Guyana Times - Wednesday, February 8, 2023

$38M water supply system commissioned at Kato

GECOM approves work plan

108 cases listed for February session of Berbice Assizes Cop gets $1.6M bail for New Year’s fatal shooting of Corporal, fisherman

“A terrible disaster for countries, region” – Pres Ali on Turkiye-Syria earthquakes

...over 7800 reported dead ...Guyana expresses solidarity with countries during recovery efforts

Govt to engage GRA amid complaints by rice farmers of high markup & VAT on spare parts

Construction worker severely burnt after coming into contact with high-voltage wire

Region 6 man dies from COVID-19

Duo arrested after stolen car found in Albouystown yard

Ramps Logistics aims at employing 5000 in 10 years

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Tuesday met with Cuba’s Ambassador to Guyana, Jorge Francisco Luis at the Office of the President. The President and the Ambassador, who was accredited last week, held discussions on several areas of mutual interest. The Director of Projects at the Office of the President, Mrs Marcia Nadir-Sharma was also at the meeting

Construction worker severely burnt after coming into contact with high-voltage wire

tire West Bank and West Coast Demerara.”

“Once again, GPL implores contractors to observe the necessary safety precautions to avoid injury and unnecessary service disruptions. Our teams have commenced restoration to affected areas,” the GPL release has said.

This is not the first time an incident of this nature has occurred. Late last year, 27-year-old Shaqueen Butts of Airy Hall, Mahaicony, and 25-year-old Gousham Narine of Triple X NonPareil, ECD were killed after they came into contact with a live electric wire at Trans Rice Mill, located at Branch Road, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara.

Duo arrested after stolen car found in Albouystown yard

Shortly after the Police had tracked down and recovered Toyota Allion motor car PRR 5212 in a yard in Albouystown Georgetown, two persons were arrested, one of whom is a woman.

This vehicle was hijacked during an armed robbery committed on Stephen Clarke, a 33-yearold resident of Diamond, East Bank Demerara, in the vicinity of Camp Street and Brickdam, Georgetown on Monday, February 6.

Aconstruction worker who came into contact with a high-voltage electrical wire on Tuesday while working on a high-rise building on Regent Street, Georgetown is thankful that his life has been spared.

The man, Leon Turnip, reportedly sustained severe burns on his body, and is presently receiving medical attention.

Reports are that the man was working on a building next door to the Royal Jewel House on Regent Street, Georgetown when he came into contact with the power

line at around 9:30h.

“…he came into contact with a high-voltage electrical wire while doing construction work at the top of a building….The man received extensive burns on his body, and was rushed to the hospital. Thankfully, he is alive”, the Police report has said.

Shortly after that incident, Guyana Power and Light (GPL), in a brief statement, explained that the man had come into contact with the network via a metal pole, which resulted in a shutdown of power in “sections of Georgetown, the en-

In that incident, it was reported that Butts and Narine were building a metal shed on the eastern side of the Trans Rice Mill, and were reportedly standing on a metal scaffold. An eyewitness who was working with the duo at the time told the Police that Butts and Narine were working together on one scaffold. Shortly after welding some plates, Narine was reportedly seen lengthening the 20-foot metal scaffold when it came into contact with the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) line and he was electrocuted.

At the time, Butts, who was still on the scaffold, held on to Narine and was also electrocuted. Both these men then fell off the scaffold, and were picked up and rushed to the Mahaicony Public Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.

Investigations revealed that on the day in question, at about 18:00h, Clarke had transported a passenger from Diamond to the Timehri bus park at Stabroek, Georgetown, when a female requested him to take her to the junction of Camp Street and Brickdam.

Upon taking this woman to her destination, three men entered the car, one in the front seat and the other two in the back seat. The front seat passenger then whipped out a knife and held it to the driver as he ordered him to exit the car. Fearful for his life, Clarke exited the vehicle, and the men drove off the scene.

The matter was reported, and based on investigations, the car was discovered in the yard of Zezeka Yaris, a 43-year-old waitress, and Roscoe Carter, a 43-year-old security guard, both of Cooper Street, Albouystown.

When questioned about the car, Yaris claimed that her father Dennis Yaris, who lives in ‘B’ Field, Sophia, brought the vehi -

The car that was recovered by Police in Albouystown

cle and told her to keep it for him. She also claimed that he left the key with her. Carter, meanwhile, denied having any knowledge about the vehicle.

Both Yaris and Carter were arrested and es -

corted to the Brickdam Police Station. The car has been lodged as investigations continue. The vehicle is valued at $1.8M and is owned by Wilfred Abrams of Sophia, Greater Georgetown.

The man who sustained an electric shock while working on a building on Regent Street, Georgetown

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Wednesday, Feb 8 – 04:15h to 05:45h and Thursday, Feb 9 – 09:00h

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Wednesday, Feb 8 – 05:40h – 07:10h and Thursday, Feb 9 – 06:25h – 07:55h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

There will be thundery showers during the day and night. Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-Easterly to East North-Easterly between 2.68 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 06:10h and 18:24h reaching maximum heights of 2.56 metres and 2.65 metres.

Low Tide: 11:59h reaching a minimum height of 0.62 metre.

In a major move towards holding Local Government Elections (LGE), the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has voted to accept a work plan which recommends May 22, 2023, as the earliest possible date to host the elections based on the secretariat’s capacity.

In a virtual press conference with the media, GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj updated the media on the outcome of Tuesday’s statutory meeting. Importantly, the meeting saw the acceptance of the work plan from the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Vishnu Persaud.

According to Gunraj, the work plan sets out the timelines for different activities that must be completed to hold LGE. This publication has meanwhile been able to confirm that the recommended date in the work plan for holding LGE is May 22, 2023.

“The work plan, of course, has been finalised and we will start to implement it. But as you know with every good plan, it is subject to change… what GECOM will say is that we are ready to hold elections and that readiness will be signified by the middle of March,” Gunraj further said.

When it comes to the Continuous Registration exercise, Gunraj revealed that 4711 persons have applied as of February 1, 2023. These persons applied in both category A (18 years and older) and category B (persons between 14 and 18).

“The total number of persons who sought transfers was 613 and the total number of persons who sought change and corrections, 736 persons,” Gunraj further informed the media. Additionally, he informed the media that May 22, 2023, has been set as the date for persons to come of age and qualify to vote.

While GECOM has adopted this work plan, not all were supportive of it. The Government-nominated Commissioners, including Gunraj, Clement Rohee, and Manoj Narayan, and Chairperson, Retired Justice Claudette Singh voted to adopt the work plan.

According to Gunraj, the Opposition-nominated Charles Corbin, Vincent Alexander and Desmond

elections - though not without a fight from the Oppositionnominated members of the commission.

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

Trotman abstained from voting for or against the work plan.

Meanwhile, GECOM sent out a statement in which they confirmed the adoption of the report and also explained what the work plan entails.

For instance, the GECOM Secretariat will immediately move to roll out a robust civic and voter education programme, appoint Electoral Registrars and Assistant Electoral Registrars, and extract the Preliminary List of Voters (PLV).

“These activities are directly linked to the preparation of Registers of Voters for each of the 80 Local Authority Areas. Preparation for the conduct of Local Government Elections commenced in 2022,” GECOM explained.

“In this regard, the GECOM Secretariat had already completed the training of management and polling day staff for all of the Local Authority Areas, and the receipt of applications for and approval of symbols submitted by political parties, voluntary groups, and individuals who intend to contest in the elections.”

Only last week, GECOM had decided to adopt a report from the CEO confirming changes to constituency boundaries and moving the commission closer to holding

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

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

GECOM was initially expected to hold LGE on March 13, 2023. More than $750 million was set aside in Budget 2022 for the preparations to be undertaken by GECOM for the hosting of LGE. This money was part of an over-

all $4.1 billion allocation to GECOM in Budget 2022.

In October 2022, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Nigel Dharamlall had set Monday, March 13, 2023 as the date for hosting the long-overdue Local Government polls in Guyana. At the time, this was the earliest date that GECOM indicated the elections could be held.

But court action was subsequently filed by Oppositionaligned persons, challenging the process used to compile the List of Electors, or Voters’ List, for the upcoming LGE. As a consequence, the March 13 date had to be postponed.

GECOM Chairperson, Retired Justice Claudette Singh GECOM CEO Vishnu Persaud

GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Justice via ‘vigilante’ justice

The effects of recent protests at Hopetown, West Coast Berbice and at Buxton, East Coast Demerara have major implications on the minds of Guyanese, and more so the violence, injury and damage to property that ensued.

Historically, throughout the world, protests have been used to inspire positive change, and even in present day, protests continue to protect civic space in some parts of the world.

However, the descent and cause for these two most recent destructive protests - which resulted in injuries, damage to property, and great intimidation – is far from inspiring any positive change.

In the case of the Hopetown accident victims – the GDF reservist and the teenager – they are thankfully recovering well.

In situations like these, emotions and tempers flare, but the disruption of traffic, blocking of roads, and burning of tyres and traffic flow terrifying commuters does not equate to justice, change, or benefit to anyone. As a matter of fact, last Sunday’s action by protestors, to torch the car involved in the accident, has hindered the Police investigations.

We agree with commander for Region Five Division, Assistant Commissioner Kurleigh Simon, when he expressed concern over persons overreacting in such situations and seeking vigilante justice.

To quote the commander: “… that would have seriously affected our investigation, because that car would have had to be examined by a certifying officer to see what were the extent of damages caused by the accident. With the car being burnt, it would somewhat affect that process…we have to be balanced in looking at both sides of the coin. We have to look at the accident first and foremost, and then we have to look at the fact that he was assaulted and his property was also damaged. We have to be fair in executing our duties and ensuring that justice is properly served.”

As reported in the media, the situation that led to the protest and the burning of a truck at Buxton, ECD was a completely different situation, but with same impact and implications.

This was a situation similar to what obtained in June 2022 when, in the quest for justice for 23-year-old Quinden Bacchus, who was shot during an encounter with Police on June 10,2022, the perception of justice was turned into injustice for vendors at the Mon Repos Market, ECD.

Bacchus’s family members are understandably hurting, and their pain and anger were triggered by a false report that the Policeman under investigation for the 23-year-old man’s death was released from custody. Of course, this information turned out to be false, but without confirming what they had seen on social media, the family came to their own conclusion. This publication has, time and again, called for persons to be cognisant of the five Cs – caution, care, common sense, courtesy and consideration – when using social media, as many of the things posted can arise to haunt thrones. The assault that descended on the East Coast of Demerara, and more so the vendors of the Mon Repos Market, is a good example of this haunt of thrones.

The issue of wanting justice via ‘vigilante’ justice poses a serious threat to real justice for victims. The right to protest must never be marred by violence, theft and criminal behaviour.

At the time when the protest was held for Bacchus, President Dr Irfaan Ali had told one protestor – a close relative of the dead man – “Justice for your family cannot be injustice for other people too.” He was at the time referring to the robbery and assault on vendors of Mon Repos.

We support his comment then and now, since it is still relevant today.

The world is falling behind on early childhood education

By Manos antoninis and silvia Montoya

Pre-primary school is fun – serious fun.

Music, storytelling, movement, outdoor play, role play, and drama give children basic literacy, numeracy and problem-solving skills. These are the building blocks of a child’s education that put them on the right track for a life of learning. They give them the solid foundations needed to succeed in school and life.

Children who do not have the chance to start their education early are put at a serious disadvantage before they even start school. The importance of early childhood learning was highlighted in Born to Learn, a Spotlight report from UNESCO’s Global Education Monitoring Report focusing on Africa released last year.

One study showed that students who attended some form of organised early childhood education in 13 African countries scored 66 points higher in reading, on average, than those who did not, which is equivalent to more than a year of learning. The gap reached about 100 points, or more than two years of learning, in Burkina Faso and Guinea.

But despite the importance of starting school early, barely one in three countries is on track with its own national targets for early childhood education, as illustrated in the new SDG4 Scorecard report by UNESCO. Several countries, including Algeria, Armenia, Liberia, Nepal and Bahrain, are not progressing at all.

One core factor explaining this slow progress is that policies and finances are not

in place to support countries’ education targets. When an inadequate amount of a state budget is allocated to early childhood education, the quality of public provision is clearly going to suffer.

This has led parents to opt for private options, which are too costly. Today, almost four out of 10 children around the world enrolled in pre-primary education are in private schools.

The importance of finance cannot be denied. In Ghana, for instance, those who choose to put their child in a private pre-primary school have to pay on average six per cent of annual earnings, if they are rich, and 17 per cent if they are poor; the equivalents in Ethiopia are four per cent and 21 per cent respectively.

In countries that are part of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the net childcare cost for a two-earner family with two children aged two and three is 17 per cent of women’s average earnings, ranging from zero in Germany and Italy to one-third in Ireland and Slovakia, to half in Japan and the United Kingdom.

Therefore, it should not be a surprise, that the richest are far more likely to privately educate their child,

while the poorest either opt for the lower quality public option or don’t invest in that education level at all. And so, disadvantages deepen. The only way we can move forward is to share lessons between countries on what works. We did just this in our latest report, assessing what the policies were that had enabled countries to achieve fast progress. Three recommendations emerged from this analysis and they all related to the cost barriers to access.

