Guyana Times - Wednesday, January 18, 2023

Black Bush Polder couple brutally murdered, home set on fire during invasion

others

in

Police custody

By Andrew CArmiChAel

The quiet village of Yakusari, Black Bush

Polder in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) has been rocked by the brutal murder of an elderly couple, which occurred in the wee hours of Tuesday, January 17. Dead are 59-year-old Sarasauti Devi Budraj, called ‘Seeta’, and her husband, 67-year-old Subnath Budraj, called ‘Bull Boy’, of Lot 26 Community Zone, South Yakusari, BBP.

Their bodies were found in the lower flat of their home at just after 4:00h on Tuesday. It is believed that they were robbed before being murdered, and then their home was set alight by the perpetrators. They were the parents of four children, who are all overseas.

When Guyana Times visited the scene, neighbours recalled being awakened by a

loud explosion, and upon investigating, they observed the couple’s home on fire.

Neighbours formed a bucket brigade and were able to put out the blaze, which had already destroyed a section of the house. In an effort to rescue the couple, they

broke into the burning building, only to find their bodies in pools of blood.

“Me hold the torchlight, and dem boys get the buckets dipping water from the trench, and they throwing it to out the fire,” a resident explained.

The couple operated a wholesale beverage business from their home. From all indications, the fire was set in the storage bond, but by the time the fire tenders arrived, the blaze had already been

contained by the residents. However, Regional Police Commander Shivpersaud Bacchus confirmed that the husband was found in the liquor store, while his wife was found in the living area. A knife was reportedly stuck in the man’s neck, while several stab wounds were found on the woman’s body.

Satish Persaud, nephew of the woman, recalled receiving news at about 4:15h that his aunt’s house was on fire, and he said that as he arrived at the scene, villagers were battling the blaze.

Persaud said the entire upper flat was ransacked, and, upon checking, he realised that cash and jewellery were missing. However, he could not say how much money has gone missing.

“Is big-business people; they get a liquor restaurant, an off-licence liquor business, and they are a distributor for all DDL (products), so they does do a lot of business,” Persaud noted.

There are reports that the couple, or at least one of them, was making preparations to leave the country soon.

Nevertheless, the Commander said Police were able to secure the building as the investigation commenced.

“What we do know that we have on our hands is two bodies. The building was set on fire, I am of the perception it was done with the view to derail us, the investigators, from what we are looking at,” the Commander told reporters at the crime scene on Tuesday morning.

At the Yakusari Market, situated two buildings away, Police found traces of blood. A mobile phone was found in the vicinity.

Meanwhile, a 22-year-old man from South Yakusari is among four persons arrested and being interrogated. Guyana Times was told that the young man has confessed to committing the heinous crime. During his confession,

he reportedly told detectives that murdering the couple was not the perpetrators’ initial intention.

“We went there not to kill them, but we had to, because they would ah identify we, because they see us. We had to do wat we had to do to erase the evidence,” the suspect reportedly told Police.

He has also implicated a 27-year-old resident.

In relation to the fire, the Commander related that investigators were told that after killing the couple, the perpetrators turned on the gas cylinder, and lit paper and placed it around the room.

That caused the explosion which was heard by residents. Investigations are continuing.

Sections of the house damaged by fire

One of the bodies being removed from the scene

Murdered: Sarasauti Devi Budraj, called ‘Seeta’

Murdered: Subnath Budraj, called ‘Bull Boy’

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2023 |

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, Jan 18 – 01:30h – 03:00h and Thursday, Jan 19 – 02:30h – 04:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Wednesday, Jan 18 – 13:20h – 14:50h and Thursday, Jan 19 – 14:20h – 15:50h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

There will be light cloud during the day. Expect partly cloudy skies at night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North North-Easterly to East NorthEasterly between 1.78 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 13:33h reaching a maximum height of 2.44 metres.

Low Tide: 07:02h and 19:44h reaching minimum heights of 0.94 metre and 0.73 metre.

India-Guyana discussion

Railway system along EB, ECD corridors being examined – Pres Ali

Cognisant of the growth of Guyana’s economy and the need for timely transportation of goods and people, President Dr Irfaan Ali has revealed that a railway system in Guyana is being examined at a technical level.

During a press conference on Tuesday to mark his return from leading a Guyanese delegation that included members of the local private sector to India, President Ali was asked about his Administration’s plan for a railway.

The President acknowledged that in theory, a railway makes sense considering the population density along the East Bank. But while a railway is being considered, he noted that a lot of technical work has to be done before it can be deemed feasible.

“The transit system is something we have been discussing at a technical level. From a planning perspective, if you look at the population density from Grove

on the East Bank, to maybe Nabaclis and the movement of people along that corridor, one might easily say that a rail system is easily justifiable.”

“But while these things are in the early stage of examination, there’s no decision on that as yet. I would say to you it’s not outside our thinking horizon. It is something that from a planning perspective, we’re examining. And any decision will have to be based on a full-fledged study to justify such an investment,” the President also said.

At one time, Guyana had active railways, one from Demerara to Berbice and the other from Demerara to Essequibo. However, both came to an end in the 1970s.

There are a number of infrastructural projects ongoing that will link the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) with the East Bank. Foremost among them is the Ogle to Eccles roadway. A US$106.4 million contract was signed last year with Indian company Ashoka Buildcon, to construct this four-lane road.

It was announced in January 2022 that Ashoka

Buildcon Limited won the contract to construct the road, ahead of two other Indian companies. Ashoka has previously built a number of bridges and roads.

According to the company’s website, it even built a bridge in 38 days, namely the Mandve Bridge near Pandharpur, India. According to the company, the bridge was supposed to be built in 12 months.

In February 2021, the Government of India approved the new scope of works for the redesigned bypass road project that would link the ECD at Ogle to Haags Bosch in Eccles, on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD).

The Diamond-Ogle bypass project will see the construction of some 26 kilometres of road linking two of the country’s main thoroughfares. This new road link will also be connected to key communities in Georgetown and along the East Bank of Demerara.

RITES Limited, an engineering consultancy company based in India, had undertaken a 10-month design consultancy, which produced

a Detailed Project Report (DPR) outlining the draft final design of the bypass road. It is this report which recommended a four-lane highway as most feasible.

Back in 2015, the Indian Government had provided a US$50 million Line of Credit (LOC) for the road link that was initially slated for Ogle to Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD). However, the project cost was driven up to over $208 million by the previous A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government and the project languished under them.

However, when the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government took office in 2020, it redesigned the project into two phases to fit the LOC – first from Ogle to Haags Bosch road, which is about 48-50 per cent of the project, and then from Haags Bosch to Diamond – in order to fit the US$50 million LOC.

Because of these changes in the scope of the project, additional approvals were required from New Delhi, and after several months, this was obtained.

The terminus for the previously operational Demerara-Essequibo Railway

...says feasibility study would be needed before any decision taken

President Dr Irfaan Ali

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Our pensioners

Over the years, there have been many discussions on the needs of the elderly, with much focus being placed on the issues that matter to older people, including, but not limited to, their financial wellbeing.

The issue of every country’s older population and their welfare has been a topic up for discussion worldwide.

Locally, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh, in presenting Guyana’s 2023 Budget, highlighted some of the ways in which Guyana is taking care of its elderly. We are pleased with the announcement that our pensioners have now been given another increase in their old age pension, taking it up to $33,000.

To quote the Minister: “This measure will benefit approximately 73,000 pensioners, each of whom will now receive an additional $60,000 per annum, thereby placing an additional $4.4 billion of disposable income in their hands. With this latest increase, the total OAP bill now amounts to $28.9 billion.

Of course, it would be remiss of us not to commend and acknowledge that indeed improved efforts have been made to take care of our older population. According to the Minister in his Budget 2023 presentation: “…in just two years, old age pensions have increased from $20,500 to $28,000 reflecting a 40 per cent increase to over 69,000 senior citizens. In addition, pensioners benefitted from a one-off cash-grant of $28,000 and 28,450 pensioners benefitted from subsidised water charges…our senior citizens continue to benefit from Government’s improved care services. To this end in 2022, 6,300 elderly persons benefitted from home-based care in Regions Two, Three, Five, Six and Nine. Also, 590 persons were trained in elderly care in 2022, and another 750 are targeted in 2023.”

Additionally, the Elderly Commission to address the issues affecting the elderly was resuscitated in September 2020.

More importantly, $100 million has been budgeted to commence the construction of a new care home for senior citizens.

While the Palms Geriatric Home has been able to take in and care for elderly persons and, in some cases, also those who are abandoned and left to fend for themselves, there has always been a need for a second such care home.

Too often, our elderly are neglected, and their contributions in developing our country are forgotten.

In its Baseline Report for the Decade of Healthy Ageing, the World Health Organization (WHO) included useful insights into the status of the world’s older populations and what health authorities and policymakers and international development partners could do in order to ensure this group of people is not left behind.

According to the report, at least 14 per cent of all people aged 60 years and over – more than 142 million people – are currently unable to meet all their basic daily needs. The report brings together data available for measuring healthy ageing, defined by WHO as “the process of developing and maintaining the functional ability that enables well-being in older age”.

WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus notes that humans now live longer than at any time in history. “But adding more years to life can be a mixed blessing if it is not accompanied by adding more life to years.”

He said that the Baseline Report for the Decade of Healthy Ageing has the potential to transform the way policy-makers and multiple service-providers engage with older adults. The report also discusses what is needed to promote collaboration and better measure progress towards healthy ageing.

WHO says that optimising “functional ability” is the goal of the Decade of Healthy Ageing, which began in 2021, and addresses five interrelated abilities that all older people should enjoy: the ability to meet basic needs; to continue to learn and make decisions; to be mobile; to build and maintain relationships; and to contribute to society.

It should be stated that the Caribbean has been recognised as having one of the fastest-growing older populations in the developing world. This certainly poses its own challenges, and Governments and other actors will be required to take the necessary measures to ensure that this segment of the population leads healthier and more productive lives.

There is no doubt that among the more pressing issues affecting older persons are health concerns and the quality of care being provided to them on a daily basis. It is therefore crucial for Governments to put in place systems which would allow for older persons to obtain the health and other services they need.

We commend the Government for increasing the pension for our senior citizens.

Growth with human development is signature of Budget 2023

Dear Editor

In a nearly six-hour-long speech to the Parliament of Guyana last evening, Dr. Ashni Singh presented the largest budget in the history of the country. The $781.9 billion is “fully financed, with no new taxes”. More than that, it is a document of transformative proportions; meaning that, when fully implemented, it would help underwrite the movement of Guyana from a structurally dependent economy to one that is both self-reliant and sustainable.

But economic change is not easy, nor does it work independently of other social structures and institutions in society. This much has been well established in the academic literature on development. In 1973, Charles K. Wilber, then Chair of the Department of Economics at the University of Notre Dame, made some observations that are germane to where Guyana stands today in terms of its development trajectory. In the preface to part seven of The Political Economy of Development and Underdevelopment, Wilber noted that “[e]conomic development is not a smooth evolutionary process of change. Rather, it is a painful process, which involves breaking up established ways of life and hurting many strongly entrenched vested interests (C.K. Wilber 1973/1979).

While rapid modernisation of the economic structure may be disruptive in the short term, the costs of maintaining the old economic order are worse, and especially for the poor and the powerless. Thus, for Wilber, “[c]continued underdevelop-

ment in bringing untold suffering to millions of people” (Ibid).

Budget 2023 is structured around two temporal rhythms. The first and more easily understandable are to be found in the new Measures which, as is widely known, are intended to deal with problems in the short-term, or even consumption needs that must be addressed immediately. On this score, Budget 2023 offers a list of substantive “interventions”.

Chief among them are – the tax threshold is moving from $75,000 to $85,000; Because We Care Grants’ increases from $25,000 to $35,000; the school uniform grant stays in place, bringing total disbursements to students to $40,000; the zero excise tax on fuel stays in place, amounting to a significant subsidy for gasoline; the extension of freight relief to the tune of $6 billion is intact; $10 billion is slated for the Part-time Jobs Programme; Old Age Pension goes from $28,000 to $33,000, benefitting 73,000 persons; Public Assistance moves to $16,000; removal of the 14 percent VAT on new all-electric motor vehicles is a massive cost-saving measure for consumers; then there is the “increase in the writing down allowance applicable to all-electric motor vehicles to 50 percent annually, in support of business’s investment decision to switch to more environmentally friendly vehicles”; this is combined with a decrease from 45% to 35% on duty for new imported vehicle 1500CC and under; and not least, is the $800,000 flat tax on imported used vehi-

cles under 1500CC. There is an additional $5 billion in measures aimed at countering cost-of-living pressures.

While the budgetary measures are for immediate human security needs, allocations in health, education, housing and water, human services, and agriculture get around 48% of the $781.9 billion. This means that more than half of the budget is aimed at direct human development to be realised within the next twelve months, or before the next budgetary allocations are put into action.

Put differently, the budget has significant expenditures that are an admixture of the investment and consumption functions. This model is within the historical development paradigm of what A.G. Frank and Barry K. Gills once labelled as “human-centric” and “ecocentric”; the latter, of course, alluding to development that is mindful of the natural ecosystems and environmental security.

The long-term capital outlays of the budget fit within the classic PPP approach to development, which, as Minister Singh noted, is built on the principles of continuity, consistency, and credibility. Even a cursory historical reflection would remind readers of long-term investments by PPP administrations that turned out to be monumentally important for the quality of life of the Guyanese people. Think of the establishment of UG by Cheddi Jagan in 1963, or the building of the Hope Canal or Berbice Bridge under President Bharrat Jagdeo. The PNC under F. Burnham also made long-term investments that still have val-

ue. The Demerara Harbour Bridge and the SoesdykeLinden Highway were excellent long-term projects that continue to yield benefits daily.

The attacks on long-term capital investments are not only uncalled for, but lack basic economic rationality.

Budget 2023 makes good on key infrastructural projects. Chief among these is the NGL, Gas-to-Shore Plant to be constructed in Wales on the West Bank Demerara. The investment of $40 billion in this project would provide immeasurable benefits to consumers when this project is completed. Electricity cost is expected to be cut by half, and cooking gas is likely to drop by around 75%. As a transition energy source, there are also important environmental benefits to be derived. Thousands of high-paying jobs will be created. The same benefits will accrue when the oil refinery in Berbice is finally completed.

