like us at some point in the future to be able to recruit soldiers and officers, without having to pay attention to numbers or gender, but, for that to happen, women have to be ready and available to serve in all non-traditional areas,” the Women’s Army Corps Head said.

As the Women’s Army Corps celebrated its 57th anniversary, the occasion served as a poignant reminder of the ongoing journey toward gender parity within the GDF.

While the rise to 10.7 per cent female representation is significant progress, both Khan and Foster reiterated the need for continued efforts to ensure equal opportunities and support mechanisms for female service members.

The anniversary event, held at Base Camp Ayanganna, brought together a diverse array of women from the Joint Services, alongside female veterans, officers’ spouses, and their male counterparts.

Against the backdrop of celebration and reflection, the event underscored the collective commitment to advancing gender equality and fostering an inclusive environment within the Guyana Defence Force. (G-9)

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Foreman crushed by loader Deceased was not operating at John Fernandes Wharf excavator in sandpit accident – son

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Dead: Trevor Jones

A

foreman attached to the John Fernandes Wharf on Water Street Georgetown was on Tuesday crushed by a heavy-duty machine as it was moving containers from one location to another.

The dead man has been identified as 64-year-old Trevor Jones of Stevedore Housing Scheme in East Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

Based on reports received, the incident occurred at around 07:40h, after Jones had completed his midnight to 6:00h shift; and according to the report, the accident took place between the facility’s main entrance and the wharf.

A machine operator was reportedly moving a container when Jones was struck by the counterweight at the rear of the vehicle.

He fell to the side of the machine, and sustained fatal injuries from its right rear wheel.

In a press statement, the Labour Ministry said

The site where the accident occurred

an investigation has been launched into the incident by the Occupational Safety and Health Department.

Minister Joseph Hamilton has expressed concern about workers being injured on the job, emphasizing the expectation by families that their loved ones would return home safely after work.

Minister Hamilton has extended sincere sympathy to the grieving relatives, co-workers, and friends of the deceased.

Investigations by the Ministry’s Occupational Safety and Health department are ongoing. Jones, who worked in a supervisory role at the wharf, had

been employed with the company for more than 20 years.

This incident has occurred just two days after Lennox McPherson, a resident of Cinderella City in Linden, who had been employed by the Guyana Shield Resources Inc. at Dora on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, was crushed to death.

He reportedly was pinned by the bucket of a Doosan Excavator against the track of an excavator just outside a sandpit at Dora on the East Bank of Demerara. An investigation has also been launched into his death.

he circumstances surrounding the tragic death of 66-year-old Lennox McPherson at a sandpit operated by the Guyana Shield Resources Inc at Dora on the Soesdyke- Linden Highway have taken a new turn, in accordance with statements made by his son Keon McPherson.

Initial reports had suggested that the senior McPherson had been operating an excavator when the accident occurred, but the junior McPherson has clarified that his father had been driving a bulldozer.

According to Keon McPherson, his father had momentarily left his bulldozer to converse with the excavator operator when tragedy struck.

It is alleged that the excavator operator had suddenly activated his machine, and the swinging bucket had inadvertently struck Lennox, resulting in the fatal injuries he sustained.

“When he hit him, he panicked…we were told that he was arrested, and was released later that same day, and had to report to the CID department, where he was later released there, too”, Keon McPherson had related.

The incident has prompted an investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Department of the Labour Ministry. Darwin

Dead: Lennox McPherson

Bourne, overseeing the investigation, has already visited the accident site for inspection and discussions with Hilbert Shields, the chief executive of the sandpit operation, and other staff members.

In the wake of his father’s untimely death, the grieving Keon McPherson has been in communication with the company, seeking accountability and support for his family’s devastating loss. There have been assurances from the company that the expenses relating to his father’s funeral would be offset, and compensation would be provided to the grieving family.

Although the specifics of the compensation package have not been disclosed, the son

remains optimistic that the company would honour its commitment.

“I am the one that has been contacting them [the company], and it wasn’t until I went to collect his things that was when they told me what happened…they said they would compensate the family…”, he said.

In 2023, the Labour Ministry recorded a total of 20 workplace deaths owing to accidents in the mining, construction, agriculture and manufacturing sectors. Of the 20 deaths recorded, nine occurred in the mining sector in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) while six were recorded in the construction sector.

The Ministry also recorded 175 non-fatal accidents of the 577 reports received, and those were investigated.

Most of these reports emanated from the agriculture and manufacturing sectors.

