Guyana Times - Wednesday, January 4, 2023

Duo remanded for Boxing Day murder of Durban Street businessman

Andrew Ridley and Akelow Marshall, the two men named as suspects in the shooting death of Durban Street businessman Shimron Adams,

called “Shem”, have been charged with the capital offence of murder.

Also known as “Aids Man”, Ridley, who hails from Albouystown, Georgetown,

and Marshall, 20, of Independence Boulevard, East La Penitence, Georgetown, were on Tuesday arraigned before Chief Magistrate

Ann McLennan in that Georgetown Magistrate’s Court, and were not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that they murdered 41-yearold Adams on December 26, 2022.

They have both been remanded to prison until February 2, 2023.

Adams was killed during a daring robbery committed at his business place at Durban and Chapel Streets in Lodge, Georgetown on Boxing Night. Adams, who had operated a liquor store, hailed from Macaw Drive in Kaneville on the East Bank of Demerara.

He was attacked by the two men who were reportedly wearing surgical face masks, one of whom was also armed with a handgun.

Adams’s 29-year-old lover has told the Police that on the night in question, at about 21:30h, she had gone to his business place, and at that time the businessman was wearing a gold finger ring and one gold band, and had had a small bag hanging on his shoulder.

At about 23:30h, Adams closed his business and started to pack items into a freez-

er. About 10 minutes later, Adams opened the shutter for them to leave from the bottom flat; and, according to the woman, in the blink of an eye, the two men entered the building and ordered them to lie on the ground, and they complied.

She said the unarmed suspect then took off the businessman’s gold band and finger ring, and ordered him to get up, which he did. The suspect then held onto the businessman’s shoulder bag and pulled at it, but Adams continued to hold onto the bag.

The suspect who was armed then discharged a round at Adams, and it struck him in his right abdomen. He fell to the ground and remained unconscious, and was subsequently rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC), where he was pronounced dead. After processing the crime scene, Police recovered a 9mm spent shell and one warhead.

Following the killing, Adams’s lover and another woman were arrested by the Police. The lover later confessed to having knowledge of the crime. In fact, she reportedly told investigators

that her boyfriend Ridley and another man had committed the act.

The woman reportedly told investigators that her boyfriend had found out that she and the businessman had been involved in a relationship, and he had threatened to rob and kill the businessman, something she had pleaded with him not to do. She said she recognised the suspects on the night in question when they barged into the business place.

Ridley was arrested hours after the killing, while Marshall was nabbed a few days later in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) after Police received information that he was attempting to flee to Suriname.

Ridley is no stranger to the law, since he had previously been charged with a spate of robbery-under-arms and break-and-enter-andlarceny charges. At the time of his arrest for Adams’s murder, he was wanted for the November 2022 murder of 53-year-old Dexter McFarlene, who was killed by a stray bullet while making his way home in the community of Laing Avenue, West Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

Shimron Adams, called “Shem”

Murder accused Andrew Ridley Murder accused Akelow Marshall

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, January 4 –03:30h-05:00h and Thursday, January 5 – 04:00h-05:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Wednesday, January 4 –14:30h-16:00h and Thursday, January 5 – 15:10h-16:40h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery to light rain showers are expected during the day and night. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 27 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Northerly to North North-Westerly between 1.78 metres and 3.56 metres.

High Tide: 14:47h reaching a maximum height of 2.42 metres.

Low Tide: 08:20h and 20:52h reaching minimum heights of 0.95 metre and 0.78 metre.

The increased Private Sector investment in various projects, including in the oil and non-oil sectors, is a sign of the Private Sector’s favour and confidence in the Government’s vision. This is according to President Dr. Irfaan Ali.

During an interview with international news agency Al Jazeera, President Ali spoke about Guyana’s development trajectory. Specifically, he referred to Public and Private Sector investments in various developmental projects.

“The direction in which the economy is going and the direction in which the country is going is supported by Government expenditure to build the infrastructure and build the sectors to open up the sectors,” he said.

“For example, opening up new lands for agriculture requires roads, drainage, and irrigation systems. Helping the loggers and miners requires a lot of investment in hinterland roads. Helping the housing drive that we have, building 25,000 new homes and 50,000 new house lots, requires tremendous investments from the Government,” he said.

In terms of the increased Private Sector investment, President Ali attributed this to the rise of confidence in Government policies. Among the areas that have seen increased investment are health care; housing and education; and, of course, oil and gas.

“But we’re also seeing a lot of private investment that is coming in in all these sectors. And that is because people are seeing the direction in which the country is going; the vision; where we are positioning Guyana. So, we have an investment in healthcare; in housing; private investment in education, educational services; the carbon is traded on international markets; we have a mixture of Government and Private Sector investment pushing this growth and development I’m speaking about,” the President said.

There are a number of multi-billion-dollar projects coming onstream in Guyana, and the Private Sector is the principal driver of those. One such exam-

ple is the US$300 million Vreed-en-Hoop Shorebase, being undertaken by Guyanese consortium NRG Holdings.

In April 2022,

ExxonMobil Guyana and the Vreed-en-Hoop Shorebase Incorporated (VEHSI) signed a 20-year agreement for shore base services to be provided at the port of Vreed-en-Hoop facility to support the US oil giant’s operations offshore Guyana. The sod was subsequently turned in June of last year within the vicinity of the project site at Plantation Best, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

VEHSI is a joint venture between a fully-owned Guyanese consortium –NRG Holdings Incorporated and Jan De Nul Group, the Belgium-based company undertaking the project that specializes in offshore, marine, civil, environment, and project development.

Shorebase

President Dr Irfaan Ali during the interview with Al Jazeera

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

Support for STEM

The success of the STEM Guyana Team over the years is yet another example of what our young people could achieve once they are provided with the necessary opportunities. The years of success of the team has now led to the expansion of the programme across Guyana, as was announced by President Dr Irfaan Ali in August 2022.

The way the Guyana team has performed over the years has shown what can be done once people are able to band together; and, more importantly, represent their country well at such a high-level competition.

The success of Guyana’s team during the past four years is a perfect example of Guyanese ingenuity and creativity. It shows that, in spite of the many challenges at home and the sometimes-negative perceptions people usually have of Guyanese, our young people can still rise to the challenge and be counted among some of the leaders in various fields. For Guyana to compete against more than 160 countries over the years, although those countries have much experience in the field, is a tremendous achievement, and has served as motivation to others who have an interest in the so-called STEM subjects – Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

Certainly, the investments made over the years in improving performances in STEM subjects are beginning to show results.

The importance of focusing on STEM education could never be overemphasized, due to its importance to national development. Our leaders from both the past and current administrations have recognised the need to create more opportunities for our young people to further their studies in STEM subjects.

Every student who has the desire to pursue further studies in STEM subjects should be afforded the opportunity to do so. We feel that once the necessary facilities are provided, such as labs, etc., more young people would be drawn to these areas of study.

Additionally, more students should be encouraged to focus on STEM subjects in order to advance their chances in the job market. This is necessary, as it would help them to become innovative, and also help them to be equipped with the necessary skills to contribute to national development. Some people see STEM as “hard subjects”. When one looks at the number of students graduating from the university, it is evident that more students are gravitating to the social sciences. However, if this trend continues, we would continue to see graduates coming out of the university for whom the job market would be severely limited.

While there is a need for qualified persons in the arts and humanities and other fields, there is also a need for experts in science and technology; hence, more attention should be provided to encourage children who are gifted in science and technology to explore their passion. In essence, considering the national needs of the country, STEM is seen as sustainable. If students undertake STEM subjects, they can be assured of job opportunities not only here in Guyana, but in many other countries.

The excellent performance of the STEM Guyana Team over the years should be celebrated.

We support the call by the team for Government support, and commend President Dr Irfaan Ali for listening to the youths and committing to expanding the programme countrywide; and for his pledge, “We will support you.”

PPP/C’s track record debunks Aubrey Norton’s desires and fabrications

Dear Editor, Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton, in his New Year’s message, is screamed that his party “will be relentless in ensuring the fair and equitable allocation of the nation’s resources to its citizens.”

He detailed that, “We believe that we need an approach that ensures our people benefit from our resources. (And) to this end, we have advocated for a people-centred development in which the allocation of resources in our society is aimed at reducing and ultimately eliminating poverty and giving our people a better quality of life.” Well! Well!

For starters, Mr. Norton’s ranting is as empty as it is loud. The very things he is claiming he will advocate for are the said ones that have been pioneered and are still being pioneered by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) since August 2020.

For example, it is well established and fresh in the mind that the PPP/C made unprecedented input and visits to places like southern Georgetown, Mocha/Arcadia, Linden, Buxton, Golden Grove, and Melanie Damishana. These, as we are seeing today, have translated into meeting community needs, such as improved roads, bridges, potable water supply, access to agricultural lands, and the resolution of long-standing land issues. In fact, so over-reaching the Government of the day has been that it comes over as though they are neglecting their traditional Indobased enclaves. Obviously, Mr. Norton is choosing to ignore evidence debunking his intimation that there is discrimination in the practice of the PPP/C.

Another for the readers: I recall, in April last year, that Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo was forced to expose Norton’s

attempt at using a lie to incite a negative reaction from residents of Region 10. This was when he, Norton, notified the residents, his erstwhile followers, that the PPP/C was planning to remove the electricity subsidy from Region 10. This was a figment of his imagination, or maybe a desire he harboured, so that he, at the time, would have been able to penetrate the minds of the people, since his attempts to wow them were and are still non-effectual.