Over $136 billion will be spent on roads. The Opposition is fond of saying that people cannot eat roads. While this is nominally correct, it is foolish in terms of economic development where human-centred development is the priority. A proper road, river and air transportation network is critical to farm-to-market cost reduction, food security, reduction of travelling cost to work and school, access to tourist/leisure facilities, access to health care, and the reduction of lost labour hours due to traffic delays. Better roads would also contribute to a reduction in traffic accidents and fatalities.

Three newly built timber bridges, to the tune of $3.8 million, were commissioned on Tuesday by Minister Susan Rodrigues. They will ultimately improve accessibility for pupils of the Bright Future’s Day Care, Pre-School and Nursery School and other residents of Section 'B' and Section 'C’ Sophia, Georgetown.

In the photo, several children joined the Minister and other officials to cut the ceremonial ribbon to commission one of the bridges

Budget 2023

Dear Editor,

This year’s budget started unexpectedly, with the parliamentary site showing that the budget presentation had ended on January 15th at 3:30pm. A sign of things to come, or an error that could be easily corrected? With economic development, timing is very important. The global economy is slowing, inflation is high, and interest rates are skyrocketing. The past budgets were not balanced, and excessive spending was driven primarily by borrowing. This year’s budget should be retooled to ensure Government receipts balance with expenditures.

The additional funds available in the NRF should be invested to capitalise on the high interest rates, while allowing inflation to fall as supply chain issues are resolved. Not only will this make our development plan more affordable, but it will also allow the human resources and internal capabilities of the country to further develop to a level where the economy can efficiently and effectively absorb the increased expected future growth.

Our CapEx investments continue to be limited by our internal capabilities. We must allow time for these capabilities to further be developed and enhanced. Paying down our debts continues to be important, and will help ensure favourable future creditworthiness. The local economy is also at risk of overheating, and this approach to economic development during this difficult global financial period will allow Guyana to strengthen its long-term position for further development. Having 2023 be a year of focus on electricity, water, drainage, and community needs would ensure a strong year of accomplishment that would have a direct impact on our citizens.

The non-oil sector’s growth is promising, and should be further encouraged, but we must be in tune with demand and expected price growth. Strengthening market growth, which is less vulnerable to supply chain fluctuations, would require an increased focus on regional growth and improved forecasting. The opportunity with India for the production of millets was timid, and should be revisited with a baseline acreage of at least 1000 acres, combined with a secure sales agreement. Our country should also no longer overlook the organic farming industry and the opportunity that it offers.

We must be cautious of the “build it and they will come” approach, and revisit our infrastructural investments to ensure that the economic activity involved would provide a reasonable return on investment.

Opening markets and ensuring sales should be a high priority alongside our citizens’ convenience and increase of productivity within the economy. Our sugar production has fallen while prices have increased, and our rice production yields have increased while prices have fallen. Investing ahead of the curve must be in tune with macroeconomic conditions, and must

be supported by secured market sales.

We must be careful to not be too aggressive in our investment programme unless there is a guaranteed payback period that will guarantee that funds are not prematurely spent in a high-inflation environment, where the cost of debt is higher than the expected rate of return. In the largest market in the world, stores are closing and many businesses are in debt. The US and China should be an indication of an opportunity to wait for demand to fall, supply chain bottlenecks to be removed, and prices to become more affordable to support our future development, while our funds increase in value as a result of the current higher rates of investment.

The nonproductive sectors that cater to the health and well-being of our citizens continue to be a focus in the budget, and should be applauded. The education of our children and their safety continues to be a focus of the budget, and it is CRG’s hope that the immediate infrastructural needs that are being looked at would include the fire safety needs that have now become clear to our nation. It is unfortunate that those safety needs were not explicitly mentioned during the presentation. The continued development of the University of Guyana in Demerara and Berbice is encouraging, and we also look forward to an investment in a strong offering in Essequibo.

Housing growth is also applaudable. However, the opportunity continues to exist for a pre-investment in a sewage system, underground electricity lines, the supporting water system; and having the roads, clinics and Police outposts in place prior to lots’ distribution. This will ensure the avoidance of the current problems we have with electricity, water, road, security, and healthcare needs in established communities.

We must ensure the correct level of focus is in place for our investments to bring about a stronger and safer economy. This also highlights the current gaps that are in place within the current infrastructure. Let’s make a better effort at improving what we currently have before an aggressive expansion programme is pursued. It is in our country’s best interest to secure what we have by completing the improvement of our drainage and sea defence infrastructure. The current proposed budget needs to provide further clarity in this crucial area of our infrastructure.

It was refreshing to hear that the budget has embraced the Arts, and with it should also come an investment in our cultural diversity. We are blessed with being a country that is defined by six peoples, and our cultural expression should reflect this diversity and what joins them together in our beautiful Guyana. Cricket is richly rooted in the history of our country, and the Government’s commitment, as expressed in this year’s budget, is clear. We must also embrace the great accomplishments of

GCC and the strong history of the Bourda Cricket Ground. It is world-renowned, and must also be a venue of choice for future events.

Overall, the budget was in line with the approach taken during previous years, and CRG continues to encourage the Government to relook at the opportunities that have presented themselves over the recent past, and refocus on what is both urgent and aligned with our long-term needs. For example, focusing on completing the new Demerara Harbour Bridge may be sufficient a project of such magnitude for the current project management capabilities available in the country.

In keeping with the spirit of the budget, “Improving lives today, building prosperity for tomorrow”, the Government can be more impactful within the population by considering the priorities and effectiveness of investments. We must maximise the current opportunities

before us, and avoid risking the hard-found funds that have been made available after such a long and difficult history.

The outline of digital solutions was the highlight of the budget, and will help improve productivity and reduce the urgency of some of the infrastructural needs within the transportation sector.

Given the recent complaints around the Judiciary, one had expected an increased level of investment beyond what has been allocated in this year’s budget. The increase would have also improved the support needed for the planned increased investment in crime reduction and prevention. CRG looks forward to retooling the current budget proposal. May it bring balance and the needed focus to ensure its effective and efficient implementation.

Best regards, Jamil Changlee

The 2023 Budget receives my stamp of approval

Dear Editor, Budget 2023 was presented by Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh, and I wish to add my few cents on the various aspects of it.

With over seven billion dollars allocated, this year’s budget is Guyana’s largest. What is of significance to me though is the fact that larger sums are geared towards the realisation of major infrastructure projects, such as the new Demerara River crossing and the Wales gas-to-shore energy project, which when completed would not only be transformative, but would free up significant fiscal space to allow for spending in other areas.

I am happy that Government is fulfilling its promise of not only returning the school children’s cash grant, but gradually increasing it until it reaches $50,000. This year, public and private school students would each receive $40,000 in total.

This, together with the increase in the income tax threshold, adjustments to the salaries of Public Sector workers, increases in old-age pensions and public assistance, would provide more disposable income and support to the beneficiaries.

The long-term goals of this budget are evident in the allocations in areas such as health and education. The GOAL scholarship received more sums, and the focus on education is noteworthy and commendable.

Upgrading and construction of new health facilities, training medical staff, and procurement of medical supplies and equipment are also commendable.

All in all, in my view, the 2023 Budget is excellent, and the Government therefore receives my stamp of approval.

Sincerely, Brian Azore

Measures for working class admirable

Dear Editor, The 2023 Budget, the largest budget in the history of Guyana, has left me with no doubt that we are well on our way to becoming a sustainable & economical giant that other countries would follow.

The budget’s consideration for the working class is indeed admirable. We are on the pathway to becoming a very inclusive society. Though I laud the measures that are centred around the development of the country’s

infrastructure, the measures announced that are directly targeting the working and middle class citizens are the ones that are most welcome.

The “Because We Care” cash grant being increased to a substantial $40,000 is one of the most exciting measures, if not the most exciting measure, for the working class, and it is set to benefit over 214,000 school children. It is unbelievable that the APNU/ AFC administration ceased the distribution of this grant

during their tenure.

Additionally, I see the announcement of increasing the income tax threshold from $75,000 to $85,000 as the foundation for many more tax adjustments to be implemented.

The 2023 Budget’s focus on education, with a whopping 94.4 billion allocation, is truly in a league of its own, and these measures ought not to be overlooked. With its focus on improving infrastructure, school feeding pro-

grammes & acquisition of textbooks, I see a bright & firm educational sector for our youths as we progress. Not forgetting the GOAL scholarship programme has received a well-allocated 1.8 billion. The Government of Guyana is working for its people, and this is clearly demonstrated through the 2023 Budget.

The reasons behind some of these school invasions

Dear Editor, In my analysis of some of these school invasions, I alluded to the fact that 90% of these cases stem from blatant acts of provocation.

You cannot tell me that my child comes home with hands trembling and showing visible marks of violence as a result of a beating from a teacher, and I sit calmly by and do nothing. Far from it! Any normal parent is bound to react to that situation.

Or if a teacher physically assaults my child under the guise of “disciplining him” because he pushed ahead of him in a line at the canteen, I, as a concerned parent, would be duty bound to find that teacher and…??? Let him feel what

my child felt when he physically lashed out at him. The point I am making is: no one has the right to put his/her hand on another. Period! End of discussion!

This brings me to the point of asking the following question: Isn’t corporal punishment abolished in our schools? If not, why not? To physically put one’s hand on another human being constitutes violence, and the Ministry of Education in Guyana has to urgently address this matter in a definitive way, looking forward to solving it. As I said, these violent teacher-parent confrontations are not going to cease once that slavish and archaic law is on the books.

Corporal punishment: a

Growth with human...

The strength of Budget 2023 is that it is human-centred and well-grounded in the political economy of environmental sustainability. Moreover, the budget avoids the decidedly irresponsible bias of those like Lincoln Lewis, Opposition Leader Norton, and the increasingly elliptical AFC, all of whom want the Government of Guyana to become an ATM for all. The debates on these and other matters will no doubt begin in earnest come next Monday.

FROM PAGE 4

Finally, I was in Parliament for the entire budget speech, and would like to commend Dr. Singh for keeping up his suave demeanour despite a stubborn cold. Praise must also be extended to the Opposition parties, whose members, persistent banter notwithstanding, demonstrated good discipline and even better spirit of democratic engagement.

Sincerely Dr Randolph Persaud

slap, a jab, a punch, a firm push, whether done to the student, a girlfriend, or a wife, constitutes violence, and that is unacceptable. These are all methods used to control, or as we conveniently say in the school setting, the child has to be “disciplined.” There are very many ways to discipline a child other than the use of violence, and these areas need to be explored, and not ignored.

Corporal punishment should be banned from our schools.

Let me remind my readers of an experience I had with one of my primary school teachers. That female teacher opened the morning with a beating of all the male students in the class. It all started after she asked for her math assignment from a known delinquent in the class, and when he could not readily produce it, she resorted to that brutal slave method of beating every Tom, Dick, Harry, and Beharry. We all saw and felt the blows. Now, while this was the order of discipline of the day, the sad result was that that teacher was, knowingly or unknowingly, promoting the doctrine of violence, the sure pangs of

which are being felt in all strata of society today.

And lest I forget, that female teacher was just venting pure anger and frustration at her male students, because of the problems she was having at home with her male partner, or “reputed husband.”

You see, she never had a husband, and the guy she was friendly with would physically abuse her, so she came to class that morning with blind fury, the frustration all bottled up inside of her. Therefore, all males, whether you were right or wrong, became a prime target on which to launch her brutal assault of hate.

Teachers, for Jesus’ sake, keep your frustrations away from school, because the modern-day parents, who are descendants of slaves, are not going to put up with that sort of behaviour, and dire would be the consequences. So, teachers be aware!

Editor, I do not wish to prolong this discussion, but would end by saying let us keep the school environment civil.

Respectfully,

Neil Adams

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

Yours truly, Alvin Hamilton

Page Foundation

Question 1:

Rocket Blast Balloon

Materials: Balloon Yarn or string Tape Straw Scissors

2 – Chairs

Instructions:

Use the scissors and cut the straw into about a twoinch-long piece.

Cut a length of yarn about six feet or more long.

Tie one end of the string to one chair.

Slide the piece of straw onto the yarn.

Now tie the other end the yarn to the other chair.

Blow up the balloon. Pinch the end of the balloon closed but do not tie it off.

Tape the balloon to the straw.

Pull the straw and balloon to one end of the yarn.

Release the balloon and watch your Rocket Blast Balloon take off.

How it works: Our Rocket Blast Balloon

demonstrates Newton’s Third Law of Motion: for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. When we release the balloon, the pressurised air in the balloon pushes against the air around the balloon sending it in the opposite direction down the yarn.

Make this a science project: How do different-sized balloons perform? Does the length of the yarn cause any changes in the Rocket Blast Balloon behavior? Do different-shaped balloons perform differently? (sciencefun.org)

CONTINUED FROM

Now the king had a wicked mother who was dissatisfied with this marriage and spoke ill of the young queen. “Who knows,” she said, “where the girl who cannot speak comes from? She is not worthy of a king.”

A year later, after the queen had brought her first child into the world, the old woman took it away from her while she was asleep, and smeared her mouth with blood. Then she went to the king and

TUESDAY TO BE CONTINUED

By The BroThers Grimm

accused her of being a cannibal. The king could not believe this, and would not allow anyone to harm her. She, however, sat the whole time sewing on the shirts, and caring for nothing else.

The next time, when she again gave birth to a beautiful boy, the deceitful mother-in-law did the same thing again, but the king could not bring himself to believe her accusations.

He said, “She is too pious and

good to do anything like that. If she were not speechless, and if she could defend herself, her innocence would come to light.”

But when the old woman stole away a newly born child for the third time, and accused the queen, who did not defend herself with a single word, the king had no choice but to bring her to justice, and she was sentenced to die by fire.

Transitional Budget 2023 will stabilise economy, address people’s needs – Pres Ali

Moments after the whopping $781.9 billion national budget was presented, President Dr Irfaan Ali stated that it addressed Guyana’s national goals and aspirations in the context of current international realities, making it one with a difference.

He explained that the policies and programmes outlined in the budget are geared towards the comprehensive and holistic development of Guyanese and the country.

Budget 2023, he stated, was framed in a very volatile international environment where there is a lot of insecurity around energy security, climate change, food security, cost of living, supply chain crisis and the continuation of a pandemic that has “wreaked havoc”. However, it showcased the phenomenal advancement in the country’s economy.