First, there is a clear correlation between how much was spent on public education and the rise in participation rates as a result. Doubling spending from 0.25 to 0.50 of GDP [Gross Domestic Product], we found, triples participation rates in public preschools from 20 per cent to 60 per cent on average and is a clear win for improving progress on this issue. Second, given the predominance of private providers in pre-primary education, we found that Government regulations of these providers matter. UNESCO’s 2021-2022 Global Education Monitoring Report analysed 211 education systems and found that, while 97 per cent of countries regulate approval, licensing and the establishment of pri-

vate pre-primary education providers, only 26 per cent of countries support specific vulnerable populations’ tuition fees. And countries that have such equity provisions in place are doing better in terms of access to early childhood education.

Lastly, the rules count. It is important to legislate and offer free and compulsory pre-primary education. But only about half of the countries in the world have done this so far. While one policy change cannot be assessed out of context, there is a clear jump in children’s early education access across countries that put such legislation in place. Since 2015, for example, the introduction of three years of free education in Armenia, four years in Uzbekistan and three – and later five – years in Azerbaijan has been associated with a large increase in participation rates. In Azerbaijan, for instance, participation rates soared from just over 30 per cent in 2012 to more than 80 per cent in 2020.

While there is no magic wand to overcome all educational challenges, there are clear lessons we can draw from looking at existing policies. These can help drastically improve education outcomes globally. Education can and should start early. If they legislate, regulate, and finance appropriately, countries can certainly reach their early education goals. (Al Jazeera)

(Manos Antoninis is the Director of UNESCO’s Global Education Monitoring Report and Silvia Montoya is Director of the UNESCO Institute for Statistics)

The Wakowaieng Falls is located in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) in terrain estimated at 507 metres above sea level

Norton struggles for support GCB must organise club, district, county competitions

Dear Editor, National political attitudes have not been kind or favourable towards Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton in this politically and culturally polarised society. President Ali, on the other hand, is very likeable and popular.

The PNC leader has been struggling to win people’s confidence, and for support or traction within his own party’s political base, as well as nationally. This is one conspicuous finding of an opinion poll conducted by Dr. Vishnu Bisram for the North American Caribbean Teachers Association (NACTA) over the last few weeks.

NACTA has been monitoring political attitudes (favourability, or positive views, and unfavourability, or negative views) towards leading politicians. While the public has a huge net positive favourable rating of President Irfaan Ali, Prime Minister Mark Phillips, and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, among others, there is a net negative favourability rating for Norton, unlike several others (like Amanza WaltonDesir, Ganesh Mahipaul, Roysdale Forde, Geeta Chandan-Edmond, Volda Lawrence, Christopher Jones, among others) within his party, who have a positive net rating.

Norton was elected Leader of the Opposition PNC in December 2021, but has ever since been struggling to attain traction within the party, and

win national appeal to solidify his place as a leader and to lead his party to victory in elections. Surveys conducted in December 2021 and in February 2022 found favourable support for Norton becoming Opposition Leader. It was felt that since he won the leadership contest, he had the right to serve as Opposition Leader.

He became the Opposition Leader in April 2021, and has since been losing popular appeal within the party’s base. He trails others in popularity ratings within the party base. Support for him as leader of the PNC has whittled away and plateaued. Only 13% of traditional PNC supporters back him, whereas his political opponent, President Irfaan Ali, has soaring approval ratings (80s) in his party’s base and in the sixtieth percentile nationally.

Norton has no crossover ethnic support, and he is not attracting support from floating or middleof-the-ground voters, who are critical to winning an election. Discontented traditional supporters of the PPP reject him. He is not viewed, not even among PNC supporters, as an alternative President in the making to replace incumbent Irfaan Ali.

Ali comes across as a populist likable leader, whereas Norton is viewed as the opposite; and, not surprisingly, he lags behind Ali in popular appeal and voter support.

The general view among the national public is that

the PNC will not rebound under Norton’s leadership, and will lose the upcoming LGE. Respondents are of the view that Norton should make way for younger, more likeable leadership of the PNC to stem the tide against support loss. However, within the party, almost half its supporters feel Norton should be allowed to complete his tenure as Leader of the PNC, and be given the opportunity to lead the party into Local Government Elections likely later this year.

When asked who should replace Norton should he demit office, Roysdale Forde is the leading choice, followed by Volda Lawrence and Amanza Walton-Desir, with others trailing way behind. The latter two exhibit challenges winning trust and confidence and crossover support from Indians because of ill-advised remarks uttered years ago. Although Volda has strong grassroots support as a party organizer, Indian voters seemingly don’t forget their remarks, whereas Forde does not carry similar baggage. Forde is also viewed as having good crossover appeal. Respondents describe Forde as a professional with an amicable persona, one who engages and listens to people, and one having apt leadership credentials. The duo trail Forde by double digits as potential successors to Norton.

Yours truly, Vishnu

Bisram

Dear Editor, Cricket! Glorious Cricket! While our Government is spending massively on the development of Sport in the country, the reality is far from encouraging in respect to the functioning of several national sports associations.

The Guyana Cricket Board immediately comes to mind.

Recently, we were exposed to the many shortfalls and criticisms of the Guyana Cricket Board, hence we must ask the relevant members of the GCB to give explanation of what is really taking place in that very important sport association in Guyana.

Ever since the present Administration took control over cricket in Guyana, we have been witnessing a steady decline in all formats of the game. At the regional level, the Guyana senior team’s performance at the Regional Four-Day Competition is on a steady decline. The team’s performance at the One Day International tournaments was disheartening to watch, as they struggled to stay among the four top teams. In the Under-19 Regional Tournament, Guyana is struggling at fourth position, while at the Under-17 Regional tournament, Guyana is struggling at 5th position in a six-team tournament. We can continue lamenting the teams’ per-

formances, but we must not forget that Guyana won the Under-19 Regional Tournament for six consecutive years under the Chetram Singh Presidency. Guyana also dominated the senior regional competitions, and had seven Test players in the West Indies Team at one time. Guyana produced some of the best cricketers in the world, and Chetram Singh and his Executive took the Guyana Cricket Board out of the ‘RED” and produced three consecutive captains for the West Indies Team.

Guyana’s proud Captain Clive Hubert Lloyd put the West Indies Cricket Team at the helm of World Cricket.

The present issue of the selection of the national cricket team without the involvement of the captain is compounded by the fact that the team went into the present Regional FourDay Tournament with issues such as caps and uniforms not being available, and that is unimaginable. The wrangling in the cricket fraternity is denigrating Guyana’s cricket to a very low level.

Certainly, the Guyana Cricket Board must have a closer look at its spending. No audit for the last two years, and the salaries and perks that are out there in the public do not auger well. The functioning of the clubs and the regional administrations around the country is also not encouraging.

Very worrying, and a matter of serious concern is the fact that the present GCB has abandoned the Chetram Singh Centre of Excellence. That facility is now being used to play softball (unacceptable) cricket. There must be an immediate investigation and explanation of the status of that facility.

The Guyana Cricket Board must organise club, district and county competitions. Under-15, under-17, under-19, under-21 and senior competitions are desperately needed for the development of our cricket. Women’s cricket is also not being giving enough attention, and while cricket in schools is imperative, we are having Regional Under-15 tournaments without any cricket in the schools. Our sports grounds are heavily underutilised, and our coaches are missing in action.

This Government is spending massively on Sports. Grounds around the country and cricket gear are being distributed without any tangible positive results.

It is imperative that our sports associations focus on our schools and communities.

Sports in schools and communities would certainly lead to a healthier lifestyle and more unity among our people.

Sincerely,

Neil Kumar

22:00

“A terrible disaster for countries, region” – Pres Ali on Turkiye-Syria earthquakes

...over 7800 reported dead

...Guyana expresses solidarity with countries during recovery efforts

With Turkiye (Turkey) and Syria still reeling from devasting earthquakes that struck through their shared border, President Dr Irfaan Ali has expressed Guyana’s sympathy and solidarity with the two Middle Eastern countries.

In a letter addressed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, President Ali expressed sadness and Guyana’s solidarity with the Syrian nation, noting that the earthquake has caused “numerous fatalities and injuries and extensive destruction near the country’s border with the Republic of Turkiye.”

President Ali made it clear that Guyana is supportive of the people of Syria as they begin the recovery and reconstruction process. He also lauded the remarkable resilience and resolve the Syrian people have shown while they were

in the face of such a terrible disaster.

“On behalf of the Government and people of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, I express my deepest and heartfelt condolences to Your Excellency, the Government, and the people of the Syrian Arab republic. Our hearts go out to the be-

reaved families and all affected by this tragedy. This is a terrible disaster for your country and for the region.”

And in a separate letter to Turkiye President Tayyip Erdogan, the President also expressed his condolences to the country and offered up Guyana’s solidarity and prayers. He also expressed confidence in the Turkish people and their ability to overcome “this horrific disaster”.

“I am deeply saddened to learn of the devastating earthquake that struck Kahramanmaras and neighbouring provinces, leaving a trail of fatalities, injuries, and destruction in its wake… please accept, Excellency, the solidarity and prayers of the people of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana,” the President said in his letter.

According to Reuters, the death toll from Monday’s earthquakes in

southern Turkiye and Syria has jumped to more than 7800 people as of Tuesday. This was even as rescuers worked in harsh winter conditions to dig survivors out of the rubble of collapsed buildings.

In Turkiye, a state of emergency has been imple-

mented for three months.

The Turkish President has declared 10 Turkish provinces as disaster zones, while the state coordinates emergency responses.

Meanwhile, at least 1451 people have died in Syria alone. The country’s state news agency SANA

has reported that 711 people died in Governmentcontrolled areas including Aleppo, Hama, and Tartus. Meanwhile, 740 deaths have been reported in other parts of the country that the Syrian Government has been trying to retake control of for over a decade.

108 cases listed for February session of Berbice Assizes

some manner and to their families who lost their loved ones while pursuing an honest living,” the DPP said.

Five persons were also given 66-year sentences for murder, and another man was given a 25-year sentence for killing his wife and stuffing her body in a barrel after he pleaded guilty to the lesser count of man-

slaughter.

There is still one case pending from the October session. Two men pleaded guilty to murder while in the act of piracy. The court is awaiting a probation report before sentencing them.

Meanwhile, at the New Amsterdam Prisons, there are 51 persons awaiting trial in the High Court – 41 are

for murder and two for piracy. One is for attempted murder and the rest are for sexual offences.

Four of the 41 on remand for murder have indicated their willingness to plead to the lesser count of manslaughter. One man has been awaiting trial for 11 years and three months.

Justice Navindra Singh

the salute at the opening of the Berbice Assizes on Tuesday

The criminal assizes for the February session of the Berbice High Court opened on Tuesday with a total of 108 cases listed to be heard.

Of the 108 cases, 13 are for murder and eight for manslaughter, with sexual offence cases numbering among the others. The session will be presided over by

Justice Navindra Singh and will run until mid-June.

Attorney-at-Law Nafeeza Baig will be representing the State.

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack was high in praise for the way the court dealt with convicted criminals during the October Assizes.

Particular mention was made of the death sentence handed down to two men found guilty of committing murder while in the course of piracy.

The DPP said that the rule of law prevailed in the trial and sentence. “Justice has been done to the fisherfolks who lost their lives in a most inhumane and grue-

took

President Dr Irfaan Ali

Some of the devastation caused by the earthquake in Turkiye

…from the front

There’s this criticism of leaders: that they’re “disconnected” from the people they’re supposed to be leading. Well, you can accuse President Ali of any number of things, but THAT ain’t ever gonna be one of them!! The man is here, there and everywhere – almost every day of the week – mixing and mingling with the folks out there. He’s even broken the biggest barrier of all – the ethnic enclaves claimed by the Opposition as their transported property!!

Linden? Mocha? Golden Grove? Buxton? Been there, done that…and then some!! The “some” being all sorts of problems getting fixed; all sorts of initiatives launched to “bring Government to the people”!! The latest, of course, was to actually take the Office of the President on the road to every Region. From what we saw from his first moveable Presidency, it was a roaring success!! And why shouldn’t it be?? Governments are chosen by the citizenry to serve their needs, but once in office, the tables are usually turned. From the amount of bowing and scraping that goes on when ordinary folks meet those who’re now called “big ones”, you’d think the citizens had anointed then Kings of Kings!!

And to your Eyewitness, if nothing else, this will be Pres Ali’s biggest contribution to the political culture of Guyana. Government officials have to be accessible to the citizens who put them into office!! They must EARN their respect by serving those people, and not DEMANDING it because they’ve been given a title. The latter simply describes the job they’re supposed to be doing for the people. Minister of Social Services?? Well just ensure that such services get delivered to the target group!! For instance, there shouldn’t be a single person on Public Assistance who doesn’t get their cheque every month. And from even a cursory walkabout, your Eyewitness knows that plenty of such folks are falling through the cracks.

As your Eyewitness had complained before - he thinks it’s a retrograde step for the Minister of Home Affairs to request more sirens and flashing lights for public officials’ private vehicles. From what we saw in the Coalition’s five years, those are simply used to emphasise how SPECIAL these officials are!! If there are traffic jams, let the officials experience them! And maybe they’d urge their colleagues in Public Works to fix bottlenecks more expeditiously!! It’s noteworthy that President Ali’s use of outriders and sirens are waaaaayy below the mark set by Granger!!

