Guyana Times - Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Wednesday,

Wednesday,

Fsands of inmates flooding the already-troubled streets of Port-au-Prince and a State of Emergency being declared, Caribbean Community (Caricom) Chairman, President Dr Irfaan Ali has assured that the regional

statement on behalf of the Community in relation to the developments in Haiti. Caricom has been singularly focused on the events unfolding in Haiti over the last few days.

“The expanded bureau has been meeting separately with Prime Minister Henry, with stakeholders in Haiti, and our internation-

the streets have been overrun by gangs, and there has been a continuous cycle of violence.

During the 46th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government in Guyana last week, support for Haiti was one of the priority issues on the agenda.

In fact, President Ali was vocal throughout the meet-

bloc is bringing all its attention to resolving Haiti’s dilemma.

Last week, Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry was in Guyana, drumming up support for a Caricom-backed multinational force to help him restore order in his country. Since then, armed gangs, which had already been wreaking havoc on the country, stormed two prisons and released thousands of prisoners.

The gangs are demanding that PM Henry, who was last seen in Kenya on a State visit, resign. Further, they have said they will block his re-entry into the country. In a video broadcast on Tuesday, President Ali assured that the Region was paying keen attention to these events and was in talks with stakeholders in Haiti.

“As Chairman of Caricom, I wish to make the following

al partners, to bring resolution to this highly-complex matter, where persons’ lives and livelihoods are at stake,” President Ali further said.

He emphasised that the solution to Haiti’s problems, whenever it’s arrived at, must be owned by the Haitians themselves. According to the Guyanese Head of State, an update on the Region’s efforts to broker a solution will be made public as soon as practicable.

“The complexity requires us in these consultations to ensure that a Haitian-led and Haitian-owned solution may be achieved as soon as possible. We remain deeply engaged and will update on the outcome of our deliberations, as soon as practicable,” the President added.

Haiti has been engulfed in turmoil since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. Since then,

ing in rallying other regional Heads of Government to provide much-needed assistance to Haiti, in order to restore the beleaguered nation to some semblance of normalcy.

“Of course, this requires all stakeholders in Haiti especially to give a bit, compromise a bit, and to express

a collective willingness to achieve the outcomes that we’re setting ourselves to achieve. It speaks to one important subject and that is when we trust each other in the Region and find solutions among ourselves,” President Ali had said during the business session of the meeting.

At the time, US Representative to the United Nations (UN), Ambassador Linda ThomasGreenfield had also revealed that during extensive discussions with Haitian PM Henry (who was in Guyana for the Caricom Heads of Government Meeting), discussions centred on the needs of the Haitian people and the political process to restore democracy and free and fair elections to Haiti.

The Ambassador had also related that Benin, a West African country that shares commonalities with Haiti such as language and religion, has offered to join the coalition looking to help restore order in Haiti, with the contribution of up to 2000 troops.

She had also reiterated US support for the multinational force, particularly when it comes to providing money and logistical support. However, the Ambassador emphasized that Haiti did not need to feel as though it was being occupied by foreigners, hence the need for the Region and African countries to be engaged. (G3)

Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry (left) was last seen in Kenya

Scenes from the most recent violence in Port-au-Prince

Caricom Chairman, President Dr Irfaan Ali

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Domestic violence

Domestic violence has always been a pressing issue in Guyana. The latest of many incidents occurred on Monday at Parika Backdam, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), where 24-year-old Nikesha Sutton was stabbed to death by her partner.

This occurred even as the country is seeking to curb the issue of gender-based violence. Only on Tuesday, the Hope and Justice Center, Lusignan, East Coast Demerara received a 128-device donation for data management. These devices, according to Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud, will assist the “Spotlight Initiative”, which seeks to eliminate violence against women and girls.

The issue of domestic violence is a global one, reaching across national boundaries as well as socio-economic, cultural, racial and class distinctions. This problem is not only widely dispersed geographically, but its incidence is also extensive, making it a typical and accepted behaviour (The WHO, Multicountry study on women's health and domestic violence against women. Geneva: World Health Organisation, 2007).

The findings of a United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) report, released some time ago, revealed that in Guyana domestic violence is widely accepted in local communities and that the highest level of acceptance of wife beating occurs in the hinterland communities, where one in every four adults believe that it is justifiable to hit the woman.

A combination of social norms and social and cultural practices have been identified as the main factors that influence violence against women in this country. In many communities across Guyana, incidents of domestic violence continue to be “nobody’s business” and too often, the excuse of “justified punishment” or “discipline” is used to excuse the act itself.

Notwithstanding the other existing factors that contribute to the perpetuation of domestic violence, communities need to understand that the effects of domestic violence are widespread; they are not just physical – but emotional, mental, and financial as well. The Human Services Ministry has recognised that members of the community are usually the first responders to many social issues in their communities.

Some years ago, a national task force for domestic violence was launched after which several protocols for medical practitioners, Police Officers and Prosecutors, among others, were signed; the task force was needed since there were no mechanisms in place for partners to follow guidelines on how to respond to victims of domestic and sexual violence. The unit had embarked on training partners which included members of the Guyana Police Force.

The unit had moved to equipping individuals within communities with the necessary skills, knowledge, and tools so that they can respond to domestic violence. Thus, they were empowered to take ownership and more importantly, they see the benefits of taking a stand against all forms of violence.

Another step in the right direction is the fact that Guyana has recognised that the work of eradicating all forms of violence, particularly domestic violence and sexual violence, must be done in a collaborative way, with the involvement of all stakeholders.

And with the advent of social media, more persons are willing to talk about it and become outraged over how prevalent domestic violence is.

It is important to acknowledge that women are not the only victims of domestic violence; men, children, persons living with disabilities, and the elderly can also become victims. The rich, as well as the poor, can become victims. In fact, domestic violence does not distinguish between victims. Nor does it distinguish between perpetrators.

It is time for society to focus on changing cultural norms and attitudes that promote the acceptance of and even encourage domestic violence, which undermine the victims’ enjoyment of their full human rights and freedoms.

The issue, therefore, should be aired openly, not tucked away in hushed tones as if it never happens. Ending domestic violence will not happen overnight, but the Human Services and Social Security Ministry is definitely taking a step in the right direction, and additional funding and support will always be needed to widen the reach of the Ministry.

Tribute to Rooplall Monar

Dear Editor,

It is with sadness that I read from Dhanraj Bhagwandin of the passing of Shri Rooplall Monar of East Coast (Mar 5).

He was one of Guyana’s finest writers, a forerunner or pioneer of Indian Creolese vernacular in literary writings. His writings were full of emotion, irony and empathy. They carried a rich repertoire of memories using metaphors to capture the lived experience in revelatory terms. Indian culture runs deep in his writings, which started in the 1960s.

He was a very good poet, in a class by himself, a luminary figure in (Indian) Guyanese literature. His works were recognized by Guyana Literary Prize selectors, and he was honoured with AA, but was not prominent on literary reading lists of University of Guyana and UWI, and in CSEC and CAPE. Moreover, he, like every other Indian writer and cultural proponent, did not receive financial support from the state. Indian arts (music and writings) are not considered important or worthy of support by politicians, not even those who depend on Indian votes to win government. And as expected, Monar’s great contributions to Guyanese literature continue to be marginalised in his home country as well as in the English Caribbean.

I confess that the first time I heard of, and read, Monar’s writings was when I was a post-graduate student during the 1980s. I was pre-occupied with my studies and anti-dictatorial struggle during the 1970s into the early 1980s, with hardly time for the arts, like reading literary works, although some of that was required in pursuing an undergraduate degree (Bio-Chemistry) in any subject at my university in New York.