Also, 950 inspections were conducted at workplaces across the 10 administrative regions, and over 8000 workers were directly impacted. In instances where breaches of the Occupational Safety and Health Act were identified, the Labour Ministry offered written and verbal advice.

In 2020, there were 32 workplace deaths; in 2021, that number decreased to 27; and in 2022, there were 21 deaths.

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 7, 2024

21

Petterson-Griffith meets Ramson ahead of Sheffield24 participation

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head of his historical participation at the Sheffield 2024 Powerlifting Championships, a joint project between the International Powerlifting Federation and SBD to showcase the stars in the sport, Guyana’s Carlos PettersonGriffith and his team yesterday paid a courtesy call on Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr. Minister Ramson welcomed Petterson-Griffith, wished him every success, and encouraged him to enjoy the competition.

The Show Stopper, as this athlete is known, qualified for the event as the top athlete in the 93kg category in South America at the 2023 edition of the World Classic Open Championships held in Malta.

“On behalf of the Ministry, and by extension the Government of Guyana, we want to wish you the best as you go out there to represent yourself and the nation at a competition that features the best 12 male and female athletes in the world.

You have worked hard, trained hard, showing admi-

rable discipline in following your training routine; so, it’s now time to show the world what you’re made of. Enjoy every moment of the competition,” the minister encouraged.

Sheffield24 is a high-profile event with the largest prize fund in powerlifting history. The event will build on the success of last year’s inaugural Sheffield championships, bringing together 12 men and 12 women to battle it out for world records and the title of “champion of champions”.

Petterson-Griffith

thanked Minister Ramson for the continued support he has received from him, the Sport Ministry, and the Government of Guyana.

Also present at yesterday’s engagement were Petterson-Griffith’s Coach and Assistant, Dexter Jones and Jamie McDonald respectively, Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation President Franklin Wilson, and Petterson-Griffith’s sister, Nicola Searles.

The competition is set for Saturday 10th February at the Sheffield City Hall at Barker's Pool in Sheffield,

Minister Charles Ramson (3rd left) is flanked by, from right: Dexter Jones, Carlos Petterson-Griffith, Nicola Searles, Jamie McDonald, and Franklin Wilson

United Kingdom. Sheffield was created to showcase the stars of the sport, and offer a platform to break records.

The allocation of our prize fund supports this vision:

Total prize fund: £445,000; Potential maximum an individual athlete can win: £45,000; World records on squat, bench press, deadlift, and total: £5,000.

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GUYANATIMESGY.COM

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 7, 2024

Milo Schools’ Football tournament returns on February 18 2

4 School football teams will converge on the Ministry of Education (MoE) and National Insurance Scheme (NIS) grounds in a little under two weeks, when the 10th edition of the Milo Schools’ Football tournament commences.

A total of 52 teams from across the country have expressed interest in the competition, but this number would eventually be whittled down. Massy, under their Nestle Milo brand, have injected a whopping $4 million into this year’s tournament.

With Region One’s Santa Rosa Secondary being the defending champions, Petra Organization Co-Director Troy Mendonca revealed, efforts are underway to accommodate more out-of-town teams, given Santa Rosa’s success.

“As an organization, we would’ve taken the initia-

Petra Co-Director Troy Mendonca The sponsorship cheque is presented to Petra’s Troy Mendonca by Massy’s Navin Thakur in the presence of MoE’s Nicholas Fraser, GFF’s Dion Inniss and Massy/Nestle’s Teisha Milner

er teams from different regions. Of course, we’re trying to engage the Regional Education Officers in terms

Nestle Senior Business Manager Teisha Milner

tive to invite the Santa Rosa team last year from Region 1, and I think it (added) so much value to the tournament,” Mendonca highlighted.

He added, “This year, we’re hoping to invite oth-

of assisting us to have these teams participate in the tournament. As you would notice, the budget might not (facilitate) us to have all those teams, but we’re hoping (that) with the relationship we built over the

years…we are able to have more teams from out of town participate in the tournament this year.”

In other developments regarding this tournament, Mendonca divulged, “We anticipate a keenly contested competition, and I know most of these teams will be eyeing up other tournaments to come during the year. As part of our enhancement to capacity building, we will continue to have livestream in the semifinals and the finals, and we’re hoping to have the finals aired on Sportsmax.”

The competition will commence in the round-robin format, with teams being placed in 6 groups of four. Thereafter, the top two teams from each group and the best four third place teams would advance to the round of 16.