To offset Norton’s evil, Jagdeo explained that Norton was “reeling from his rejection by the people of Linden, as evidenced by the poor turnout at his meeting, (and so) has embarked on his familiar acts of deception and desperation.” In the end, as is evident today, the PPP/C Government never planned to remove the electricity subsidy from Region Ten. Thus, like Jagdeo, I am asking that “Guyanese should therefore not fall prey to Norton’s attempt to mislead and cause panic.”

Editor, the Opposition Leader, in his 2023 message, meandered into a lot of stuff in a most cursorial manner, and I will not waste my time on his vacuous ramblings, which do not even constitute a proper accusation. However, I must address his covert accusation that is couched in his statement that “…what Guyana needs is a government with a ‘vision and a plan’ that cares for the people of Guyana. This, he said, is what the next APNU+AFC Government will offer the people of Guyana in 2025 or whenever elections are called.”

Is this an attempt to be funny?

I remind Norton that A Partnership For National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) left Guyana in ‘hell’ when they were legally forced to leave office, after

failed attempts to rig the 2020 Guyana Elections. In a nutshell, where Guyana was in 2020 to where it is now reflects “…a Government with a ‘vision and a plan’ that cares for the people of Guyana”. Let me illustrate.

At the start of the current PPP/C tenure, Guyana’s General Reserves were depleted to $0, and its account was running an overdraft to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars. There was also the depleted Gold Reserve (as illustrated in the May 23 publication of the Official Gazette) that were pegged at -$290,667,332. Additionally, Public Deposits were also depleted to below $0, recording a negative balance of -$88,629,401,855. Further, Guyana’s Contingency Reserve account reflected an alarmingly low amount; that is $2.3 billion.

Now, contrast this against what obtained when APNU/ AFC took office in May 2015, and which was reflected in the Bank of Guyana’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities. According to the records, when the Coalition A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change took office in 2015, Guyana’s gold reserves were stocked at $15 billion, but were depleted by the APNU/ AFC Administration to a mere $715 million during their fiveyear tenure, almost two of which were illegal. This reflected a difference of $14.3 billion spent by APNU/AFC during their time in office.

In 2015, Guyana’s General Reserve had in its coffers just about $6 billion, while the Contingency Reserve held $4 billion. However, after the APNU/AFC wrecking train was forcefully ejected, those savings were shown to be below zero dollars, reflecting considerable overdrafts. Yet another area for you: The Contingency Reserve stood at

$4.8 billion when APNU/AFC took office, but dwindled to a balance of just about 2.3 billion

I can rest my case and laugh now as I read that, according to the Opposition Head, “We will implement an economic development plan that allows all sectors of the economy to develop, while simultaneously improving the quality of life of the people of Guyana.”

I conclude my agreeing with him that “…Guyana can become one of the best countries to live in, and can become the envy of the world as the country where citizens have opportunities to realize their full political, social, and economic potential.”

Alas, this will only be realised under the aegis of the current PPP/C Government, under the robust leadership of President Dr. Irfaan Ali.

After all, the country’s economy is one of the fastest growing in the world, with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 19.9% in 2021. It got better, in spite of the burden of external shocks and domestic challenges, as Guyana was able to maintain its position as a global leader in economic growth, with its massive expansion of the economy in the first half of 2022. In fact, according to the 2022 Mid-Year Report, Guyana recorded an overall real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 36.4 per cent. It should be noted too that Guyana did achieve this expansion in the economy even as global growth prospects were revised downwards.

I think that Mr. Aubrey Norton should accept reality, and also have someone inform him of Guyana’s ongoing and impending rise.

Yours truly, H Singh

at the end of 2019.

St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves and Mrs Gonsalves sharing a light moment with Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal, Local Government and Regional Development Minister Nigel Dharamlall, and DuraVilla Head Rafeek Khan during a visit at a DuraVilla unit, which is being constructed at Great Diamond on the East Bank of Demerara

AFC has officially withdrawn from coalition with APNU – Ramjattan

The Alliance For Change (AFC) has officially quit its coalition with the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), with the smaller party’s leader, Khemraj Ramjattan, saying that their parliamentary relationship will revert to what it was pre-2015.

In an interview with Guyana Times, Ramjattan explained that the Cummingsburg Accord officially came to an end last month, as was decided at the party’s National Executive Conference (NEC). He also said that the party would keep the nine seats it has of the 31 Opposition parliamentary seats allocated after the 2020 General and Regional Elections.

“We withdraw from the partnership agreement that we had, which by the ex-

piry of either three or five years we could have withdrawn out of, because we got our seating, 9-22, in accordance with the party we went to the elections with,” Ramjattan said.

“We will work in the Parliament, communicating and collaborating there. For every other department and activity of our party, we will do it independently. That won’t necessarily mean that we won’t be together on issues. But we are free to be independent, we go and do whatever we gotta do, just like before the accord was signed on.”

In July of last year, it was announced that the AFC would be parting ways with APNU upon the expiration of the Cummingsburg Accord at the end of 2022.

Ramjattan, who had only

just been re-elected Leader of the AFC when he made the announcement, had also said the decision was taken at the party’s NEC. He explained that the AFC would only consider entering into a new coalition with the APNU closer to the next General

and Regional Elections due in 2025.

“The decision on whether we should remain was, in a sense, decided at this National Conference. We have the Way Forward document that was given to every delegate at our conference…

Managing future decommissioning expenses

Dear Editor, Exxon has been kind enough to share with the nation the initial decommissioning costs that have been put aside for the work to be done 20 to 30 years from now.

What His Excellency Bharrat Jagdeo is proposing has its merits; however, I would suggest a further look at the range of royalty rates for such an operation. Providing flexibility with price movement would also allow for continued profitability at the lower end of the price spectrum.

Another alternative option for His Excellency to consider in addition to the proposed management

structure of the decommissioning funds would be to hold the funds in a shared, transparent trust account where the funds can be grown at a rate equivalent to Exxon’s weighted average cost of capital (WACC), which is currently 9.55%. This rate surpasses that of the inflation rate being experienced in the USA.

We should also make these funds available for reinvestment by Exxon during the 20 to 30 years remaining on the wells that they have been set aside to decommission. Thus, the funds would continue to grow faster than inflation over the long term, and also provide additional interest earnings for the

country.

In addition, Guyana would be able to reduce the cost of Exxon’s operations in our oil sector.

If, near the end of the productive life of the well, Exxon chooses to sell to another party, we can stipulate in the contract that Exxon would transfer its rights over the shared trust account to the new owner, who would also be bound by the terms of the initial contract, which ensure that the funds would be used for the decommissioning process.

The established trust account must be used for all additional wells, with all future costs being placed within the account, which would

continue to earn interest at a minimum rate that is equivalent to the internal WACC of Exxon. This will become the benchmark rate throughout the existence of the shared trust account.

This is what Exxon can do if they have exclusive rights over the funds during the 20-to-30-year period. The proposed alternative approach would allow them to continue to have access to the funds, but the interest earned would benefit the people of Guyana, while also guaranteeing full coverage of the predetermined future decommissioning costs.

Best regards, Jamil Changlee

Khemraj Ramjattan was an utter failure as Public Security Minister

Dear Editor, Khemraj Ramjattan was an utter failure as Public Security Minister, and has no grounds to criticise any member of this current Government.

Ramjattan’s stint as head of the Security Sector will forever be marred by the numerous prison escapes that plunged the Guyanese populace into a state of fear; which was justifiable, given that in every corner of the country, there were stories emanating of violent crimes, especially armed robberies, and even murders.

During the APNU/AFC tenure in office, there were numerous prison breaks, prominent among which

was the devastating prison fire and riot that resulted in the deaths of some 17 prisoners, a prison officer, and the almost total destruction of the Camp Street Prison.

Adding to the Security Sector’s woes, then-President David Granger released numerous convicted criminals on an annual basis, raising concerns among the public over the criteria used to select prisoners, and the rationale behind the release.

A country’s Security Sector bears the most responsibility for the protection of citizens from criminal elements; thus, anyone tasked with the mandate of managing this vital sector should prove, over time,

meritorious in the functionality and efficiency of the various arms of Government comprising his portfolio.

However, from the inception of the appointment of Khemraj Ramjattan as Public Security Minister, there had been one critical incident after another, compromising the nation’s safety and engendering calls from even from his own party’s supporters that he should resign or be re-assigned, because he had clearly failed to deliver on his primary mandate.

What was more appalling than Ramjattan’s glaring failures were his constant attempts to defend the indefensible. As Security

Minister, Ramjattan excused himself with one ridiculous postulation after another, when the fact is that he was unable to perform to expectations due to alleged machinations of his own Government.

In contrast to this, President Irfaan Ali, in his New Year’s Speech, has given the assurance that national security would be reinforced to a requisite quantum – which assured that soldiers and Police ranks would be deployed to emergency situations at an instant, with enhanced crime-fighting capacity.

Sincerely yours, Attiya Baksh

In this document, which we did about eight months ago, was to argue the case at the NEC: what are the pros and cons and what we should do,” Ramjattan had explained.

The AFC’s next NEC is meanwhile due for late 2024 or early 2025.

The AFC had joined hands with the APNU to contest the 2015 General and Regional Elections and the coalition subsequently won. The parties signed the Cummingsburg Accord on Valentine’s Day in 2015, outlining the parliamentary seats and ministerial portfolios for AFC and APNU members, respectively.

However, APNU has consistently been accused of violating the accord.

On December 24, 2019, after much back and forth between APNU and the AFC, a revised Cummingsburg Accord was signed, but the full details were never released to the public.