Indian writers, apart from the Naipaul brothers and KR Narayanan and a few other well-known ones, were not on reading lists of universities. The literature reading list in North America and Europe was Anglicized and Europeanized. After some protests, the works of African American and Spanish writers were included in literature. And after the

protests of the Indo-Caribbeans and (Bharat) Indians, Indian literary figures (including IndoCaribbean) became part of the reading lists at universities throughout the USA.

In recent times, the literary works of Arabic writers and the writings of other ethnic groups, including Guyanese, Trini, Jamaicans, are now part of the reading lists and curriculum in secondary as well as college education. Also, the works of Guyanese and other West Indian literature can be studied as part of standardized tests in English and Literature in New York and multiple states.

Unfortunately, Indian writers are still struggling to have their works on the reading lists at tertiary institutions in Guyana and the Caribbean. Thank God for the white man in America for including Indian writers on reading lists of students pursing secondary and tertiary education, treating them with equality with that of Europeans and Blacks or Africans. When will governments in Guyana and the Caribbean treat Indian writers with equality?

As I browse public libraries and those of secondary schools and universities, it fills me with pride that works of Guyanese brethren of my homeland are available, and have also been figured in the reading list of colleges in a white country. The leaders of brown and black countries don’t care for these literary things; pursuing power for self-aggrandisement is more important to them. Most of the writings of Rooplall Monar and other prominent Indian writers are yet to be listed in English literary studies in the Caribbean.

Rooplall Monar was an outstanding writer, whose literary works should be on any reading list at UG and in any university in the Caribbean. His writings are relevant to subjects pertaining to Guyanese, Caribbean, and Indian diasporas. He, like all of us from the plantations, had a most difficult childhood, and experienced a life of struggle. He was not ashamed of poverty and a life of struggle. He was a witness to Indian plantation life, and he

wrote about it. He wrote about it. He was one of the finest writers, pre-eminent in the Indian (Guyanese creolese) vernacular that accurately captured the life struggles of his ancestors (girmitiyas) who came from India and their descendants. His writings allowed him to convey his feelings about his people. He loved and empathized with them, and he expressed that empathy through his writings. His poems and short stories carried ancestral memories that were historical. He wrote on the colonial and postcolonial experiences of indentured labourers and their descendants on the plantations and under authoritarian rule (which was not much different from the treatment during colonial rule. He also wrote on male-female relations and the patriarchal dominance of our society; the violence against women, which he abhorred and condemned. He was a very serious poet and writer, and took his writings at face value, accurately depicting life. But beneath the seriousness of his thoughts and penmanship, he was also a genial figure who

was proud of his (Indian and Guyanese) background.

Monar displayed an affinity with others from his ethnicity, but he also displayed same of other ethnicities who were fellow writers, poets, cultural figures, and sports enthusiasts. He socialized with Wordsworth McAndrew, for example, and he gravitated towards Jeremy Poynting, and he jogged with educators and writers (like Jagnandan Singh) of his age group as well as those much younger and older than him. Poynting’s Peepal Tree press started with Monar’s first book.

It should be noted that Monar had supported community groups in the struggle for free and fair elections. And he was very laudatory of those of us from the diaspora who were active in the movement for free and fair elections.

Monar’s legacy of lyricism and writing craftsmanship, combined with themes of societal significance, will be prized by readers of Indian Caribbean literature.

Yours sincerely, Vishnu Bisram

Can constitutional reform do something about election rigging attempts?

Dear Editor, I read with interest Dr Henry Jeffrey’s dissertation on governance and equability, published in the media on March 5, 2024. Jeffrey appears confused on whether to defend Hamilton Green’s candid admission that the PNC had rigged elections and that it should continue to do so.

Whatever his objectives might have been, Jeffrey’s language indicates he is no different from Green. Thus, he adds to Green’s putrid construction of the PPP as “devils, bastards, and demons” with his own insertion of “evil.” Green is against constitutional reform, while Jeffrey is for it. But the real question for

both of them is this: Can constitutional reform stop the APNU/ AFC from rigging elections? How would a 2/3 majority vote in the National Assembly get the APNU/AFC from breaking with their past? Perhaps Green is right about cultural change, although not in the sense intended. Apropos, it would take massive cultural change within the APNU/AFC, and especially in the PNCR, for the country to move forward.

The wickedest act in democratic politics is election rigging. Laws can help, but only cultural change will put a permanent stop to it in the APNU/AFC.

Sincerely,

Dr Randy Persaud

Guyana’s Attorney General & Legal Affairs Minister, Mohabir Anil Nandlall, SC, MP, is currently attending the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting 2024 being held in the United Republic of Tanzania from March 4 to March 8. The theme of this year’s meeting is “Technology and Innovation: How digitalisation paves the way for the development of people-centred access to justice.” Secretary General of the Commonwealth and Attorney General of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland, KC, is attending the meeting. Held every two years, the meeting of Law Ministers is a leading platform for collaboration among the 56 Commonwealth countries, which share a common legal tradition (Attorney General Chambers photo)

PM Phillips has done more than what is expected of him

Dear Editor, It is without any doubt that Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips has been an outstanding, and perhaps the best, Prime Minister Guyana has ever had in recent times.

It is true that the Brigadier - who spent most of his adult life (1980-2016) in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), and became its Chief of Staff - has shown, or had, little interest in politics during that period. As head of the army, his primary responsibility was to protect and defend the territorial integrity of the country, assist the civil power in the maintenance of peace, law and order when required to do so, and contribute to the economic development of Guyana - a task Brigadier Phillips had cherished and revered.

However, prior to assuming the second highest political office in the land – that of Prime Minister - he had developed a keen interest in politics; and, by all accounts, has not so far made any significant mistake in the execution of his duties, and has not been involved in any contro-

versy, and has not caused any ill-will with the residents. He is fully aware that, as Prime Minister, his role is to serve the people to the best of his ability; and, by the powers vested in him, without any bias, fear or favour.

Well-liked by his peers and by Guyanese at home and in the diaspora, Brigadier Phillips has done far more than what is expected of him at this juncture. He is committed to supporting President Dr. Ali to advance the development of Guyana and make it a prosperous, safe and well-respected country.

Prime Minister Phillips is an optimist and a loyalist who unwaveringly supports President Dr Ali and the Government. He is devoted to the task of rapidly developing the country, and improving the welfare of the masses, especially the poor and downtrodden. This is evident in his outreaches throughout the country; to meet and greet the people, solve their problems, and to make sure that they have a bright and successful life.

The PM has made it quite clear that, during the last three and a half years, the Government has embarked on some robust programmes and good governance to make sure that all its citizens are treated fairly and equitably, regardless of race, status, religious beliefs or party affiliation.

On numerous occasions, PM Phillips has echoed the sentiments of His Excellency Dr. Irfaan Ali, who, from time to time, has told the nation that the development of the country is in everyone’s interest, and that no one would be left out of the process.

Prime Minister Phillips has all the qualities of a good leader, and has assured the youths that the Government would help them become the most successful, most confident and happiest versions of themselves by making sure they have access to all the endowments they need to change their daily lives for the better.

As the head of the GDF, Brigadier Phillips’s military experience has taught him a valuable lesson about the na-

ture of humans. He realizes that people, especially youths, are not passive objects to be manipulated, but active agents with great dreams, aspirations and abilities, who do not want to be managed, but to be led, guided, inspired, motivated and empowered.