“It is a budget with a difference. It is a budget that points to the future aspirations of our country, laying out the bedrock and framework for an economy that must be built to be sustainable, resilient, and strong in a world of 2023 and beyond.

It is one that seeks to stabilise all the productive sectors of our economy,” Ali positioned.

The Guyanese leader voiced that this year’s fiscal plans continue to give incentives and balance to the productive capacity of the country for enhanced growth while securing the vulnerable and increasing disposable income.

Transitional

The inclusion of the first carbon credit sale, amounting to $31.3 billion in revenue, also speaks to the transformative agenda of the

Government as Guyana benefits from the “visionary thinking” through the LCDS 2030. It stands alongside the transfer of $208.9 billion from the Natural Resource Fund.

“Budget 2023 is that transitional budget as we start to work on a framework that utilise new forms of income, that utilise the new revenue stream that our country will be pursuing. Therefore, Budget 2023 is about achieving that middle ground, stabilising our economy, strengthening our system, and focusing on people’s priorities. A lot of Budget 2023 is about

the priorities of people,” the Head of State reflected.

Some issues which must be rooted out, Ali shared, are at the community level. These must be addressed and will be in the Government’s financial allocations.

“These community problems must be addressed if we are to bring the type of improvement in living conditions, livelihood, and the ability of our people to live a fruitful life.”

Promised in the PPP/C 2020 manifesto on the campaign trail is that their fiveyear term in office would be focused on providing the best access to healthcare, education, water, social services, roads, and infrastructure. The President highlighted that this budget is knitting these together in the realisation of this goal.

Some $5 billion has also been set aside to cushion any issue in relation to the cost of living, thereby reducing the impact on the common man.

“It is important in a society that we support the weak and vulnerable, those who are in need. Successive PPP/C governments have always played specific atten-

tion to women, the elderly, children, the vulnerable, differently-abled people, and Amerindians of our country,” Ali stated.

Among the measures in the budget is the increase of the “Because We Care” cash grants, from $25000 to $35,000 per child. This will place an additional amount of $2.1 billion in the homes of children attending both public and private schools.

Old age pension was also increased to $33,000. According to the Finance Minister, this will place an additional $4.4 billion of dis-

posable income in the hands of over 73,000 old-age pensioners. In 2021, all oldage pensioners were given $25,000 on a monthly basis, and in 2022 that sum was increased to $28,000. Meanwhile, public assistance has been increased to $16,000.

The personal income tax threshold will also be increased from $75,000 to $85,000. This, according to the Finance Minister, will place an additional $303 billion into the hands of current taxpayers both in the public and private sectors.

President Dr Irfaan Ali

Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh during his budget presentation

Opposition MPs lose bid to overturn parliamentary suspension

Already suspended from the National Assembly and not receiving their salaries and other benefits, eight

Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) now have to find hundreds of thousands of dollars to pay costs after a Judge, on Monday, dismissed their bid to overturn their suspension.

Opposition Chief Whip Christopher Jones, Ganesh Mahipaul, Sherod Duncan, Natasha Singh-Lewis, Annette Ferguson, Vinceroy

Jordan, Tabitha SaraboHalley, and Maureen Philadelphia were, in July of last year, officially suspended for breaching the National Assembly’s Standing Orders by participating in the infamous grabbing of the Speaker’s Mace — the most significant symbol in the National Assembly – and for disrupting the sitting of the National Assembly on December 29, 2021, during their protest against readings of the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) Bill.

Following investigations, the Parliamentary Committee of Privileges delivered its report, recommending the suspension of the eight MPs for violating Standing Orders and established customs and practices regarding acceptable behaviour of parliamentarians.

The Committee of Privileges was tasked with considering a Privilege Motion which stated that the Opposition Members, in attempting to prevent the second and third readings of

the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) Bill, had conducted themselves in a gross, disorderly, contumacious, and disrespectful manner, and had repeatedly ignored the authority of the National Assembly and that of the Speaker, thereby committing contempt and breaches of privileges.

Against Attorney General Anil Nandlall, House Speaker Manzoor Nadir, and Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs (the respondents), the MPs were seeking, among other things, a declaration that the report of the Committee of Privileges is unconstitutional, null, void, and of no legal effect; and that their suspension is a breach of the principles of natural justice, because their rights, as guaranteed under Article 144 (8) of the Constitution, have been infringed.

Ruling

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

Citing a plethora of cases from the Commonwealth, the High Court Judge said that when it comes to the internal operations of the National Assembly, that body is vested with exclusive control over the management of its proceedings subject only to the Constitution.

“The manner of the application of Standing Orders and the functions and deliberations of the Privileges Committee are purely matters of internal procedure over which the National Assembly has total control. The framers of our Constitution, in their infinite wisdom, reserved the remit of the National Assembly’s procedures to the National Assembly itself as set out in Article 165 (1) of the Constitution,” the Judge noted.

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

Bigger...

…is better??

In another context, it’s been said that “bigger ain’t necessarily better”, but your Eyewitness has found the observation to be true in most cases. So, over the years, when it comes to Budgets, he’s not too impressed by the usual “Biggest ever Budget” screaming announcements and headlines. So, he’ll again try to assess the latest “biggest ever” claim by the latest Finance Minister on the $781 billion Budget with a jaundiced eye.

His promise was to be ‘Improving Lives Today, Building Prosperity for Tomorrow’, with this Budget.

That he took a marathon five hours to read it out isn’t really indicative of the “bigness”. Your Eyewitness suspects that Finance Ministers stretch out their presentations so as to wear out the Opposition Leader - who’s expected to offer a quick response. Here, the LoO dourly announced, that it was a “Dead Meat” Budget! So, your Eyewitness isn’t sure whether he was really getting his licks in on his erstwhile AFC “Dead Meat” coalition partner, who’d just decamped the said coalition.

Be that as it may, he notes that, over a quarter of that $781 billion was really rolled over from last year’s Budget, that couldn’t be spent – primarily in infrastructure, because of supply-chain constraints. So, we shouldn’t be surprised that the big items in the Budget include $136 billion for roads and bridges countrywide, including $5.2 billion to start off the new Demerara River Bridge. But did you know that you can’t get stones for love or money?? The challenge will be to see who has all that stone!! The $43 billion allocated to get the gas delivered to the shore all the way overland to Wales Development Corporation includes compensation for expropriating land for the 20-mile pipeline. All this infrastructural work, of course, is dedicated to “Building Prosperity for Tomorrow’.

Another bit ticket item for the PPP has always been education, and this year they remained true to form with $94.4 billion allocated here. But your Eyewitness suspects if the “dark forces” (?) keep burning down those schools as soon as they are rebuilt, the Government might have to introduce some “supplementaries” in this area!! But the average Guyanese in the street usually shrugs at these expenditures, cause their perspective is “What’s in it for me” – the ‘Improving Lives Today” bit!!

And as usual, nothing done in this area will satisfy the targeted constituency. The $58.6 on Security?? Blah!! Some $50 billion was allocated to increasing pensions (+$5000 monthly); Public Assistance (+$2000/monthly) increasing the non-taxable base from $75,000 to $85,000 (+$3000/ monthly); a plethora of grants; part-time jobs ($40,000/ monthly). The indirect subsidies on shipping costs etc get lost in the shuffle.

Your Eyewitness suspects your eyes are glazing over, dear reader, so he’ll return to the Budget another day!!

…fine for outlaw 8

The eight Opposition MPs who’d caused mayhem in the National Assembly last year evidently forgot they weren’t in a rum shop, where anything goes – and usually does! Some of them ganged up on the Finance Minister - who was reading the NRF Bill – and blew whistles, illustrating the expression “ear-splitting” quite literally!! Another snagged the Parliamentary Mace and ran off with it - knocking down the Sergeant at Arms and deriding him as an ‘ouse slave in the process! And finally, one extremist destroyed the communications system of the hallowed Assembly!!

After they were subsequently hauled in front of the Parliamentary Privileges Committee and suspended for a varying number of sittings, they protested to the Courts that their “Constitutional rights” had been violated. Not so, the Court just ruled: “The Court does not have jurisdiction to intervene in the internal matters of Parliament”!!

And to emphasise the point, rather than fining them the AG-requested costs of $250,000 each, the Court UPPED it to $350,000 each!!

…oil revenues

If you’re gonna spend bigger, and you’re prudent, you’d have ensured your incomes are correspondingly bigger. And it’s no surprise that our bigger oil revenues from the record 13M barrels of oil lifted last year offered the cushion!!

Drill baby, drill!!

High Court Judge Damone Younge

Impressive framework for oil & energy in Budget 2023 – GOGEC

– FITUG

Budget 2023 and the allocations made for the energy and oil sectors have been commended by the Guyana Oil & Gas Energy Chamber (GOGEC).

President of GOGEC, Manniram Prashad described Budget 2023 as well-put-together and aimed at advancing Guyana’s development while balancing the needs of the people.

Amounting to a whopping $781.9 billion, this is the first budget to be financed from the sale of carbon credit – the sum of $31.3 billion, representing 4.0 per cent of the total budget.

GOGEC said it supports the continued development of the Wales Gas-to-Shore project with the allocation of $43.4 billion for the construction of a 300-megawatt (MW) combined cycle gas turbine power plant, natural gas liquids plant, and associated facilities.

“The project represents a significant investment towards unlocking greater economic diversification and private sector transformation by reducing the cost of electricity by 50 per cent. It marks an essential step for a robust and technologically sophisticated manufacturing sector. Similarly, the energy cost-savings to households will ease income pressures and improve energy access and overall quality of life, especially for our vulnerable population. At the cost of US$1 billion, the project’s direct and indirect benefits will see a marked decline in overall consumer prices for food and other essential goods and services.”

GOGEC also recognised the immense improvement to both the reliability of electricity supply brought by gas and the improved stability needed to sequentially incorporate intermittent renewable energy systems, such as solar and wind.

By 2025, with 300MW of new baseload capacity provided with natural gas, the reliability of the DemeraraBerbice Interconnected System (DBIS) grid will increase while the Green House Gas (GHG) emissions associated with electricity generation will be reduced by half.

“The budget is also people-focused wherein this is demonstrated in the increases to the cash grants to the school children, pensioners, and other groups in the most vulnerable category. Important to note as well are the indirect benefits to

the people through the public investment agenda – especially in the public healthcare sector, education and housing. These sectors combined were allocated some $233.9 billion, representing 30 per cent of the total budget.”

Secured Guyana for all However, the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) said that the stage is now set for a strong and secure future for all Guyanese.

“The Budget, expectedly, addressed a gamut of policies and touched on every area of national life aimed undoubtedly at enhancing the well-being of the ordinary people. This is laudable especially given the several challenges that the Irfaan Ali Administration inherited on its assumption to the office and the new difficulties that have since arisen,” it recognised.

It welcomed the improvement in the income tax threshold, which will see some 12,000 more persons not being required to pay income taxes while putting over three $3 billion in the pockets of our working people.

“We appreciate too im-

provements proposed regarding old age pensions and public assistance. These sums we are sure will undoubtedly aim to reduce some of the burdens faced by our society’s vulnerable. The investment in our children with yet another increase to the Because We Care grant also brings further relief to

our people. We anticipate as our economy continues to record steady and impressive expansion in the coming years additional improvements would be forthcoming.”

The FITUG noted as well the substantial investment programmes towards the social sectors. Taken aggregately, a substantial proportion of the budget has been earmarked towards improving people’s standard of living in education, health, housing, water, and social services.

“These are critical investments that will go a long way to ensure our people benefit from our steady developments. The massive infrastructural programme will also enhance Guyanese comfort as well. We take keen note of the significant resources allocated to community infrastructure as efforts are hastened to build cohesive and strong com-

munities. These are issues we had advanced in our proposals to the Administration and are heartened to see them taken onboard,” FITUG detailed.

Moreover, the Federation said the budget also paints an exciting future as well, with the gas-to-shore project meaningfully reducing electricity tariffs and the cost of living.

“Investments to consolidate our traditional sectors and expand non-traditional sectors portends improved economic opportunities for our workers. While enhancing our climate resilience will safeguard our people… The Federation is heartened by Budget 2023 more so considering that the substantial expansion of Government investments comes against the background of no new taxes. Indeed, the budget, we believe, has something in store for everyone.”

...stage set for a strong, secure future for all Guyanese

GOGEC President Manniram Prashad

FITUG Head, Carvil Duncan

Applications open for 2024 YLAI Professional Fellows Program

and opportunities to learn from and exchange with US counterparts. The programme will take place in the United States from March – April 2024.

This programme is open to young entrepreneurs 25-35 years of age with a demonstrated track record of successfully growing

their own business or social venture for at least two (2) years. Applicants must be current residents and citizens of Guyana.

The YLAI Fellowship Program is part of the United States’ continued commitment to the prosperity of Guyana and the region. The YLAI Fellowship Program

supports and connects young entrepreneurs across the Western Hemisphere to take on leadership roles that benefit their communities and strengthen their economies.

To date, twenty-one young Guyanese entrepreneurs were selected to participate in the YLAI Professional Fellows Program.

OMNI Helicopter Guyana Inc sponsors 10 students to study at aeronautical school

The US Embassy is pleased to announce the opening of the application period for the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Professional Fellows Program. YLAI applica-

tions are now being accepted at https://ylai.state.gov. The application for the 2024 YLAI Fellowship Program is open from January 18 –February 15, 2023.

Sponsored by the US Department of State, YLAI

brings promising leaders representing 37 countries from Latin America, Canada, and the Caribbean to the United States to expand their leadership and entrepreneurial skills and network through skills-building workshops

OMNI Helicopters Guyana Inc has committed to ten students who are currently enrolled for the Aircraft Maintenance Engineer’s Licenced (AMEL) Ab-Initio Programme at the Art Williams and Harry Wendt Aeronautical Engineering School.

Upon completion, the students will become Aircraft Maintenance Engineers.

Several executives of OMNI, including its Country Manager, Peter Gay; Base &

Service Delivery Manager, Leslie Johnson and Guyana Logistics Coordinator, Stuart Raynsford recently met with the students and were given a tour of the school by two employees, Nalini Chanderban and Head of Training, Rabindra Ramoutar.

Chanderban expressed gratitude to OMNI Helicopters Guyana Inc for its generous sponsorship of the students.

The school is the only certified Aircraft Maintenance

Training Organisation in Guyana and is approved by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). It is ISO 9001 QMS Certified since 2006.