While some perennial critics are complaining that Pressie’s “usurping” the position of his Ministers and local officials, they miss the point that the President’s forays wouldn’t have been necessary if those worthies had been doing their jobs!!

The officials – and Opposition – are getting dizzy!!

…the anarchy

The recent incidents at Buxton and Hopetown, where citizens took matters into their own hands to deliver their own definition of “justice” – in state law enforcement officers’ presence - represent a clear and present danger to the viability of our state. A “state”, after all, is ultimately the institution that can impose force or sanctions on its people. And when the people assume that role, it means they don’t recognise the state’s AUTHORITY. And what but anarchy would descend into the land whenever Tom, Dick or Harilall decides – like Louis XIV - he’s the state!?

It's of more than passing interest that both Buxton and Hopetown are villages purchased after slavery. It ain’t coincidental. There are elements out there who’re terrified that Pres Ali and his Government are breaking the old race politics with the concrete application of his inclusive approach. If he continues with this, what’s their role?? They haven’t a clue about practising multiracial politics.

All they know is the politics of hate! But dinosaurs became extinct!!

…a cricketing revival??

Your Eyewitness knows it’s only Zimbabwe, but he’ll take what he gets! Young Tagenarine Chanderpaul sealed the second father-son duo to score double centuries in Test cricket!! Plus, a new opening pair record for WI!!

Kudos!!

Guyana likely to receive $32.8B in profit oil from last 2 lifts of 2022

registers market value of $298B at end of 2022

Out of the six million barrels of oil lifted in the 2022 last quarter from the Stabroek Block, it is expected that Guyana will receive $32.8 billion in profit oil payments early this year from two of those lifts.

According to the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) last quarter report for 2022, there were six lifts of one million barrels of oil each during the period under review. These lifts account for Guyana’s share of profit oil. However, the report notes that Guyana will be paid for two of those lifts in January 2023.

And indeed, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh had announced that Guyana would receive money for the lifts this year. At the time, he was presenting the 2023 budget.

“For the year 2022, the fund received US$1,099.1 million in profit oil, US$510.2 million from Liza Destiny and US$588.9 million from Liza Unity. The profit oil receipts received in 2022 correspond to 11 Government lifts, as the remaining two will be received this month,” the Minister had said.

These lifts occurred in November and December 2022. According to the report, the profit oil payments for these two lifts will total $32.8 billion. It was ex-

plained that with the addition of the Liza Destiny floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel, more lifts were made, and hence, profit oil payments increased. The NRF registered a market value of $298 Billion at the end of December 2022, with $119.8 billion in royalties and profit oil being received. Meanwhile, $43.2 billion was transferred from the fund to the Consolidated Fund, during the fourth quarter. Total NRF withdrawals for the year amounted to $126.6 billion, for use in national development projects.

Guyana, with US oil giant ExxonMobil as the operator, began producing oil on December 20, 2019, in the Stabroek Block. Guyana’s oil revenues are being held in the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) at the New York Federal Reserve Bank, where it is earning interest.

The oil-rich Stabroek Block, which is producing the oil, is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometres). Exxon, through its local subsidiary Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), is the operator and holds 45 per cent interest in the block. Hess Guyana Exploration

Ltd holds 30 per cent interest, and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, holds the remaining 25 per cent interest.

Last month, the United Statesbased Hess Corporation announced yet another oil discovery offshore Guyana in the oil-rich Stabroek Block, where there is an estimated 11 billion-plus barrels of oil equivalent (boe) recoverable resource.

The discovery was made at the Fangtooth Southeast-1 (Fangtooth SE-1) well located approximately eight miles southeast of the original Fangtooth-1 discovery. The new discovery also came on the heels of a January 2022 oil find at the Fangtooth-1 well.

Currently, the Liza phase 1 and phase 2 developments in the Stabroek Block are operating at a combined gross production capacity of more than 360,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) using the Liza Destiny and Liza Unity floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels, respectively.

The third development in the Stabroek Block – Payara – is on track to come online by the end of 2023 with a gross production capacity of approximately 220,000 bpd. While this may be the gross production capacity, it is expected that the start-up will see a much small number of oil barrels being

produced. For instance, when the Liza Phase two started in 2022, it was producing significantly less than its current production.

Meanwhile the Yellowtail –the fourth development – is slated for 2025 with a production capacity of some 250,000 bpd. Both these development projects have been approved by the Guyana Government.

Uaru is the fifth development and is expected to come online at the end of 2026 with a gross production capacity of approximately 250,000 bpd with the first oil anticipated at the end of 2026. The development plan for Uaru was submitted for Government approval in November 2022 and final approval is expected by the end of the first quarter of this year.

ExxonMobil has said it anticipates at least six projects offshore Guyana will be online by 2027. They are meanwhile seeking project approval for their sixth oil development in Guyana’s waters, approaching the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for environmental authorization for its Whiptail Project.

The move to seek approval for the Whiptail development comes even as Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is also considering whether to approve the Uaru oil development in the Stabroek Block.

The NRF report was released by the Bank of Guyana

Aneal Giddings’ appointment as Operations Director rescinded

– after intense discussions at GECOM statutory meeting

el of the commission.

Giddings was already IT Manager when GECOM Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Vishnu Persaud formally requested his secondment to the Operations Department to aid him in the day-to-day administrative running of the secretariat.

tor. She listened to the arguments on both sides and that was her decision. My views were the same, that he should retain the position of logistical coordinator, until such time a DCEO is appointed,” Rohee said.

The seconding of Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Information Technology Manager (IT)

Aneal Giddings to the post of Operations Director, was rescinded by GECOM after an intense debate at the lev-

The CEO’s memo last year to GECOM Chairperson, Retired Justice Claudette Singh, making this request, has never gone over well with the opposite side of the commission. And matters came to a head during Tuesday’s statutory meeting.

In an interview with this publication, Governmentnominated GECOM Commissioner Clement Rohee explained that the matter was raised during the meeting and after hearing

all sides, the Chairperson chose to rescind Giddings’ temporary appointment as Operations Director.

“There were arguments back and forth by the two sides, in favour of or against Giddings retaining the position of a logistical coordina-

The position will now remain vacant until a new Deputy CEO is appointed. The last person to serve as the substantive DCEO, Roxanne Myers, is among several persons that served within the apparatus of GECOM who has been charged with electoral fraud pertaining to the 2020 General and Regional Elections.

Those before the courts also include former Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield, and former Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo among others.

Last year, GECOM had announced Giddings’ secondment and said that the CEO wrote a memo to the Chair requesting approval to take up the position and assist with the day-to-day implementation and evaluation of the statutory and administrative tasks delineated in the work plan for the conduct of Local Government Elections (LGEs).

“In justifying his request, the CEO noted that, unlike the conduct of General and Regional Elections, which takes place in a disaggregated manner in ten different Electoral Districts, the LGEs will be conducted in eighty Local Authority

Areas (LAAs) comprising ten Municipalities and seventy Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs).”

“The CEO further pointed out that considering (i), the multiplicity of sequential and simultaneous tasks required to be implemented at the Operations level for the LGEs, and (ii) the position of Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO) being vacant, it is of vital importance for a Senior Manager who is au fait with operations management relative to the conduct of elections to be assigned the responsibility of assisting him (CEO) with ensuring that all of the required tasks are efficiently and effectively implemented in accordance with the timelines set out in the work plan for the LGEs,” GECOM further explained.

In this regard, GECOM explained that the Chairman approved the request with the understanding that Giddings would be referred to as ‘Operations Coordinator’ within the Operations Department

of the Commission’s Secretariat since he would be responsible for carrying out responsibilities that would normally fall within the list of duties of DCEO. It was also noted that Giddings’ secondment would end once a DCEO was appointed.

“The Chairman gave her approval for the secondment of Mr Giddings with the full knowledge that she (i) was not creating any new position, (ii) was not making an appointment, and (iii) was aware that there is the precedence of staff having been seconded, and in one case even appointed, without the knowledge and approval of the Commission.”

“Further, the Chairman’s approval of the requested secondment was based on the understanding that this would be a temporary arrangement until a suitable candidate is appointed to the position of DCEO. Meanwhile, Mr Giddings is still employed in the substantive position of IT Manager,” GECOM had said.

water supply system commissioned at Kato

$38M

Some 450 residents of Kato, Region Eight, now have improved access to potable water following the commissioning of a new water supply system. The well was commissioned by Minister within the Housing and Water Ministry Susan Rodrigues,

Regional Chairman Headley

Pio, GWI Hinterland Service Director Ramchand Jailal, other regional representatives and residents.

Minister Rodrigues noted her pleasure of being able to deliver on a promise made by His Excellency, Dr Irfaan Ali.

“I’m pleased to be here to commission this well. From 2020 I’ve been coming and I learned about the struggles, especially with access to water and we devised a fiveyear plan to ensure delivery to the hinterland.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Minister within the Housing and Water Ministry, Susan Rodrigues is flocked by residents at the ribbon-cutting cermony for the water supply system

GECOM IT Manager Aneal Giddings

GECOM Chairperson, Retired Justice Claudette Singh

GECOM Commissioner Clement Rohee

Region 6 man dies from COVID-19

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD

FEBRUARY 7, 2023 UPDATE

the year 2021. This spike was linked to the Delta wave. In 2022, 232 fatalities were documented. On Tuesday, the updated dashboard reflected five new cases. Confirmed cases are pegged at 73,003, with one person in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

There are seven persons in institutional isolation, 81 in home isolation, and two in institutional quarantine.

Thus far, 719,071 test samples have been analysed, and 71,618 recoveries have been recorded.

In the Region of the Americas: that is, Latin

America and the Caribbean, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has increased to 187 million, while the death toll in the region has gone up to 2.9 million.

Globally, there are 663 million confirmed positives, with 6.7 million deaths.

If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or need any additional information, they are asked to contact the COVID-19 Hotline: 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674, immediately, or visit www.health.gov.gy.

All Guyanese are being encouraged to continue ob-

serving the public health measures set out by the Health Ministry. This encourages the need for everyone five years and older to get vaccinated against COVID-19; the need for everyone to get a COVID-19 booster dose after completing the primary vaccination series; the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving your home; the importance of maintaining a safe distance of six feet from others; and the need to practise good hand hygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. (G12)

$38M water supply...

She added that the target for Region Eight by the end of this year is to ensure 90 per cent water coverage. The new system at Kato will now see 95 per cent coverage in the community.

“We are about honouring our commitment of bringing development.”

Prior to the implementation of this project, the existing shallow well system was insufficient to supply water to the entire community. As such, only households and

public buildings close to the old system received access. The scope of works for the Kato project included: the drilling of a new potable water well to a depth of 120 metres, installation of 5500 metres of 50mm (2?) PVC pipes & 2500 metres of 19mm (3/4?) pipes with 80 service connections, the construction of 2 reinforced concrete slab storage base, the installation of the photovoltaic pumping system including submersible pump, control-

FROM PAGE 10

ler, solar panels and accessories, and the construction of a fence around the photovoltaic system.

On Monday, the Minister also commissioned a $26.5 million well at Taruka, to the benefit of more than 200 persons.

Meanwhile, at Paramakatoi, two new wells will be drilled in 2023. This will bring relief to an estimated 1100 residents, who receive water from a spring.

Despite a lowered daily case count, the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is still claiming lives. This was evident on Tuesday after the Health Ministry reported yet an-

other fatality from the virus. An 84-year-old male from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), whose vaccination status is unknown, died on February 1,

2023. Presently, 1,296 persons have died from the virus in Guyana.

For 2023, nine persons have died from COVID. From 164 deaths in 2020, this number rose to 891 for

300 Paramakatoi residents to benefit from 2 new water wells

Over the next few weeks, the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) will be working to improve access to potable water for residents of Paramakatoi, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).

Minister within the Housing and Water Ministry Susan Rodrigues updated residents on the plans for their community, during a meeting in the village on Monday.

She noted that the administration remains committed to ensuring that development reaches every community.

Speaking of improving access to potable water in hinterland communities, Minister Rodrigues noted that the aim is to bridge the gap that exists between the hinterland and coast. She further stated that the goal is to ensure that there is 100 per cent water coverage in hinterland communities by 2025. To this end, the Government continues to invest heavily in the water sector.

Meanwhile, under the 2023 work programme, Paramakatoi is expected to benefit from the drilling

of two potable water wells and construction of well discharge to interconnect to the existing distribution network, in order to provide adequate potable water to the residents.

Currently, the community, which is home to some 300 persons, is supplied with water from a spring. However, water is distributed on a sectional delivery basis, due to limited production of the spring.

Also, the residents took the opportunity to raise several issues affecting them during the meeting, as they seek Government's intervention.

As part of the Government’s strategy to improve water access across the country, 7000 households received first-time access to potable water in 2022. This was made possible with the commissioning of a number of wells across the country, including a number of wells on the coast to increase access to potable water.

Of these, a $141 million well was commissioned at Lusignan, one at Providence to the tune of $130 million, one at Wakenaam at a cost

of $50 million, and another at New Chesney, Berbice.