He is a wise, practical and disciplined leader with unique qualities, who believes in the principles of democracy, transparency, accountability, and respect for the rule of law. And while some have asserted that his leadership skills are derived from his tenure in the army, others have contended that he is a natural, rational and gifted leader with some of the purest qualities ever found in homo sapiens.

He is selfless, friendly, compassionate and cheerful, and bears no grudge; nor is he vindictive or acrimonious. He is a consummate and skillful politician; a distinguished and remarkable leader; and a genuine, superb and blessed Prime Minister.

Sincerely,

Dr Asquith Rose

Gains from mediation process must be expanded as talks set to begin

Dear Editor, The outcome of the court-ordered mediation has to be seen as a win-win for both parties: the Government has got its desired outcome from the process -- getting teachers back into classrooms; the GTU is able to get the employer to the salaries bargaining table. So, when talks commence on Thursday, which of the grievance procedures is being invoked? Wiping the slate clean and starting over, so it is negotiations; or moving to the next level of the grievance procedure ladder?

It is hoped talks can commence and continue in a spirit of mutual understanding, respect, and an atmosphere of cordiality.

It is noted that some teachers are peeved with the union for agreeing to call off the strike without first securing an increase in salary, the perceived core issue for them,

the reason for industrial action. This might be a misconception, as it has to be reasoned whether the strike was called because of salary increases or lack thereof, or whether it was to get the employer to discuss the burning issue of salary increases as proposed in the union’s multiyear proposal along with other incentives? I think it was the latter.

The union president recognised employers cannot enter into negotiations for salary while employees are striking (March 4, 2024).

We can only hope the gains from the mediation process, chief of which was opening trust and communication channels, can be maintained and expanded on for the greater good and benefit of all concerned.

Sincerely,

Shamshun Mohamed

Guyana’s gift to the world – Dr Cheddi B Jagan

Dear Editor, March 6th, 2024 commemorates the 27th anniversary of Guyana’s “Father of the Nation” bidding farewell to the world, after serving as President for five years, being duly elected in Guyana’s first free election since 1964.

What waged for 28 harrowing years was a reign of dictatorship from Burnham and Hoyte, who rigged the elections in order to seize power, and governed as illegitimate presidents.

Despite winning the 1964 election, the famous dentist was ousted after being in office but not power, due to the coalition of Burnham’s anti-communism PNC Party and D’Aguiar’s pro-capitalist UF party, in collaboration with the agreement and support of the British and the Americans, who feared the birth of another Cuba in the Caribbean. Ironically, it was the intervention of the very Americans, through the instrumentality of the Carter Center, who helped to restore democracy in 1992, and made it possible to avoid another rigged election.

The author of 4 books, including the popular “The West on Trial”, the name Dr. Cheddi B Jagan would remain a name to be reckoned with; a name which is remarkably renowned for his reformed politics in Guyana, the Caribbean and the world; his humane ethics for simplicity and humility as a way of life; and his revolutionary matrix assumed ideologies for Marxism, Leninism, Communism and Socialism.

His lineage bore a rich heritage from India, and he was born on the 22nd March, 1918 in the Dutch county of Berbice, to a sugar worker’s family in the admired village of Port Mourant, which gave

the world the Luckhoo legal luminaries and cricket gifts in the form of Rohan Kanhai, Basil Butcher, Joe Solomon, Randolph Ramnarace and Alvin Kallicharan.

Dr. Cheddi Jagan rose from poverty to become President in a land of many waters and races, enriched by its natural resources, abused by colonialism, afflicted by slavery, affected by indentureship, inflicted by poverty, accrued with economic disadvantages, divided by racism, infused by class discrimination, permeated by cultural suppression, oppressed by multiple complexes, destroyed by dictatorship, dominated by political interferences, imprisoned by power control, raped by corruption, mismanaged by election riggers, harvested by social discomforts, envied by greedy and ambitious enthusiasts, and not devoid of British and American bureaucracies.

Under Jagan’s leadership from 1992, what ensued was a period of damage control and laying the foundation for the path of economic and social recovery. Orchestrated by the PNC rulers, Guyana had metamorphosed into a country of doom and gloom, polluted with misdemeanors, devastated by emigration, robbed by a brain-drain, and chagrined with economic bankruptcy and high national debts. He slowly but surely restored faith in the people to have faith in Guyana’s motto, i.e., One People, One Nation, One Destiny.

The cruel hands of imperialism were stumbling blocks which hurdled a great challenge for Dr. Jagan to promote his “universal suffrage” idealism, although he did deliver his “New Global Human Order” speech at the United

Nations in 1995.

His close relationship with the Soviet Union and Cuba in his early political career was a distinct disadvantage, and was seen as a threat. This impeded his growth, prevented him from functioning with authority, and curtailed his autonomy in a suffocating colony denied of freedom and held in bondage by the scars of slavery and indentureship.

Jagan’s political demise was further punctuated when his trust was betrayed by the deceiving and cunning disloyalty of LFSB, who joined the brutal hands of others to become Guyana’s Brutus. Jagan’s successor then ensured that he remained an outcast as an Opposition Leader, subject to witnessing the making of a dictator and skullduggery in prevalence, while there was little, if anything, Jagan could do to change the dastardly situation. A disillusioned “Emperor” surfaced, and Burnham and his cohorts began the production of a fractured people and nation with military control, while Jagan survived to plan and pray for a miracle.

Jagan witnessed an impoverished nation emptying itself as people from all races ran from a poisoned and prejudiced society to improve their lives

and improve their self-esteem.

Dr. Jagan must be credited for many accolades, and applauded for many plausible positives. He was responsible for: introducing tertiary education in Guyana; commencing independence negotiation; unprecedently challenging the British Monarchy; legally usurping legitimate positions; championing the cause for sugar, rice and bauxite; crowning the fight for agriculture, health and education; and revolutionizing the identity of Guyana and Guyanese, among other successful distinctions.

As an exceptional personality, Dr. Cheddi Jagan personified the dignity of an unblemished character, full of compassion and understanding, free from any baggage, unburdened with corruption, purified with honesty, bridled with truth, unharnessed from bribery, uncontaminated with negative influences, and fertilized the seed for peace, progress and prosperity.

To fill his shoes would be a difficult and uphill task, one that may circumvent the choice of materialism and selfishness. His existential effect can mould the guidance essential for the demands of Guyana’s profound development and the fair distribution of equality, justice and liberty

in a complex community, construed with lies and deceits by dissonant, complicated with evil distortions by naysayers, compounded by racial insinuations by deceivers, and contaminated with incited violence by strife-makers. Over 200,000 people thronged at Babu Jaan to view the man who was the founder of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic when he was cremated under Hindu rites on

March 6, 1997. Dr. Cheddi Jagan’s legacy is unfolded in this insight, “I am not only fighting for the people of Guyana. I am fighting for the people of the world. I am contributing to that struggle. That struggle is winning. That is why the United States is so hysterical at the moment, because of that very fact that what I stand for is winning”.

Yours respectfully, Jai Lall

Page Foundation

Plotting ordered pairs

The figure below is a grid. A grid has a horizontal axis, known as the x-axis, and a vertical axis, known as the y-axis. All points on a grid can be expressed, or identified, by two numbers: the x-coordinate which indicates where the point is located on the x-axis and the y-coordinate which indicates where the point is located on the y-axis. Each point is identified using the x and y coordinates in an ordered pair

The point where the vertical and horizontal axes meet is the origin. The origin is identified by the ordered pair (0,0). The x-coordinate indicates how far the point is to the right (positive) or how far to the left (negative) of the origin. The y-coordinate indicates how far the point is above (positive) or how far below (negative) the origin.