One of the notable fallouts between APNU and the AFC dates back to September 2020 regarding the election of the Chair and Vice Chair for the Region Four Regional Democratic Council (RDC) whereby the AFC was snubbed for the position of Vice Chair despite a previous agreement between the two sides.

The move had resulted in AFC’s David Patterson resigning as General Secretary of the party, but he had subsequently flip-flopped on

that position – only to then lose his bid to become the leader of the party last year at the NEC.

The AFC faced criticism while in Government for the submissive role it had played to APNU. Decisions the former Government made, such as the closure of sugar estates, which put thousands of sugar workers out of jobs, went unchallenged by the AFC and were even supported by the smaller party. This is despite the AFC retaining the Agriculture Ministry.

This passive relationship with APNU was cited by former AFC parliamentarian Charrandas Persaud, as one of the reasons he voted for the No-Confidence Motion that brought down the APNU/AFC Government in 2018.

There is also the fact that despite the Cummingsburg Accord containing stipulations that should have seen the former Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo being vested with the responsibility for chairing Cabinet and domestic issues, the former APNU Government never honoured this.

Meanwhile, current APNU Leader Aubrey Norton, whenever asked by the media last year about AFC’s impending withdrawal, had said very little on the dissolution of the coalition – save to reiterate that the smaller party was free to do what it wanted.

AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan

Foundation

Learn how to make a cloud in a bottle with this super simple and really cool weather science experiment.

Materials:

Empty plastic water bottle with cap

Scissors

Isopropyl rubbing alcohol Safety goggles

Instructions:

Use the scissors to carefully remove the label from the plastic water bottle.

Put on your safety goggles.

Pour a small amount of alcohol into the bottle.

Put the cap on the bottle. Slowly rotate the bottle so the alcohol coats the inside of the bottle.

Grab the bottom one third of the bottle and twist. This will create pressure in the bottle.

Release and watch your cloud in a bottle forms right before your eyes.

How it Works:

The pressure you created inside the bottle forced the water vapor to compress together, heat up, and evaporate into gas.

When you released the pressure, the water vapor molecules cooled quickly and condensed to form a visible cloud in a bottle.

Make this a science project:

Try the Cloud In A Bottle demonstration in areas that are significantly colder or hotter and record any noticeable differences.

There was once a very old man, whose eyes had become dim, his ears dull of hearing, his knees trembled, and when he sat at table he could hardly hold the spoon, and spilt the broth upon the table-cloth or let it run out of his mouth.

His son and his son’s wife were disgusted at this, so the old grandfather at last had to sit in the corner behind the stove, and they gave him his food in an earthenware bowl, and not even enough of it. And he used to look towards the table with his eyes full of tears. Once, too, his trembling hands could not hold the bowl, and it fell to the ground and broke. The young wife scolded him, but he said nothing and only sighed. Then they brought him a wooden

bowl for a few half-pence, out of which he had to eat.

They were once sitting thus when the little grandson of four years old began to gather together some bits of wood upon the ground. ‘What are you doing there?’ asked the father. ‘I am making a little trough,’ answered the child, ‘for father and mother to eat out of when I am big.’

The man and his wife looked at each other for a while, and presently began to cry. Then they took the old grandfather to the table, and henceforth always let him eat with them, and likewise said nothing if he did spill a little of anything.

Bonus points: Illustrate the story above

St Vincent to import 50 houses from Guyana to help rebuild after 2021 volcanic disaster

St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, who is on a fourday visit to Guyana, toured various housing developments and made it clear that he was impressed by what he has seen and his country would be importing 50 houses from Guyana.

Prime Minister Gonsalves arrived in Guyana from Brazil on Monday on the same flight as President Dr Irfaan Ali.

On Tuesday, the Prime Minister toured DuraVilla Homes at Land of Canaan and the Housing Ministry’s low-income housing development at Diamond, both on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD).

Afterwards, Gonsalves said he was impressed

with Guyana’s housing programme, which is better priced than the homes in his own country, nor is there a difference in quality, since, according to the Prime Minister, low- and middle-income houses of both countries sport similar finishes.

“I can speak fairly authoritatively about this type of project, because we have been engaged in St Vincent and the Grenadines since 2001 (my Government) with low- and middle-income houses. In fact, we have a category of houses called no income houses.

“And these prices are certainly better than ours. And broadly speaking, the finishes are similar. There are things which homeowners will have to do. Like for

instance, they can choose a ceiling they want to put in.

And what invariably happens is within a year or two, people add on a room or two,” Gonsalves explained.

The Prime Minister also revealed that 50 houses would be imported from Guyana to St Vincent.

According to Gonsalves, financing is already in place and once the houses arrive, they would help replace the houses destroyed by 2021’s volcanic eruption.

The La Soufrière volcano began an effusive eruption on December 27, 2020.

On April 9, 2021 there was an explosive eruption, and the volcano h continued to erupt explosively over several days. Thousands of persons had to be evacuated.

“The houses at DuraVilla

are quite impressive. I had sent down the Deputy Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines a couple months ago, along with their Minister of Housing and technical persons,” the Prime Minister said.

“And we’re making arrangements to buy and have delivered to us by the end of March, 50 one-, two- and three-bedroom houses. You see we lost a lot of houses during the volcanic eruptions in 2021. And we’re building back and we’re repairing. But this additional source of houses, which we have the financing and everything, it would add to a speeding up,” Dr Gonsalves said.

Both President Ali and PM Gonsalves were in Brasilia, Brazil for Sunday’s inauguration of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. During his four-day visit to Guyana, PM Gonsalves

is expected to meet with President Ali and several Government Ministers to discuss a number of areas of cooperation.

The PM was accompanied by Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal and Local Government and Regional Development Minister Nigel Dharamlall during his guided tour of the operations of DuraVilla with DuraVilla Head Rafeek Khan.

They were joined by the Director of Projects of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) and representatives of the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

At the International Building Expo that was held at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, EBD, in July 2022, DuraVilla was among the exhibitors introducing new products and innovative services to the

Guyanese market.

On the infrastructure side, DuraVilla Homes is focused on modular timber homes, preconstructed and smaller than typical housing units here. Regional Manager Shalima Fakira had said at the expo that demand was diversifying and people were now seeking smaller living arrangements that can be expanded.

“We realised that there is a different shift in preferences of homes, so persons have now been asking for starter homes that they can expand in the future. Our homes are expandable,” Fakira said.

“So, you can start with a two-bedroom home and end up with a four-bedroom home, because it’s based on panels. We have seen a lot of interest in our homes in particular. It’s very adaptable to any piece of land. You just source your foundation and land.” (Jarryl Bryan)

An overhead view of the low-income houses at Diamond

– PM Gonsalves says Guyana’s housing programme impressive, well-priced

St Vincent and the Grenadines PM, Dr Ralph Gonsalves during his tour of the DuraVilla houses

Miner gets bail for robbing Bartica barber

Break up...

…to make up (coalition)

Twenty-one-year-old Rayon Speede, a miner of the township of Bartica in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) who robbed a barber of items worth over $1.8 million, was on Tuesday granted bail in the sum of $200,000 after appearing before Bartica Magistrate Crystal Lambert and pleading not guilty as charged.

The charge he faces detailed that on December 30, 2022, he robbed Muneshwar Poorandai of Byderabo Road, Bartica of XR Honda motor-

cycle CK 4088, an iPhone 13 Pro phone, a Samsung Galaxy S9 phone, two gold chains and $50,000 cash.

It has been reported that the victim had been at Futu's Sports Bar socialising, and as the establishment was about to close, Speede approached Poorandai for a drop on his motorcycle to One Mile Bartica, and Poorandai consented to taking him there. While in the vicinity of the Bartica Secondary School dorms, Speede placed Poorandai in a 'headlock', wrestled him to

the ground, and dealt him several cuffs to the head, which caused Poorandai to fall unconscious. Speede then confiscated the victim’s mentioned articles and rode away on the victim's motorcycle.

Police have said that when Poorandi regained consciousness, he stopped a passing vehicle and was taken to the Bartica Police Station, where the matter was reported before the victim was escorted to the Bartica Regional Hospital, where he was admitted as a patient.

The following day, ranks went to the Bartica Arcade and confronted a 31-yearold who had in his possession the two stolen phones. The man indicated that he received the phones from a 21-year-old to be 'unlocked'. The 21-year -old Speede was contacted, and later arrested after admitting to robbing the victim.

Police have said that after he was arrested, Speede took cops to where he had hidden the motorcycle and other items he had stolen. The victim's ID card and licence were also recovered.

The victim has since been discharged from the Hospital.

The matter is slated to be recalled on February 14, 2023.

When your Eyewitness read that the AFC went ahead with its threat to leave the PNC/APNU coalition, he remembered that old song by the Stylistics: “Break up to makeup, that's all we do/ First you love me then you hate me/ That's a game for fools”. In this case, however, the AFC and the PNC think it’s wethe Guyanese people - who’re fools!! Didn’t they break up before the last LGE?? Didn’t they make up right after, when the AFC discovered they’d really become stink and dutty “Dead Meat”?? Yeah…after more than five years, Dead Meat does get “renk”!!

So, what’s really going on here?? It’s quite clear, ain’t it, Dear Reader?? The AFC had brought in that most prized weapon in the Guyana political arena for the 2015 war… er…elections: crossover votes. In the Guyanese political demographics, this’s tantamount to being able to put your finger on the scale – legally!! So, lo and behold, the PNCAFC coalition won. Never mind those other micro-parties… they’ve never been able to get more votes than even their family members!!