On the sponsor’s behalf, Nestle Senior Business Manager Teisha Milner highlighted the benefit of sport, and expressed the

company’s commitment to providing such opportunities.

“This is an opportunity that youths today look forward to, and we’re happy to bring to them again this year. Today, sports are essential to students’ overall growth and development, and we recognize the need for sports in our schools and are committed in supporting events that afford each student the opportunity to

engage and participate in sporting activities,” Milner related.

Meanwhile, GFF VicePresident Dion Inniss, after heaping praise on both organizer and sponsor, emphasized the need for multi-stakeholder involvement in the sport’s development. Inniss shared, “When you think about football, I’ve always said we cannot advance without our multi-stakeholder engagement. For instance, we have our friends in the private sector, we have the media,

we have Government involvement. So, for us to succeed, we need multistakeholder engagement. We have the Ministry of Sports, Ministry of Education, Regional Ministries; everyone has to come on board if we’re really serious about taking football to another level.”

The teams will be vying for a top prize of $300,000, to be given in kind for a school project; while second, third and fourth place will receive $200,000, $150,000 and $75,000 for a similar purpose.

GABA boss Slater pleased with improved level of basketball

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ith the “One G u y a n a ” B a s k e t b a l l League which commenced on August 12th, last year now in the Playoff stage, Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) President Jermaine Slater is pleased with how the level of basketball has improved during the league.

In a comment invited by Guyana Times Sport, Slater expounded on the impact of the league in giving players more playing time to understand Basketball more effectively. “…most of the players, now that they have so many games to play; and thus they play a lot of different teams - at least six or seven teams they’ve played already - so you would find that they now understand themselves and some of the other players, and their IQ Level of basketball has raised. So, you find that most of the

Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association President, Jermaine Slater

games are now (more) competitive than (in) the past,” Slater said.

The “One Guyana” Basketball League is currently in its playoff phase, as Kwakwani Untouchables and Kitty/ Campbellville Ravens prepare to confront each other in the Harpy Eagle Conference finals,

while Bounty Colts and McDoom/Prospect Kobras will battle on Saturday to decide who would advance to the Jaguar Conference finals, where they will face unbeaten Stabroek Eagles.

Since its commencement, the tournament has seen 14 teams divided into two conferences: the Harpy Eagle Conference and the Jaguar Conference, which saw the teams from the conferences playing the teams within their conference twice, with the top four teams qualifying for the play-offs, where the number one ranked team plays the team ranked fourth, and the number two team plays the third-ranked team.

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

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 7, 2024

Bartlett, Fraser-McGurk star as…

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Australia whip WI with record 259 balls remaining L

ance Morris’s spectacular return was cut short by a side strain injury, but Xavier Bartlett continued a strong start to his international career with four wickets as Australia thrashed a hapless West Indies at Manuka Oval to sweep the ODI series.

Openers Josh Inglis and Jake Fraser-McGurk raced toward the low target by smashing 67 runs within five overs.

They had struck Australia’s fastest team 50 in men’s ODIs since 2002.

Their eight-wicket victory with 43.1 overs to spare was the shortest men’s ODI ever played in Australia. The match lasted just 31 overs, and was completed in three hours, including the innings break. Bartlett starred with 4 for 21 as West Indies were embarrassingly bowled out for 86 in 24.1 overs in their fifth lowest ODI score.

Playing their 1000th ODI, the second nation to do so after India, Australia were almost flawless following comprehensive victories in Melbourne and Sydney. Inglis raced to 22 off seven deliveries as he played gorgeous orthodox shots, but was quickly overtaken by Fraser-McGurk, who muscled three sixes in four balls off seamer Matthew Forde.

Fraser-McGurk was on

Alick Athanaze top scored with 32 but fell sweeping

Xavier Bartlett claimed an early wicket although replays showed an inside on the lbw

tions. After having a breather following his stunning four-wicket debut at the MCG, Bartlett was immediately on the money with the new ball, and he had opener Kjorn Ottley lbw in his second over. Ottley trudged off after a short discussion with Alick Athanaze, but replays showed he had inside-edged the ball.

Bartlett continued to showcase his prowess for swing bowling, and he bowled an unrelenting line and length to finish with 1 for 11

Jake Fraser-McGurk gave a glimpse of his potential

track for a rapid half-century, but holed out to midon to end his 18-ball 41 and dashed Australia’s hopes for a 10-wicket win. Aaron Hardie made just two before Australia passed the target after 6.5 overs.