Example:

To find the x-coordinate, move your finger along the x-axis to the point. To find the y-coordinate, move your finger along the y-axis to the point. To identify the ordered pair , put the two coordinates in brackets – the first number is the x-coordinate and the second number is the y-coordinate. In this figure, point A can be expressed as A (1, 4) and point B can be expressed as B (– 3, – 2).

March’s magic is a wonderland to see,

As barren earth begins to stir and grow,

New life unfolds in nature’s sweet decree,

And beauty starts to show with earthly glow.

Sharp winds that blow bring life’s awakening,

Exercises:

From roots long buried to the spreading trees,

The birds renew their sweet song with singing,

As nature’s concert takes the season’s breeze.

March brings magic that only nature knows,

When winter’s grip gives

way to gentler spring, And life resumes from its deep winter’s doze, Rejuv’nating all is a wondrous thing.

March’s resurrection is a joy to keep,

A time when nature sings life’s soothing sweep.

Dinosaurs are named based on their unique features and/or the location where they were found. Dinosaur names are created using Greek and Latin roots.

Objectives:

Determine some of the special features of several dinosaurs by studying the roots in their names.

Create a name tag using Greek and Latin roots.

Materials:

Name tag (premade or homemade)

18-24 inches of yarn permanent markers list of dinosaur prefixes and roots (see below) bin to hold materials

Procedure:

How are the dinosaurs named? Scientists use Greek and Latin roots to name dinosaurs, plants, and animals. Listed on the posters are many prefixes and roots used to name dinosaurs. What does Triceratops mean? Tri means three, cera means horned, and tops means face. Three horned face. Identify the meaning of several more dinosaurs. Make up a description of a dinosaur and create a name for it.

2) Create a name for yourself using the Greek and Latin roots. Does your name include part of your real name? Does your name describe you? Write your name on paper. Hang your name tag around your neck with yarn.

WORD SEARCH

GPSCCU election results in dispute

…Chief Co-Op Officer intervenes, seeking to resolve issues

Following requests from the former executives of the Guyana Public Service Cooperative Credit Union (GPSCCU) for his intervention over electoral irregularities, Chief Co-Op Officer Janaknauth Panchu has blocked the new executives from taking office until those irregularities are cleared up.

Panchu has dispatched a letter, dated March 4, 2024, to Chairman of the Special General Meeting of the GPSCCU, Patrick Mentore, in which he requested that certain documents pertaining to last Saturday’s disputed elections be provided.

In his letter, Panchu requested a list of persons who attended and voted at the Special General Meeting, including those who attended in person and virtually. Panchu also requested confirmation that the credit union indeed has 25,385 members.

According to Panchu, his request is due to concerns raised that the election was not convened in keeping with previous court orders made by Justice Navindra Singh.

“The following has been alleged. At 10:50am, you announced to the gathering that a quorum had been established without stating the number of persons in the meeting, both online and

in person. At 11:00am, IT Service Provider rep Andre Samuel told persons who enquired that there were 513 online attendees.”

According to Panchu, the former management committee of the GPSCCU also alleged that on election day, “both online and physical attendance was 1,907” and that “approximately 1,900 members voted.”

In his letter, which was copied to Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Mae Toussaint Jr Thomas-Meerabux, and Solicitor General Nigel Hawke, Panchu made it clear that failure to comply with his directives would see the new executives being unable to assume management of the credit union or transact any business on its behalf.

“Please note that regulations 17 and 21 of the Co-operative Societies Act,

Chapter 88:01, clearly state how a quorum is determined for a special general meeting, and how a committee of management can be replaced. Please provide the information requested above and any other information to show that the said two regulations were complied with,” Panchu further wrote.

Chaos

On Monday, an attempt by the newly elected management of the GPSCCU to convene a meeting quickly descended into chaos, as one faction, led by former GPSCCU Chairman Karen VanSluytman-Corbin, disrupted the meeting over claims of electoral breaches.

In a video seen by this publication, Van SluytmanCorbin and some of her colleagues from the former management committee could be heard banging on the table and chanting, “You all ain’t had a quorum! No valid elections!” and, “Get out! Get out!” against the newly elected management committee, which is led by former Chairman Trevor Benn.

When the elections were held on Saturday, resulting in Benn’s slate being elected, concerns had been raised about electoral breaches. In fact, Van Sluytman-Corbin herself had objected during the very vote. Those con-

cerns have, however, gone unaddressed up to the time when Monday’s meeting was called. This has prompted the former committee to seek the intervention of the Labour Ministry.

In an interview with this publication on Monday, Labour Minister Hamilton explained that the former

management committee wrote a letter to the Labour Ministry, specifically the Chief Co-Op Development Officer, claiming that the newly-voted-in management committee benefitted from breaches to the CoOp laws by the manner in which the special meeting to hold the vote was con-

vened.

“The (former) committee who was there, they have written the Chief Co-Op Development Officer based on several allegations they have made about breaches of the Co-Op laws in calling the meeting, specifically the Co-Op. So, the Chief Co-Op Development Officer is studying the letter,” Hamilton explained.

The alleged breaches do not stop there. According to Hamilton, the former management committee also alleged that there were breaches during the actual vote, as well as breaches in the systems set up to accommodate said votes.

“The rules talk about what the quorum must be. In this case, the quorum must be 6000 and odd members present, online and in person. Everything I saw about the voting, the maximum number of persons engaged at any time was, I think 1900 persons. So, at no time did they reach the threshold of what the quorum must be,” Hamilton had also said.

Another issue, which the minister noted was raised in the letter, was the fact that polling stations were not set up in all the other regions where membership was located to cater for those without internet access. (G3)

Royal Canadian Mounted Police to help with GPF reforms – Benn

…says

Govt intent on upskilling, better equipping Disciplined Services

Strong bilateral relations between Guyana and Canada have led to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police offering its assistance to help with reform of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

During an appearance at the 2024 Mineral Exploration and Mining Convention, Home Affairs Robeson Benn spoke of efforts to revamp Guyana’s security system.

The minister recalled that on his last visit, he

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn

was able to visit two fire stations in Canada. Added to this is his meeting with Toronto’s Chief of Police.

Further, the minister said that wholescale reforms to the Guyana Police Force are on the way, with help soon expected from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

This would be in keeping with previous pronouncements made by Senior Minister in the Office of the Presidency, with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni

Singh. “We look forward just now to a large project in reform of our Police Force. And the expectation is that we’ll use the Royal Canadian Mounted Police as partners in that project,” the Minister informed the attendees.

TURN TO PAGE 14

The Canadian Royal Mounted Police

Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton

The letter dispatched by Chief Co-Op Officer Janaknauth Panchu

Linden man busted with $4M in ganja pleads guilty to narco-trafficking

Leonard Caleb of Amelia’s Ward, Linden, who was busted with a quantity of cannabis at Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD), back in November 2023 has pleaded guilty to trafficking in narcotics.

Caleb, who had initially pleaded not guilty to the charge on Tuesday changed his plea to guilty when he appeared before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Diamond Magistrate’s Court.

As such, he was remanded to prison and will return to court on March 19, 2024, for sentencing.

It was reported that ranks of the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) were conducting an operation at

Charged: Leonard Caleb

Providence, EBD, in the vicinity of a popular mall, when they intercepted a motor car bearing registration number PAE 6311, with the suspect as the lone occupant. A search of the motor car led to the discovery of a salt bag containing several parcels of cannabis.

Caleb, along with the cannabis, was taken to CANU’s Headquarters, where the illegal drug was weighed.

…or end of strike?

Awhole lotta parents across Mudland breathed a collective sigh of relief at yesterday’s headlines: “Strike Over!!”; “Teachers strike called off”; “GTU calls off strike”!