It offers an Associate’s Degree in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering as well as Completion Certificates for the sitting of the AMEL by the GCAA.

The school remains the only accredited institution in Guyana with institutional accreditation from the National Accreditation Council, Guyana.

Executives of OMNI, Art Williams and Harry Wendt Aeronautical Engineering School, and the sponsored students

US Embassy in Guyana

Making of modern Guyana is well underway – Private Sector bodies

The massive $781.9 billion National Budget presented by Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh on Monday evening is being lauded by Guyana’s private sector for its vision of a modern Guyana that will move the country one step closer to future targets for important industries.

The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) commended the PPP/C Government for their rapid achievement of the transformation that has occurred in Guyana during 2022.

Figures show that the country’s economy saw a growth rate of 62.3 per cent and the traditional nonoil sector grew by 11.5 per cent. As such, the Chamber further applauded the government for its responsiveness in undertaking several mega projects in keeping with this growth trajectory, while maintaining diverse and competitive sectors.

A statement from the GCCI shared, “Undeniably, the making of modern Guyana is well underway with the nation’s overall

GDP projected to grow by 25.1 per cent, while nonoil real GDP is projected to grow by 7.9 per cent in 2023. In light of this projected growth, GCCI supports the key measures taken by the Government to increase disposable income, ease the cost of living and support the vulnerable through numerous initiatives which include but are not limited to; salary adjustments, increasing the income tax threshold,

containing the cost of fuel, reduction in freight charges and the reduced duty on the importation of new motor vehicles.”

Moreover, the GCCI also commended the Government for prioritising support for small businesses, youth employment, agriculture and food security, transformative infrastructure, and education. The Chamber also called on the Government to work with small and medium miners in 2023 as they continue to project positive economic growth in the mining and quarrying sectors.

“GCCI remains supportive of the Government of the day and continues to act as a partner in nation-building as we seek to improve the prosperity of Guyana. We anticipate the nation’s continued advancement for the benefit of all Guyanese.”

People-centred

Meanwhile, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) recognised that the architecture of Budget 2023 is well-balanced and caters to the needs of all sectors, which is essential in foster-

ing continuous growth and development of the economy, and improving the quality of the lives of every Guyanese.

It regarded the annual fiscal framework as not a financial modus operandi but rather an analytical, rational, and logical approach to economic governance. Budget 2023 has been labelled people-centred, from measures aimed at improving peoples’ net salary and addressing the cost-of-liv-

ing rise, such as the increase in the income tax threshold from $75,000 to $85,000 monthly; maintaining zero excise taxes on fuel to absorb the impact of volatile fuel prices and the reduction in freight charges.

“The policies proposed in Budget 2023 will have far-reaching positive impacts and implications for every citizen. It is truly a people-centred and private-sector incentive-driven budget fit for the purpose of growing and developing our economy,” the Commission penned.

It stated that increased spending in the housing sector will translate to more lands & housing being available to the populace; this coupled with an increase in the low-income mortgage ceiling from $15 million to $20 million makes for an exciting future in this sector.

The provision of digital solutions to ease public interaction with public institutions will also bring much relief to businesses and the citizenry and reduce inefficiencies in public agencies.

Pro-development

On the other hand, the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) revealed that proposed fiscal and other related measures aimed at striking a balance between Guyana’s current and future needs are to be lauded as progressive and visionary in harnessing Guyana’s true potential to attain unprecedented growth.

GCCI President Timothy Tucker

PSC Chairman Paul Cheong

GMSA President Rafeek Khan

Displaced Christ Church Secondary students to be accommodated at CPCE

– decision taken after meeting between

children. I repeat: each person who destroys a school and/or any author of said destruction once found guilty ought to be given life imprisonment. We need to legislate accordingly,” Manickchand penned.

The fire has left over 500 children displaced along with scores of teachers and auxiliary staff. Presently, the teachers are engaging the affected children online.

parents and Ministry officials

Following the devastating fire at the Christ Church Secondary School in Georgetown last week, a plan has been set in motion to have students accommodated at the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) in the interim.

Announcing this move was Education Minister Priya Manickchand via social media on Tuesday,

where she explained that parents unanimously decided on this location after they were invited to discuss the way forward.

“This morning (Tuesday) more than 450 parents attended a meeting at my invitation to determine the best location for their children. They unanimously chose space at CPCE to accommodate the education of their

On Thursday last, the Guyana Fire Service received the report of a fire at the school at about 17:22h. As such, water tenders from the Central, Alberttown, West Ruimveldt, and Campbellville Fire Stations were immediately dispatched to the location.

Upon arrival, firefighters observed smoke emanating from the two-storey wooden and concrete structure, and while getting into action, the building quickly became engulfed in flames.

Despite firefighting efforts, more than 80 per cent

of the building and its contents were destroyed, with the remainder suffering severe damage.

Additionally, the Fire Service added that three buildings in close proximi-

the past years, at least three other schools were destroyed by fire. In June 2021, the teaching block, which housed all the classrooms at the North Ruimveldt Multilateral Secondary

guard stated that he was on his cellular phone when he heard three loud explosions emanating from a room on the second floor of the eastern side of the building. As he checked, he ob-

ty to the school were affected by the inferno and suffered damage to several AC units, PVC guttering, ceilings, windows, and curtains.

On Monday, the Fire Service concluded in its investigation that the fire that devastated the Christ Church Secondary School was maliciously set.

In addition, it stated that a previous fire that was successfully put out one week prior to the full destruction was also purposely set. Over

School, located on Mandela Avenue, Georgetown, was completely destroyed by a massive fire.

Smoke was seen emanating from the upper flat of the two-storey building and within minutes, the entire block was engulfed, leaving hundreds of children displaced.

Then in September of the same year, The North West Secondary School at Mabaruma was destroyed by fire. In that case, a security

served the room engulfed in flames. Again, hundreds of children and teachers were displaced. Only last week, a contract was inked for the reconstruction of the school.

In July 2022, the St George’s High School on North Road, Georgetown, was reduced to ashes following an electrical fire. As a result of the blaze, 421 students and their teachers were affected. They are presently being accommodated at other facilities.

Parents engaged on Tuesday on accommodation for their children

The remains of Christ Church Secondary School (Leroy Smith Photo)

Minister Priya Manickchand addressing the parents on Tuesday

9 companies submit bids for construction of Berbice oil refinery – Dr Singh

Nine companies have submitted bids for the design, finance, and construction of an oil refinery at the mouth of the Berbice River.

This is according to Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh during his budget presentation on Monday. He added that the bids would be evaluated at the soonest opportunity, while noting that, once started, construction of the refinery is anticipated to be completed by 2025.

“The refinery will allow the long-term production of refined fuel products to meet our domestic requirements to help strengthen the nation’s, and the region’s energy security,” Minister Singh said.

Making of modern...

“The GMSA is pleased with the Government’s strategic measures that forecast diversified economic activities while grappling with concurrent challenges that continue to threaten global economic stability. A Government that effectively harnesses the resources of the country to gain adequate revenues for sustainable growth and development must be commended.”

The Association acknowledged that the utilisation of revenues from the first carbon credit sale in the amount of $31.3 billion, in conjunction with the transfer of Guyana’s oil profits in the amount of $208.9 billion from the Natural Resource Fund (NRF), without imposing new taxes is evidence that Budget 2023 is “people-centred and pro-developmental”.

GMSA shared that a transformational budget requires that the Government play a concerted role in the investment and rehabilitation of key private-sector industries. The GMSA attested that the Government’s inclusion of the Association’s recommendations which were submitted at a stakeholder consultation last year assured of the intention to work collaboratively with the private sector.

In the sector, Government has allocated $2 billion for agri-development which includes the establishment of a regional food hub with cold storage, manufacturing, and processing capabilities. Some $300 million was set aside for rice development; $150 million in soya bean cultivation with the construction of a wharf in the Tacama area;

FROM PAGE 11

new facilities in Crabwood Creek and Orealla as well as new cold storage in Bartica; and two new refrigerated trucks to support the transportation of agro-products. Another $584.2 million was allocated to small business support.

The Ali-led Government has removed 14 per cent VAT with respect to the sale of residential properties, which will also further reduce the cost of homeownership; announced $1.5 billion for the construction of a new laboratory for the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS); and $43.3 billion to facilitate the construction of the integrated natural gas liquids plant and the 300 MW combined cycle gas turbine power plant within the Wales Development Zone and associated facilities.

The project will directly cut emissions by 70 per cent as well as trigger a series of major economic development initiatives in Guyana as energy costs.

“The measures represent the move towards Guyana building on the trajectory which the Government is placing on the transformation of our economy. Though these efforts signal the thrust, which is needed to drive our economy, the GMSA is still hopeful for other additional measures to be extended to benefit the manufacturing sector. The direct reduction in the cost of electricity, as well as a reduction and removal of taxes on support services to manufacturing, will greatly impact the sector, drive productivity and increase the GDP of our economy,” it added.

The plan for the refinery’s construction ties into the Government’s vision of promoting value-added production and securing energy security both for Guyana and the Caribbean.

It is also an integral part of the Government’s developmental plan for Region Six.

An oil refinery is an industrial plant that transforms crude oil into various usable petroleum products, such as diesel, gasoline, lubricants and heating oils like kerosene.

Refineries serve as the second stage in the crude oil production process, following the extraction of crude oil from the earth.

Once the refinery at Berbice becomes operation-

al, Guyana will be able to sell crude oil components to various industries for a broad range of purposes, including fuels for transportation, heating, paving roads, and generating electricity and raw materials for chemical manufacturing.

This would attract global investments due to soaring fuel prices worldwide, the increased cost of heating as time goes by, and a lack of adequate refining capacity to process crude into gasoline and diesel.

Nearby Trinidad and Tobago, Aruba, The Netherlands Antilles, Cuba, Jamaica, British Virgin Islands, Curaçao, Barbados and Suriname possess oil refineries as well.

An artistic impression of an oil refinery

Guyana-India discussion Collaboration on Silica City, oil & gas sector top priority

Coming out of President Dr Irfaan Ali’s visit to India, there are a number of areas and opportunities not only for Government-toGovernment collaboration but also private sector to private sector collaboration. There are so many opportunities, in fact, that a working group will be set up between the two countries to coordinate the necessary fol-

low-ups.

This was revealed by President Dr Irfaan Ali, in a press conference at State House on Tuesday during which he shared the head table with Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd and a number of private sector representatives.

According to the President, the need for two working groups was joint-

ly decided between him and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said India has already been written to propose names for Guyana’s side. The working group, according to Ali, will follow the Organisation of American States (OAS) model.

“The only difference here is that in the working group, we’ll be including the private sector from both India and Guyana. Because there’s a lot of follow-up and collaboration that is required from the side of the private sector.”

“The working group will commence work almost in-

stantly, to push this agenda. In Guyana for example in agriculture, Minister Zulfikar Mustapha will be a part of the working group looking at agriculture and all we discussed,” he said.

When it comes to farming, former Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy would be on the working group as well. Minister within the Public Works Ministry Deodat Indar will meanwhile be on the working group for technology and Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat, for energy.

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce

Oneidge Walrond will be on the working group for hyperbaric and wellness centre, and Public Service Minister Sonia Parag for human resource capacity building.

For defence, President Ali, Chief of Staff Brigadier Godfrey Bess, and National Security Advisor Captain (retired) Gerry Gouveia will be on the working group.

Topics

According to President Ali, agriculture and food production were among the major topics discussed between him, the Indian Prime Minister, and also Indian President Droupadi Murmu.

In terms of agriculture, possible Indian support for

Guyana’s efforts to resuscitate the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) was discussed. Other areas that were on the agenda included security, Information and Communications Technology (ICT), renewable energy and oil and gas.

“In the meeting with Prime Minister Modi, we discussed many issues in our shared vision and commitment to various global topics including climate change, food security, energy security, human resource development and building out a platform through which we can create a better global environment.”

Silica City model

President Dr Irfaan Ali during the press conference

An example of the Dornier 228 aircraft made in India

Ramsammy’s Ruminations

Budget 2023 confirms that Guyana is firmly on the total transformation path

On Monday last, Guyanese across Guyana - regardless of where they live, what political party they support, what economic group they belong to; workers and business people; trade unions and NGOs - everyone in Guyana was stuck to a radio, TV, or following on Facebook and other social media postings the presentation of Budget 2023 by Minister Ashni Kumar Singh.

Budget 2023 was one of the most anticipated budgets in our history. Not a single group, not a single person in this country, was nervous or fearful. Everyone knew before Budget Day that Budget 2023 would not have anything in it that would place burdens on them.

Reasonable people know there is always something more that some people would have wanted. But we all knew also that there would be something for every person in Budget 2023. By now the presentation is in our history books. Last year, Minister Singh spent more than six hours making his presentation. Guyanese across the board would have predicted that Minister Singh would exceed that time in 2023. He did not disappoint.

Budget 2023 is pegged at $781.9B, a 41.3% increase over Budget 2022. The Health Sector budget is almost $85B. The Education budget is almost $95B. Not so long ago, budgets like Budget 2023 would have been unthinkable. Imagine the Health budget for 2023 is larger than the entire actual National Budget of 2000, which was a mere $47.6B. Compared to 2000, Budget 2023 is 43 times larger. In fact, the Health Sector budget for 2023 is almost twice as large as the entire National Budget of 2000. Indeed, the 2023 Education budget is more than twice the entire Budget for 2000. Clearly, Guyana is in another zone altogether.

The impressive thing about Budget 2023 is that it is peoplecentred. Raising the income tax threshold to $85,000 per month, or $1,020,000 annually, means that another 12,000 Guyanese workers have been removed from the income tax roll. The school children’s cash grant has been raised to $40,000 per child. Pensioners will now receive $33,000 per month. Public assistance monthly payments will now be $16,000. There are measures to improve working conditions for workers, support vehicle ownership, and support farmers and small businesses. Every citizen has something in Budget 2023.

The historical increase seen in Budget 2023 is driven by a phenomenal 62.3% growth in the economy. Guyana owns the world’s largest GDP growth rate for 2022, with no country even close to this. Imagine that the second-best GDP growth in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2022 was St. Vincent and the Grenadines at a distant 6%. While OIL is responsible for the phenomenal growth, even subtracting OIL’s contribution, Guyana’s economy grew at a rate larger than any other country in the world. This is testimony to the brilliant stewardship of Guyana’s development trajectory.