But it soon became obvious the PNC had sized up the AFC during their prenup negotiations – dubbed the Cummingsburg Accord. Cause they promptly dumped all over the latter, who remained quieter than the proverbial dormouse!! It was either they got their jollies off by being dumped on, or they didn’t want to lose the crumbs thrown at them!! That was the time they should’ve announced they were gonna break up, unless they were treated with respect!! What was the PNC going to do if they’d voted against them in Parliament?? We know the answer when a SINGLE AFC MP later decided to grow some cojones!!

So, we come to this end-of- 2022 “break-up” – two and a half years before the 2025 elections. To your Eyewitness, it’s pretty obvious that both the PNC and AFC understand that the latter has lost whatever credibility to bring in those absolutely needed crossover votes after they sold them down the river. Hence the “split” – hoping in the next two years, they can convince some erstwhile supporters that this time they’ll stand for principles rather than personal aggrandisement. And it’s this calculus that makes your Eyewitness think they believe Guyanese are stark raving bonkers!

What have the AFC done since the elections to show they’ve developed a pair?? Have they told the PNC to its (leader’s) face that they were treated worse than doormats?? Have they even HINTED to the PNC that their nine MPs will henceforth vote their conscience in the National Assembly?? Have they even conceded that the PNC’s UNILATERAL closure of the four sugar estates was wrong?

So, who’s mamaguying who? Gwan da side!!

…possible oligarchy

To your Eyewitness’s surprise, looks like GAWU’s the organization developing a pair to comment frankly on matters affecting their membership’s interests. “Surprise” because, ever since the independence era, the trade unions had become handmaidens of the political parties. Now, don’t get your Eyewitness wrong; he understands that, intimately, everything’s decided in the political arena. But the whole premise of the Trade Union Movement was for its unions to represent workers’ interests TO the political parties.

And this becomes very difficult when you’re part and parcel of the said parties. The bottom line is that political parties are supposed to represent ALL interests in the country – not just workers’. But, as with everything else, those who pay the piper call the tune!! And the only currency the Unions have to pay the piper is their membership votes – which must then be free to represent their interests!!

So, when GAWU speak up about the debilitating effects of inflation on the living conditions of workers, they’re furthering democracy in Guyana.

…debt fears

There’ve been concerns raised about increased debt accumulation. Now, we Guyanese don’t have to be told about the wages of excessive debt, after the Burnhamite excesses.

But, right now, our income flow projected from oil will easily handle debt servicing!!

The items that were stolen

Charged: Rayon Speede

Businesses were closing doors, facing bankruptcy under APNU/AFC’s tax impositions – Pres Ali

In reflecting on the state of affairs in Central Government and the challenges facing businesses when the PPP/C administration took office in 2020, President Irfaan Ali noted that immediate intervention was needed to restore the country from the verge of collapse.

Recounted the period his Government left office in 2015 to the period it was re-elected into power in 2020, the Guyanese Head of State reminded of the major depletion of resources at the Central Bank, and of an overdraft of over 500 percent during the APNU/AFC’s governance. At that time, he said, the deficit in Central Government moved from $9.3 billion to almost $30 billion in just four years.

“The new Government came in 2015 with $25 billion in gold reserve, and in 2019 it moved to $800 million. This represents a decline of 97 percent in our gold reserve at the Bank of Guyana,” he said. “Equally worrisome was the Central Bank overdraft at the

Bank of Guyana had increased by more than $114 billion, or 540 percent…

“This is what we came in and met. This is the reality of what the new Government met,” Ali related.

He recalled the imposition of over 200 new taxes and the destruction it wreaked on private businesses and consumers. The effective tax rate in

2015 was 15 percent, but was raised to seven per cent, meaning the average person had to pay an average of 22 cents earned on every dollar.

“What were the net effects of these new taxes that were introduced? Of course it led to an increase in tax revenues and duties, from $136 billion in 2014 to $226 billion by the end of 2019 – an increase of 66 percent,” he explained.

According to him, these new taxes created a significant strain on businesses, some of which were forced to close their doors; while medium enterprises were facing bankruptcy.

“The level of private consumption in 2019 compared to 2014 was reduced by more than $77 billion. This was the net effect. That is why the businesses were feeling the effect. This is why businesses were closing their doors. Mediumsized businesses were going into bankruptcy because the net effect of the more-than 200plus taxes was that private consumption declined by $77 billion…

Essequibo Coast house destroyed by fire

“This is what led to the destruction of small and medium-sized enterprises,” the Head of State voiced.

He lamented that, in the time when Guyana had discovered oil and a massive economic boom with construction was expected, credit to the Private Sector was on the decline. This was compounded by declines in areas such as agriculture and manufacturing.

“The decline in domestic credit to the Private Sector is seen in the amount of credit allocated to agriculture, manufacturing, and the construction

sector respectively. Between 2014 and 2019, credit to agriculture declined by $1 billion, credit to manufacturing declined by $3 billion, and credit to construction declined by $3 billion,” the President noted.

In the banking sector, non-performing loans increased from an average of seven percent in 2014 to 14.8 percent in 2019. “What this means is that not only were the banks receiving significantly less on their investment, but that investors were finding it extremely difficult to service their debts,” he explained.

The Ali-led PPP/C administration took office in August 2020 on the heels of a five-month-long election that threatened the democracy of the country. In addition to repairing those damages, the new Government had to contend with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the cascading effects on global supply chains which impacted the cost of living.

Notwithstanding, the Government introduced a series of measures aimed at alleviating the burdens faced by the population.

Tiwatty Nandalall, a 62-year-old widow of Jib, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), is now counting her losses after a fire on Sunday completely destroyed her two-storey house, in which she had lived alone.

The woman, who was attending a religious function at Hampton Court when she received a message that her house was on fire, told this publication that a relative had threatened to burn down the house after the recent passing of her husband

and son.

“My entire house is destroyed! Everything inside is damaged! I don’t have a home anymore! I have to stay by my daughter for the time, cause I don’t have anyone else to stay by. My husband and son passed away, and only me alone went living. I really need help getting back my house,” Nandalall has said.

Anyone desirous of assisting Nandalall in the reconstruction of her home is asked to call telephone number 659-4656.

President Irfaan Ali

Tiwatty Nandalall

Tiwatty Nandalall’s home on fire on Thursday

Early morning fire destroys Vreed-en-Hoop building

been destroyed.

Owner of the building, 67-year-old Harry Deodhary, was too distraught to speak with the media, but persons from the community said the house had been occupied by an engineer who had been living alone at the property for several years.

One neighbour explained that he was at work when, at about 11:00h, he received a telephone call from his wife informing him that their neighbour’s house was on fire. Fearful that his home would also have been destroyed, the man said, he picked up his phone and called the Fire Service immediately to report the fire before rushing home.

ed that smoke was emanating from the upper flat of the house.

He said he was reportedly told that they had tried to save some documents that were in the office, since the

upper flat of the building had already been fully engulfed.

No one was reportedly injured in this incident, and the Guyana Fire Service has since launched an investi-

gation, but based on reports received, there had been a power outage in the area, and shortly after the power was restored, smoke was seen billowing from the upper flat of the building. FROM PAGE 3

Afire of unknown origin has partially destroyed a building at Lot 3B New Road, Vreed-enHoop, West Coast Demerara (WCD) on Tuesday.

When the fire was spotted at the property at about 9:30h, the Guyana Fire Service was immediately

contacted; and upon arriving on scene, firefighters were successful in containing the blaze to one location, preventing its spread to nearby premises.

When Guyana Times arrived on scene, the upper flat of the two-storey concrete structure had already

He claimed that by the time he got on scene, the Fire Service was already there battling the blaze, but despite their efforts, the upper flat of the building was destroyed.

The man also said he was told that at the time the fire started, the owner of the building and his employees were in the office on the lower flat when they were alert-

Increased Private Sector...

The consortium includes Hadi’s World Inc, owned by businessmen Nazar “Shell” Mohamed and Azruddin Mohamed, Nicholas Boyer and Eddie Boyer of National Hardware Guyana Limited, and Andron Alphonso of ZRN Investments Inc. NRG holds a majority stake of 85 per cent in VESHI, while the remaining 15 per cent is owned by Jan De Nul – the company that will construct the facility.

There is also the Deepwater Port in Berbice, which is being built by

Canadian companies CGX Energy and Frontera Energy. The CGX deep-water harbour project has been in the works since 2010. The CGX subsidiary Grand Canal Industrial Estates Inc (GCIE) has been engaged in civil works related to the construction of the US$130 million Berbice Deepwater Port.

It has been announced that the port was intended to serve as an offshore supply base for the oil and gas industry, and as a multi-purpose terminal

cargo handling base to service agricultural import/export, containerized and specialized cargo. CGX said last year, however, that the port’s immediate focus has been shifted to supporting the Government’s infrastructure development.

Initially, it was expected that the offshore oil and gas support shore base would be operationalised by the third quarter of 2022, and the cargo terminal by the end of 2023. In-river construction for the port started only in November.

The house before the fire

The house engulfed in flames

“Robust attention” to be placed on Special Education Needs – Min Manickchand …as sod is turned for aquatic therapy pool

Education Minister

Priya Manickchand has said that “robust attention” will be placed on children with special education needs (SEN) in an effort to close the gaps on minorities falling through the cracks.

Her remarks came on the heels of Tuesday’s sod-turning exercise within the compound of the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) at Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, where a new swimming pool to serve children with special education needs is to be constructed. This project is being funded by businessman Teddy Mohammed of Mohamed’s Bookstore.

“There is going to be enhanced and robust attention paid to an area that we have not developed as much as we could have. It’s easy to be critical of us for not paying at-

tention to children with special education needs, and we should be criticised for it; but we must take that into context too,” Minister Manickchand has said.