Monday had marked the beginning of the fifth week of the strike, and anxiety over students not being able to complete their syllabuses in time for exams in a couple of months was destroying domestic bliss! Most kids had stayed away from school, and were (hopefully) swotting away on their own! The only persons who might be disappointed at the end of the strike are probably the commuters across the DHB, who had gotten some relief from the smaller number of school buses crossing!!

Now, your Eyewitness had signalled that it’s quite possible the strike might resume, since all that had been agreed to by the GTU is that teachers would resume teaching today, and talks between them and the Govt would resume. So, your Eyewitness wasn’t surprised when Pressie’s response to the news was, “Same thing I was saying all along”!! We’re back right where we started, innit?? The GTU, however, claims the Govt hadn’t been talking to them before, and that’s why they struck. That “he seh she seh” had gone down to last week, when the GTU dared the Education CEO to produce minutes that would show salaries were being discussed!!

Now, we can see the trust between the two sides just wasn’t there. So, what’s changed?? Well, for one, we had the two court-appointed mediators to break up any fight, keep tabs on what was being said, and keep the discussion going. But most critical was the GTU General Secretary –and PNC’s MP, Coretta Mc Donald - being dropped from the teachers’ delegation!! Now, of course, our Constitution guarantees freedom of association, and the GTU General Secretary can belong to any party she chooses. But since the PNC’s attempted rigging of the 2020 elections, she’d become a lightning rod by viscerally going after the PPP!!

It was very difficult to separate the political from the labour hats she wore when she ventilated on the teachers’ strike. The PPP - especially their more political operatives, like their Minister of Education – with their historic scars of being overthrown on several occasions under cover of labour strikes, were understandably skittish around her. Let’s see if they’ll continue to remain outside the bargaining teams.

Will the disagreements remain centred on substantive matters, like the 25% increase being demanded by the GTU; and will it be accepted by the Government?!! Will the Government go beyond the 6.5% and stress other benefits, like house lots, etc?? Will the Govt deduct salaries for time on strike??

And most importantly, will they quit deducting dues for the GTU – ensuring the death knell of the latter?!!

…by Judge’s Intervention

After the PNC’s last rigging attempt, Caricom was asked to send electoral experts to supervise a ballot recount. Two of them wrote an analysis describing the “judicialization” of our politics: the latter’s so divisive that, even with elaborate rules, the politicians gotta resort to the Judiciary to resolve the least disagreement!! Who woulda thought deciding whether 33 was the “majority” of 65 had to go to the CCJ??!! Not those eminent jurists!!

Now it looks like the same thing’s happening in labour relations; but maybe that shouldn’t be too surprising, since, as signalled above, labour is often used as a trope for politics!! So, now that the court has utilized the new Rule, that “alternative dispute settlement” mechanisms like mediation can be ordered, the legal fraternity’s engaged in a veritable feeding frenzy on the technicalities of the Judge’s intervention.

Was the wider issue of breakdown in talks really in front of him?? Can he substantively order the Govt not to deduct dues going forward?? Etc…etc!!

…on CIVIL Servants

It wasn’t for nothing the CIVIL Service was renamed “PUBLIC” Service. Civil they certainly ain’t no mo, after the departure of the Brits!! The GPSU Credit Union’s bedlam pulling after their elections merely exposed their dirty underwear!!

It amounted to 12.54 kilograms (27.65 pounds), carrying a street value of $4 million.

The ganja that was found in Caleb’s car

Parika woman stabbed to death by drunken husband

A24-year-old housewife lost her life on Monday after she was brutally stabbed to death by her drunken husband during an argument at their Parika Backdam, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) home.

Dead is Nikesha Sutton. Police reported that about 15:00h on Monday, the woman’s husband arrived

home under the influence of alcohol, and a heated argument erupted between him and his wife.

Reports are that the man then left, but returned about 17:00h with two bottles of alcoholic beverages in his hands. Another argument ensued between them, which escalated into a scuffle.

At this time, the now-de-

ceased woman’s sister intervened, but soon after the drunken man instructed his wife to pack her things and move out of the house.

Information received revealed that Sutton had placed some clothes in a bucket and was making her way through a track to her sister's house nearby when the suspect picked up one of the beer bottles, broke

it, and dealt her one stab to the neck. He then fled the scene.

The woman was taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival. The body is at the Ezekiel Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem examination.

Police are on the hunt for the suspect as investigations continue. (G9)

Dead: Nikesha Sutton

Delayed contracts

Govt mulls terminating contracts for Conversation Tree, Cemetery Road projects

Public Works Minister

Juan Edghill has disclosed that the Guyana Government may be terminating contracts for the construction of the Cemetery Road and possibly Conversation Tree Street projects.

The Minister made this announcement on Tuesday, following inspections of several infrastructural projects, catered for under its 2023 capital work programmes.

During the debate on the 2024 Budget, Minister Edghill disclosed that the deadline for the $475 million Cemetery Road project was extended, and the anticipated completion date was set for March 31, 2024.

After inspecting the road on Tuesday, he indicated that little to no progress has been made to fast-track the project to meet the new deadline.

In this regard, the contractor has been instructed

to provide the Ministry with a revised work programme to outline the way forward.

Minister Edghill noted that if the deadline was not adhered to, the contract awarded to Avinash Construction and Metal Works Company would be terminated.

“If the work is not completed by the end of March, he will be terminated and removed from the project we will have to put anoth-

er contractor to fulfil it,” Minister Edghill said.

Meanwhile, during his inspection of the Conversation Tree to Dennis Street project, Minister Edghill was informed Kalco Guyana Incorporated instructed its engineers to halt the operations on the site.

According to the Public Works Minister, he has made several attempts to contact the head of the company and his efforts have

been futile.

As a result, he will be forced to make a comprehensive decision on the way forward.

“It is likely that Kalco will not be able to complete that project; we will have to make some decisions and that will happen before the end of today…We will not allow contractors to

delay projects without consequences. Government delivery of goods and services to people is priority; it’s paramount that’s why we’re in government. We can’t keep hearing excuses; we are pushing our engineers at the Ministry… to get great work done,” the Minister

This project involves the construction of a fourlane carriageway from the East Coast Highway at Conversation Tree to Delhi Street.

It also includes a double-lane carriageway on the reserve west of Delhi Street for northbound traffic and

emphasised.

The contract for the Cemetery Road project was awarded in 2022 and caters for a two-lane carriageway being extended into four lanes. This is expected to significantly alleviate traffic congestion in the area.

However, the project suffered significant delays ow-

the building of concrete revetments between the East Coast Demerara Highway and Railway Embankment.

The project was split into two lots: Lot 8 A of the project was executed by S Jagmohan Construction and General Supplies Inc, to the tune of $$1,066, 358,738, while Lot 8 B was

ing to heavy rainfall and procurement challenges.

On the other hand, the Conversation Tree to Dennis Street project was awarded in 2022, also with a stipulated deadline of November 5.

awarded to Trinidadian company Kalco Guyana Inc, to the tune of $830,293,458.

Kalco has been behind schedule, with its last progress report hinting at 25 per cent of the work being completed. (G1)

Works ongoing at Cemetery Road

A section of the Conversation Tree/Delhi Street Road widening project

Works on the Conversation Tree-to-Dennis Street project

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill during the inspection

DPP discontinues murder charge against former Best Cop

Former Best Cop

Derwin Eastman

was on Monday released from prison, almost three years after he was committed to stand trial at the Demerara High Court for the murder of businessman Godfrey Scipio, also called “Saga”, who was gunned down while leaving a city hotel back in 2017.