Residents of the hinterland also received first-time access with the commissioning of 20 water treatment systems at Aranaputa, Rupertee, Wowetta, Rupununi, Jawalla, Shulinab and Annai among others.

Further, 30 additional wells will be constructed across the hinterland in 2023, to remove the gaps that exist in accessing water. Some 13 new water treatment plants will be constructed throughout this year, to the tune of some $32 billion.

Two plants at Maria’s Delight and Onderneeming are expected to provide 100 per cent water coverage for the Essequibo Coast. New plants in Leguan in Region Two, Parika; Parfaite Harmonie and Wales in Region Three; Caledonia to Timehri, Cummings Lodge, Bachelor’s Adventure and Hope in Region Four; Bath in Region Five; and Adventure, and Tain to Number 50 Village in Region Six will help to improve water access in other areas of the country.

Lifeless body of mechanic found floating in Ogle trench

Alifeless body was on Tuesday pulled from a trench at Ogle, East Coast Demerara, and it has been identified as that of Kevin Singh, a 45-year-old mechanic of Industry Crown Dam, ECD.

Based on reports received, the late Kevin Singh, a known alcoholic, had been reported missing after he left his home on Sunday morning but never returned. On scene at the recovery of the body, family members said Singh would usually leave his home for long periods, but after Monday had passed and he did not return home, they realised something was amiss. They had launched a search for him, but he had not been located hours after that search had commenced. However, on Tuesday, at about 6:30h, the family received news that a body was spotted floating in a trench

at Ogle, and upon rushing to the scene, they discovered that that body was clad in the same clothes -- a white T-shirt and blue three-quarter jeans -- that Singh had

last been seen wearing when he left his home. At that time, the body was lying face down.

The body was later identified to be that of Singh. It is surmised that he perished after slipping off the bridge and falling into the water in a drunken state.

Meanwhile, the Police have confirmed that ranks of Regional Division 4 'C' had promptly responded to information received via an unknown caller regarding the motionless body in a trench at Ogle Embankment.

“…his head and body were underwater in the trench. The body was fished out and checked for any marks of violence, but none was visible”, the Police report has said.

Singh’s body was escorted to the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home to await a post-mortem examination.

Residents of Paramakatoi during the meeting with Minister Rodrigues

Dead: Kevin Singh

Modern techniques used for 100 homes under construction at Great Diamond

Afirst of its kind project to construct 100 homes at Great Diamond on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) is being realised, using modern techniques that are now introduced to Guyana.

Housing Minister Collin Croal visited the construction on Monday, where some 50 low-income and 50 moderate-income homes are being constructed.

South Atlantic is constructing the moderate-income units utilising reinforced concrete foundations and blocks made only of recycled plastic. These homes measure 600 square feet and cost $5.9 million each.

The low-income units,

measuring 600 square feet, are being constructed by Visionary Builders and Services Incorporated, using materials such as metal sheets and concrete. Each unit costs approximately $5.5 million.

These projects were conceptualised at Building Expo 2022. Croal noted his satisfaction with the progress made so far by contractors.

The structure is modern and typically built in areas to withstand harsh weather conditions. This project commenced in October 2022 and by March, all of these structures will be completed and ready for buyers.

“This type of housing is

different. They’re using metal sheets and then plastering it with concrete. We expect the first 26 houses to be completed by the ending of this month. These housing will be going at $5.5 million,” Minister Croal shared on the low-income structures.

He explained that once completed, persons who have already prequalified for a housing unit will be able to benefit. If the response is significant, this will be replicated in a second phase.

“Immediately, we’ll start putting this now through the beneficiaries that we have. We have a pool of persons who have already prequalified for low-income

funded houses. We will be making this available immediately. We will see the response from the market and then know if we can have a Phase Two,” the Minister outlined.

He underscored that these homes are being built

at a ‘prime’ location where potential homeowners would have easy access to proper highways and amenities.

“This is what happens as part of development. Here is becoming a front,” he added.

In 2023, a total of $54.5

billion has been allocated by the Government in the national budget for housing developments in new and existing areas. This includes money to construct roads, drains and bridges, and the installation of utilities. (G12)

Artist impression of the completed house

An aerial view of the housing development project

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Scenes from the Children’s Mashramani Competition 2023 which is being celebrated under the theme “Mixing and Mashing as One Guyana.” (Education Department Region Five (MahaicaBerbice) and Sir Martin, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) photos)

Ramsammy’s Ruminations

President

Irfaan Ali creating a new dispensation in bringing Government to the people

Last week, in New Amsterdam, Region 6, President Irfaan Ali announced a new Government policy – Government Ministers and senior Government officials will be physically and formally present in each region, with a central location serving as a meetup place, two days per month.

In so doing, President Irfaan Ali is showing how serious he is about bringing Government to the people. President Ali is pursuing a “Government in your face” approach to governance. We have gotten use to the usage of the quote “Government of the people, by the people, for the people”. Most of the global citizenry living in a democracy do not really know what this means. We have been conditioned to think of democracy as having free and fair elections. But free and fair elections are only part of the equation.

Experiencing what “Government of the people, by the people, for the people” means is something most global citizens have rarely experienced. President Irfaan Ali is showing in a tangible way what this means. He is leading from the front by being present almost every day somewhere in Guyana. He has taken his Cabinet and senior Government officials directly to the people, not in a one-off show, but as a routine part of his governance.

This is not the first time the phenomenon of bringing Government to the people in a sustained way has taken place in Guyana. Cheddi Jagan’s PPP Government was known for its outreaches. President Jagan was frequently in communities, talking to the people. His ministers also were seen in the communities. These informal outreaches depended on the President and his ministers individually. President Bharrat Jagdeo built on the Cheddi Jagan legacy of presence in the community. President Jagdeo formalised Cabinet outreaches by frequently taking the Cabinet and senior officials on two-day outreaches. Cabinet meetings were, in fact, decentralised and held in different regions. During those Cabinet meetings, ministers and senior Government officials spread across the regions and met people where they live, engaging them in problem-solving. President Jagdeo was the first Head of State in Guyana, in Caricom and globally to formalise Cabinet outreaches as part of a bringing-Government-to-the-people governance model.

President Irfaan Ali is building on these models introduced by Cheddi Jagan and Bharrat Jagdeo. From the ad-hoc Cheddi Jagan model to the formalised Bharrat Jagdeo model, President Irfaan Ali has added to the formality of the Jagdeo model by instituting a frequency layer, ensuring these outreaches are held every month, and not periodically, as in the Jagdeo model. Both the Jagdeo and Ali models created an obligation on the ministers and senior Government officials, as opposed to the reliance on the willingness and individual preference of ministers to visit and engage people. But whereas the Jagdeo model created a mechanism for the Jagan model to continue, he also ensured the presence of ministers and senior Government officials by scheduling Cabinet meetings in different regions. The Jagdeo model ensured these Cabinet outreaches were done at least once per region every year.

President Irfaan Ali’s model of “bringing Government to the people” seeks to continue Jagan’s ad-hoc model, and to further formalise and expand on the Jagdeo model. By now establishing as a Government policy that a collective ministers’ and senior Government officials’ presence in a formal setting brings the Presidency and the Government to each region for two days per month, he has essentially established an Office of the President (OP) in every region. This, of course, sets the stage for permanent annexes of OP in every region and sub-region of the country. While President Ali wants the model to have a fixed location in each region for people to bring their problems and have them addressed, the model also ensures that, during this time, ministers and relevant officials also spread out in these regions, meeting people in the communities where they live and work. The approach ensures that the richness of the Jagdeo model is preserved and built on. The model also preserves the individual outreaches organised by the offices of ministers that were essential in both the Jagan and Jagdeo models.

The Opposition has deemed President Ali’s “bringing Government to the people” policy as a political gimmick that has not improved people’s lives. This is the same outcry we heard when Cheddi Jagan brought Government to the people. These same crocodile tears were heard and seen when Bharrat Jagdeo brought a new vision to the “bringing Government to the people” strategy. Therefore, it is not shocking to hear the Opposition and the naysayers parroting the same charges today.

But whether it is the formal collective Government outreaches or the individual minister’s outreaches, people are getting help. Hundreds of persons have had their chronic NIS problems, land leases and house lot problems, streets or street lights’ issues addressed. New schools have been built or have been budgeted to be built, because concerns were raised during these outreaches. Easier access has been created for pensioners because of these meetings. Better drainage has been created, because drainage and irrigation issues have been raised. Farmers and fishermen have raised issues, and have had them addressed. Police and security problems have been raised and addressed. Not all problems can be solved on the spot, but a mechanism has been developed for these issues to be tracked. President Irfaan Ali is showing in a real sense what “Government of the people, by the people and for the people” means.

Cop gets $1.6M bail for New Year’s fatal shooting of Corporal, fisherman

Police Constable Shane James has been arraigned before Mahaicony Magistrate Melissa Mittelholzer on two counts of manslaughter relative to the New Year’s Day fatal shooting which claimed the lives of 31-year-old Detective Corporal Dwayne McPherson and 20-yearold fisherman Kishan Budburgh.

The 26-year-old James, of Perth Village, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, has been charged under Section 94 of the Criminal Law Offences Act Chapter 8:01, and has not been required to plead to the indictments in his arraignment on January 25.

He has been placed on bail in the sum of $800,000 on each charge, and the cases have been adjourned to today, February 8, 2023.

Detective Corporal McPherson, who had been stationed at the Mahaicony Police Station, and 20-yearold Budburgh, who had been a fisherman of Grove, Huntley, Mahaicony, were both killed on New Year’s morning reportedly when Constable James fired at

them several shots from the firearm he was carrying. It has been reported by this newscast that the Policeman had been shot twice and the fisherman had been shot some four times.

Prior to the shooting, five of the Budburgh brothers were at a bar in the village when an issue erupted over the throwing of explosives. One of the brothers was injured and there was a subsequent fight. The brothers had left for home, and two were arrested by Police be-

fore they got there; the others had run away from the Police.

However, three Police ranks subsequently turned up at the Budburghs’ Huntley Village home just after midnight.

After the three brothers came out, one of the Police ranks reportedly opened fire. Several holes were left in the kitchen wall of the Budburghs’ home, and bullets were seen in the wooden posts under the house.

It was reported that two

of the brothers fled for cover, and that Kishan remained under the house. The Police rank reportedly held on to him and began slapping him. The young man, according to reports, held on to the officer, and they both fell to the ground in a scuffle.

It was then that one of the Police ranks was ordered to shoot at them on the ground.

After being hit, Budburgh got up and ran into the dark, but collapsed a short distance away, while the Police picked up the injured detective and took him away.

The fisherman was later discovered injured by his mother after she returned home from church. She reportedly went to the Police station, where two of her sons were already in the lock-ups, but was chased away. The woman reportedly went to the hospital to get an ambulance, but there was no driver available.

A taxi had refused to transport the injured man to the hospital, and by the time the Police arrived four hours later, Kishan Budburgh is said to have died.

woman among 3 winners of Harris Paints' “Strokes of Genius” Christmas promotion

sion project transforming her house in Barbados and plans to use her prize money to work on the kitchen, while in Dominica, Curtlyanna painted her mother’s house in her favourite blue because most of the other homes in the community were painted in yellow.

“We were happy with this competition because we were able to reach 10 countries across the region and it really showcased the creativity of our customers and reminded us again how the power of paint can uplift and transform people’s lives just by changing their environment,” Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing for Harris Paints International, Luke Ticknor stated.

AGuyanese who transformed her bedroom, a Barbadian who is reinventing her home, and a Dominican woman who is changing up the house for her mother, were announced winners in Harris Paints’ regional “Strokes of Genius” Christmas promotion for 2022.

Customers were invited to show their ‘strokes of genius’ by sharing the before and after photos of their Christmas paint project, including a Harris Paints can in the photo, providing proof of purchase by email and using the correct #strokesof-

genius hashtag at the time of posting. They were also invited to talk about how Harris Paints helped them to transform their space using the hashtag.

The competition was conducted on social media between October and December 31, 2022, and catered to customers in Jamaica, Barbados, Guyana, St Lucia, Dominica, Antigua, St Kitts & Nevis, St Vincent, Anguilla, and Grenada.

However, the winners were chosen from eligible entries, and the top three posts with the most likes by the end of the promotion were

Padmini

of Barbados, and Curtlyanna Wade from Dominica.

They shared in the US$10,000 prize, with Padmini getting US$5000, Renee receiving US$3000, and Curtlyanna collecting US$2000.

Padmini, who purchased her paint from Gafoors, McDoom, Greater Georgetown, was using Harris Paints’ affordable Excel Paint that offers 30 premixed ready-to-go colours.

On the other hand, Renee has been undertaking a pas-

“Painting is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to change up a space and to generate a fresh new look, and our customers definitely took that to heart in this Christmas promotion.”

The Strokes of Genius competition, a part of Harris Paints’ 50th anniversary celebration activities, ran alongside a number of special Christmas offers on selected paint products in most of the territories in the Region.

Harris Paints also introduced their revolutionary new Quantum i12 Technology paint during the recent anniversary celebrations.