President Irfaan Ali, Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo, and the PPP Government have worked with vision and competence. In spite of the naysayers, the PPP Government is steering Guyana rapidly to take our place firmly in the ranks of high-middle-income countries. The ambition of being a developed country in our lifetime is no longer a utopian dream. In fact, it is no longer a question of if, it is merely now a matter of when.

While virtually all Guyanese derive satisfaction that Budget 2023 positions Guyana on the pathway to transformation and prosperity, a handful of naysayers inevitably will find a way to find fault. The PNC (APNU/AFC) leaders and their MPs were visibly uncomfortable during the entire presentation of Budget 2023 on Monday. They knew beforehand that they would have a difficult time playing the “sour grapes” game.

The debate last year for Budget 2022 went down in our history books as one of the poorest debate performances from an Opposition in Guyana’s parliamentary history. The Opposition MPs, including its leader in Parliament and its shadow Minister of Finance, were so completely out of their depths that even their most ardent supporters were shaking their heads in shame and disgust. It is the hope of every Guyanese that the Opposition would come better prepared to debate Budget 2023. While Budget 2023 is a progressive budget, surely there are areas that might present alternative or additional options. Surely there are areas where more could be done, where Government expenditure might not be giving our citizens value for money. Government Ministers and MPs must come ready to justify their programmes.

Once the debates start, Opposition MPs, one after the other, will repeat like a parrot that the biggest budget ever means nothing. But when citizens like those who are disabled become automatically eligible to receive public assistance of $16,000 per month; when almost $60B is allocated to Housing, for more house lots’ development for new housing schemes; when almost $18B is allocated for water; when almost $59B is allocated for public safety and security, how could the biggest budget ever not matter? Yet, we can expect that the Opposition MPs, one after another, will try to dismiss the 41.3% increase in Budget 2023 as a gimmick. This is not a rebuttal; it is not what their supporters put them there for; it is not what they are paid for. The fact is that Budget 2023 affirms Guyana’s new place in Caricom and Latin America, and affirms that, truly, Guyana is on the up and up, firmly on the transformation pathway.

Opposition MPs lose bid...

Further, Justice Younge added that the Constitution does not make provisions for the fundamental rights provisions to be applicable to proceedings in the National Assembly.

She said that she is also inclined to the view that the MPs, having taken an oath of office, are bound by and subject to the rules governing the operations of the National Assembly made pursuant to Article 165 (1) of the Constitution and in its Standing Orders, including those relating to the discipline of its members.

While noting that they have not challenged the Standing Orders, Justice Younge held that the Privileges Committee which produced the report, is a creature of the National Assembly and has been established by its Standing Orders and its functions have been defined by the Standing Orders to which all MPs, including the eight suspended MPs, must adhere to.

Having regard to her findings, she found that the MPs’ case is not exceptional and does not warrant the exercise of the court’s constitutional jurisdiction. “As such, this court refrains from inquiring into the internal proceedings of the National Assembly and from exercising its jurisdiction to hear the MPs’ case on its merits.”

“The court is ever mindful of trespassing into the realm of the legislature and usurping or appearing to usurp the authority of this arm of the State to regulate its own procedures as specifically provided for in the Constitution, whilst still maintaining its role as the guardian of the Constitution,” said Justice Younge in concluding. She ordered that the MPs pay costs to the respondents in the sum of $350,000 each on or before February 6.

Committee’s report

According to the Committee’s report, its recommendations were based on video recordings, statements by staff of the Parliament Office and the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), eyewitness accounts by other Members of the National Assembly, media reporters, and the public, both local and international.

Additionally, each of these Opposition Members had been written to and asked to “show cause” why sanctions should not be meted out to them. Their responses were received and considered by the Committee. Armed with those responses, the Committee “found that the named MPs were in violation of the Standing Orders and established Customs and Practices regarding acceptable behaviour of Members in the Assembly.” It was thus determined that the appropriate sanction available for the National Assembly to impose is suspension from service in the House.

The Privileges Committee recommended that Jones, Mahipaul, Duncan, and

Singh-Lewis be each suspended for four consecutive sittings: for attempting to prevent the second and third readings of the NRF Bill; for conducting themselves in a gross, disorderly, contumacious, and disrespectful manner; and for repeatedly ignoring the authority of the Assembly and that of the Speaker, thereby committing contempt and breaches of privileges.

A recommendation was also made for MPs Ferguson and Jordan to each be suspended for six consecutive sittings for similar offences. However, their suspension was higher, since the Committee concurred that they had committed “serious violations which were severe and egregious, by unauthorisedly removing the Parliamentary Mace from its rightful position in a disorderly fashion, causing damage to the Mace; and injuring and assaulting a staff of the Parliament Office while attempting to remove the Mace from the Chamber”.

And a similar recommendation of suspension for six consecutive sittings has been made against SaraboHalley, whose violations were found to be “severe and egregious with regard to unauthorisedly entering

the Communication Control Room of the ACCC and destroying several pieces of audio-visual equipment, being public property”.

MP Philadelphia is also facing a suspension recommendation of six consecutive sittings over her severe and egregious violations, by which she “verbally assaulted a staff of the Parliament Office within the precincts of the National Assembly”.

The Privileges Committee is chaired by the House Speaker, and its members comprise both Government and Opposition MPs.

Representing Government are: Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips; the Attorney General; Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Minister Gail Teixeira; Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Charles Ramson; and Attorneyat-Law Sanjeev Datadin. Representing the Opposition are Khemraj Ramjattan; Roysdale Forde, SC; and David Patterson.

It is understood that the Opposition Members did not participate in the last three of five Privileges Committee meetings.

Hence, the other members, including the Chairman, had gone ahead

and concluded the report with recommendations for the suspension of the eight Opposition MPs.

The Clerk of the National Assembly had written the suspended MPs, informing them that, during the period of their suspension, they would not be paid salaries and allowances, and would not be entitled to some of the other benefits enjoyed by other Members of the House.

Notwithstanding the findings of the Committee of Privileges, the Opposition parliamentarians, in legal documents seen by this publication, contended that they are “unaware of any act of ours on the day in question falling in the category of gross disorderly conduct, contempt, and breaches of privileges, and that to the best of our recollection, on the day in question, our posture was no different from all other Members of Parliament who were present…”

Among other things, they had submitted that their suspension is part of an unconstitutional scheme and/ or device by the Government to utilise its majority in the National Assembly to silence and reduce the numbers of sitting parliamentary Opposition Members of Parliament.

Dr Leslie Ramsammy

CCJ resentences brothers who killed Robb St granny to life in prison

Robb Street, Georgetown residence in 2011—have been resentenced to life in prison by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

The Trinidad-based court, on Tuesday, issued its written decision for upholding the siblings’ conviction on October 11, 2022, hours after it had heard oral argument in their appeal.

After delivering that oral decision, it had promised to issue its reasons for doing so at a later date and had reserved its ruling on the brothers’ appeal against their 50-year sentence that was imposed by the Court of Appeal (CoA) of Guyana.

Orwin and Cleon Hinds—the two brothers convicted

Discussions were also had about ways in which India can provide support to Guyana, for its vision of building out Silica City. According to the President, one possibility from those discussions is India sending its urban planners to help with developing Silica City.

News has already emerged that Guyana and India are exploring ways in which India, one of only a handful of nuclear-armed countries, can help boost the Guyana Defence Force (GDF). The purchase of hardware and military equipment is reportedly on the table.

In fact, during his press conference, President Ali

of the murder of 71-year-old Clementine Fiedtkou-Parris, who was gunned down at her

Following a trial for the capital offence in 2015 before Demerara High Court Judge Navindra Singh, the pair along with Roy Jacobs and another man, Kevin October, who passed away in jail, were found guilty and

confirmed that they are in talks to purchase a Dornier 228 aircraft made in India. According to Ali, India has proposed to supply not only the aircraft but training, maintenance and pertinent technology.

“The aircraft, we’ve been sending technical teams. You know the Skyvan, one is already out of production and one we have limited hours on. So, the replacement aircraft we’ve been looking at, one of them is the Dornier. They are now working at the technical level,” the President said.

“I know some of the things have been going on at a technical level, I know some of the things going on

now with the civil aviation authority of Guyana with the civil aviation authority of India. Then there’s a technical team that will go to make an assessment. And then we’ll get recommendations out of that.”

Nor is the GDF the only state security agency in which talks were centred. According to Ali, India also had discussions with Guyana on supporting the Guyana Police Force (GPF), when it comes to technology, equipment and training.

Oil and gas

President Ali also confirmed that India is interested in purchasing Guyana’s oil on a long-term basis. While he noted that the matter is still in the discussion phase, President Ali also noted that India has expressed an interest in Guyana’s oil blocks which are currently up for auction. However, he stressed that the oil blocks are open for everyone to bid on… not just Indian companies.

“We are encouraging every single company. Let me say this very clearly –Guyanese company, any company, you want to be part of the auction please come up. Any Government in any part of the world, any company in any part of the world, you are free to be a part of the auction,” President Ali said.

“There was a clear undertaking that the private sector of India in the oil and gas sector will be encouraged to participate in that auction. We also encouraged the Government of India to have their agency participate directly in the auction also because we would like to see as many people, if every Government that is interested in participating, participate in the auction, participate, we would welcome it, we would love it,” the President added.

each jailed for 81 years with the possibility of being paroled after 45 years but had their sentences reduced to 50 years by the local appellate court in April of last year. That court had found that their original sentence was manifestly excessive.

The brothers then appealed to the CCJ, which found that the guilty verdicts in their favour were primarily based on the brothers’ written and oral confessions, and particularly in relation to Orwin, on the evidence of an eyewitness who identified him on an identification parade.

In its decision, the regional Court recalled the written statements of the brothers which set out the plan to kill Fiedtkou-Parris, the persons who were involved in that plan, how and where the killing was carried out, and by whom and the events which transpired after the

killing, including the payment of money to the brothers. Thus, the court found that there was nothing in the siblings’ grounds of appeal which could undermine the value and weight of their statements.

On the issue of sentencing, the CCJ noted that the murder committed by the brothers fell into the class of the “worst” murders, under Section 100 (1) of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act.

“Murders are placed in the class of the ‘worst murders’ or the ‘gravest kind of murder’ because they are far more violative of society’s peace and order. Any person guilty of this class of murder is, pursuant to Section 100 (A) (1) (a), subject to either death or imprisonment for life,” it reasoned.

Where life imprisonment is imposed, the CCJ pointed out that Section 100 (A) (3) of the Act states that the court must specify a period which that person must serve before becoming eligible for parole, and in the case of the “worst” murders, that period should be not less than 20 years.

In noting the requirements of the Act, the CCJ found that courts have no power to impose any determinate period, as was done by Justice Singh, that purported or was intended to exceed the sentence fixed by the Act. Also, the apex court held that courts cannot fail to set a minimum period that must be served before a person could become eligible for parole.

As such, the CCJ held,

“the 50-year sentence imposed by the Court of Appeal which did not specify the period after which the appellants would be eligible for parole must be set aside.” The CCJ, therefore, resentenced each of the brothers to imprisonment for life with eligibility to be considered for parole after 20 years including time spent detained while awaiting trial.

The convicted killers were represented by Attorney-at-Law Arudranauth Gossai and the State by Assistant Directors of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Teshana Lake and Diana O’Brien. The Bench comprised CCJ President Adrian Saunders, and CCJ Judges Jacob Wit, Andrew Burgess, Denys Barrow, and Marueen Rajnauth-Lee.

The charge the men had faced detailed that, on the night of June 30, 2011, at Lot 42 Robb Street, Georgetown, they murdered FiedtkouParris pursuant to an arrangement wherein money was intended to be passed from one person to another.

It was reported that three men had gone to the woman’s home asking for “Auntie”, and when she emerged from her bedroom, one of them pulled out a gun and shot her several times to her upper body. The men then fled the scene in a waiting motor car while the elderly woman was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where she was pronounced dead. It is believed that a bitter dispute over a property might have been the motive for her killing.

When the Berbice Criminal Assizes continued on Monday, 30-year-old Jerry Heralall was handed a 20year jail sentence for the 2020 unlawful killing of his drinking partner, Celon Outar.

Initially indicted for the capital offence of murder, Heralall of New Amsterdam, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter when he appeared before Justice Navindra Singh at the High Court in Berbice.

Between January 25 and 27, 2020, at Republic Road, New Amsterdam, he killed Outar. The presiding Judge, in his sentencing remarks, noted that the confessed killer expressed no genuine remorse for his criminal actions which resulted in the death of someone.

Having considered the circumstances of the case, and the aggravating and mitigating factors, Justice Singh found that a prison sentence of 20 years was fitting. Heralall was also credited for time spent in pre-tri-

al detention.

According to reports, Outar’s body was pulled from a trench on January 27, 2020. He was last seen two days prior consuming alcohol at a bar with his wife, Heralall, and another friend.

It was reported that Heralall and Outar had a misunderstanding after Heralall requested that Outar’s wife drink with him, to which Outar objected. During the ordeal, Heralall admitted that he used a

piece of wood to deal Outar a lash to his head and about his body.

When Outar became motionless, he said he dragged him to the nearby trench, where he threw him in and then returned to the bar and continued imbibing with the man’s wife and others.

An autopsy showed that Outar died from asphyxiation compounded with a fractured skull and multiple traumas to the body.

Murdered: Clementine Fiedtkou-Parris

Orwin and Cleon Hinds

Rehabilitated bridges commissioned at Sophia

Children of the Bright Future’s Day Care, Pre-School and Nursery School, and other residents of Sections ‘B’ and ‘C’ Sophia, Greater Georgetown, can now enjoy improved access to the school, because on Tuesday, January 17, Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, commissioned the three newly constructed timber bridges leading to the school. These bridges were constructed to the tune of $3.8 million.

Close to 60 children currently attend the school.

The Minister noted that the three bridges that previously existed were in poor state and posed a threat to the safety of students, other children, and residents of the community. As such, rehabilitation was urgent.

In late December, Minister Rodrigues announced the awarding of the contract to Four Js Construction Services, and mobilisation of equipment and construction was announced to commence immediately.

“We’re very happy to be able to deliver this contract within three weeks, and I know the children will be very safe now,” the Minister stated.

The construction was

done in close consultation with residents, the Minister said. Upon their request, a decision was made to ensure the bridges did not have certain types of rails that could encourage loitering.