His release was effected after the Director of Public Prosecutions, Shalimar Ali-Hack discontinued the murder charge against him. Guyana Times understands that there is insufficient evidence to proceed with the prosecution.

The former Detective Corporal and former Police Constable Jamison Williams were jointly charged with the October 17, 2017 murder of the

64-year-old man. At the end of a Preliminary Inquiry (PI) at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, Magistrate Fabayo Azore ruled that a prima facie case was established against Eastman for the crime.

Accordingly, she committed him to stand trial before a Judge and jury for the capital offence at the next practicable sitting of the Demerara Assizes. The charge against Williams was discharged owing to insufficient evidence. As such, he was informed by the Magistrate that he was free to go.

Throughout the PI, Eastman was represented by Attorneys-at-Law Nigel Hughes and Ronald Daniels, while Attorneyat-Law Dexter Todd ap -

peared on behalf of Williams. Also charged for Scipio’s murder is Aubrey Bobb, an ex-convict of Kitty, Georgetown. Bobb was the first to be charged and later implicated the two former Policemen in a caution statement he had given to detectives. In 2019, Bobb was committed to stand trial at the High Court for the businessman’s murder after a Magistrate found

there was sufficient evidence against him.

According to reports, Scipio was gunned down just as he exited a popular Kitty hotel with a female companion. He later succumbed at the Woodlands Hospital. Bobb, in a caution statement, reportedly told Police that Eastman was the mastermind behind the brazen daylight killing.

He accused Eastman of

hiring him as the hitman and providing him with the gun. Eastman reportedly had everything planned out, even assuring the hitman that a lady would deliver the target to the spot while directing that the killing be executed in such a way as to appear like a robbery had gone wrong.

Notwithstanding the assurance of protection given by Eastman, reality struck when Bobb re -

turned home the next day to find Eastman, in the company of other Police ranks, ready to detain him. Bobb had claimed that he was forced to confess to the crime as he was intimidated by Eastman, who was present at every step of the interrogation. Eastman had been adjudged the Guyana Police Force’s Best Cop on several occasions.

From left: Murder accused: Former Best Cop Derwin Eastman, Aubrey Bobb, and Jamison Williams Godfrey Scipio, also called “Saga”

Farmer accused of burning fruit thief’s body on $1M bail

…DPP advises further investigation into case

The La Grange, West Bank Demerara (WBD) farmer, who is accused of burning and burying the body of 22-year-old Shakeel “Botha” John, who was electrocuted on his farm back in November 2023, was released on $1 million station bail.

This was confirmed by Crime Chief Wendell Blahnum, who also informed Guyana Times that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, has requested further investigations into John’s death.

The deceased man’s sister told this publication that her brother’s friend told his family members that he confessed to the incident after he was tormented by her brother’s “ghost”.

Based on reports received, on February 25, a teenager of Inner Bagotville, WBD, visited the La Grange Police Station and reported that in November 2023, he and two others, including John, colluded to go and steal citrus fruits from a farm in Cone Shop Street, La Grange.

He stated that as they approached the first farm, they were confronted by the owner, who chased them with a cutlass. They did not stop there; they instead went to a second farm and upon scaling a mesh fence, they heard John scream out “ahh”.

At that time, they realised that he was being shocked by some sort of electricity on the fence. As a result, he and his

accomplice took a piece of wood and attempted to remove John from the fence, but in the process, he too, received, a shock to his foot.

Attempts to remove John proved futile and as such, they hid behind a mango tree until the next morning.

As the sun rose, the young man claimed that they saw the owner of the farm picking fruits before he stumbled upon John’s body that was lying on the ground.

“He walked out back to the front and returned with a sheet in his hands, wrapped up Shaquille and dragged him more into the farm and disappeared,” the young man allegedly told detectives.

Upon seeing this, the two young men allegedly waited a while before heading out of the farm, and his accomplice reportedly threatened to kill him if he reported the matter.

Upon receiving this information, a team of Police, along with the teenager, went to the farm where they contacted the owner, a 59-yearold man from Unity Street, La Grange.

The teen then took the ranks to the area where John was electrocuted. While there, the farmer admitted that he had demolished his old fence and erected a new fence with barbed wire. He was taken into custody.

Subsequently, the teenager was interviewed by members of the Child Care and Protection Agency at De Willem, West Coast

Demerara (WCD) during which he related the exact story he told the Police.

Human bones

Later in the day, Police, acting on information received revisited the farm, where they discovered human bones suspected to be those of John in a clump of bushes.

They proceeded to the home of the farmer where they observed an electrical cable strapped to a coconut tree in the front of his yard.

Further, they observed a metal wire on the fence running in a manner that would facilitate the flow of an independent electrical current.

In addition, they stumbled upon an area that appeared to be a fire heap that contained pieces of burnt tyres. Upon closer inspection, they discovered several human bones, including a human skull.

Police stated that the skull had what appeared to be fire damage, and the bones were scattered across the more-than-40-foot fire heap.

Additionally, pieces of burnt denim jeans and a piece of male underwear were discovered.

Alleged confession

Meanwhile, during interrogation, the farmer allegedly confessed that he had placed an electricity rod on his fence to ward off thieves who would constantly invade his property.

He reportedly told inves-

Dead: Shakeel John

tigations, “Sometime late November last year, because I come home one afternoon from wuk and see one a den hook up on the fence like he get electrocute. I tek he off and I recognise is “Botha”… I drag he pon de next land and I use some tyre fuh burn he. I tell you de truth I didn’t kill this man; he did done dead.”

Mother thought son was interior

Meanwhile, a visit to the victim’s home by Guyana Times revealed conflicting details from the victim’s mother, Sharon Jones. She claimed to have last seen her son on December 5, 2023, not in November, mentioning he left to meet friends and never returned.

“Me and Shakeel were in Belle West, because we are building a house there. He was there with me doing

some work. At about 06:00h we left and came home, and his friends came and called him out of the house and that was the last time I saw him. I couldn’t call him, because he didn’t have a phone. I woke up the next morning, peeped in his room, and didn’t see him, so I called his friend that he left with – his mother and she told me that her son didn’t come home too,” she said.

The woman said she left for work and when she returned home on the night of December 6, she was told by her older son that one of John’s friends said that he had gone with another friend and a female to Linden.

The woman expressed her distress over her son’s disappearance, revealing that she had not reported it to the Police, since he often travelled to the interior for work and would usually contact her. However, when he did not return or call, she grew concerned. (G9)

Royal Canadian Mounted...

“There would be no development in Guyana if there is no proper security. And so, on those two fronts, we have to continue to make significant iterative improvements. We have to develop the question of integrity, communication, responsiveness in respect of the work we do. And we have to make sure we get the right mix of assets.”

According to Benn, the Government has plans to ensure the disciplined services are upskilled and better equipped. Added to this is the Government’s efforts to better diversify the disciplined and other services.

“Guyana is at the most profound, transformational and significant moment in its history. For myself, as Minister of Home Affairs, and I have to talk about that a little, we

speak of increasing the peace in Guyana. Increasing the peace in Guyana relates to better diversity among our disciplined and other services,” Benn said.

“It relates to improving the way those Forces and persons relate to the people they have to deal with. Whether it’s as a Police person, Prison or Fire Service, it has to do with upskilling, awareness, training, learning more about how best things are done,” Benn added.

In total, the Guyana Police Force is set to receive a budget of $30.3 billion this year. The Government also has plans to improve the investigative and forensic capabilities of ranks by conducting local and regional training at a budgeted sum of $250 million.