Dr Leslie Ramsammy

Dead: Detective Corporal Dwayne McPherson

Dead: Fisherman Kishan Budburgh

Persaud of Guyana, Renee Ifill

Guyanese

Guyanese Padmini Persaud is pictured with staff from Harris Paints Guyana as follows: (L-R) Garfield Manasseh, Sales Manager Trade; Ayodele Knights, Senior Finance Officer; (Padmini) and Jenelle Dublin, Finance and Human Resources Officer

Govt to engage GRA amid complaints by rice farmers of high markup & VAT on spare parts

Rice farmers from Regions Two, Three, Five, and Six on Tuesday met with Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha to discuss some of the issues faced in the industry.

While noting that most of their issues are a result of unfavourable weather and external economic impacts, the farmers wasted no time in calling on the Government to intervene in what they consider price gouging by suppliers of spare parts.

The farmers noted that while the Government has put systems in place, they are still paying high prices and, in some cases, VAT on spare parts.

“On the removal of VAT on spare parts, the

Government really do a good for us but the problem is we not feeling the effect. Everything raising. While these things are in place by the Government, the prices still high and growing every day. The issue is now between the Government and the dealers because we know for a fact that the VAT is supposed to be deducted but it’s like it’s not. I bought a starter yesterday for $46,000. It used to be for $25,000. Look at the markup. Some of them still charging VAT. I have a receipt to prove it,” a farmer explained.

Furthermore, the farmers told the Minister that the price for paddy should be standard in every region since all farmers are faced with the same issues.

While responding, Minister Mustapha explained that the Government, since taking office, has implemented a number of measures to assist farmers, the most recent being the $1 billion fertiliser assistance programme that was completed last year.

He noted that although farmers are requesting an across-the-board price for paddy from millers, the Government cannot institute this because transportation cost plays a significant role in the price for paddy in certain regions.

“We will continue to engage the millers on prices but I cannot promise an across-the-board price for paddy. For instance, in Region Two, the price to transport will be more than

in Region Five so in order for millers to earn they take those factors into consideration. You know for a fact last year we were able to negotiate with millers from Region Two for better prices for farmers and now you are getting up to $4000 per bag,” Minister Mustapha explained.

As it relates to prices for spare parts, Minister Mustapha said that the Government has made its policy clear and that VAT is no longer applicable to inputs and equipment for the agriculture sector and assured the farmers that he will engage the Guyana Revenue Authority on the matter.

Shortly after assuming office, His Excellency, President Dr Irfaan Ali an-

nounced the removal of VAT and duties on machinery and equipment to allow for the recapitalisation of key sectors which includes mining, forestry, agriculture, and manufacturing. This is coupled with the granting of tax concessions for mining, forestry, manufacturing, and agriculture.

The Minister also reminded the farmers that since taking office, the Government has spared no effort to ensure farmers benefit from assistance to cushion the hardships faced.

“Most of the issues faced in the sector, we have to work together to resolve them. The weather hasn’t been favourable but we are working to strengthen our infrastructure. We are building new pump stations to as-

sist with drainage. We are building new farm-to-market roads, and rehabilitating dams so that you can access your fields. We’ve been working to enhance the drying facilities that we have across the country. We rehabilitated the one at Black Bush Polder so that will be in place for the next crop. The one at MMA; we’ll increase its production capacity from 2000 bags to 50,000 bags. We’re also working to rehabilitate the Leguan facility. We are constantly engaged in bilateral discussions to source cheaper fertilisers and we are also still engaging the Panamanian officials to get those outstanding payments owed to millers. So, we are working but we need your input and cooperation,” he said.

Ramps Logistics aims at employing 5000 in 10 years

transition.

“A virtual working environment and partial work from home were always part of our goal, as all our offices must collaborate daily. However, the COVID-19 pandemic was an accelerating force to help us achieve this ahead of schedule. We have not looked back since,” she noted.

Workers in training

In 10 years, Ramps Logistics is aiming to employ 5000 persons in its operations, as it permanently moves to a hybrid work structure that allows for better remote manage-

ment of staffers. This was announced by Senior Human Resource Officer Amanda Daly, who noted, “In the next 10 years, we anticipate growing to 5000 employees. Virtual

work has forced us to transform and become much better at remotely managing employees. We plan to continue with this hybrid model and inspire others to embrace it in their own way.”

In March 2020, worldwide lockdowns expedited a company-wide workfrom-home arrangement and forced companies to begin managing their people and processes online. Comprising approximately 500 office-based employees located in Guyana, Trinidad, Suriname, Miami, Houston, Mexico, and Colombia, Ramps Logistics said it saw a significant increase in productivity since this digital

Ramps Logistics’ HR team said during annual appraisal meetings, team members reported that since the new hybrid work system, there is less time spent in traffic and less money spent on gas. The company also saves on electricity and consumables like stationery. This new system allows employees to manage their time to suit their schedules best.

“Multitasking during the day has become a breeze and maintaining a work/life balance is a central part of managing our mental and physical health,” Daly shared.

Since the removal of restrictions worldwide in 2022, many small and large companies mandated their staff to return to the office. After two years of benefitting from a sustainable work-from-home structure, many traditional managers regressed to a pre-pandemic culture.

Ramps Logistics has done the opposite and placed more focus on redefining its hybrid culture and implementing digital frameworks to support its new work model. As of October 2022, more than 80 per cent of the Ramps teams in various locations work with a system that encourages them to balance working from home and only utilising office days when necessary.

In 2018, Ramps Logistics formed a Research and Development Division to conceptualise, initiate and launch new technology-driven projects.

“Today, Ramps employs in-house coders at its Guyana and Trinidad offices

who develop new apps and modules. These modules link and store data and facilitate functions from vendor contracts and quotations to client contracts, work orders, invoices, purchase orders and financial reports. This team was responsible for launching the company’s patented software, LASER, an in-house equivalent to ERP systems like SAP, Ariba, or Microsoft Dynamics.”

“LASER has also allowed our team to digitise our Human Resource Leave Management System. Our employees can now apply for vacation via an app on their phones where managers can quickly approve it. Additionally, to aid in managing our team’s performance, we recently rolled out a module for Weekly Priority Lists where employees can track their completion of tasks and supervisors have real-time visibility into their workload,” Daly added.

The Ramps hybrid structure allows the team to work cross-functionally. This makes it easier for a Manager in Guyana to lead a full team in Trinidad and vice versa. It also allows persons commuting from remote areas to work from home when needed.

Senior Human Resources Officer Amanda Daly

Rice farmers who attended the meeting

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, MoA DG and GRDB Chairman Madanlall Ramraj (left) and GRDB Deputy GM Kuldip Ragnauth

Govt extends bids for major sea defence works

As Government presses the accelerator on its infrastructural development agenda, the Public Works Ministry has extended an invitation for bids for a number of sea defence works in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and 10.

This is merely days following the approval of the $781.9 billion budget, from which the lion’s share, a whopping $136 billion, has been allocated for the advancement of infrastructural projects.

This heavy investment in infrastructure is part of the Government’s strategic plan to build for the future.

However, the Ministry disclosed that these bids will be opened on Wednesday, February

15, 2023, at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) office, and the projects have been divided into 25 lots.

It states that works for Region Two consist of the

construction of rip rap sea defences in La Resource/ Maria’s Delight, Good Intent, Abrams Zuil, and Cullen, Essequibo Coast, estimated to cost a collective $402 million.

Similar construc-

tion works are slated for Region Three at Zeelandia Estate, Belle Plaine, Maria Johanna, Zeelandia (Ganga), and Uniform, Cane Garden, Okum/ Retrieve, Belfield, on Leguan Island, as well as at Uitvlugt, Anna Catherina, Zeeburg and Zeelugt, estimated to cost over $1.7 billion.

Meanwhile, Region Four will see the construction of rip rap river defences at Friendship, East Bank Demerara, and the construction of a timber revetment structure at Cambridge, Mahaica ? works which are estimated to cost $99 million and $77 million, respectively.

For Region Five, an estimated $190 million is expected to fund the con-

struction of rip rap sea defences between Weldaad and Washington, West Coast Berbice.

Some $23 million is also estimated for the construction of timber revetment structure along Abary River Dam, East Coast Demerara, while $359 million is estimated for works between Bygeval and Essex, Mahaica.

In Region Six, works are slated for Crabwood Creek, No 81 Village, and between Wellington Park and Eversham on the Corentyne. These works are pegged at $318 million.

Finally, for Region 10, an estimated $138 million is set to fund works at Speightland, Linden.

The development and maintenance of sea defence

structures are crucial to the protection of riverine residents and farmlands, as well as to ensure the preservation of Guyana’s agricultural yield.

This year’s budget has extended some $4.9 billion towards the protection and preservation of the country’s sea and river defences.

On Friday last, the Ministry also extended an invitation for bids for the rehabilitation of several public and main access roads, namely those in a section of the Black Bush Polder Road at Yakusari, Region Six; Black Bush Polder Road at Johanna, Region Six; Canal No 1 (Phase 5), Region Three, and Canal No 2 Polder Road, (Phase 5), Region Three.

Over 8000 persons registered for WIIN initiative so far

Over 8000 people have registered for the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s Women Innovative and Investment Network (WIIN) programme, since registration restarted in January 2023.

This year, interested persons will be trained

in new areas such as food tourism, social media marketing, design, décor and events management, entrepreneurship, project management, and leadership advocacy.

They will also be trained in recurring courses such as child care, care for the elderly, graphics design,

home management, television and video production, and garment construction. The programme aims to support and empower women in society.

WIIN, therefore, provides a range of opportunities for women, such as access to employment in the public and private sectors,

MoH boosting capacity to tackle NCDs

Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud alongside graduates of WIIN

as well as encouraging economic independence, particularly for single mothers and those from low-income backgrounds.

The Health Ministry will, this year, advance its efforts in the fight against cervical cancer, which is part of its wider programme to reduce or end Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).

Cervical cancer is the second leading cancer in Guyana that affects women, and while the Ministry continues to spread awareness and provide human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines, more resources have been allocated to help fight the disease in this year’s budget.

Subject Minister, Dr Frank Anthony, during the recent examination of the Budget 2023 estimates, said $22.6 million has been set aside for this purpose.

This will also cater for Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid - VIA and HPV Screening. The Ministry

also distributed 20 cryotherapy machines to various regions to help in the treatment of this type of cancer.

In addition, $6 million was set aside to assist persons with kidney diseases and $82.7 million to provide insulin for diabetic patients.

“We have a number of diabetic patients that require insulin, and therefore we have to supply them with insulin. We have 183 children that would receive insulin because they have type one diabetes,” Dr Anthony related.

Meanwhile, support for patients dealing with the long-term effects of COVID-19 was also catered for.

“We have set aside $12.9 million to do respiratory management. What we are seeing now is some patients with long COVID. They

have challenges breathing and they have some longterm challenges so they will require some special attention. Spirometry on a regular basis and to have the physiotherapy department work with them so they will have some improvements.”

Apart from chronic NCDs, persons living with disabilities will also benefit from the allocation of $23 million, which will be used for the purchase of hearing aids which will be distributed free of cost

“As of last year, we started to give these hearing aids free of cost…before that people had to pay 65 thousand dollars so now, they are going to get it for free,” the Health Minister said.

Wheelchairs, clutches, and offloading footwear will also be purchased for diabetic patients.

It has introduced measures to help raise their incomes, such as providing free vocational training, grants, and access to business loans. Further, the programme is particularly dedicated to ensuring women in rural regions have access to the same opportunities available in urban areas through a hybrid model that facilitates in-person and online training.

As such, female entrepreneurs are provided with mentorship, financial advice, and networking opportunities to help them succeed in their businesses.

In addition, WIIN offers training programmes to help women gain essential skills, such as computer literacy, basic business management, and English. This is crucial in facilitating the participation of women in the job market. The number of courses offered continues to increase annually.

In 2021, 2170 persons were trained. There were some 588 graduates from Region Four, 409 from

Region Two, 320 from Region Three, 345 from Region Five, and 307 from Region Six. Last year, the programme saw a 62 per cent increase in participants with over 10,000

of 335 per cent.

Last year, 758 persons were trained in child care, while 563 were trained in graphic design and 523 in care for the elderly.

The only requirements

Participants of the WIIN programme

registrants.

Region Four had the highest number of persons trained with 937 women, while Regions Three and Five each had over 500 persons trained.

In the hinterland, over 350 persons were trained.

Region Nine saw an increase of 532 per cent, Region Seven saw a 396 per cent increase, and Region 10 had an increase

for the programme are a valid telephone number and a form of identification (passport or identification card). For those doing classes online, a computer is required with a camera and a stable internet connection.

Registration closes on February 28, 2023. For more information, persons can contact the Ministry on 229-2751 or 229-2842.

Bids for this project will be opened on Wednesday, March 1, 2023 at the NPTAB office

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony with senior health officials as cryotherapy machines were handed over to be distributed in the various regions

Regional Trinidad and Tobago delegation meets

with Venezuelan VP

Adelegation, including Energy Minister Stuart Young, flew to Venezuela on Monday, to meet with that country's Vice President, Delcy Rodrigues.