Australia recorded their 12th straight victory in the 50-Over format, but were aided by a shoddy West Indies effort in which a number of batters were dismissed in tame fashion. It wasn’t all rosy for Australia, with Morris, who returned to the side along with Bartlett in place of injured Matthew Short and a rested Josh Hazlewood, coming off the ground midway through his fifth over with a left side strain. He will have a scan, and faces a nervous wait ahead of Australia’s tour of New Zealand.

Steven Smith elected to bowl under bleak skies, with Bartlett looming as a major threat in seaming condi-

off his opening five-over spell.

Athanaze and Keacy Carty, however, held firm as West Indies’ fortunes momentarily seemed to turn with the sun emerging, and they eyed a decent total on the traditionally batting-friendly Manuka Oval surface.

West Indies avoided the early collapses that marred their opening two games, but the introduction of Morris in the 11th over soon left them in familiar woe.

Morris had his first international wicket when Carty was brilliantly caught by a flying Marnus Labuschagne at backward point. Captain Shai Hope unsuccessfully reviewed an lbw decision off Sean Abbott in the next over, before Morris clean bowled debutant Teddy Bishop with a searing full delivery that rattled the stumps.

In contrast to when he took the new ball at the MCG, Morris enjoyed being held back in a role he usually relishes with Western Australia at domestic level. He bowled consistently in the mid140kph, and had a threatening short of a length before going off the ground.

Athanaze had held the innings together until he threw away his wicket with a rash sweep stroke against leg-

SCOREBOARD West Indies (50 ovs maximum) Alick Athanaze c Abbott b Zampa 32 Kjorn Ottley lbw b Bartlett 8 Keacy Carty c Labuschagne b Morris 10 Shai Hope (c)† lbw b Abbott 4 Teddy Bishop b Morris 0 Roston Chase c Fraser-McGurk b Bartlett 12 Romario Shepherd c †Inglis b Bartlett 1 Matthew Forde run out (sub [MW Harvey]/†Inglis) 0 Alzarri Joseph c Hardie b Bartlett 6 Gudakesh Motie lbw b Zampa 0 Oshane Thomas not out 0 Extras (lb 1, w 12) 13 TOTAL 24.1 Ov (RR: 3.55) 86 Fall of wickets: 1-13 (Kjorn Ottley, 2.5 ov), 2-38 (Keacy Carty, 10.3 ov), 3-43 (Shai Hope, 11.3 ov), 4-44 (Teddy Bishop, 12.5 ov), 5-71 (Alick Athanaze, 19.5 ov), 6-73 (Romario Shepherd, 20.1 ov), 7-73 (Matthew Forde, 20.3 ov), 8-80 (Roston Chase, 22.5 ov), 9-86 (Gudakesh Motie, 23.4 ov), 10-

86 (Alzarri Joseph, 24.1 ov) • DRS BOWLING O-M-R-W Xavier Bartlett 7.1-0-21-4 Cameron Green 3-0-18-0 Sean Abbott 4-0-14-1 Lance Morris 4.3-1-13-2 Adam Zampa 5-0-14-2 Will Sutherland 0.3-0-5-0 Australia (T: 87 runs from 50 ovs) Jake Fraser-McGurk c Motie b Joseph 41 Josh Inglis † not out 35 Aaron Hardie c †Hope b Thomas 2 Steven Smith (c) not out 6 Extras (nb 1, w 2) 3 TOTAL 6.5 Ov (RR: 12.73) 87/2 Did not bat: Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Sean Abbott, Will Sutherland, Xavier Bartlett, Adam Zampa, Lance Morris Fall of wickets: 1-67 (Jake Fraser-McGurk, 4.3 ov), 2-80 (Aaron Hardie, 6.2 ov) • DRS BOWLING O-M-R-W Alzarri Joseph 3-0-30-1 Matthew Forde 2-0-40-0 Gudakesh Motie 1-0-10-0 Oshane Thomas 0.5-0-7-1

spinner Adam Zampa, which was caught at deep backward

square.

Smith went on the attack and brought back Bartlett, who on his first delivery nicked off Romario Shepherd.

Bartlett soon became just the sixth men’s bowler to record four-plus wicket hauls in his first two ODIs.

West Indies’ woeful performance was summed up with a comical run out of Forde, who bickered with batting partner Roston Chase on his way off, as their 27year ODI drought against Australia in Australia continues. (ESPNCricinfo)

Local referee participates in CONCACAF Academy in Mexico

I

Snippets from Prescott’s time at the Referee and Instructor Academy

n pursuit of her goal to attain FIFA certification, local referee Kenisha Prescott attended the January CONCACAF Referee and Instructor Academy in Toluca, Mexico.