“When you’re talking about trying to get every child into a primary school, and every child that exits primary school a secondary seat, it’s easy for minorities to slip through the cracks,” she explained

Manickchand has pointed out that the MoE is still struggling with some of the fundamental educational issues; and while solving those, is also looking at the more vulnerable groups.

In this revolution, the CPCE is now able to offer specialisation in SEN, ensuring that teachers who deliver education to these children are aptly qualified.

“We’re also looking at how

we can provide much more access, and the new learning is not necessarily to build new facilities, but to have classrooms in more schools; so, even as we integrate our learners with persons without special needs, they will have space for them when they need reinforcement, because of the special education need each may have,” she relayed.

Minister Manickchand shared that every region should have adequate classrooms for SEN learners, and she has reassured parents of SEN children that resources would be available for their development.

“We believe there is a lot of work that we can do, and remains to be done, and I want to say to parents, ‘We have not forgotten you. I know how concerned you must be for your children who have health needs, and how you must wor-

ry more when you consider then growing up without any kind of training and skill. I’m saying that we haven’t forgotten you, and you’re going to see that in the adult your child will become’.”

Coordinator of the

Regional Special Education Needs Disability Diagnostic and Treatment Centre, Keon Cheong, has added that an aquatic therapy facility adds to the concept of SEN-related services.

“Related services are the

services needed to make an individual more functional in everyday living skills. As such, this initiative of having aquatic therapy being offered is something that is beyond our wildest imagination,” Cheong expressed.

Minister Manickchand and other officials turn the sod for the new facility

Three more persons have lost their lives to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) after contracting the virus, the Health Ministry announced on Tuesday.

To date, Guyana’s death toll stands at 1289. Among the deaths is an 83-year-old female from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) who succumbed on December 29. A 59-year-old male from Region Four later succumbed on January 1. Then on January 2, a 58-yearold male from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) died.

These persons were not vaccinated against the virus.

From 164 casualties in 2020, the death toll rose to 891 for the year 2021. This spike was linked to the Delta wave. In 2022, 232 fatalities were documented. Meanwhile, some 18 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in the updated dashboard.

There are now 72,261 confirmed cases in Guyana – 33,124 males and 39,137 females. Across the country, more than 300 active cases are being tracked.

Two persons are re-

ceiving treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 17 in institutional isolation, and 304 in home isolation. Meanwhile, 70,649 recoveries were counted from the start of the pandemic to this week, with 711,275 tests processed.

In the Region of the Americas, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has increased to 184 million while the death toll has gone up to 2.8 million.

Globally, there are 649 million confirmed cases with 6.6 million deaths.

Guyanese woman stabbed to death by boyfriend in Suriname 3 unvaccinated persons succumb...

32-year-old Guyanese

Lisa Charran has become Suriname’s first murder victim for the New Year, having been stabbed to death by her 48-year-old partner during an argument on New Year’s Day.

Police in Suriname have said they are on the hunt for the Guyanese man who committed the murder.

Charran was killed on Koendjbihariweg in New Amsterdam, in the Commewijne District of Suriname, and the Waterkant news agency has

since identified the suspect as Dani J, who is yet to be apprehended.

The news agency reported that the couple had had an altercation shortly before the murder. The owner of the rented house in which these two persons were staying told Surinamese reporters he had intervened and settled the argument, and had later gone to the store. Upon his return, he was told that Charran had been murdered by the suspect.

“The Surinamese Police report that the preliminary

investigation has shown that Lisa's 10-year-old daughter was watching television with her sister and brother when the eldest child suddenly heard her mother screaming outside. She went to the screams, and on that occasion, she saw how her stepfather Dani J. inflicted several stab wounds on her mother with a sharp object.

“Her mother then sank down with the sharp object in her hand, after which the suspect took off. On that morning, the Nieuw Amsterdam Police received

a telephone report that a stabbing had taken place at the aforementioned address”, the Waterkant news agency report read.

It has been reported that upon arrival at the scene, law enforcement found Charran bathed in blood on the garage floor, with a sharp object in her right hand. A doctor later confirmed her dead. Her lifeless body was later seized by the Surinamese Police for an autopsy.

Investigations are ongoing.

Symptoms of the coronavirus include fever, cough, tiredness, diarrhoea, pains, sore throat, and loss of taste or smell. The more serious symptoms are difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, chest pain, and loss of speech or movement.

If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or needs any additional information, they are asked to contact the COVID-19 Hotline on 231-1166, 2267480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www.health. gov.gy.

All Guyanese are being encouraged to continue observing the public health measures set out by the Health Ministry: everyone five years and older are encouraged to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and to get a booster dose after completing the primary vaccination series; while a face mask should be correctly and consistently used when leaving the home; a safe distance of six feet should be maintained from others and good hand hygiene practised to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Ramsammy’s Ruminations

PPP celebrated its 73rd anniversary on New Year’s Day – the party has kept its promise

On January 1, 2023, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) celebrated its 73rd anniversary. Led by Dr. Cheddi Jagan, a group of young Guyanese, including Janet Jagan, officially launched the PPP, after several years of preparation, with its antecedent being the Political Action Committee (PAC). What is clear is that, after 73 years, the party has kept faith in its original mission. Few political parties globally would have achieved as much as the PPP, while remaining loyal to the original mission. What is especially interesting is that the party has been able to adapt to new circumstances and new realities, while maintaining its original principles and values.

When the PPP was launched in 1950, life expectancy at birth was 47 years. By 1964, life expectancy, largely due to the PPP’s policies in Government, had reached 60. This was achieved within fourteen years after the party was launched. The PPP of 2023 is now working to lift life expectancy to 78, and ensuring Guyanese have a life expectancy that is at least at the top of Caricom.

Interestingly, by 1992, when the PPP returned to Government after 28 years of rule by the People’s National Congress, life expectancy was in jeopardy of falling below 60 again. Today, life expectancy is 73 for women and 69 for men, overall being more than 70 years.

When the PPP was launched in 1950, malaria was a major cause of death. Infectious diseases, in fact, were responsible for more than 80% of all deaths in Guyana. Today, infectious diseases, leaving out COVID-19, are not a significant cause of death. It is also a good time to recall that Guyana had no university, our children did not have access to universal primary and secondary education, and that unless a person was a Christian, he or she could not be a teacher. Our workers were at the mercy of employers, and today, workers are protected and empowered. Seventy-three years after its launch, the party is achieving all its objectives.

The party was formed with several major objectives. One of the original objectives was to agitate for, and win, independence for Guyana, freedom from the shackles of colonialism, freedom from the British colonial masters. Guyana won its freedom from British colonialism in 1966, a mere sixteen years after the formation of the party. Although the PPP was not in power when Guyana won its independence, no one in his or her right mind can deny the significant and indispensable role the PPP played in Guyana winning its independence. In fact, Guyana should have gained its independence before 1962, had the British kept their promise and had Guyana not been victimised by the obstructionist policies of Forbes Burnham’s People’s National Congress.

There is no more Forbes Burnham, but his obstructionist policies live on in the PNC. More than 56 years after Guyana’s Independence from the British, the PNC continues to stifle Guyana through its obstructionist policies and actions. But, as we welcome 2023, Guyana is positioned to defeat once and for all the PNC’s obstructionism.

Independence was a major objective, but the PPP also had other objectives that are worth recalling as the party celebrates 73 years. One of the critical objectives was universal education. By 1964, when the British conspired with the Americans and with Burnham’s PNC to overthrow Cheddi Jagan and remove the PPP from Government, Guyana was already among only a handful of developing countries that had achieved universal access to primary school education. For the first time also, by 1964, Guyana had established a network of public high schools across Guyana, moving from a few % of students gaining entry in secondary schools to more than 30% of students gaining access. Poor people’s children for the first time had begun to gain entry in Government high schools. BY 2000, Guyana under a PPP Government had achieved the goal of universal access to secondary education in Guyana. By 1964 also, Guyana had started its own university, a university that today we are all so proud of, but which Burnham used to refer to as “Jagan’s Night School”. Today, Guyana’s doctors, lawyers, engineers, accountants, and agriculture and forestry experts, among others, come from the University of Guyana.

By 2025, as promised in the PPP manifesto for the 2020 General and Regional Elections, UG will offer free education. This week, Bharrat Jagdeo, Guyana’s former President and presently Guyana’s Vice-President, and a loyal disciple of Cheddi Jagan, announced that no Guyanese should think that the PPP would not keep its promise of free university education. Even as the PPP prepares for introducing free university education, it has already, in the past thirty months, provided more than 14,000 scholarships from vocational studies to PhDs. The party has remained committed to ensuring every Guyanese child and young person is provided with the education and training they need to empower themselves and their families.

President Irfaan Ali, in a recent visit to Berbice, announced that more than 100,000 Guyanese will access training in Coding, and also announced a Hospitality and Technical Training Institute for Port Mourant, to be built at a cost of more than $US120M. The institute will be the premier technical institute in Caricom, providing training for the OIL and GAS industry and other manufacturing sectors.

Seventy-three years after the launching of the PPP, the party has remained faithful to its original mission. It has nurtured and incubated leaders for over seven decades. At the same time, it has changed and adapted to new circumstances. As the party leads Guyana for the next two decades at least, it has an opportunity to move Guyana to a Developed Country status before it celebrates its 100th anniversary.

7000 residents received 1st-time access to potable water in 2022 – GWI

Region Two, Parika; Parfaite Harmonie and Wales in Region Three; Caledonia to Timehri, Cummings Lodge, Bachelor’s Adventure and Hope in Region Four; Bath in Region Five; and Adventure, and Tain to Number 50 Village in Region Six will help to improve water access in other areas of the country.