“We came up with a different design, so that the children can use the bridge but there wouldn’t be anybody hanging around or liming on the bridge, inhibiting the school children from having full access,” Minister Rodrigues has explained.

Silvia Jules, whose son attends the school, has said she is very happy with the new bridges. She recalled that many days she would have to jump over holes in the old bridges, and while persons had attempted to ease the situation by putting plywood, it would slip

and cause people to fall.

“I am very much satisfied and happy to get a smooth walk over the bridge. I can let go of my child’s hands and let him walk freely over the bridge, I don’t have to lift him,” said Ms. Jules.

Supervisor at the school, Ms. Asha Wallace, added, “It was very dangerous for the children that attend here, and other children that have to use the same [old] bridges to get to and from school. We are very satisfied with what has been done so far, and we’re thankful”.

A Councillor from the area, Dion Younge, also lauded the quick response of Minister Rodrigues to the issue, as he noted that several attempts were made to repair the bridges over the years.

Pesticide salesman found with ganja at Charity

Police have arrested a man in Charity, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), after he was found with a quantity of ganja while selling pesticides on Tuesday.

Police stated that on the day in question, at about 12:00h, ranks were on mobile patrol in the vicinity of Charity Back Street when they observed the suspect pushing a trolley.

The man later gave his name as Shawn English, 52, a pesticides salesman, who resides at Stewartville on the West Coast of Demerara (WCD).

He was stopped after he was seen acting nervously. He was questioned about the content in the trolley and replied that he is selling.

The ranks said that they then requested a search on his person, and the same was conducted, during which a transparent plastic bag was found in the left side rear pocket of his trousers with a quantity of cannabis.

A further search was then carried out on a bag that was on the trolley and another transparent plastic bag was unearthed with ganja.

English was immediately shown the narcotics, told of the offences committed and

cautioned according to the judge’s rule.

He was arrested and escorted to the Charity Police Station, where both parcels were weighed in his presence and amounted to 31.59 grams and 48.77 grams, respectively. English is presently in custody pending charges.

Only two days ago a 24-year-old miner of Hoppy Street, Dartmouth Village, Essequibo Coast, was arrested by Police after marijuana was found in his possession.

It was reported that Police were on mobile patrol in the Westbury, Essequibo Coast area, when a search was conducted on the min-

er but nothing unlawful was found.

A further search was conducted on a black pouch which he was carrying at the time, and a transparent plastic containing 37 small Ziplock bags was found with cannabis.

A quantity of Fronto, a pack of bamboo paper, and $750 were also found in the bag. The miner was told of the offence committed and cautioned, to which he replied “boss is a lil hustle”.

He was then arrested and escorted to the Anna Regina Police Station where the suspected cannabis was weighed in his presence and amounted to 44.2 grams.

Police yet to make arrest in execution of taxi driver

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) is yet to make a breakthrough in the execution-style killing of Delon Josiah called “Milo”, a 37-year-old taxi driver, who was killed at his Perseverance, East Bank Demerara (EBD) home on Saturday evening by two masked men.

Commander of Regional Division 4B (East Bank Demerara), Mahendra Singh during a telephone interview Guyana Times on Tuesday, said that there has been no new development in the case, but Police are still investigating to solve the murder.

“There is no update at this time to give. The information that is known, is currently in the public domain. That is the only detail I can add right now to what is already out there,” he related.

On Saturday evening, Josiah was riddled with bullets while sleeping at home at about 21:45h.

Initial investigations re-

vealed that Josiah’s wife was entertaining a female guest when two armed men confronted them and asked for her husband.

The masked, armed men held the women at gunpoint and took them into the house as they searched for the taxi driver. They eventually entered the room in which Josiah was sleeping and shot him several times

before making good their escape.

Upon inspection, detectives confirmed that Josiah was shot to his right-side foot, left underarm, left temple, and right-side ear.

Police have since recovered four .40 calibre spent shells, four .9mm spent shells, four metal fragments, and three bullets at the scene.

The ganja that was found on English on Tuesday

Dead: Delon Josiah

The newly built third bridge

Regional

Brazil’s Lula removes soldiers from guarding Presidential Residence

Brazilian President

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has removed 40 troops guarding the presidential residence after expressing distrust in the military for failing to act against demonstrators that ransacked Government buildings on Jan 8.

His decision was published on Tuesday in the Government’s official gazette.

Most of the troops guarding the Alvorada palace, as the presidential residence is called, are from the army, but some are also members of the Navy, Air Force and a militarized police force.

Last week, Lula told reporters that security force

members were complicit in letting a mob of supporters of far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro storm the main buildings that form the seat of power in Brasilia.

The President’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on who would replace the troops guarding the residence.

Investigations into the rampage have begun to show apparently intentional lapses in security that allowed it to occur.

Several thousand Bolsonaro supporters stormed the Congress, the Planalto presidential palace and the Supreme Court seeking to overturn the re-

sult of the October election narrowly won by Lula.

“There were a lot of people who were complicit in this among the military police. There were many people from the armed forces who were complicit,” Lula told journalists. “I am convinced that the door to the palace was opened to allow these people in, because I did not see that the door was broken.”

Lula has also stepped-up criticism of the army for not doing anything to discourage a two-month-old encampment of Bolsonaro supporters outside its headquarters, where they clamoured for the military to overturn the presidential election result. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Honduran activists demand action after killing of water defenders

The killing of two Honduran water defenders this month has sparked international outrage, with the United Nations calling for an investigation and locals questioning the Government’s commitment to protecting environmental activists.

Aly Dominguez, 38, and Jairo Bonilla, 28, were members of the Guapinol wa-

ter defenders’ movement, organising to protect their rivers from a controversial open-pit iron oxide mining project in Carlos Escaleras National Park. In recent years, several activists have been killed in unclear circumstances amid community opposition to the mine.

The families of Dominguez and Bonilla say they were killed by un-

identified gunmen after weeks of threats related to their activism. Reinaldo Dominguez, Aly’s brother, told Al Jazeera that the killing capped off a long process of intimidation.

“We need action here,” he said after the funeral last week, which was attended by hundreds of residents. “The public ministry needs to investigate and put arrest warrants out for the armed groups … They say, ‘We lament this.’ We want action.”

Upon taking office a year ago, Honduran President Xiomara Castro promised to undo more than a decade of corruption since the 2009 coup against her husband, former President Manuel Zelaya.

She promised to end violence against land and water defenders, who have been targeted by hit squads linked to corrupt business interests and state security forces. For years, Honduras has been one of the most dangerous places in the world for environmental activists.

In a statement, the Honduran human rights secretariat condemned the killing of Dominguez and Bonilla and called for a transparent investigation. Meanwhile, activists are questioning the state’s commitment to Castro’s lofty promises. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Mexican Mayor doubles down on accusation of alleged femicide cover-up

Mexico City’s Mayor renewed her criticism of a nearby state prosecutor for allegedly covering up the killing of a 27-year-old woman, a day after federal prosecutors issued an expert opinion saying the victim died from a blow to the head and not a result of alcohol intoxication as originally reported.

She also called for the prosecutor’s office to be sanctioned, without elaborating further.

Ariadna Lopez’s body was found off a Morelos highway in late October a day after she was reported missing from Mexico City some 50 miles (80 km) away,

in a case that sparked mass outrage.

The case highlights Mexico’s longstanding problem with deadly violence against women, including femicide, or the murder of women or girls on basis of their gender.

Morelos prosecutors within days concluded she died when her oxygen supply was cut off as a result of alcohol intoxication, despite family members pointing to visible bruises on Lopez’s body.

A second autopsy from Mexico City forensic experts in November concluded blunt force trauma was responsible for her death, while an investigation found

footage from the apartment where she was last seen that showed a person carrying a woman’s body to a car. Two suspects were later detained by police.

Federal prosecutors on Monday issued an expert opinion concluding Lopez died from a blow to the head, saying they could not support the assessment of the Morelos prosecutor’s office.

In a Tuesday statement, the prosecutor’s office in Morelos defended its autopsy and dismissed federal officials’ conclusion that head trauma was the cause of death as “a respectable opinion” but not legally binding.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

reason’ for Opposition talks to go on unless funds are released – Venezuela official

The head of the Venezuelan Government’s negotiating team in its talks with the country’s Opposition said on Tuesday there was no reason to return to dialogue if the Government’s opponents do not “return” frozen foreign assets.

Venezuela’s Government and Opposition said in November they had asked the United Nations to manage more than US$3 billion now held in foreign banks, gradually releasing the money to fund humanitarian efforts.

The money was frozen by US and European banks after the United States ramped up sanctions to pressure President Nicolas Maduro to

take steps toward free elections.

The Opposition National Assembly - backed by the United States and others - is able to control some assets in other countries, including US-based refiner Citgo Petroleum.

The socialist Maduro Government has said repeatedly that the Opposition must “liberate” the funds, while the Opposition says they are unable to act unilaterally because of various legal cases and the US sanctions.

“If the return to the Venezuelan people of the $3.2 billion that (the Opposition) has robbed is not carried out... there is no reason to continue a dialogue with

people who don’t keep their word,” ruling party lawmaker Jorge Rodriguez, who heads the Government’s delegation, said during a televised sitting of the Government-backed legislature.

Rodriguez said the funds had been “kidnapped” and it was his “moral obligation” to make sure the UN agreement was carried out.

There was no immediate reaction from the opposition delegation at the talks.

Venezuela owes more than US$60 billion to creditors and is facing demands over nationalisations conducted 15 years ago and bond payments delayed since 2017. (Reuters)

Jamaica putting systems in place to become a republic

this matter.

“Jamaica must become a Republic,” Holness said, adding that whatever obstacles the process might encounter, his administration will be in for the long haul and will do whatever it takes.

The Jamaica Government says it will be moving with haste and alacrity towards transforming the island into a republic.

“It is time that Jamaica become a republic. For us, the process is not simple, and we have known this from we started on this journey, and we are making sure that we check every box as we move deliberately in that regard,” Prime Minister Andrew Holness said, not-

ing that while the process is something he inherited, he never expected it “to be a straight line”.

Addressing Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett’s 25th Anniversary Scholarship Programme, in St James, north west of here over the last weekend, Prime Minister Holness said he was urging Legal Affairs and Constitutional Affairs Minister Marlene Malahoo Forte, to “please move ahead with speed and alacrity on

Last week, Malahoo Forte expressed the Government’s “disappointment” at the failure to name the high-level committee on constitutional reform, blaming the main Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) for holding up the start of the process of Jamaica’s move towards becoming a republican state.

Malahoo Forte told Parliament that while a referendum is necessary for Jamaica to move away from having the British monarch as its head of state, the process must involve cross aisle collaboration as well as consultation and collaboration with ordinary Jamaicans.

(Excerpt from CMC)

Army officers stand guard outside the Planalto Palace, in Brasilia, Brazil, January 11, 2023

‘No

Prime Minister Andrew Holness

Big Oil’s good times set to roll on after record 2022 profits

The West’s top energy firms are expected to rake in a combined record profit of US$200 billion from a turbulent 2022 marked by huge volatility in oil and gas prices after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine with buoyant earnings likely to roll through 2023.

Flush with cash, BP, Chevron, Exxon Mobil, Shell and TotalEnergies also delivered shareholders unprecedented returns through dividends and share buybacks last year.

These firms are expected to post a combined profit of US$199 billion for 2022 when they report final quarterly results later this month and in early February.

Profits are forecast to decline to US$158 billion this year due to weaker energy prices and inflationary concerns, but that would still be well above the previous 2011 record, according to analysts’ estimates provided by Refinitiv.

A strong 2022 also helped these companies cut their debt to a combined US$100 billion, a 15-year low, allowing them to start 2023 more prepared for any future downturn.

Net debt hit an all-time high of around US$270 billion in 2020 when they borrowed heavily to weather the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Because of this, we expect shareholder returns to remain robust for the year,” RBC Capital Markets analysts said in a note.

But the bumper profits could revive calls on governments around the world to further hike windfall taxes on the sector as economies struggle with high energy prices.

Shell earmarked US$2.4 billion in extra tax in 2022 from windfall taxes in Europe and Britain, while Exxon said windfall taxes around the world would cost the company at least US$2 billion in 2023. TotalEnergies said on Tuesday it would take a US$2 billion windfall tax hit in the fourth quarter.

Exxon and Chevron earned close to US$100 billion last year and led gains, according to estimates.

They benefited the most from high energy prices, rewarded by a fossil-focused cash generation strategy that contrasted with European majors’ bet on renewables.

Boards responded to the price rally by recovering some of the investments cut during the pandemic, particularly in US shale oil and gas production which can be quickly ramped up.

Exxon and Chevron plan a 10 per cent increase in investments this year from 2022, to about US$41 billion.

Even BP, which aims to cut its oil and gas output by 40 per cent by the end of the decade, sharply increased spending in US shale and the Gulf of Mexico.

While European producers are unlikely to significantly loosen spending, they might use some of their excess cash to further invest in low-carbon energy.

Shell, BP and TotalEnergies, which aim to expand rapidly in renewables in the coming years, increased the pace of acquisitions of low-carbon business last year, including in solar, wind and biogas. They have not yet disclosed their 2023 plans.

Banks including HSBC and JP Morgan predict more upside potential for European stocks this year after US oil majors led in share performance and profits in 2022.

“The European majors appear much more attractively valued than the US majors on our estimates,” HSBC said in a note.

Chevron reports its full-year results on Jan 27, Exxon on Jan 31, Shell on Feb 2, BP on Feb 7 and TotalEnergies on Feb 8. (Reuters)

Around the World

Ukraine’s top general outlines ‘urgent needs’ in talks with US military chief

Ukraine’s top general said he had outlined the “urgent needs” of his armed forces on Tuesday at a first personal meeting with the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, in Poland.

Ukraine is pushing to secure a fleet of modern battle tanks from Western countries that it hopes to use to drive out Russian forces which invaded last February, capturing swathes of territory in the south and east.

“I outlined the urgent needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the fulfilment of which will accelerate our Victory,” General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi wrote in a statement on Telegram. In an interview with the

push back the invaders.

“I know that I can beat this enemy. But I need resources,” he said.

The United States has

been by far the biggest supplier of military assistance for Kyiv during the war.

Western allies are scheduled to meet at a US airbase in Germany on Friday to pledge military support for Ukraine, with the focus on proposals to provide modern battle tanks.