The January 18-31 academy training served as a crucial stepping stone in Prescott's journey towards becoming an internationally-recognised and certified official in the world of football.

Prescott was Guyana's lone representative at the workshop, which focuses on elevating the standard of officiating across the region with strategic training for instructors within the member associations.

Prescott has said the course aided her in becoming a more skilled and proficient referee.

“During these two weeks, we were exposed to indepth teaching on the laws of the game and how to apply them by FIFA Referee Peter Prendergast. These were done in the classroom and on the field. We were also physically prepared for the demands of the game by our Fitness Instructor Allan Brown Morgan. All

GFF General Secretary Ian Alves making a presentation to Kenisha Prescott

in all, the course has better equipped me to become a better referee, and my journey in the academy will help me to excel and to become a top-level referee.” she said.

The workshop delved into top-level instruction, provided training within a professional environment, and offered hands-on experience in officiating matches in Toluca. For the first time, CONCACAF held the Instructors’ Academy concurrently with the Referee Academy.

Guyana boasts a quar-

tet of referees on the FIFA 2024 list, including FIFA Assistant Referees Kleon Lindley and Denisha Isaacs, FIFA Referee Shavin Greene and FIFA Futsal Referee Colin Abel.

Guyana Football Federation (GFF) President Wayne Forde continues to invest in training for referees in order to fully professionalise the game.

The aim of the Guyana Football Referees Council (GFRC) is to increase the number of referees on the FIFA listing for 2025.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2024

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

Stage set for opening rounds of 2024 West Indies Championship W

est Indies Championship 2024, Guyana Harpy Eagles vs Windward the region’s first-class four-day Islands Volcanoes - UWI SPEC, Trinidad red ball tournament, bowls off West Indies Academy vs CCC - CCG, in Jamaica and St. Kitts and Nevis from Antigua February 7th- 10th with four matches Round 6 being simultaneously contested.

10 to 13 April: The tournament will open with Jamaica Scorpions vs Guyana Harpy defending champions Guyana Harpy Eagles - Sabina Park, Jamaica Eagles bidding for a second successive title CCC vs Trinidad &Tobago Red Force as they take on Trinidad and Tobago Red Chedwin Park, Jamaica Force at Conaree Cricket Centre in St. Kitts.

Leeward Hurricanes vs Barbados Pride The Leeward Islands Hurricanes - UWI SPEC, Trinidad are hosting the West Indies Academy at West Indies Academy vs Windward Warner Park. In Jamaica, the Scorpions will Islands Volcanoes - CCG, Antigua start their campaign when they face the Round 7 Windward Islands Volcanoes in the feature 17 to 20 April: match at Sabina Park. At the same time, Jamaica Scorpions vs Trinidad &Tobago the Combined Campuses and Colleges Red Force - Sabina Park, Jamaica (CCC) will take on the Barbados Pride at CCC vs Guyana Harpy Eagles Chedwin Park.

Kensington Cricket Club, Jamaica The second round would be played Leeward Islands Hurricanes vs from February 14-17, when Jamaica Windward Islands Volcanoes - UWI SPEC, will confront the CCC at Sabina Park; Trinidad Barbados will take on Windward Islands at West Indies Academy vs Barbados Kensington Cricket Club; Leeward Islands Pride - CCG, Antigua The Guyana Harpy Eagles are the defending champions of the West Indies Championships will face Guyana at Warner Park in St. Kitts; SQUADS LISTING and Trinidad and Tobago will face the West TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE BARBADOS PRIDE Indies Academy at Conaree Cricket Centre.

West Indies Championship 2024 Kraigg Brathwaite, Shaquille Cumberbatch, Shane Dowrich, The third round of the West Indies Championship will be played Round 1 Jonathan Drakes, Chaim-Alexis Holder, Chemar Holder, Akeem Jordan, from February 21st- 24th, after which there would be a break before 7 to 10 February: Jair McAllister, Zachary McCaskie, Shayne Moseley, Roshon Primus, resumption of Rounds 4-5, from March 13th-23rd, to be played in Jamaica Scorpions vs Windward Islands Volcanoes - Sabina Park, Jomel Warrican, Kevin Wickham.

Trinidad and Antigua. Rounds 6-7 would be played from April 10thJamaica 20th in Jamaica, Trinidad and Antigua.