Seven of those contracts, valued at a combined cost of $14.6 billion, have been signed, while the other six will go out to tender in February.

As part of the Government’s strategy to improve water access across the country, 7000 households received first-time access to potable water in 2022.

This was announced by Guyana Water Inc Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shaik Baksh, during a press briefing at the GWI Vlissingen Road boardroom on Tuesday.

“We have been able to improve access to water, which now stands at 97 per cent and importantly, we have been able to extend water supply to unserved areas across the coastal belt,” he said.

This was made possible with the commissioning of a number of wells across the country, including a number of wells on the coast to increase access to potable water.

Of these, a $141 million well was commissioned at Lusignan, one at Providence to the tune of $130 million, one at Wakenaam at a cost of $50 million, and another at New Chesney, Berbice.

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

“We have moved to 75 per cent access to water in the hinterland. And gradually, we will move up because our mission, our goal is to achieve 100 per cent access to water in hinterland communities and we are moving in that direction,” Baksh noted.

Further, 30 additional wells will be constructed across the hinterland in 2023, to remove the gaps that exist in accessing water.

Baksh also announced that 13 new water treatment plants will be constructed throughout this year, to the tune of some $32 billion.

Two plants at Maria’s Delight and Onderneeming are expected to provide 100 per cent water coverage for the Essequibo Coast.

New plants in Leguan in

Dr Leslie Ramsammy

GWI CEO Shaik Baksh at the briefing on Tuesday

72 million rural inhabitants lack connectivity in region – IICA study

At least 72 million rural inhabitants of Latin America and the Caribbean lack access to connectivity services with minimum quality standards.

This conclusion came from the findings of a study titled “Rural Connectivity in Latin America and the Caribbean: Current situation, challenges and actions to reach digitalisation and sustainable development”, conducted by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA); the World Bank; Bayer; CAF Development Bank of Latin America; Microsoft and Syngenta.

The new document is an update to the data recorded by IICA in October 2020 titled “Rural Connectivity in Latin America and the Caribbean – a bridge to sus-

tainable development during a pandemic”.

This latest report highlights that access to meaningful connec-

tivity in rural areas increased by 12 per cent compared to 2020. At that time, approximately 77 million people lacked access to this es-

sential service.

Figures show that 79 per cent of the urban population has access to meaningful connectivity services when compared to 71 per cent two years ago. Their rural counterparts meanwhile have only 43.4 per cent coverage.

The data confirms that there is a persistent gap in rural areas that calls for decisive action and innovative solutions.

Brazil is in the same cluster as Argentina, Barbados, Bahamas, Belize, Costa Rica, Chile, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago and Uruguay, representing 24 per cent of the sample of the rural population.

Of the countries in this group, Barbados and Belize are making the biggest progress from 2020, while connectivity also improved

significantly in Argentina, Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago and Uruguay, by some 30 per cent.

Countries that are not doing so well include Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Jamaica, Mexico, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Paraguay and Suriname, who have a medium-high rural connectivity index at 46 per cent of the rural population sample. Peru, Mexico, and Honduras showed the greatest progress in the percentage of rural residents who improved their connectivity conditions.

Guyana is on the lower end of the bracket with Bolivia, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua and Venezuela, where there was a representation of 30 per cent of the sample of the rural population.

PSC underscores need for more relief measures in Budget 2023

Private Sector

Commission (PSC) Chairman Paul Cheong has noted that as Guyana’s economy catapults the nation forward, the need for a vibrant and strong Private Sector is paramount in meeting its demands.

In a recent statement, Cheong explained that consequently the PSC, through its members, has been engaging in consultations for which several budgetary measures were drafted for the 2023 National Budget.

“These measures are designed to bring relief to businesses and Guyanese, directly or indirectly,” Cheong said.

“At the Commission, we

have prepared a list of budgetary measures for the Minister of Finance ahead of the presentation of the National 2023 Budget in the National Assembly. These are measures to aid the development of the local Private Sector and the country at large,” he added.

Cheong noted too that advocating for local content in the oil and gas sector remained high on the Commission’s agenda.

He explained that even with the current legislation, the PSC was calling for greater monitoring and enforcement.

“Only through this will there be compliance and a serious effort at effecting local con-

tent,” he expressed. Moreover, the PSC Head noted that the Commission has not lost sight of the lack of skilled labour in technical areas.

“There continues to be a high demand for ventilation and air conditioning technicians, diesel mechanics, electricians, heavy-duty machine operators, and drivers to name a few. We continue to discuss this matter with a view to coming up with short-, medium-, and longterm solutions. In the interim, the PSC would like to see more collaboration with educational institutions to have the school curriculum revised in a manner that allows Technical Vocational Education and Training to

be available to students from Grade 8,” Cheong stated.

To complement this shift in technical development, he said the Commission, via its membership, is open to facilitating Apprenticeship Programmes to provide the practical experience to accompany the theoretical discourse in the classroom.

“With this approach, Guyana could see hundreds of persons being trained and ready for employment from the age of 16,” Cheong noted.

“It allows them to be well acclimatised to Guyana’s production and manufacturing operations, thereby making a smooth and effective transition to Private Sector operations,” he added.

PSC Chairman Paul Cheong

Govt making efforts to establish hatching eggs industry

The Government is making aggressive efforts to establish a massive hatching eggs industry to support Guyana’s already burgeoning poultry sector.

The country currently imports approximately 52 million eggs annually at a cost of some $350 million.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said the immense sum that was expended yearly could remain in Guyana to expand the local poultry industry and develop other sectors.

During an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI), Minister Mustapha stated that the

move could capture several regional and international markets, since eggs were always in demand.

He said an area has already been identified for the project which is expected to commence soon.

“We are working with a company in Brazil to start and GLDA [Guyana Livestock Development Authority] is working aggressively. I am hoping in the new year we can launch that project and start producing our own hatching eggs and be self-sufficient,” Minister Mustapha disclosed.

The plan to embark on the project was hinted at on numerous occasions by President

Dr Irfaan Ali who explained that his Government would work with communities like St. Cuthbert’s Mission in Region Four, to be part of the venture.

He said initiatives like these would be transformative in nature and propel the economy.

“These are the initiatives that will bring direct benefits to the farmer and enhance our diversification programme, these are some of the initiatives that will ensure our economy is built on many pillars,” the President had stated.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has started

working with large poultry producers in a consortium to produce their own corn and soya for the production of feed to support the industry.

This is also part of the Government’s plan for Guyana to become self-sufficient, in the face of rising food prices and supply shortages globally.

Since taking office, the PPP/C Government has placed heavy emphasis on developing the agricultural sector through a number of initiatives.

Some $28.7 billion was allocated in the 2022 Budget to ensure the rapid growth and development of Guyana’s agricultural sector.

Eggs in a hatching incubator at Bounty Farms

China’s optimisation, adjustment of COVID response measures good for the world

By Chinese AmBAssAdor to GuyAnA, Guo hAiyAn

Last weekend, people in China, Guyana and around the world organised various lively New Year’s Eve events and exchanged greetings and wishes among friends and family. Some Guyanese friends asked me about the situation of the pandemic in China, and several Guyanese newspapers also paid attention to it. China’s recent optimisation and adjustment of COVID response measures, which are rational choices made in light of the latest COVID situation, would significantly contribute to the recovery and growth of the world economy, and facilitate people-to-people exchanges between China and Guyana as well. Here, I would like to make some introductions to you.

Since November 2022, China has adopted the 20 refined measures and 10 new measures to refine its COVID response measures, and announced that, starting from January 8, COVID-19 will be managed with measures of Class B instead of the more serious Class A infectious diseases in accordance with the law.

There will also be provisional cross-border travel rules. For visitors to China, a nucleic acid test within 48 hours before flight departure is still required, but no nucleic test will be mandatory upon arrival and no centralised quarantine will be required. This is another adjustment China has made to its approach based on a comprehensive assessment of the pandemic situation, representing a shift of focus from stemming infections to preventing severe cases and further minimising the impact of COVID-19 on economic and social activities.

Since COVID began, the Chinese Government has always put the people and their lives above all else. We have poured all our efforts and resources into protecting the life and health of every Chinese. From newborn babies just 30 hours old to elderly people over the age of 100, and from international students to other foreign expatriates in the country, every life was equally and fully protected.

Over the past three years, we have effectively responded to five global COVID waves and avoided widespread infections with the original strain and the Delta variant, which are relatively more pathogenic than the other variants. We have greatly reduced

the number of severe cases and deaths, and bought precious time for the research, development and application of vaccines and therapeutics, and for getting medical supplies and other resources ready, contributing significantly to global solidarity against the pandemic and to world economic recovery.

Benefiting from the dynamic zero-COVID policy, globally speaking, China has had the lowest rates of infection and mortality over three years. Despite the pandemic, average life expectancy in China went up from 77.3 to 78.2 years. Even when the global Human Development Index dropped for two years straight, China went up six places on the Index.

China attached great importance to balancing the COVID response with economic development.

China’s average economic growth?rate?for 2020 and 2021 was 5.1%, making it one?of the best-performing major economies.

At present, the situation of the pandemic in China has evolved, and the recent optimisation of measures is a rational choice after a comprehensive study and scientific assessment.

First, practices in many countries, including Guyana, have shown that although the Omicron variant is highly transmissible, its mortality rate has been significantly reduced.

Experts say that 99% of those infected can fully recover in 7-10 days.

Second, China has built a solid immune barrier.