During the 2024 budget presentation, Finance Minister

Dr Singh had announced there is a need to fortify the training and human resource capabilities of the GPF to bring its authorized strength in alignment with international standards of policing.

To this end, he had reminded that a sum of $170 million was expended in 2023 towards the training of 1,752 ranks in areas such as gender-based violence and restorative justice, among others.

Against this backdrop, he had said the GPF would embark on major developmental training reform programmes which would enable ranks to receive training in various disciplines offered by renowned policing institutions, such as the New York Police Department and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. (G3)

Ramsammy’s Ruminations

THE INHUMANITY, SHAME OF GAZA IS AN ALBATROSS HUMANITY COLLECTIVELY FETCHES FOREVER

The Flour Massacre is the world’s latest shame.

Recently, in Gaza, as hungry adults approached a convoy of flour trucks for food to feed their children who are dying of starvation, more than a hundred were murdered by bullets from soldiers.

Dr Leslie Ramsammy

On the 69th anniversary of one of America’s most shameful acts of government-directed racial terrorism, on the iconic civil rights Edmund Pettus Bridge, America’s Vice President called for a six-week ceasefire in Gaza. Just a few weeks ago, at the UN Security Council chaired by Guyana’s UN Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues, 13 members of the Council voted for a ceasefire, but America vetoed the resolution, and the UK abstained. One country silenced the voices of the rest of the world, legitimizing autocracy and endorsing continued genocide in Gaza.

Instead of shedding crocodile tears, VP Kamala Harris could have apologized for America’s vetoing of the resolution. She could have promised that, the next time, America would do the right thing and join the rest of the world to demand a ceasefire. She could have apologized for the sad spectacle of air-dropping 38,000 meals for the 2M people starving because of the man-made famine in Gaza, for the 83% of the genocidal bombs from America against the Palestinian people. Not a single person in America is fooled.

The crocodile tears only followed a warning given to President Biden and the democrats by their own party members, when more than 100,000 of them voted uncommitted in the Michigan Primary, refusing to vote for President Biden. The genuine human catastrophe and inhumanity in Gaza did not move America; America was moved by the fear of losing an election. VP Harris only urged a ceasefire for six weeks to secure the release of the Jewish hostages. After which Israel could resume the slaughter of the Gazan citizens?

The Israel-led genocide against the people of Gaza is the latest of a long shameful list of genocides. Between 1941 and 1945, during the 2nd World War, Germany’s genocide against the Jewish people killed more than 10M people. Auschwitz, one of the places where the killing camps existed, is a macabre exhibition of the shoes from millions of those Jewish people who suffered from the Christian leaders of Germany. Germans will never be released from the albatross around their necks because, in supporting the genocide in Gaza today, they show they have no remorse for their genocide against the Jews. Today, the victims and the perpetuator of one of the most recent horrible genocides are together foisting a terrible genocide in Gaza, in plain sight for the whole world to see.

In 1935, Gareth Jones, a reporter, was murdered by Soviet agents in Mongolia for revealing the horrible Holodomor genocide which took place between 1932 and 1933, when 4M Ukrainians were intentionally starved to death (famine-induced genocide) by the Soviet state because the Soviets were seeking to take away lands from Ukrainian peasants to establish state collectives.

Between 1975 and 1979, the Pol Pot Kymer Rouge genocide, targeting intellectuals, professionals, ethnic groups such as Thais and Chinese and Cambodian Christians and Muslims, took the lives of more than 3M Cambodians. China gave active support, and the US ignored the genocide because it served their interest in Vietnam. The 1994 Rwandan genocide was a murderous spree by Hutus to eliminate the ethnic Tutsis in Rwanda. There is a museum in Rwanda with machetes in the skulls of children, reminding us of the horrendous events that took place during the Rwandan genocide, which killed more than 500,000 Tutsi people. Between 1894 and 1922, the Ottoman Empire (today’s Türkiye) killed more than 1M Armenians, equal to 90 percent of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire; more than 500,000 Greeks, 25% of the Greeks in the Empire; and almost 1M people in present-day Syria/Iraq, during the Assyrian Genocide of 1915. The Bangladesh genocide in 1971 killed more than 3M Bengalis and Hindus.

Whether it is the above genocides or the earlier ones: such as the Quing Dynasty genocide, when the Dzungar tribe between Siberia and Kazakhstan was virtually decimated; or the Tsar Alexander II’s Circassian genocide against the Caucasus people; or the genocide against the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas by the Europeans; or the genocide led by Genghis Khan which almost totally eliminated the peoples of Iran and Persia, genocides shamefully have been a part of the cruel history of mankind.

But today’s genocide against Gaza is a spectator sport, people watching from the hills in Israel, or on TV. Daily, we watch children being murdered with the most powerful weapons supplied by the most powerful nations on earth. We watch innocent children, mothers, fathers, grandparents as their bodies are bombed into smithereens by the most powerful bombs, not because they are resisting, but because they are begging for food. They are starving, dying from famine, but the excuse for murdering them is that they, with bowls in their hands, constitute a deadly threat.

And powerful nations shamelessly perpetuate the ugly narrative that the history of the Gaza genocide started on October 7, 2023, when the Hamas attacked Israel. That Gaza has been a prison for decades; that freedom eluded a people for decades; that starvation was a way of life in Gaza; never is spoken about.

When VP Harris called for a ceasefire, while standing on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Montgomery to observe the Selma massacre against marchers led by Martin Luther King and John Lewis, by shedding crocodile tears, she insulted their memory. Today, we carry, and will forever carry, the Gaza shame like an albatross. President Ali and Guyana consistently, from the start, have condemned the Gaza genocide. The time is now for the world to end the siege. In his State of the Union Message tomorrow, President Biden could bring hope to the people of Gaza. But I would not hold my breath.

Caricom’s food security agenda boosted with US$1.6M from New Zealand

The goal of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) to reduce the Region’s food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025 has received a boost from the Government of New Zealand to the tune of US$1.6 million, targeting women and youth in agriculture.

Caricom Secretary General, Dr Carla Barnett and the new Plenipotentiary Representative of New Zealand to Caricom, Linda Charlotte Te Puni signed a Grant Funding Agreement for the project on the margins of the 46th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Caricom Heads of Government.

On Tuesday, Caricom announced that the regional food security project titled “Caricom Boost: Women and Youth in Agriculture” is part of New Zealand’s commitment to further deepen development cooperation with Caricom and seeks to enhance sustainable production, climate change resilience, and profitability of Caricom women and youth

farmer groups in 10 Member States.

“It is expected to see the use of protected structures and appropriate cold storage unit technologies in women and youth-led agriculture production. The general aim of the project is to promote climate-smart agriculture through sustainable agriculture production,” the regional

bloc outlined.

Expressing gratitude on behalf of Caricom, Secretary General Barnett noted that the project reflected a collaborative approach that would impact positively on the Region’s food security system and benefit the most vulnerable.

New Zealand, according to the new Plenipotentiary

Representative, can provide additional support in areas such as food security, renewable energy, transportation and regional connectivity, disaster risk reduction, management of sargassum invasive species, and facilitating closer collaboration between the Community and the Pacific Islands Forum.

TURN TO PAGE 17

Caricom Secretary General, Dr Carla Barnett and the new Plenipotentiary Representative of New Zealand, Linda Charlotte Te Puni signing a Grant Funding Agreement for the project

ANUG calls on Dr Asha Kissoon to vacate parliamentary seat

…Parliament has “no power” to remove her – Clerk

ANew and United Guyana (ANUG) on Tuesday called on the Leader of The New Movement (TNM), Dr Asha Kissoon to vacate her seat in the National Assembly, which was supposed to have been done since last November, calling her action undemocratic and a breach of trust.