CCC vs Barbados Pride - Chedwin Park, Jamaica COMBINED CAMPUSES AND COLLEGES Every West Indies Championship match will be streamed live on Leeward Islands Hurricanes vs West Indies Academy - Warner Kirstan Kallicharan, Shatrughan Rambaran, Jonathan Carter, the Windies Cricket YouTube channel. Fans can follow every game from Park, St. Kitts Shamarh Brooks, Demario Richards, Shaqkere Parris, Romario their mobile devices, computers, or connected TVs, including access to Guyana Harpy Eagles vs Trinidad & Tobago Red Force - Conaree Greaves, Sion Hackett, Sadique Henry, Jediah Blades, Damel Evelyn, live ball-by-ball scoring on the Windiescricket.com live match center.

Cricket Centre, St. Kitts Zishan Motara.

Round 2 GUYANA HARPY EAGLES 14 to 17 February: Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Raymond Perez, Matthew Nandu, Jamaica Scorpions vs CCC - Sabina Park, Ronsford Beaton, Richie Looknauth, Veerasammy Permaul, Neiland Jamaica Cadogan, Kevin Sinclair, Kemol Savory, Kevlon Anderson, Antony Barbados Pride vs Windward Islands Adams, Ronaldo Alimohamed, Steven Sankar.

Volcanoes - Kensington Cricket Club, Jamaica JAMAICA SCORPIONS Leeward Islands Hurricanes vs Guyana Harpy Jermaine Blackwood, Chadwick Walton, Carlos Brown, Romaine Eagles - Warner Park, St. Kitts Morris, Marquino Mindley, Abhijai Mansingh, Derval Trinidad &Tobago Red Force vs West Indies Green, Nkrumah Bonner, Peat Salmon, Jeavor Academy - Conaree Cricket Centre, St. Kitts Royal, Ramaal Lewis, Gordon Bryan, Round 3 Kirk McKenzie.

21 to 24 February: Jamaica Scorpions vs Barbados Pride - Sabina Park, LEEWARD ISLANDS HURRICANES Jamaica Jahmar Hamilton, Rahkeem Windward Islands Volcanoes vs CCC - Chedwin Park, Cornwall, Mikyle Louis, Daniel Jamaica Doram, Colin Archibald, Terence Leeward Islands Hurricanes vs Trinidad &Tobago Warde, Jeremiah Louis, Joshau Red Force - Warner Park, St. Kitts Grant, Ross Powell, Kofi James, Javier West Indies Academy vs Guyana Harpy Eagles - Coolidge Cricket Spencer, Sheno Berridge, Karima Gore.

Ground (CCG), Antigua Round 4 TRINIDAD & TOBAGO RED FORCE 13 to 16 March: Joshua DaSilva, Amir Jangoo, Imran Khan, Terrance Hinds, Jason Trinidad &Tobago Red Force vs Windward Islands Volcanoes Mohammed, Jyd Goolie, Jayden Seales, Anderson Phillip, Bryan Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad Charles, Vikash Mohan, Cephas Cooper, Tion Webster, Khary Pierre.

CCC vs Leeward Islands Hurricanes - Diego Martin Regional WEST INDIES ACADEMY Complex, Trinidad Ashmead Nedd, Ackeem Auguste, Nyeem Young, Johann Layne, Guyana Harpy Eagles vs Barbados Pride - Sir Frank Worrell Cricket Carlon Bowen-Tuckett, Joshua Bishop, Mbeki Joseph, Kelvin Pitman, Ground at UWI Spec (UWI SPEC), Trinidad Rivaldo Clarke, Joshua James, Rashawn Worrell, Ramon Simmonds, West Indies Academy vs Jamaica Scorpions - CCG, Antigua Kadeem Alleyne.

Round 5 20 March to 23 March: WINDWARD ISLANDS VOLCANOES Trinidad &Tobago Red Force vs Barbados Pride - Queen’s Park Kimani Melius, Ryan John, Tevyn Walcott, Johann Jeremiah, Sunil Oval, Trinidad Ambris, Shamar Springer, Shermon Lewis, Jeremy Solozano, Daurius Leeward Islands Hurricanes vs Jamaica Scorpions - Diego Martin Martin, Shadrack Descarte, Darel Cyrus, Kenneth Dember, Keron A glimpse of what to expect when the West Regional Complex, Trinidad Cottoy.

Indies Championship resumes today GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, NEWS HOTLINE: 231-8063 EDITORIAL: 223-7230, 223-7231, 231-0544, 225-7761 SPORT: sport@guyanatimesgy.com SALES AND MARKETING: 231-8064 - marketing@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.