Data show that China has administered 3.4 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines. To break the number down, 90% of people are fully vaccinated and 86% of those aged 60 and above are fully vaccinated.

Third, China has accumulated a great deal of experience in the fight against the virus and has significantly increased its capabilities in drug development, medical services, and material supplies.

In addition, the Chinese people have gained more confidence against the virus, and are more concerned about their daily lives, work, studies and livelihoods.

Adhering to the “adopting a science-based approach, and taking targeted measures” principle, the focus of China’s anti-COVID measures has shifted from stemming infections to preventing severe cases, which reflects the voice of the general public and once again reflects the commitment of putting people and

life first.

Countries adjusting the COVID policy would invariably go through a period of adaptation. China is no exception as we shift gears in our COVID policy. Recently, as the number of infections increases, some people have hoarded medicines as a precaution, resulting in some temporary shortages in certain locations. China has now taken various measures to increase the production of key drugs. The daily production capacity of both paracetamol and ibuprofen has reached more than 75 million tablets, which is well catered to the market.

In addition to strengthening drug supply, we have been vigorously promoting the booster shot, with a focus on strengthening the vaccination and health management of senior people. Relevant Chinese departments have worked actively to open more fever clinics, optimise diagnosis and treatment mechanism, and beef up medical resources. We have mobilised as many resources as possible to protect the elderly with underlying health conditions, pregnant and lying-in women, children and other key groups, and made every effort to reduce severe cases and deaths. In a word, China’s adjustment of COVID response measures is by no means “lying flat”. On the whole, the COVID situation in China remains predictable and under control.

Since the start of COVID-19, China has been sharing relevant information and data in an open and transparent manner with the international community, including the

WHO. We shared the genome sequence of the virus at the earliest opportunity, making important contributions to the drug and vaccine research and development in countries around the world. China’s relevant departments have shared the genome data of the virus from the latest COVID cas-

es in China via the Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data (GISAID). The departments will continue to closely monitor whether the virus would mutate; share information on COVID in a timely, open and transparent manner in accordance with the?law and work with the international community to address the COVID challenge.

The international community has responded positively to China’s provisional measures on cross-border travel that will be implemented shortly. American, British, German and other foreign chambers of commerce in China, and most foreign diplomatic missions in China noted that this will clear the way for resumption of people-to-people exchanges and business travels, rebuild foreign investors’ confidence in the Chinese market and contribute to restoring optimism and reinstating China as a priority investment destination.

Tourism departments of many countries including Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, Norway, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Austria and Switzerland warmly

welcome Chinese tourists to visit and travel. They have posted on the Chinese social media Weibo that “it has been three years, we miss you”.

Recently, our Embassy’s Facebook page (Chinese Embassy in Guyana) posted the top 10 happiest cities in China for 2022, and Guyanese friends have been liking and commenting to express their desire to travel to China. I believe that by relying on the pandemic prevention policy that is in line with China’s national conditions, and through the united efforts of the whole country and its people, China will be able to quell the pandemic, and normal exchanges between China and Guyana will gradually resume.

As the COVID-19 situation in China continues to improve, the effects of policies to stabilise economic growth continue to emerge, and exchanges between Chinese and other peoples become easier, China’s long-subdued consumer demand will be released, investor confidence will be boosted and the economy will rebound strongly. This is good for not just China but the entire global economy including Guyana.

Fisherman found dead in rice field after allegedly crashing into utility pole

Afisherman was on Tuesday morning found dead in a rice field at De Hoop Branch Road, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara (ECD), after he was believed to have crashed into a utility pole.

At the scene, an electric wire was seen drooping from a pole into the rice field where the body was seen lying..

Police stated that they received a telephone call from an anonymous caller who reported that a man was seen lying face up in a rice field about five feet from a motorcycle bearing registration number CJ 4816.

The dead man was subsequently identified as Charran Balleram, 23, of Quakers Dam, Mahaica.

Balleram’s brother, also a fisherman, said he and the now-dead man normally would go fishing and on Tuesday about 04:40h, he was at home waiting for him, but he never showed up.

The man told investiga -

Dead: Charran Balleram

tors that about 05:55h, he decided to go look for his brother and found him lying in the rice field and his motorcycle on its side next to a GPL pole.

The body was taken to the Mahaicony Public Hospital mortuary to await a post-mortem.

The motorcycle was also examined and the front light was found to be broken. However, family members claimed that the light was broken a long time ago.

Police are awaiting the results of an autopsy to be conducted on the body.

Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, GUO Haiyan

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ARCHIE PEANUTS

CALVIN AND HOBBES

DILBERT

Guyana Badminton Association’s...

3. At the GBA National Junior Tournament in October, 2022, students from the Nursery Badminton Academy participated, as well as a few players from Berbice.

4. the other local GBA tournament, which can also be considered an international tournament, was the Inter-Guiana Games in November. Suriname got the better of Guyana, but Guyana had fielded a young team compared to theirs. It is a team the GBA would continue to work with.

Again, 3 persons were from the Badminton Academy, two from Berbice and the others from Yonex

Badminton Club.

5. GBA was schedule to have another local tournament, and that for the first time: the Gokarn Ramdhani Classic, a memorial tournament to honour the late President of the GBA. This was a brainchild of Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jnr. However, due to the refurbishment of the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall and clashes with other sports discipline, this tournament was not held, but the GBA is looking forward to having it done in a bigger and better way in 2023.

The GBA has said, “We are very happy with the progress of having the

Sports Hall completed, which was long overdue. For 2022, the GBA’s major accomplishment, which were made possible through the Hon. Minister of Sports Mr. Charles Ramson, The National Sports Commission and the Government of Guyana, was finally a home for Badminton. The GBA is truly grateful and extremely excited over this huge accomplishment. Hats off to the stakeholders!”

Guyana Badminton Association’s Year in Review 2022

The Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) has had a successful 2022, achieving, among other things, the following goals:

1. The year started off with the launch of the Badminton Nursery Academy on January 03, 2022, and resumed at the Queen’s College after refurbishment of the Badminton Courts in the Auditorium.

2. In March 2022, Narayan and Priyanna Ramdhani had a very successful year on the Collegiate Circuit, where Narayan placed 1st in the Provincial Men’s Singles Championship and Priyanna placed 3rd in the Women’s Singles.

They then went on to the Canadian Collegiate Athletics Association (Nationals), where Narayan placed 4th in singles and Priyanna placed 3rd in doubles.

Narayan Ramdhani won the coveted All Canadian Award 2022, the Athlete of the Year, and All Conference Award.

3. Guyana was represented at 5 international tournaments beginning in April. Narayan Ramdhani, Priyanna Ramdhani, Akili Haynes and Tyrese Jeffrey participated in the Panam Individual Championship in El Salvador, where Narayan and Priyanna Ramdhani got to the quarter finals.

4. Guyana was represented by Matthew Beharry in the South American Youth Games in Argentina in May.

5. At the July Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, Guyana was represented by Narayan & Priyanna Ramdhani, who qualified to participate.

6. At the South American

Games in Paraguay October, 3 persons were qualified: Narayan and Priyanna Ramdhani and Akili Haynes.

7. At the El Salvador International, Priyanna Ramdhani was given a Gender Equity travel grant by Badminton Panam to participate in December. In March 2022, the GBA visited the community of St. Cuthbert’s Mission and promoted AirBadminton, and also donated equipment for the community to con tinue playing the sport.

The tournaments the GBA hosted were:

1. GUMDAC AB&C Division Tournament in April

2. The GBA held a tourna-

GFF President Wayne Forde donates equipment to Albouystown youths

CM Wendell Meusa storms to victory in Rapid Chess Championship

January 1st, 2023 proved to be one of the brightest starts to any year for the young football fanatics in the Georgetown community of Albouystown, because President of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Wayne Forde, visited the area and interacted with a number of budding young footballers.

During that visit, President Forde handed over a quantity of balls, cones and bibs to Coach Clifford Anthony, aka Zebulun, a senior member of the community who, for many years, has been volunteering his time as a coach and mentor to young boys and girls there.

During his visit to Albouystown, President Forde also played in a 5 V 5 Mini competition. “I know how important football is to all of you, and I can see how well you can play because of the many hours you spend in the streets playing. I want to ask you a big favour: please also spend some of that time on your school work in the evening. Education is your

under a time-control of 10 minutes per player with a one-second increment after each move.

This event has been the first in a packed year of tournaments for the Guyana Chess Federation.

Anthony Drayton was the tournament’s organizer and chief arbiter.

The top player in the event received $50,000 cash.

Second prize was $30,000, third prize $20,000 and the best female was awarded $20,000.

A look at GFF

in action in the 5v5 mini competition safest bet to having a better life.

“I will continue to provide Coach Zebulun with more equipment to do this important work, and will be back here to officially launch an inter-street weekend knockout competition for boys, girls and adult players as well. It

is my intention to visit many more inner-city communities and support the work of community coaches,” Forde has said about the initiative.

The visit to the community was coordinated by Coach Sampson Gilbert, who is a Coach educator assigned to the GFF.

Candidate Master Wendell Meusa has won the Open Rapid Chess Championship by scoring a remarkable eight points after nine rounds of play at the School of the Nations on January 2, 2023. His only defeat was at the hands of Saeed Ali, who finished fifth overall.

Coming in second, just one point behind the champion, was Glenford Corlette. Corlette lost to Meusa and Davion Mars, who finished in fourth place with 6.5 points.

Also finishing on 6.5

points was third-place finisher Roberto Neto, who edged Mars by a direct encounter tiebreak for the prize. Neto lost in a roundfour clash to Meusa and a round-six clash against Corlette, and then proceeded to draw his match with Saeed Ali in round seven.