Venezuelan State media

Vtv reported that Rodrigues welcomed the delegation as part of a Bolivarian peace diplomacy exercise. During the meeting, both delegations discussed bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

Ambassador to Caracas Edmund Dillon and National Gas Company (NGC) Chairman Mark Loquan were also part of the T&T delegation. Venezuelan Oil Minister Tareck El Aissami also welcomed the T&T delegation.

“We welcomed the Minister of Energy and Energy Industries and Minister of the Office of the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Stuart Richard Young, on his official visit to Venezuela. Cordial work meeting to strengthen our relations of friendship and cooperation,” Rodrigues said in a tweet posted on Monday.

Although the Dragon gas deal was not specifically mentioned in the Vtv report, it noted that Venezuela and T&T have agreements “regarding hydrocarbons and joint projects in strategic areas.” The Venezuelan Government has neither confirmed nor denied the possibility of continuing with the Dragon deal.

The billion-dollar Dragon deal could result in an estimated 150 mscf/ day in production between Venezuela and T&T. The deal, however, went cold in 2018 after Venezuela was heavily sanctioned by the US.

St Lucia PM responds to COVID-19 concern

Prime Minister Philip

J Pierre says he will follow the “dictates” of the Health Ministry and the St Lucia Medical and Dental Association (SLMDA) before responding officially to a locally-based organisation expressing concern over amendments proposed to a planned World Health Organisation (WHO) pandemic treaty.

at the WHO conference in Switzerland….where amendments proposed by the Biden Administration to the International Health Regulations would effectively cede our constitutional and citizens’ rights to the WHO and result in absolute and unprecedented medical tyranny?” Freedom Coalition said in its January 27 letter.

Last month, the Dragon awoke after the deal was revived when an exemption of sanctions was granted by the United States.

Some of the clauses in the US exemption is that no money be paid to Venezuela, some of the LNG produced must go to the Caribbean region particularly Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, and that the licence which exempts TT from sanctions would be for two years, instead of 10 years, as requested by the T&T Government.

(Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

Ecuador polls: Murdered candidate elected as Mayor

Acandidate for Mayor in Ecuador, who was murdered just hours before polls opened, has won the election in the city of Puerto López.

Omar Menéndez, 41, was shot dead by gunmen who burst into the room where he was with campaign workers on Saturday.

A teenager was also killed in the attack. Police are still investigating the possible motive behind it.

A member of Menéndez's party is expected to replace the murdered politician as Mayor.

The municipal elections were held during an escalating crime wave linked to the growing influence of violent

drug gangs in the Andean country.

Menéndez was not the only politician to be killed in the run-up to the election. Two weeks earlier, the candidate for Mayor of the coastal town of Salinas, Julio César Farachio, was also shot dead.

Police have arrested a suspect in Farachio's murder who had previously threatened the 45-year-old candidate.

The suspect had recently been released from prison after serving a sentence for drug trafficking, local media reported.

No arrests have been made so far in the fatal shooting of Menéndez,

whose assailants fled on a motorbike.

President Guillermo Lasso condemned the murders.

The President, a conservative banker, has been grappling with the rising number of homicides in Ecuador.

He has proposed a series of changes to the Constitution which were put to voters on Sunday.

One of them was to allow Ecuadoreans with links to transnational organised crime to be extradited abroad if they are facing a trial in another country or have already been sentenced in absentia.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Officer in charge of Brasilia security on Jan 8 arrested

Brazil's federal Police on Tuesday arrested the Military Police Officer who led security operations in Brasilia on January 8, when supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro stormed Government buildings, two sources familiar with the matter said.

Colonel Jorge Eduardo Naime was targeted by the fifth phase of an operation launched last month aimed at identifying people who participated in, funded or fostered the riots, according to the sources, who spoke on

condition of anonymity.

Naime, former head of the local police's operations department, is suspected of omission in security planning, the sources added.

It was not immediately possible to contact Naime or his lawyers. Asked for details, federal police said they do not disclose names of people arrested or investigated.

They had confirmed in a statement earlier that fresh raids were carried out as part of the investigation into the January 8 insurrection, when a mob invaded and ransacked the Congress,

The Freedom Coalition wrote to Prime Minister Pierre requesting transparency regarding the island’s position on the measure and amendments proposed by the United States Government.

“Why has your Government not informed the citizenry with respect to the position it took

Freedom Coalition said African countries as well as Russia, China and Brazil have all “rightfully and courageously” opposed the measures.

“I don’t want to get involved in any conspiracy theories, lack of conspiracy – I am not getting involved. All I can tell you when it comes to vaccines

and health matters, I follow the dictates of the Ministry of Health and the St Lucia Medical and Dental Association.”

He acknowledged receiving the correspondence from Freedom Coalition and had passed it on to the appropriate authority.

“I do not want to opine on these matters. If there are any issues as they relate to constitutional matters, the Attorney General will opine on them. What I know is that matters of vaccines, matters of health we go to the Ministry of Health,” Pierre told reporters.

WHO member states are expected to consider a progress report this year.

(Excerpt from CMC)

Jamaica: No more child seat requirements; Govt bows to public pressure

an adult or a lap belt; children 6-9 years old may travel without restraint or with a lap belt; children over nine years old may travel without restraint, with a lap belt or a three-point seatbelt.

Shaw stressed that only children who are of the weight and size to use an adult seatbelt are permitted to travel in the front passenger seat.

The Jamaican Government has abandoned the requirement of child restraint systems for children up to 12 years old using public transportation.

The about-turn comes less than a week after the new Road Traffic Act took effect on February 1, and following public outcry from operators of public transportation as well as parents.

Transport Minister Audley Shaw outlined the

changes in a ministerial statement in the House of Representatives Tuesday afternoon.

By way of compromise, children under one year must be restrained by an adult. Those one to three years old are allowed to travel with no restraint or be restrained by an adult.

The other changes are as follows: Children 3-6 years old may travel without restraint, restrained by

“In addition, where an adult is restraining a child, the adult should not be in the front. Children under one year old are to be restrained by an adult in all forms of transport,” said Shaw.

He added that “all other children must be transported using appropriate restraint based on their size and weight”.

The Transport Minister said the guidelines have been set out so persons can determine what kind of restraint is applicable for different categories. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Glacial lake floods threaten communities in South America, Asia

Melting mountain glaciers pose a growing flood risk to some 15 million people around the world, researchers said in a report published on Tuesday, with communities in Asia facing the biggest danger.

presidential palace and Supreme Court.

They were protesting against Bolsonaro's defeat by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in an October election and calling for a military coup to oust Lula and restore the far-right leader.

Police said they were serving three temporary detention warrants, one preventive arrest warrant, and six search-and-seizure warrants in the federal district – where Brasilia is located – under Supreme Court orders.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Runoff from melting glaciers often pools in shallow lakes, held back by rocks and debris. The risk comes when a lake overfills, bursting through its natural barrier and sending a torrent of water rushing down mountain valleys.

Scientists have assessed for the first time how many people globally are at risk from these floods, finding that more than half of vulnerable populations live in India, Pakistan, China, and Peru. Danger is highest, they report in a study published in the journal Nature Communications, when a large number of people live

near a lake.

"Our work does not just focus on the size or number of glacier lakes – no disaster is natural – it is the presence of people, especially vulnerable people, in the landscape that causes a disaster," said Stuart Dunning, a physical geographer at Britain's Newcastle University, and a co-author of the study.

Glacial lake outburst floods are projected to worsen in a warming climate.

Collectively, the world's glaciers lost about 332 gigatonnes of ice a year between 2006 and 2016. Since 1990, the number and volume of glacial lakes worldwide have each increased by about 50 per cent.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

T&T Energy Minister Stuart Young

Jamaican Transport Minister Audley Shaw

The Chiatibo glacier in the Hindu Kush mountain range is seen in Pakistan, October 16, 2019 (Neil Hall/Pool via Reuters file photo)

Oil surges more than 3% as Fed's Powell eases rate hike concerns

Oil prices climbed more than 3 per cent on Tuesday after the head of the US central bank eased market concerns over interest rate hikes, while recovering demand in China also boosted prices.

Brent crude futures were up US$2.70, or 3.3 per cent, to US$83.69 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose US$3.03, or 4.1 per cent, to US$77.14 per barrel.

US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said on Tuesday that very strong jobs data released last week simply affirmed that the central bank has some way to go on raising rates.

While declining to say whether knowing about the vigour of the data would have affected last week's 25-basis-point rate rise, Powell told the Economic Club of Washington that the January jobs numbers show "why this will be a process that takes a significant period of time" when it comes to tightening monetary policy.

The US dollar index fell after the data, raising oil prices. Interest rate hikes typically strengthen the dollar, which could make crude more expensive for non-US buyers.

Forecasted stronger demand in China also lifted crude prices on Tuesday. The International Energy Agency expects half of this year's global oil demand growth to come from China, the agency's chief said on Sunday, adding that jet fuel demand was surging.

Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, raised prices for its flagship crude for Asian buyers for the first time in six months amid expectations of demand recovery, especially from China.

"That seemed to send home the message that the China reopening is real, and if Saudi Arabia is not afraid to raise prices on oil then that means demand is pretty good," said Phil Flynn, analyst at Price Futures Group.

In Turkey, operations at a 1-million-barrel-per-day (bpd) oil export terminal in Ceyhan were halted after a major earthquake hit the region. The BTC terminal, which exports Azeri crude oil to international markets, will be closed through Wednesday.

Iraqi crude oil loadings from storage in Ceyhan were ready for resumption on Tuesday, but bad weather was preventing vessels from berthing, a trade source said. Iraq's crude oil pipeline to Turkey's Ceyhan port was still halted, the Kurdistan Regional Government's Energy Ministry said.

The shutdown of the 535,000-bpd Phase 1 part of the Johan Sverdrup oilfield in Norway's area of the North Sea also boosted prices.

BP on Tuesday reported a record profit of US$28 billion for 2022 while boosting its dividend in a sign of confidence as it sharply raised spending plans but scaled back ambitions to reduce oil and gas output by 2030.

In the United States, US crude production will rise in 2023 while demand will stay flat, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) said in its Short Term Energy Outlook (STEO) on Tuesday. (Reuters)

Around the World

Ukraine says Russians endure deadliest day, German Minister in Kyiv announces tank supplies

Ukraine said on Tuesday the last 24 hours were the deadliest of the war so far for Russian troops as Moscow pressed on with an intensifying winter assault in the east, bringing tens of thousands of freshly mobilised troops to the battlefield.

The Ukrainian claim could not be independently verified and Russia has also claimed to have killed large numbers of Ukrainian troops in recent weeks.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius visited Kyiv later on Tuesday as Berlin, Denmark, and the Netherlands said they would pool funds to restore Leopard 1 tanks from industry stocks and supply them to Kyiv in the coming months.

Pistorius announced the

Ukrainian servicemen fire a BM-21 Grad multiple launch rocket system towards Russian positions on a frontline near the town of

supply of about 80 Leopard 1s this year and about 100 in 2024, more than previously announced.

"I'm full of admiration for your efforts, for how fast you and your comrades learned handling our weap-

on systems. It was very fast, and this way you'll apply it effectively in your defence against the Russian aggressors," he told a press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Oleksii Reznikov.

Since the New Year, Western countries have pledged hundreds of tanks and armoured vehicles to Ukraine to give it the firepower and mobility to push through Russian lines and recapture occupied territory later this year.

A new US package of weapons is expected to include longer-range rockets, which would give Ukraine the ability to hit Russian supply lines in all of the territory it occupies in Ukraine's mainland and parts of the Crimea peninsula.

But it will take months before they arrive, and meanwhile Ukraine faces a Russian force with its manpower replenished by Moscow's callup of reservists. The Kremlin says Western supplies of arms only widen and extend the conflict.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Turkish President declares emergency as Turkiye-Syria quake death toll passes 7200

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in 10 provinces devastated by two earthquakes that killed more than 7200 people and left a trail of destruction across a wide area of southern Turkiye and neighbouring Syria.

A day after the quakes hit, rescuers working in harsh conditions struggled to dig people out of the rubble of collapsed buildings.

As the scale of the disaster became ever more apparent, the death toll looked likely to rise considerably. One United Nations official said it was feared thousands of children may have been killed.

And residents in several damaged Turkish cities voiced anger and despair at what they said was a slow and inadequate response from the authorities to the deadliest earthquake to hit Turkiye since 1999.

Monday's magnitude 7.8 quake, followed hours later by a second one almost as powerful, toppled thousands of buildings including hospitals, schools and apartment blocks.

Tens of thousands of people were injured or left homeless in cities in Turkiye and northern Syria.

Winter weather has hampered rescue and relief efforts and made the plight of the homeless even more miserable. Some areas were without fuel and electricity.

Aid officials voiced particular concern about the situation in Syria, already afflicted by a humanitarian crisis after nearly 12 years of civil war.

Erdogan on Tuesday declared 10 Turkish provinces a disaster zone and imposed a state of emergency there for three months. This will permit the Government to bypass Parliament in enacting new laws and to limit or suspend rights and freedoms.

3rd wave of French pension protests keeps pressure on Macron

Public transport, schools and refinery supplies in France were disrupted on Tuesday as trade unions led a third wave of nationwide strikes against President Emmanuel Macron's plans to make the French work longer before retirement.