German-made Leopard tanks, held by armies across Europe, are seen as the most likely option to be sent in large numbers, but they cannot be re-exported to Ukraine without Berlin’s approval.

In his statement, Zaluzhnyi said he thanked Milley for “the unwavering support and assistance provided by the United States of America and allies to Ukraine”. (Reuters)

Ex-Republican hopeful arrested over shootings at Democrats’ homes

Afailed Republican candidate who US authorities say was angry over his defeat and made baseless claims the election in November was “rigged” against him has been arrested in connection with a series of drive-by shootings targeting the homes of Democratic lawmakers in New Mexico.

Solomon Pena, 39, was arrested Monday evening, hours after officers took him into custody and served search warrants at his home,

Police said.

Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina described Pena as the “mastermind” of what he said appears to be a politically motivated conspiracy leading to shootings at the homes of two county commissioners and two state legislators from early December to early January.

No one was injured in the shootings, but in one case, three bullets passed through the bedroom of a state senator’s 10-year-old daughter.

Pena ran unsuccessfully in November against state Representative Miguel P Garcia, the long-time congressman for House District 14 in South Valley in the Albuquerque metropolitan area. Garcia won by 48 percentage points, or roughly 3600 votes.

After the election, police said, Pena showed up uninvited at the elected officials’ homes with what he claimed were documents proving he had won his race. There was

no evidence of widespread voter fraud in New Mexico in 2020 or 2022.

The shootings began shortly after those conversations.

Four men conspired with Pena, who is accused of paying them cash to carry out at least two of the drive-by shootings in stolen vehicles, while Pena “pulled the trigger” during one of the crimes, Deputy Police Commander Kyle Hartsock said. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Vietnam politics: Power shift as President Nguyen Xuan Phuc quits

Vietnam’s President Nguyen Xuan Phuc has announced he is stepping down, sparking a potential power shift among the communist-ruled country’s leaders.

The move had been widely rumoured and follows the departure of two Deputy Prime Ministers who served under him.

Phuc, a former Prime

Minister, had held the post of President since 2021.

The news that he is quitting comes during an anti-corruption drive led by hard-liners. Hundreds of Communist Party members are being investigated.

The President’s resignation requires approval from the National Assembly, which will hold an extraordinary vote today that is ex-

Pakistani FM Zardari slams previous Government’s TTP policy

Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has accused the previous Government of Prime Minister Imran Khan of following a “wrong approach” towards the armed group Pakistan Taliban (Tahreeke-Taliban, or TTP).

“Its policy of appeasement towards the Taliban has created problems for the people of Pakistan,” Zardari told Al Jazeera in an interview on Tuesday, adding that the former approach has been ended by his Government.

“We recently had a national security meeting of the top political and military leadership our country where it was decided that we would not tolerate terrorist groups and anybody who violates the law in Pakistan,” the Foreign Minister said.

Pakistan has seen rise in attacks by the Pakistan Taliban after the armed group unilaterally ended an Afghan Taliban-brokered ceasefire agreement in November.

The Pakistani Taliban, which claims to have thou-

sands of fighters and supporters, shares some ideological affinity with the Taliban in neighbouring Afghanistan but it comprises of mostly local fighters.

Islamabad repeatedly accuses the Taliban Government in Afghanistan of sheltering Pakistan Taliban leadership on Afghan soil – an allegation denied by Kabul.

Earlier in January, Pakistan Taliban warned the country’s main ruling parties of “concrete action” against their top leadership in the Government for “de-

claring war” against it.

A statement released by the Pakistan Taliban in first week of January explicitly named Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Zardari.

The Pakistani Foreign Minister also reiterated on the need to engage with Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers despite the group’s hardline policies vis-a-vis women. Last month, the Taliban banned women from universities. Shortly after the group also banned women from working in NGOs. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

pected to be a formality.

Confirmation from Vietnam’s official state media that the President was resigning followed weeks of speculation that he would leave his post.

A party statement praised Phuc’s leadership but said he was politically responsible for violations and the wrongdoing of numerous officials under him.

As well as the two Deputy Prime Ministers who resigned earlier this month, two Ministers and other officials are facing criminal charges.

“As he was well aware of his responsibilities to the Party and the people, Phuc filed a request to resign from

his positions and retire,” the statement said.

Phuc, 69, served as prime minister from 2016 until April 2021, when he was elected president - one of the “four pillars” at the top of Vietnamese politics.

The Communist Party’s general secretary is the most powerful of the four posts, although the president also holds significant authority. The other two are the prime minister and the chairman of the National Assembly.

Nguyen Phu Trong, the current party general secretary and the country’s most powerful politician, is leading the anti-corruption drive. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Economist in December, Zaluzhnyi said he needed 300 tanks, 600-700 infantry fighting vehicles and 500 howitzers to help his forces

US Joint Chiefs Chair Army General Mark Milley speaks during a news briefing after participating in a virtual Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, US, November 16, 2022

Phuc has been in Vietnam’s top leadership for years

DAILY HOROSCOPES

Express your true feelings. It’s essential to clear up unsettled matters if you intend to move forward. Be willing to walk away from situations that are taking you in the wrong direction.

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Dig in, demonstrate what you have to offer and market your skills to fit what’s trending in your community. Get ahead by doing the work and taking the credit you deserve. Leave nothing to chance.

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Enhance your wisdom by checking out what’s popular. Spend time with someone you love. Your pursuit of happiness will encourage loved ones to follow suit. Romance is in the stars.

(July 23-Aug. 22)

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Focus on enlightenment, personal improvements and maintaining a healthy attitude and lifestyle. Indulgence will lead to trouble. Don’t jeopardize your reputation.

Start something new, and you’ll meet someone you click with emotionally. Walk away from bad influences and toward those who bring out the best in you. Don’t be too quick to share your secrets.

SUDOKU

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

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You may want to invest time and money in home improvements. Stick to a budget to protect against growing too fast. A change you make will cause a problem with someone close.

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Don’t take out your frustration on others or overreact to a situation that is sensitive or could influence your reputation. Use your energy to build a solid foundation.

ARCHIE PEANUTS

CALVIN AND HOBBES

DILBERT

Can New Zealand challenge India's strong home record?

Three days after beating Sri Lanka 3-0, Rohit Sharma's men are up against their next opponent.

Big picture: India dominant in ODIs at home too. It isn't spoken about as much as their remarkable home record in Test cricket, but India are perhaps just as dominant in ODIs in their own conditions.

Since the start of 2010, they've played 25 bilateral home series, and won 22 of them. This record takes on extra significance in 2023, given that India are building towards hosting a World Cup. They've begun the year in ominous manner, sealing a 3-0 Series victory over Sri Lanka with the biggest win in ODI history.

They could now be in for a stiffer challenge, though. New Zealand have been among the most competitive ODI sides to visit India of late - their two most recent Series here in 2016 and 2017 both went into deciders - and they're fresh from winning 2-1 in Pakistan.

But with Kane Williamson and Tim Southee rested for this Series, and with Trent Boult's international career in freelance limbo, this New Zealand side are light on experience, particularly in Indian conditions. They are in for quite a task, particularly their bowlers, who are up against a batting line-up that has posted totals of 373 and 390 the last two times India have batted first.

But New Zealand will know India can be beaten, even in subcontinental

conditions, and they might look at Bangladesh - who beat India 2-1 at home just over a month ago - for clues as to how to do so. Quality spin that attacks the stumps could be a key ingredient.

Either way, win or lose, New Zealand would want to take away as many insights as they can before they return for the World Cup. A strong performance now could put them in just the right space to mount a serious title challenge in October-November.

Shubman Gill. It leaves no room in their first-choice XI for Ishan Kishan, whose last ODI innings was the fastest double-hundred in the format.

But he gets an opportunity now with KL Rahul missing the series for personal reasons. If he can grab this chance, he won't just keep putting pressure on multiple batters in India's ODI line-up, but also make a case to be selected ahead of KS Bharat in the first Test against Australia next month.

Tom Latham loves India. He averages 65.07 against them across 17 ODI innings, while striking at

match-winning unbeaten 145 off 104 balls in Auckland in November, and he'll want to carry on from where he left off, especially since he'll have the extra responsibility of captaincy in Williamson's absence.

TEAM NEWS:

Sri Lanka, India could go two ways with their attack - three specialist quicks plus Hardik, which will leave them having to choose between Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal; or three spinners, in which case they can pick both wrist-spinners.

Ish Sodhi ruled out, having failed to recover in time from an ankle injury he suffered during the third ODI in Karachi.

Glenn Phillips, however, has recovered from the virus he suffered on that tour. New Zealand's main selection decisions are around who fills in for Williamson and Southee.

New Zealand (probable): 1 Finn Allen, 2 Devon Conway, 3 Mark Chapman/Henry Nicholls, 4 Daryl Mitchell, 5 Tom Latham (capt & wk), 6 Glenn Phillips, 7 Michael Bracewell, 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 and 10 two out of Henry Shipley, Doug Bracewell and Jacob Duffy, 11 Lockie Ferguson.

British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s firm

Ineos has officially entered the race to buy Manchester United.

United’s owners, the Glazer family, said in November that they were considering selling the club, as they “explore strategic alternatives”.

Ineos said the company had “formally put ourselves into the process”.

Ratcliffe made an unsuccessful late £4.25bln offer to buy Chelsea last year, after owner Roman Abramovich put the London club up for sale.

Born the son of a joiner in Failsworth, in Greater Manchester, Ratcliffe is a boyhood fan of United, and one of the UK’s richest men.

He said he would have tried to buy the Old Trafford side following the failure to acquire Chelsea, but after meeting with brothers Joel and Avram Glazer, stated

India have made it clear that their preferred opening combination leading up to the World Cup is Rohit Sharma and

98.93, and he's tormented their spinners for years at home and away with his array of sweeps. His last innings against India was a

Iyer out with back injury Shreyas Iyer has been ruled out of the Series with a back injury, and Rajat Patidar has taken his place in the squad. Iyer's spot in the XI is, however, likely to go to Suryakumar Yadav, with Kishan taking the glove-keeping and other middle-order slot from Rahul. Washington Sundar is likely to come in for Axar Patel, who's also sitting out this series.

With Hardik Pandya set to return after being rested for the third ODI against

India (probable):1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Shubman Gill, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 Ishan Kishan (wk), 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Washington Sundar, 8 Kuldeep Yadav/ Yuzvendra Chahal, 9 Mohammed Shami, 10 Mohammed Siraj, 11 Umran Malik.

New Zealand played a three-spinner attack when they won the last two ODIs on their recent tour of Pakistan, but they won't be able to stick to that combination in Hyderabad with

Pitch and conditions: Hyderabad pitch likely to aid spin. In six ODIs at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, spinners have averaged 38.70 and conceded 4.96 runs per over, both significantly better than the fast bowlers' corresponding figures (though it must be noted that they bowl more overs in the difficult phases) of 40.84 and 5.74.

In the most recent ODI here, in March 2019, India won by six wickets, after their spinners - Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja and Kedar Jadhav - returned combined figures of 27-0110-3 to restrict Australia to 236. Expect spin, therefore, to play a significant role on Wednesday.

The weather is set to be clear, with a maximum temperature of 31 degrees Celsius. (ESPNCricinfo)

that they did not want to sell.

However, the Glazers have since changed their stance, and Ratcliffe has now joined the bidding process.

Ineos Group owns Nice in France and Swiss club Lausanne. United have been owned by the Glazer family since 2005.

United are fourth in the Premier League, after an improvement in form under manager Erik ten Hag, who took over in the summer.

They beat local rivals Manchester City 2-1 on Saturday, and are nine points off leaders Arsenal. American investment firm Raine Group, who handled Chelsea’s £4.25bn sale in May, is exclusively advising United. A consortium led by Todd Boehly paid £2.5bln for the Stamford Bridge club’s shares, while saying it would provide £1.75bln to invest in the Premier

League club.

There have been multiple protests against the Glazers’ ownership in recent years, including one in May 2021 that caused United’s home league match against Liverpool to be postponed.

Thousands of supporters marched to Old Trafford in August in protest before the same fixture this season.

United were part of the failed European Super League project that rapidly collapsed in April 2021.

Manchester United CoChairman Joel Glazer later apologised for the unrest it caused. He later attended fans’ forums in the wake of supporter unrest, and pledged to make shares available to the club’s followers. Since then, a statement from United in November said the board would “consider all strategic alternatives, including new investment into the club, a sale, or other transactions involving the company”.

Analysis

BBC Sport football reporter Simon Stone

In confirming his interest in buying Manchester United, lifelong fan Ratcliffe has guaranteed himself a fair bit of attention over the next month.

The Raine Group, who

are handling the sale process, have pledged to narrow the bidders down in February, with the aim of completing any deal in March, although those are not hard and fast deadlines.

BBC Sport understands all options remain open, including the Glazer family remaining as owners but accepting some form of external investment.

United sources have played down a trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos this week by Chief Executive Richard Arnold and Co-Chairman Avie Glazer. However, their presence is bound to create opportunities to discuss the club, or, at the very least, the funding of the stadium redevelopment.

That is going to cost around £2bln, with revamping Old Trafford to the level required not likely to cost much less than building

an entire new ground from scratch.

Evidently, that eye-watering cost, added to what the Glazers want for the club, means any buyer will need to make an investment way beyond the £4.25bn from Boehly’s consortium for Chelsea last year.

And that means it will take either an individual or a group with very deep pockets.

It is hoped the ‘exclusivity’ of owning one of the world’s great global sporting brands would generate a healthy market, and it is being pushed as a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity.

Having inspected the accounts at Chelsea early, then left his actual bid until after the deadline for offers, Ratcliffe’s tactics raised a few eyebrows last year. This time, he has gone early. It will be fascinating to see how the next few weeks unfolds.

(BBC Sport)

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Chance for Kishan to make his case

English Premier League football…

Tom Latham has tormented India with his various sweeps

Suryakumar Yadav should get a run in Shreyas Iyer's absence

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is one of Britain’s richest men, according to Forbes

ICC Women’s U19 T20I World Cup…

WI seal back-to-back victories

– as the ‘Zaida James Show’ continues

Another all-round performance from Zaida James was the foundation of an impressive showing that spurred the West Indies Under-19 Women to their second win in the ongoing ICC Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup in South Africa.