The top female was Jessica Callender, who finished ninth overall with four points. Her losses came against Meusa, Owen Mickle, Mars, Michael Chapp-Jumbo and Corlette.

Fifteen players competed in the one-day event

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Siblings Priyanna and Narayan Ramdhani represented well on the Canadian Collegiate circuit and several other international tournaments in 2022

A new home for Badminton was announced by Minister Charles Ramson jr. back in October of 2022

- Corlette, Neto, Callender take top spots

Wendell Meusa, Roberto Neto, Anthony Drayton, Glenford Corlette and Jessica Callender

Best female player Jessica Callender receiving her prize

GFF President Wayne Forde taking a photo opportunity with some of the youths on the receiving end of the Albouystown initiative

President Wayne Forde

ment to commemorate World Badminton Day, which is cel-

ebrated worldwide on July 5. This was the inaugural year.

Pelé given private burial in Santos after eight-mile funeral procession

ed Brazil. Edson Arantes do Nascimento might be gone, but Pelé will never die.”

After the wake ended at 10am on Tuesday, Pelé’s body was placed on a red fire engine by Police guards and driven south towards the seafront. From there the cortege moved slowly east along the coast, towards the home of his 100-year-old mother Celeste Arantes, with news helicopters buzzing overhead.

Brazilian television channels suspended their normal programming to broadcast the procession, as happened in Argentina after the death of the footballer Diego Maradona in 2020, and thousands of residents of all ages poured on to the streets of Santos to shout their hero’s name and applaud as his coffin passed by.

our hero, our symbol of hope.”

The footballer’s body was finally transported to Memorial Necrópole Ecumênica, a “vertical” cemetery near the Santos stadium, for a private burial, which began at shortly after 2pm local time. As the coffin was carried inside, a bugler sounded a rendition of Santos football club’s anthem, which was composed in the same decade the player launched his career at the age of 15.

Brazilian footballer Pelé has been buried in the port city of Santos, where he began his career nearly 70 years ago; and the country’s president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, flew in to lament the “irreparable loss” that Pele’s death has inflicted on the country.

Pelé, who died last week at age 82, had scored most of his 1,283 goals for Santos football club, and has been laid to rest in a cemetery near the team’s Vila Belmiro stadium on Tuesday afternoon after an emotional three-hour procession through town.

“This is such a difficult moment…but we feel great honour and pride,” Pelé’s son Edinho told reporters after his father was interred. “Now he will rest.”

Pelé’s eight-mile funeral cortege through Santos, which attracted thousands of grieving residents on to the streets, followed a 24hour public wake held at the

ground where he had made his name as a teenager in the 1950s.

More than 230,000 mourners from across Brazil filed past Pelé’s coffin after the wake began at 10am on Monday, voicing adoration and regret over the passing of a sporting legend who won three World Cups and became the country’s most famous international calling card.

A giant banner draped over one of the stands captured emotions with the words “Viva o Rei” (“Long live the king”).

“I’m filled with so much sadness, it wasn’t his time to go,” said Lisete Santos, a 69-year-old administrative worker who had passed by the casket twice. “Pelé is eternal, there will never be anyone like him again. This is why we are here to pay our respects.”

Lula joined mourners on the pitch of the 16,000-capacity ground on Tuesday

morning after jetting in from the capital, Brasília, where he was sworn in for a historic third term as President on Sunday afternoon. The football-loving leftist politician, who grew up watching Pelé (born Edson Arantes do Nascimento) play, comforted the sportsman’s relatives and friends under a white marquee, where the coffin had been draped with the yellow and green flag of Brazil, and Santos’s white flag.

Speaking to Santos’s official television channel, Lula voiced profound regret over the death of a sportsman whom he called a model of “good character, humility and dignity”. He added: “Pelé is so special. You can’t compare him to anyone, because there is nobody comparable when it comes to being a football player or a human.

He’s a player who, from a very young age, enjoyed such extraordinary exposure…but was never snooty. He was al-

ways a humble citizen who treated others as equals.

“He never let himself become carried away with his brilliance or with the glory. Even in his most glorious moments, like when he met the Queen of England, he acted as he would when meeting a normal person on the street.”

A message on a floral tribute sent by Lula and First Lady Rosângela Lula da Silva honoured “the great Brazilian, our king Pelé”.

In the early hours of Tuesday, the queue to enter the Vila Belmiro stretched for more than 2km (more than 1 mile), with tearful mourners waiting up to three hours to catch a glimpse of their idol.

“I’ve been here all night,” said Denis de Almeida Silva, a 43-year-old clothing store owner from São Paulo, as he emerged from the vigil. “He means so much to us as Brazilians. Wherever Pelé walked, he represent-

“We will all continue to carry a little piece of Pelé within us,” said Claudia Diegues, 47, a dental surgeon from Santos. “He was

For Jussara Giollo Ferreira, a black 23-year-old physical education teacher who was among the mourners, Pelé’s legacy went beyond the pitch. “I see many of the kids I teach, they are inspired by what he was able to achieve. They look at him and say, ‘Why can’t I achieve the same?’ So, I think this is the legacy he leaves us: to never give up, to have faith, and to fight hard, just like he fought for us.” (Guardian Sport)

‘My work in Europe is done’ -Ronaldo on Saudi move

Being one goal down early in the first half was not the ideal situation the Ferrol Compound/New GPC Inc’s Region 4 Team had envisioned for their final campaign in the One Guyana President’s Cup tournament, but 13 minutes into last Sunday’s final game, Region 3’s Leo Orion Lovell put his team ahead with a well-placed strike across the face of the goal, and it brought a very sizable crowd of partisan spectators to their feet in a frenzy of premature celebration.

This, coupled with constant heckling from this boisterous home crowd at the National Track and Field Center (NTFC) at Leonora on the West Side, had the effect of discombobulating the Region 4 Team, and they soon found themselves in a difficult position.

However, a turnaround was written in the stars for the New GPC/Ferrolsponsored Region 4 out-

fit; and, according to Head Coach Wayne Dover and highest goal-scorer Kelsey Benjamin, it was all about handling intense pressure well.

The eventual joint highest goal-scorer of the tournament, Kelsey Benjamin, has said the team’s halftime talk did the trick. “We go in the dressing room and the Coach talk to we, because we had a little lack in confidence. Then we came out back with full confidence and did it,” Benjamin shared following Sunday night’s game.

Benjamin revealed that while there was no initial pressure on him to score, the game situation demanded it. “No! No! I know I would have scored! Very sure I would have scored!” the player said in responding to inquiries about any pressure he faced in regard to finding the back of the net in the final.

He continued, “All the games I was scoring, this is no different. This was an

easy game, it’s just that we go under pressure in the game, that’s why we went up like this. But normal

is a historical situation for me, because I’ve been in this situation six times, once as a player and all the other times as a coach,” Dover explained about his experience with the pressures of seasonal tournaments.

Cristiano Ronaldo has said his work in Europe is done, but he had "many opportunities" from other clubs before joining Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr.

He joined Al Nassr as a free agent on Friday, after leaving Manchester United following a controversial interview in which he criticised the club.

The Portugal captain, 37, said he had offers from clubs in Brazil, Australia, the United States, and Portugal.

game, easy victory.”

Head Coach Wayne Dover, on the other hand, is quite accustomed to this type of torque-induced pressure, although he explained that his intention was to shield his team from its effects.

“One thing I want everyone to know: December is a period with these tournaments, and New Year’s Day

In going on to talk about high-pressure situations, Dover said, “So that kind of pressure that the fans might be placing on the team to score lots of goals and to win this tournament, I try not to allow that to take charge of my emotions; and I try to keep that from the players, and let them understand that they ought to come and play on the day and win the game.”

With back-to-back goals coming in the 73rd and 75th minutes off the boots of Captain Daniel Wilson and Kelsey Benjamin respectively, Region 4 went on to clinch the coveted One Guyana President’s Cup title, and in the process disappoint the expectations of a demanding Region Three crowd.

"I gave my word for this club," he said at his unveiling on Tuesday. "I won everything, I played for the most important clubs in Europe, and now it is a new challenge in Asia."

Ronaldo is reportedly set to receive the biggest football salary in history, at more than £177m per year, in a deal that runs until 2025.

"As nobody knows, I can say now I had many opportunities in Europe, many clubs in Brazil, Australia, the US. Even in Portugal, many clubs tried to sign me," Ronaldo told reporters at his first media conference.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner was greeted with applause and shouts of his trademark “Siu!” celebration as he spoke. He answered questions from a club official, but took none

from reporters. Speaking about his con tract with the nine-time Saudi Pro League cham pions, Ronaldo said: "This contract is unique, but I'm a unique player; so, for me, it's nor mal. I know the league is very competitive, I saw many games. I hope to play after [Wednesday] if the coach thinks there's a chance. I'm ready to keep play ing football."

Al Nassr head coach Rudi Garcia has said signing Ronaldo was "fantastic" for Saudi Arabia. "In my life, I've seen that great players like Cristiano are the simplest to manage, because there's nothing I can teach him," the Frenchman said.

"My goal, my objective for Cristiano, is to make him happy. I want him to enjoy playing with Al Nassr and winning with Al Nassr."

Following the media conference, Christiano Ronaldo posed in his new Al Nassr kit on the club's pitch in front of thousands of fans.

Region 4 Head Coach Wayne Dover

Ronaldo was greeted by thousands of fans at Al Nassr's Mrsool Park stadium on Tuesday

Thousands of fans gathered to see Pele's coffin, which was placed on a fire truck and carried through the streets of Santos

–Say