Tuesday's multi-sector walkouts come a day after pension reform legislation began its bumpy passage through Parliament, and are a test of Macron's ability to enact change without a working majority in the National Assembly.

The Government says people must work two years longer - meaning for most until the age of 64 - in order to keep the budget of one of the indus-

trial world's most generous pension systems in the black.

The French spend the largest number of years in retirement among OECD countries - a deeply cherished benefit that a substantial ma-

jority are reluctant to give up, polls show.

At the start of a protest march in Paris, union leaders Philippe Martinez of the hard left CGT and Laurent Berger of the moderate CFDT stood

side by side to denounce the pension reform.

Berger, whose union traditionally takes a more conciliatory stance, rejected sweeteners offered by the Government, such as increasing the lowest pensions.

Strike participation appeared lower than a week earlier, data showed, but the Government will be watching street protests to gauge how strong public opposition remains.

Labour Minister Olivier Dussopt dismissed Opposition accusations that the Government was in denial over the scale of public protests, and said change was needed.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

The death toll in Turkiye rose to 5434, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said, adding that 31,777 people were injured. In Syria, the toll

was at least 1832, according to the Government and a rescue service in the insurgent-held northwest.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Russia's African footprint grows with Lavrov trip to Mali

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has promised continued military support for Mali, which has been battling a jihadist insurgency since 2012.

Last year, Mali turned its back on former colonial power France favouring help from Russia instead.

This is the Foreign Minister's second visit to Africa in two weeks.

Russia aims to shore up allies as the Ukraine war continues, but its involvement in West Africa predates that and has been growing over time.

Lavrov, who is on a twoday trip to Mali, outlined Moscow's ambition to provide military backing for governments across West Africa in the battle against Islamist militants.

Mali's military government has batted away crit-

icism of this shift to Russia.

"We will no longer justify our choice of partner. Russia is here on demand by Mali and responds efficiently to our strategic needs," Mali's Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop said during a joint press briefing with his Russian counterpart.

It is now more than a year since Wagner Group fighters began operating in Mali, though the authorities have never formally confirmed this.

But evidence suggests that they have not been any more successful than other forces in dealing with the decade-long jihadist threat and insecurity may have worsened.

Civilian casualties as a result of violence more than doubled last year, according to data from the crisis mapping organisation Acled Info.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Marinka, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 7, 2023

A woman reacts while embracing another person, near rubble following an earthquake in Hatay, Turkey, February 7, 2023

Protesters hold CGT labour union flags and flares during a demonstration against the French Government's pension reform plan in Nice as part of the third day of national strike and protests in France, February 7, 2023

DAILY HOROSCOPES

Gather information and carefully review every scenario before deciding to move forward. Taking on too much or not fully understanding what others expect of you will cause stress.

(March 21-April 19)

A stubborn attitude won’t get you what you want. Be reasonable and offer positive suggestions, and you’ll convince others to meet you halfway. Do your part. Don’t lend or borrow money.

(April 20-May 20)

Do your homework before participating in a joint venture. Ask questions and be frank about what you are willing to contribute. Someone will take advantage of you if you let them.

(May 21-June 20)

Follow your heart and do what comes naturally. Don’t make excuses; be honest and direct. Love is in the air, and a passionate gesture will not go unnoticed. A lifestyle change looks inviting.

(June 21-July 22)

If not handled properly, money matters will lead to situations that affect your emotional well-being. Engage in a physical activity that will help ease stress and get you back on track.

(July 23-Aug. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Evaluate your meaningful relationships. Reflect on how you can do things differently or change your course to make your life and surroundings less cluttered and more emotionally gratifying.

Refresh your plans and put time and effort into getting things up and running. Getting things done will lead to bigger and brighter opportunities. Put your energy where it counts, and success will be yours.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

If you look, you will find something that sparks your imagination and sends you on a hunt for something new and exciting. Don’t limit what you can do because of someone else.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Getting along with others will be tricky. Leave nothing to chance, take notes and when in doubt, ask a question. Seek clarity from others and be transparent yourself. Be honest.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

Keep the momentum flowing. Spend less, do more and bring about change that will improve your domestic life and lower your overhead. A home improvement could help your bottom line.

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Don’t stop, regardless of what everyone around you is doing. A relationship will change, but don’t dismay; in the end, it will be to your benefit. Don’t hide your true feelings.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

Be realistic regarding expectations. Sign up for what you know you can handle, nothing more. Exhaustion or injury will slow you down if you don’t get enough rest or take an unwise risk.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

South American nations submit joint World Cup 2030 bid

Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay have officially submitted their joint bid to host the 2030 World Cup - 100 years after the inaugural tournament was held in Montevideo, Uruguay.

The four South American nations, who have called for the World Cup to return to "where football was born", will compete with a joint bid from Spain and Portugal, and with possible bids from Morocco and Saudi Arabia.

The United States, Canada and Mexico will cohost the 2026 World Cup.

"The 2030 World Cup is not just another World Cup, it deserves a celebration with recognition for 100 years," Alejandro Dominguez,

South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) president, has said.

Australia tour to India 2023…

"We are convinced that FIFA has an obligation to honour the memory of those

who came before us, and believed in greatness and made the first World Cup," he add-

ed.

Two-time winners Uruguay won the first World

Cup as hosts when it was held in the country's capital, Montevideo, in 1930.

Argentina, the 1978 hosts, were crowned world champions for a third time at Qatar in 2022. Chile also previously hosted in 1962.

Argentine Football Association (Afa) president Claudio Tapia has said: "As world champions, we carry out this launch, which is the dream of all South Americans, not only on the centenary of the first edition, but because of the passion with which we live football."

Argentina's President Alberto Fernandez has also said on Twitter that neighbouring Bolivia will be asked to join "this dream".

(BBC Sport)

Winning in India is bigger than the Ashes - Steve Smith

Australia batter Steve Smith believes winning a Test series in India over the next few weeks would be bigger than beating England in this summer's Ashes Series.

World number one-ranked Australia kick-off their huge year of Test cricket on Thursday when they begin a four-match Series against India, who are ranked number two in the world and have not lost a red-ball Series at home since 2012. After that, they will play in the final of the World Test Championship in England, before an away Ashes Series begins on 16 June.

India, though, is the hardest assignment of all, says Smith. "It's a difficult place to win a Test match, let alone a Series," Smith told cricket. com.au.

"If we were able to top that mountain, that would be huge.

I think if you can win in India, that'd be bigger than an Ashes Series."

The first of many meetings between the 'Big Three' These days, it's redundant to say Australia and India will be playing a big Series.

England, India and Australia are the only cricket countries with enough money to play big Series any more.

Indeed, this four-Test contest will be the smallest Border-Gavaskar Trophy for years to come, with the teams scheduled to add a fifth match to their future meetings in line with their respective Series against England.

Meanwhile, the other nine Full Member countries seemingly play as infrequently as possible under their World Test Championship obligations.

All of their Series against one another are down to two

matches, with three matches occasionally if hosted by one of the three rich boards.

The rationale is the cost of staging Test matches versus the return in broadcast revenue. The idea of a centralised fund to offset that cost by diverting excess revenue from wealthy countries remains dormant.

Trial by spin?

So, we come to this contest, with two sides stacked with combatants who know each other's games and personalities inside and out.

Smith and Virat Kohli are still the standard bearers for their sides, though neither is any longer captain and both are returning from dips in productivity.

David Warner matches up with Rohit Sharma, two aggressive opening bats in the later parts of their careers, whose games are often supposed to be more suited to short-form cricket. Both have defied that in Tests, while sitting third and fourth on the list for most IPL runs.

Cheteshwar Pujara matches Usman Khawaja, two stylish players who have had critics, have come back from being discarded, and have concentrated on the Test arena. Their teams rely on them to be the long-innings players, and support the scoring around them.

Perhaps it will be the untested players who will make a difference? Shreyas Iyer has never played Australia, but has recently been prolific. Suryakumar Yadav has never played a Test, but is currently the most exciting bat in the world.

Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head and Cameron Green have never played in India, but Labuschagne these

days is just about the most important in Australia's top six, and has practised assiduously against spin. Head has been weak against spin, but will counter-attack in the form of his life. Green will try to use his huge reach to smother it.

Pat Cummins will sadly not match up with Jasprit Bumrah as the fast-bowling attack leaders, with Bumrah injured.

But India will pick from experience and quality in Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Jaydev Unadkat, against Australia's Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. In reserve are Scott Boland and Lance Morris.

Still, you would expect the series to be decided by spin.

India's home surfaces are most often prepared with that in mind, with recent history at Nagpur, Delhi and Ahmedabad going that way. Only the Himalayan soil and altitude at Dharamsala might give faster bowlers sway.

This will be India's signature advantage. Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is his country's second-highest wicket-taker.

Long-time partner in crime Ravindra Jadeja will aim to join him after a long injury break; left-arm ortho-

dox to complement the right, with the taller left-armer Axar Patel as third gun. All three can bat. If wrist spin is

required, Kuldeep Yadav is in the wings.

They offer a gulf of quality over Australia. Nathan Lyon matches the standard, but the next tier of Ashton Agar and Mitchell Swepson are yet to prove as much. Todd Murphy has made the squad untried.

Perhaps Australia would look to 2004, when pace did the job with one top-line spinner controlling an end. It would be a punt, but no more so than playing on India's terms.

"You can't kick up a stink that this isn't a lovely flat wicket like you might get at the SCG," Cummins said

Paris Olympics 2024…

pre-Series. "You've got to embrace it. You've got to be really proactive straightaway. You've got to have a really, really clear gameplan, and literally from ball one; you've got to back that in."

The Australians have been building a very good team, and the Indians are not at their peak in terms of fitness, form, or personnel.

But Test history shows that playing away from home is the biggest challenge, especially for teams travelling to or from Asia. Overturning that disadvantage is the most prized accomplishment. Stand by for another demonstration of why. (BBC Sport)

Nordic nations join calls for Russian, Belarusian ban to be upheld

The Olympic committees of five Nordic nations have backed calls for the ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes to be upheld for the Paris 2024 Games. In a joint statement, the Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian, Swedish and Danish committees have said: "Now is not the right time to consider their return."

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has said Russians and Belarusians may be allowed to compete as neutrals, but Ukraine has threatened to boycott the Paris Olympics if that plan goes ahead.

Last week, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Poland all voiced opposition to the inclusion of athletes from Russia and Belarus, who were banned following the former's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Latvia's Foreign Minister said it would be "unacceptable" for ath-

letes from the two countries to participate in 2024, while Poland's Sport and Tourism Minister believes as many as 40 countries could boycott the next Olympics - thus making the whole event "pointless".

The Nordic Olympic and Paralympic Committees and Confederations of Sports said on Tuesday that they wanted to reaffirm their "steadfast support with the Ukrainian people and the demand for peace". "The situation with the war in Ukraine has not changed. Now is not the right time to consider their return; that is our position," they added.

The IOC called on federations to exclude athletes from Russia and Belarus following the invasion of Ukraine, and banned the nations from the Winter Paralympics in March 2022 - though athletes were allowed to compete under a neutral flag.

Further sanctions were announced across other sports, including football, rugby, Formula 1, cycling, and swimming; while Russian and Belarusian tennis players were banned from playing at Wimbledon.

However, the IOC said last month that it would "explore a pathway" for athletes from the two nations to compete at Paris 2024. That move has been criticised in a joint statement from Athletes for Ukraine and the athlete association Global Athlete, which said the decision shows the IOC "endorses Russia's brutal war and invasion of Ukraine".

The UK Government has condemned the plan as a "world away from the reality of war", and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that allowing Russia to compete in Paris would amount to showing that "terror is somehow acceptable". (BBC Sport)

The Argentine Football Association hosted a ceremony on Tuesday to formally announce the South American World Cup bid

Steve Smith averages 73 in Test cricket against India, and 60 in India

Windies Tour to Zimbabwe 2023: Test 1 of 2…

Ballance 137*, Mavuta 53 help Zimbabwe fight back

-before bold declaration

Masakadza, but the latter lofted a catch to mid-off as he tried to play an unnecessary stroke just before lunch. At that point, Zimbabwe still needed 56 runs to avoid the follow-on, with just three wickets in hand. West Indies, with the second new ball due after another 15 balls, had their tails up, but Ballance and Mavuta walked out after lunch, and dominated the second session.

Gary Ballance marked his second coming in Tests - this time for Zimbabwe - with a composed and crucial century that helped his team go from being at risk of being made to follow-on to a position from where they could declare the innings with the hope of forcing a result.

His unbeaten 137, along with a maiden Test fifty from Brandon Mavuta, helped Zimbabwe fight back from a perilous position.

Ballance, who previously played 23 Tests for England and scored four centuries, was the rock that held Zimbabwe's innings together, after their solid opening stand on the third day. He was largely untroubled, hit-

ting 12 fours and two sixes in his 231-ball innings, as he put on significant partnerships with the lower-order batters, after initially losing partners in quick succession.

Ballance became only the second cricketer, after Kepler Wessels, to score Test centuries for two countries, and the third to score a century on Test debut for Zimbabwe.