The Windies Women thumped Indonesia by 77 runs on Tuesday morning after their captain, Guyanese Ashmini Munisar, opted to bat first at the toss -an opportunity that James and Shunelle Sawh did not put to waste. The Windies’ opening pair put on 95 runs for the first wicket partnership, before Sawh fell to the bowling of Si Suarniasih. Her innings of 31 runs from 36 balls con -

sisted of 4 boundaries.

James, meanwhile, raced to 55 from 37 balls, dispatching eight 4s and two 6s around the ground.

The solid start was built upon by Djenaba Joseph and Trishan

innings. Smashing 20 from 13 balls and 35 from 14 balls respectively, the pair got the Windies team to 177-3 from their 20 overs.

On the other hand, the Indonesian Women struggled to get going in their

Holder, who brought the fireworks later on in the

chase.

Kadek Kurniartini and

Jamaica’s U20 4x100m record among 3 ratified by World Athletics

U20 Championships in Cali 22. He had broken the championship record in his heat with 10.00, then won his semifinal in 10.14, before going on to dominate the final in 9.91 (0.8m/s).

His winning time took 0.03 off the world U20 record he had set in Eugene on 15 July in the heats of the World Athletics Championships Oregon22.

Eliud Kipchoge’s 2:01:09 marathon world record, along with world U20 records set last year by 100m sprinter Letsile Tebogo and Jamaica’s 4x100m team, have been ratified.

At the World U20 Championships in Cali, the Jamaican quartet of Serena Cole, Tina Clayton, Kerrica Hill and Tia Clayton teamed up to take the title in 42.59s, taking 0.35 off the previous record that the same team had achieved on 22 August 2021 at the previous World U20 Championships in Nairobi.

A similar quartet –but with Brianna Lyston on third leg instead of Hill – had clocked a marginally quicker 42.58 at the CARIFTA Games earlier in 2022, but it could not be ratified as a record.

Double Olympic champion Kipchoge won the Berlin Marathon last year, taking 30 seconds off the marathon world record he had set in the same city on 16 September 2018. The 38-year-old Kenyan went out hard, passing through 5km in 14:14 and 10km in 28:22 – not just comfortably inside world record pace, but also well inside a projected two-hour fin -

ish. He maintained that pace through half way, which was reached in 59:50 – identical to his half-way split when he produced a sub-two-hour run in an unofficial orchestrated race in Vienna three years ago. His pace started to drop slightly from then on, but he was still comfortably inside world record pace.

Ethiopia’s Andamlak Belihu had been level with Kipchoge up until that point, but the Kenyan superstar then gradually pulled clear, and was out on his own. He passed through 30km in 1:25:40, then reached 35km in 1:40:10. By the time he passed through 40km in 1:54:53, his lead had grown to more than four minutes.

Kipchoge went on to cross the line in 2:01:09, making this the eighth consecutive men’s marathon world record to be set in Berlin.

“I am overjoyed to have broken the world record,” said Kipchoge. “I wanted to run the first half so fast.

After 38km I knew I would be capable of breaking the world record. The circumstances were great, and so was the organisation.”

Botswana’s Tebogo successfully defended his 100m title at the World Athletics

“When the gun went off, I had to make sure I made the best start of my life –and it was the best start of my life,” said Tebogo. “As soon as I took my first step, I knew the title was mine. I didn’t worry about the time. I didn’t look.” (Sportsmax)

ov), 3-139 (Djenaba Joseph, 17.3 ov)

BOWLING O-M-R-W Ni Luh Dewi 2-0-17-0 Lie Qiao 4-0-29-0 Desi Wulandari 3-0-29-1 Ni Ariani 4-0-33-0 Ni Suarniasih 3-0-22-1 Ni Murtiari 4-0-44-1

Indonesia Women Under-19s (T: 177 runs from 20 ovs) BATTING R B

2, w 19) 26

TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 4.95) 99/9

Fall of wickets: 1-26 (Gusti Ulansari, 4.5 ov), 2-35 (Kadek Kurniartini, 7.3 ov), 3-38 (Desi Wulandari, 7.6 ov), 4-57 (Ni Luh Dewi, 11.6 ov), 5-57 (Thersiana Weo, 12.4 ov), 6-58 (Ni Ariani, 12.5 ov), 7-63 (Ni Indriyani, 14.4 ov), 8-87 (Ni Murtiari, 17.6 ov), 9-97 (Ni Suarniasih, 18.6 ov)

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Jannillea Glasgow 2-0-5-0 Kdjazz Mitchell 2-0-11-0 Shalini Samaroo 3-0-17-1 Ashmini Munisar 3-1-5-1 Djenaba Joseph 4-0-14-3 Zaida James 4-0-21-1 Naijanni Cumberbatch 2-0-21-0

Raducanu vs Gauff headlines Day 3 of Australian Open in Melbourne

Britain’s Emma Raducanu and American teenager Coco Gauff will meet for the first time in an eagerly anticipated second-round match on day three at the Australian Open.

Raducanu, 20, and the 18-year-old world number seven Gauff will headline the night session on Rod Laver Arena from 08:00 GMT on Wednesday.

“It’s going to be a great match,” said 2021 US Open champion Raducanu. “Coco has obviously done a lot of great things, and she’s playing well.”

She added: “I think we’re both good young players. We’re both coming through, part of the next generation of tennis, really.”

British men’s number one Cameron Norrie will take on Constant Lestienne after de-

feating another Frenchman, Luca van Assche, in straight sets on Monday.

Women’s world number one Iga Swiatek will open play on Rod Laver Arena against Colombian Camila Osorio, with defending champion and men’s top seed Rafael Nadal facing American Mackenzie McDonald later in the day.

Gauff, considered among the favourites for the tournament, began her Australian Open with a 6-1 6-4 victory over Czech Katerina Siniakova, while Raducanu beat German Tamara Korpatsch 6-3 6-2.

Aged 15, Gauff became the youngest female to qualify for the main draw at Wimbledon in 2019 - the same tournament where, in 2021, an 18-year-old Raducanu announced herself with a run to the fourth

round. Raducanu stunned the sport with her triumph at the US Open in just her second Grand Slam appearance, while Gauff, already established on the WTA Tour, reached her first major final at the French Open last year.

“I talk to her pretty much at all the tournaments,” Gauff said of Raducanu. “I didn’t really know her that well in juniors, but I’ve got to talk to her more on tour now. Obviously, she’s gone through a lot of pressure, bursting on to the scene, I feel like probably more than I have experienced coming to win a Slam. And especially I feel like being from the UK, being the first British person to do something in a long time, probably is a lot more pressure than what I’m used to, being an American.” (BBC Sport)

Joseph was the pick of the Windies bowlers, picking up 3-14 from her 4 overs. While James picked 1-21 from her 4, Guyana’s Munisar was again economical with 1-5 from 3 overs, including a maiden over. Indonesia failed to pass the 100-run mark, but survived their 20 overs, reaching 99-9.

The Windies U19 female team will now turn their attention to New Zealand’s Under-19 Women, with whom they will do battle on Thursday, January 19, 2023.

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Ni Luh Dewi top scored for Indonesia with 15 and 14 runs respectively, while Gusti Ulansari

(9), Thersiana Weo (8), Ni Murtiari (9) and Suarniasih (9) failed to convert starts.

Zaida James raising her bat in celebration of another half century

Djnenaba Joseph celebrating after taking a wicket

Jamaica’s U20 4x100M Women’s team celebrating their record

National Sports Commission lauds Sport’s $4.3B budget

The $4.3B allocated to Sport in the 2023 Budget has come in for high praise from the National Sports Commission (NSC) and its Board members, according to a missive from that body.

Highlighting that it is the largest sum of money ever allocated to that sector, the National Sports Commission (NSC) is emphasising the budget’s ability to transform facilities

across the country while enhancing opportunities for sportsmen and women.

An NSC missive has said, “The National Sports Commission commends the 2023 National Budget presented by the distinguished Minister Dr Ashni Singh, which includes the largest-ever allocation for the sports sector. The provision of $4.3B surpasses the prior allotment with a substantial increase of $1.1B.

This unprecedented allocation must be extolled as it highlights, inter alia, this H.E. President Irfaan Ali Government’s continued commitment, vision, and direction for the development of sports and sportsmen and women.

“With the largest ever allocation for the National Sports Commission, Budget 2023 paves the way for Government’s continued transformation in our sports

facilities – something that is critical to the development of world class athletes and the hosting of international tournaments – which would have commenced in the previous year.

“The allocation also allows for the development of our sportsmen and sportswomen with the National Sports Academy – the first ever in Guyana and the Region – launched last year, and has already started to

change the landscape of sports in Guyana.

“The National Sports

Commission is of the firm view and unshakeable belief that with the presented budget and with the leadership of Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, the Honourable Charles Ramson MP, sport is on a pathway that will transform sport in Guyana forever.”

The 2023 budget of $4.3B is an improvement on 2022’s budget of $3.2B. In 2021, Sport’s Budget was $1.5B.

West Indies Squad named for 2-Test Series in Zimbabwe

Cricket West Indies’

CWI) Men’s Selection Panel has announced the 15-member squad for the upcoming two-match Test Series in Zimbabwe, starting on 4 February.

The Selection Panel has recalled experienced fast

Warrican. Gabriel has taken 161 wickets in 56 Tests, placing him joint 12th in the West Indies all-time wicket-takers’ list. And more recently, in the CG United Super50 Cup in November last year, he was the joint-leading wick-

was against Sri Lanka in November 2021.

Warrican’s last international appearance was also in Sri Lanka in December 2021, when he played in both matches in the Test Series.

Motie made his Test debut for West Indies in Antigua in June 2022 in the first Test of the two-match Series’ victory against Bangladesh.

Jayden Seales is unavailable for selection following a knee injury and subsequent surgery; while Anderson Phillip is also unavailable due to injury.

Lead Selector the Most Hon Dr Desmond Haynes has said: “This is the start of the international calendar for 2023, and we will hope to start with a win. We appreciate it won’t be an easy assignment, as Zimbabwe, like most other teams in world cricket, play very well on their home soil on pitches that will support their style of play.”

Warrican. With our fast bowlers, Seales has done extremely well for us since he started back in 2021, but with him unavailable, we have decided that Gabriel would be best able to fill that role.

“He (Gabriel) is an experienced bowler who has been at the international level for over 10 years, and has knowledge of the conditions in Zimbabwe when we won there in 2017.”

February. Ahead of the twoTest Series, West Indies will have a three -day warm-up match against a local side, set for 28 to 30 January at Bulawayo Athletics Club. All matches start at 10am local time (4am Eastern Caribbean/3am Jamaica).

et-taker for the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force. Gabriel’s last Test Match

Haynes added: “We looked at the conditions we anticipate playing in, and have included two leftarm spinners who didn’t go to Australia in Motie and

West Indies will play both Test matches at the Queen’s Sports Club in Bulawayo, with the first Test running from 4 to 8 February, and the second match from 12 to 16

The last Test Series between Zimbabwe and the West Indies was also played at Queen’s Sports Club in October 2017. West Indies won the twomatch Series 1-0, winning the first contest by 117 runs, and ending the second Test in a draw.

Full Squad: Kraigg Brathwaite

(captain), Jermaine Blackwood (vice-captain), Nkrumah Bonner, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Roston Chase, Joshua Da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Gudakesh Motie, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach, Devon Thomas and Jomel Warrican.

MATCH SCHEDULE 28-30 January: threeday warm-up match at Bulawayo Athletics Club 4-8 February: 1st Test at Queen’s Sports Club, Bulawayo 12-16 February: 2nd Test at Queen’s Sports Club

Onthe evening of September 12, 2022, Guyanese Stephan Da Silva achieved one of his dreams when he won the WBL Junior Lightweight title in Sydney, Australia.

Securing his first international belt is a feeling the Guyanese boxer would never forget. DaSilva related to <<Guyana Times Sport>> that although the bout at the Gairy St Clair Superhero Fight Night in Sydney, Australia seemed a big occasion, he was always confident of doing well.

“It was already there inside of me; I could have felt it. I plan my shots a lot, how I’m going to start this fight and everything. Although there was some people who were angry at the way I started it, because I was like brawling at the first, but that’s me, I’m not here to play. This is serious time,” DaSilva told this publication during a recent interview.

He added, “When the referee came to me and said

that is it, it’s over, I was like okay. But deep inside of me I was already celebrating from home.”

While discussing how he prepared for the major bout last year, Da Silva revealed that it took a lot of hard work and focus, something most professional boxers are unable to do. The pugilist explained, “Putting in the work for that achievement, majority of the work was done back home in Guyana. Because, from day one, it’s something I’ve been training for. Like, currently, a lot of people would be looking at me to train to defend the title, but defending is not the problem for me, I’m training for a higher title than that one.

“But putting in the work was fun, I enjoyed it, especially when I go to Australia, the training was different but enjoying.”

Da Silva further spoke of some of the struggles of professional boxers, stating, “I used to work, and leave work

and go and train, but that couldn’t pay off in the end. I had to end up leaving my job to go ahead with my career. Going forward as a boxer with such a career, a career that is not secure for you, you have to keep trying all the time. There are peo-

ple who I would talk to, they keep giving me the comfort, like try, try; try and I would keep trying.”

Highlighting the different approaches by local and international pugilists, Da Silva related that most Guyanese boxers have what

it takes to do well on the international stage, but promoters also have a role to play.

“The way that we would train, Australians do not train that way, and I see it around the world. You know, we train different from other

boxers, but it is nice to know, as Guyanese fighters, if we had these training, with our skills, it would make us unstoppable anywhere we go,” the WBL Junior Lightweight title holder confidently expressed.

“For us, we have this brawling, bully way inside of us, like hey, everything belongs to us. So, that’s the way we would go forward all the time. Unlike other people, they would want to relax and control the fight. But, we as Guyanese, if we continue fighting the way we are, we can control any fight.”

DaSilva went on to add about the need for support for Guyanese boxers, “When you’re a boxer, you go through everything, and when you become a promoter, you need to turn boxing. Not because you went through certain things mean you put other boxers through certain things.”

In the meantime, DaSilva anticipates the opportunity to defend his title in 2023.

bowler Shannon Gabriel as well as left-arm spinners Gudakesh Motie and Jomel

Stephan DaSilva and wife, Shoba, sharing a light moment with Businessman Azruddin Mohamed as he showcases his WBL belt

The West Indies men’s team will take on Zimbabwe in a 2-Test Series

Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Gudakesh Motie are the only two Guyanese in the 15-man squad