Ballance joined overnight batter Innocent Kaia, who had already reached his half-century on debut, at the start of day four in Bulawayo, but Alzarri Joseph struck twice early in the day to remove Kaia for 67 and Tafadzwa Tsiga for 2. Kemar Roach pegged Zimbabwe back further when he had Brad Evans edging behind,

as Zimbabwe lost three wickets for 19 runs.

Ballance then put on

The two added 121 runs in the session to help Zimbabwe get into a position from where it would be difficult to lose the game. Mavuta, coming into the match with two half-centuries in his last two first class games, started off tentatively, and was troubled

ed another life when Jason Holder shelled a dolly at midoff when he miscued a lofted shot off Gudakesh Motie.

But he soon found his bearings, and thrashed out a couple of gorgeous drives through cover. He was resolute in defence, and put away the bad deliveries with regularity, allowing Ballance to play at his tempo without the pressure of having to farm strike or score quickly.

Mavuta, who recorded his maiden five-wicket haul in the Test, brought up his half-century with a drive to sweeper cover in the final session of the day. He was solid in defence after that, but did not take many risks, until a short ball from Holder stayed low to clatter into his stumps.

Mavuta contributed 53 runs to the 135 that he added with Ballance for the eighth wicket.

Zimbabwe decided then that it was no use hanging about, and took the aggressive route. Victor Nyauchi hit a first-ball four through covers, and thrashed another cover drive and a cut through point, before top-edging a pull to Joshua Da Silva off Holder.

45 runs with Wellington

ENet bouncing with Rawle Toney

3x3 Basketball Classic

…16-team tournament set for March 18–19 at Burnham Court

ENet, the country’s “everything network”, has again thrown its support behind the Rawle Toney 3x3 Classic. The company has presented a donation to the organiser of the Classic at its headquarters on Camp Street, Georgetown.

The 16-team tournament will be held on March 18–19 at the Burnham Basketball Court, and this year’s event would be featuring the participation of regional teams. Winner of the tournament will pocket $400,000, while the teams finishing second and third would be going home with $200,000 and $100,000 respectively.

Event organiser Rawle Toney has lauded ENet’s support, which he said dates back to the inaugural tournament in 2019. Toney added that the company, formerly known as E-Networks, has always been a ‘friend’ to basketball in Guyana, and was one of the first sponsors for Guyana’s male and female teams at the initial FIBA AmeriCup in Miami in 2021. ENet was also behind Guyana’s senior men’s team which won, for the first time, the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championship in Suriname in 2018.

ENet’s Marketing Coordinator Ashley John making her company’s donation to Rawle Toney for his March 18–19 3x3 Classic

“I’m extremely grateful for ENet showing support once again as it demonstrates (its) readiness to help in the development of sports, and in this case 3x3 basketball,” Toney has said.

Meanwhile, ENet’s Marketing Coordinator Ashley John disclosed that the company is happy and willing to support the Rawle Toney 3x3 Classic. She noted that ENet recognises Toney’s effort in helping to develop basketball, and his passion for

sports in Guyana, and she said those have merited the company being a strong supporter of the Rawle Toney 3x3 Classic.

ENet is Guyana’s leading provider of digital cable television, internet, information technology, and media services. The company, which will soon roll out its cellular service, strives to provide its customers with choice, innovation and value as it delivers premium content and new ways to access and view content.

by Joseph's pace early on. He survived a run-out scare after a mix-up with Ballance,

Ballance also brought out the slog-sweep with more regularity, and was even dropped at deep midwicket; while Richard Ngarava, Zimbabwe's #11, hit a couple

ing by 68 when they declared, giving the bowlers 13 overs in the day to have a go at West Indies' top order.

But Kraigg Brathwaite and Tagenarine Chanderpaul, fresh from recording West Indies' highest-ever opening stand, were once again stoic at the crease, and saw the day out without any damage, to finish the day with a lead of 89.

(ESPNCricinfo)

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spared only because Roston Chase had fumbled the ball at short third, and was gift-

of gorgeous lofted straight drives for a four and a six.

Zimbabwe were still trail-

SCOREBOARD

Zimbabwe 1st Innings

BATTING R B

Innocent Kaia lbw

b Joseph 67 132

Tanunurwa Makoni c

Mayers b Joseph 33 81

Chamu Chibhabha c †Da Silva b Motie 9 22

Craig Ervine (c)

b Brathwaite 13 32

Gary Ballance not out 137 231

Tafadzwa Tsiga †

lbw b Joseph 2 6

Brad Evans c

†Da Silva b Roach 7 9

Wellington Masakadza

c Mayers b Motie 15 76

Brandon Mavuta

b Holder 56 132

Victor Nyauchi c †Da Silva b Holder 13 10

Richard Ngarava

not out 19 20

Extras (b 2, lb 5, nb 1) 8

TOTAL 125 Ov

(RR: 3.03) 379/9d

Fall of wickets: 1-63

(Tanunurwa Makoni, 26.1 ov), 2-84 (Chamu Chibhabha, 31.5 ov), 3-114 (Craig Ervine, 41.4 ov), 4-128 (Innocent Kaia, 48.3 ov), 5-132 (Tafadzwa Tsiga, 50.6 ov), 6-147 (Brad Evans, 53.5 ov), 7-192

(Wellington Masakadza, 77.3 ov), 8-327 (Brandon Mavuta, 116.2 ov), 9-341 (Victor Nyauchi, 118.2 ov) BOWLING

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Caption: Evin Lewis and Rashid Khan were teammates at St Kitts & Nevis Patriots last season

Innings

BATTING R B

Kraigg Brathwaite (c) not out 11 41

Tagenarine Chanderpaul

not out 10 37

Extras 0

TOTAL 13 Ov (RR: 1.61) 21

Yet to bat: Raymon Reifer, Jermaine Blackwood, Kyle Mayers, Roston Chase, Joshua Da Silva †, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Kemar Roach

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Victor Nyauchi 5-3-4-0

Wellington Masakadza 6-2-11-0

Brad Evans 2-1-6-0

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Early wickets from the West Indian bowlers had Zimbabwe on the verge of collapse

Brandon Mavuta followed up his 5-fer with his maiden Test half-century

Alzarri Joseph picked up three wickets

West Indies Championships 2023…

Guyana to play Windward Islands from today in Grenada

By Brandon Corlette in Grenada

Fresh from a massive 183-run win against Barbados Pride in last weekend’s first round of the West Indies Championships in Antigua, the Guyana Harpy Eagles will now play hosts Windward Islands Volcanoes from today, February 8, at the Grenada National Stadium in round two of those championships.

Despite the win, Guyana captain Leon Johnson has highlighted some areas of improvement that are required for the Guyanese side, including better shot selection from batsmen.

"We need to be a bit better

Guyana Harpy Eagles had indeed put down some chances in the first innings of their match against Barbados Pride, but showed improvement in the second innings. According to Johnson, catches win matches, and it is important for the fielders to grab those opportunities.

"We were better in the second innings in terms of fielding. We put down a couple of chances, but we were much better in the second innings. We still think there is room for improvement in the field. Catches win matches, and we were better in the second innings, and it showed in the way we bowled Barbados out,” Johnson has said.

Sharing his sentiments on the mood in the camp after the first-round match, wherein Guyana picked up 20 points, Johnson said: "Elated for the guys! Came out and worked hard for the four days, and in the two days leading up to the game as well. I was very pleased with the batting effort in the first innings, and the bowling effort throughout the game."

in our shot selection. It was an issue coming in, and there were a couple of uncalled-for shots during the game," Johnson explained.

Johnson has also been delighted with the efforts put in by debutants Matthew Nandu and Shamar Joseph. And the skipper has also credited Veerasammy Permaul for claiming six wickets in the match and going past 500 for Guyana. Nial Smith who claimed five wickets, and Ronsford Beaton, who had important wickets, have also been credited.

"Matthew Nandu's debut hundred, anchoring in the first innings; Permaul's landmark in getting 500 wickets for Guyana; Smith's five-wicket haul in Guyana, and Beaton bowling a lengthy spell from the southern spell, against the breeze and putting in a lot of effort to get couple of wickets. He got a couple of big wickets, the two most experienced guys for Barbados. He got them out and set us up for the victory," Johnson related.

In relation to the performance of Joseph, Johnson said: "he is very good. I think he bowled excellent. He got the new ball in the second innings and he broke through early. Every time we gave him the ball, he ran in and gave a good effort. He seems to be decent with the bat, he made 20

in the first innings. Very good, athletic, full of energy, good to see."

Volcanoes drew their match against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force last week, but their batsmen have shown great promise. Kimani Melius had scored 192, and Sunil Ambris, Kaveem Hodge and Alick Athanaze have also been among the runs. In the bowling department, Volcanoes will be led by Ryan John, who is fresh off a five-wicket haul in round one.

First ball of the game today, Wednesday, February 8, against Windwards is set for 10:00h Eastern Caribbean Time. On the eve of the game, where Grenada celebrated their 49th Independence anniversary, showers continued, especially in the morning

Herstelling Raiders, Eagles FC pick up wins in EBDFA tourney

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF)/

Tiger Rentals Under-13 National Developmental tournament continued last Saturday with the East Bank Demerara Football Association’s (EBDFA’s) Intra- Association leg of the tournament.

Play continued at the tournament’s usual venue, the GFF’s National Training Center (NTC) at Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD), where Herstelling Raiders gained a walkover win from Agricola Red Triangle, who failed to show.

In the match that was played, the high-flying Swan continued their purple patch with an important 2-1 victory

against Friendship All-Stars. Swan's goals came off the boots of Shameer Daniels and Kevin De Goias, while Friendship's lone goal was scored by Brandon Goolcharran.

Meanwhile, the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) held the matchday two of their intra-association tournament at the West Demerara Secondary School ground also on Saturday, and two comprehensive 13-0 victories were recorded.

Eagles FC first won their match, and then Pouderoyen registered a similar 13-0 triumph.

The inter-ATC/club competition resumes this Saturday, February 11, 2023 at the NTC with four matches, beginning

at 10:30hrs. Those fixtures cater for West Berbice clashing with East Coast Demerara in the opener, followed by East Berbice matching skills with Bartica in the second clash. The other two matchups will see Upper Demerara being pitted against East Bank Demerara in the third match, while the fourth and final game, which kicks off at 12:00hrs, will see West Demerara and Georgetown locked in battle.

Tiger Rentals Guyana has invested a whopping $10M into this tournament, which was launched in 2022. The Tiger Rentals-powered League is the first nationwide developmental under-13 football tournament that the local Federation has hosted.

hours. The Guyana Harpy Eagles squad comprises: Leon Johnson (Captain); Veerasammy Permaul (Vice Captain); Chandrapaul Hemraj; Matthew Nandu; Kemol Savory; Tevin Imlach; Anthony Bramble; Kevin Sinclair; Nial Smith; Ronsford Beaton; Akshaya Persaud; Ashmead Nedd and Shamar Joseph. The Manager is Albert Clements; the Head Coach is Ryan Hercules; the Assistant Coach is Garvin

Nedd; the Cricket Analyst is Keshava Ramphal, and the Physiotherapist is Angelica Holder. Windward Islands Volcanoes squad comprises: Alick Athanaze (Captain); Jerlani Robinson; Kavem Hodge; Keron Cottoy; Sunil Ambris; Justin Greaves; Tevyn Walcott; Kenneth Dember; Preston McSween; Teddy Bishop; Darius Martin; Kimani Melius and Ryan John. Shirley Clarke is the Head Coach.

Semifinals set after Basketball Weekend at Burnham Court

The Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association’s (GABA) Pre-Season Tournament will head into the semifinal round this Saturday, February 11, following an exhilarating Weekend of Basketball at the Burnham Court in Georgetown.

On Friday night, Kwakwani Untouchables and Ravens reigned supreme, while Bounty Colts and Pacesetters entertained on Saturday; resulting in their semifinal berths. On Saturday, the Bounty Colts got the better of the University of

Guyana (UG) Trojans 7350. Shelroy Thomas was the highest scorer in that game, racking up 30 points for the Colts.

Later on, Pacesetters took on and subsequently thumped Kobras 60-48. In that encounter, Zion Grey was the man of the moment, putting up 18 points.

Meanwhile, action on the Burnham court on Friday saw victories for Ravens and Kwakwani Untouchables against Mambas (61-39) and Plaisance Guardians (74-59) respectively .

The upcoming GABA Pre-Season semifinal ac-

tion will see Ravens facing up to the newcomers Kwakwani Untouchables at 18:00hrs, while Bounty Colts and Pacesetters do battle from 20:00hrs. Both games will be played on Saturday, February 11th, at the Burnham Court. The pre-Season final is expected to be contested on Sunday, February 12, at the same venue.

The tournament is sponsored by SAC Packaging and Courier Services, Cigars and Cognac, The Bargains Never Stop, Alpha Trading, Pruvest Inc, and Strategic Recruitment Solutions.

Guyana Harpy Eagles looked a more gelled unit after round one

Matthew Nandu is fresh off his maiden century on debut (Photo: Brandon Corlette)

Kimani Melius scored 192 in the first round (Photo: Grenada Cricket Association)

The Kwakwani Untouchables is one of the teams to feature in Saturday’s semifinal

Part of the action from the GFF/ Tiger Rentals U13 tournament (File photos)