According to the Joinder List Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), given the 244 votes garnered during the 2020 General and Regional Elections by TNM,

it was entitled to occupy the seat for 91 days.

ANUG Chairman Kian Jabour indicated during a press conference on Tuesday that his party gave Dr Kissoon an opportunity to represent her constituents, but this has been met with mistrust.

“Up to this point, we have gotten no word from Ms Kissoon on why this is occurring. The first situation I think we need to deal with is the reality of Ms Kissoon sitting in this seat being an undemocratic response. Ms Kissoon is not to be sitting in this seat at the moment. The votes that she has been allocated…only gave her 91 days in Parliament…At this point in time, unfortunately, [it]

says a lot about her character and her trustworthiness,” Jabour voiced.

After the 2020 Elections, Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) Leader Lenox Shuman took occupation of the single merger seat before honouring his commitment and resigning.

ANUG had identified its representative to take up the parliamentary seat in the person of Althia King – an active ANUG member since 2019 – who outlined that the party would be deprived of the opportunity to represent its constituents.

“It is deprived, it is sad and most of all, it is disappointing that it even had to come to something like this. This is something very seri-

ous,” she lamented.

It has been explained that since TNM was allocated only a few months by virtue of the MoU, and was at risk of being kept out of Parliament altogether in the event that an early election was called in 2025, ANUG offered to permit TNM to take the seat for the allotted period immediately after Shuman demitted the seat.

Arrangement of trust

That seat was occupied by Dr Kissoon, who was sworn in as a Member of Parliament in April 2023. According to ANUG General Secretary Timothy Jonas, it was an arrangement of trust and it has been breached.

“This was something that you had to rely on a person’s integrity and their word…

Lenox Shuman did the right thing and without fanfare or fuss, he demitted office…This is why it wasn’t a difficult decision to allow Dr Kissoon for that three months. This is the 32nd seat. This isn’t the all-important 33rd seat,” he reasoned.

Based on the joinder MoU, each party would occupy the shared seat for a specific period. The three parties had previously committed to acting as a broker between the Government and the main Opposition.

The process for replacing an MP involves the National Assembly writing to the head of the party list to whom the seat belongs, once its occupant has submitted a formal resignation. The head of the list is tasked with informing the Guyana Elections

Commission (GECOM) which party candidate’s name to extract and submit to the National Assembly.

Meanwhile, when contacted on Tuesday, Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs told this publication that Parliament did not have the power to remove Dr Kissoon in the wake of these events.

“They don’t have power to remove her. The Head of her list can ask that she be removed, she could resign, if she’s found guilty in a court of law for some criminal offence and citizenship is another one. Things like that. But we cannot remove her otherwise,” he explained.

Dr Kissoon has not spoken on the issue, and efforts to contract her on Tuesday proved futile. (G12)

TNM Leader, Dr Asha Kissoon

From left: ANUG General Secretary Timothy Jonas and Executive Althia King

Over 600 Guyanese benefit from Humanity First Guyana medical outreach

Over 600 Guyanese persons have benefitted from medical services and the provision of dietary supplements and dental kits through a series of medical outreaches organised by Humanity First Guyana. Services included blood pressure and sugar testing, Human Immunodeficiency Virus/ Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) testing, blood donation, and ophthalmology services, among others.

The first outreach was hosted at St Cuthbert's

Mission up the Mahaica River, where a total of 165 residents benefitted, while another 265 were attended to at the Water Street outreach in Georgetown. Further, over 150 per-

sons were attended to at the last outreach, held at the Guyana Police Force Officers' Training Centre on Camp Road in Georgetown. During an interview with this newspaper,

Education Ministry/GTU meeting

Education Ministry wants “constructive” conversations with GTU during negotiations

…parents urged to send children to school today

The Education Ministry is aiming to have constructive engagements with the Guyana Teachers’ Union, as negotiations commence this week on a series of issues to be ventilated, including increased salaries for teachers.

In a statement issued after the mediation had concluded, the Education Ministry disclosed, “The Ministry of Education welcomes this decision, even as it notes that it is unfortunate that this matter had to be determined by the court, where the outcome mirrors exactly what the Ministry has been saying even before the strike began: that the Ministry is happy to continue with the healthy and constructive conversations that have been ongoing, and which have produced several noteworthy results that ensured to the benefit of teachers.”

It has been added that both parties would meet at the MoE boardroom within 48 hours of the resumption of duties to discuss relevant matters of interest.

“Parents are asked to

send their children out to school for normal school day activities,” the missive added.

GTU President Mark Lyte told media operatives that the strike is officially over, and that financial matters are foremost on the agenda to be ventilated. As talks were wrapped up, he disclosed, “There are quite a lot of other things that are included in the proposal we presented, but finance is one of the critical ones that we will be pushing…It sets the framework for the process to commence collective bargaining. As you’ve heard, the Ministry of Education is saying everything is on the table. Our previous engagements were just policies in nature, now they are committing to deal with all the financial matters, so we consider this to be an attempt to treat with collective bargaining.”

In recent weeks, Government has outlined that $135 billion has been allocated to the education sector this year to better working conditions for teachers. This is significantly more than the $52.7

Director of Marketing for Humanity First Guyana, Fahd Peerzada, disclosed that 100 officers from the Guyana Police Force were among the beneficiaries.

He added that over 100 reading and sight enhancement spectacles were provided to citizens who got their eyes tested.

The feedback has been great. For example, yesterday (Monday), you know, many of the Police officers are coming out to do get the services done, because they work long hours, he said.

billion allocated by the former APNU/AFC coalition in their last budget before demitting office. A comparison shows that this now puts $694,000 per child for the 180,000 students in the sector, as opposed to $310,000 per year for 170,000 in 2019.

Previously, the GTU had proposed 41 areas identified for better working conditions for teachers. Over the three years, the Education Ministry has fulfilled 25 of those requests. The areas in which the MoE and the GTU have not reached an agreement include: salary increases for some scales (MoE has gone above GTU’s request for some scales), allowances, rehired teachers being paid at the scale that they retired at, housing fund (which the Union has repeatedly failed to give a way forward for, although the fund has a few hundred million dollars put there by the Government), and salary scales for different HoDs and Sixth Form Deputy Heads, payment for the marking of SBAs, and house lots for teachers in each new housing scheme.

The medical field is just one of the programmes that we do. We have food security, education programmes, orphan programmes, and community care programmes. All these programmes we re operating all year long, but this special programme with the people coming from overseas we do once a year, Peerzada explained.

Moreover, the medical outreach was held in collaboration with the Health Ministry, hence all serious medical cases were reported to the Ministry through the provision of referrals.

Peerzada explained that the organization would be conducting follow-ups with all the individuals who were referred to the Ministry for additional care.

The main purpose of our students is to shadow and kind of get the experience of the medical field, but most of our volunteers here are local and they re managing the process If any issue arises, for example someone tests positive for HIV, then we can follow up for them, or they can approach us and we will direct them to what is the next step, Peerzada said.

Humanity First Guyana

is part of the international organization which is registered in 62 countries across six continents around the world. The non-profit organisation specializes in charity that provides disaster relief and long-term development assistance to the vulnerable. The organisation is run by volunteers with diverse skillsets, and has access to thousands of extra volunteers worldwide.

A total of nine international medical students, a doctor from Humanity First International and 21 locals participated in the Guyana outreach. (G1)

Caricom’s food security agenda ...

Additionally, the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship Programme provides opportunities for related knowledge expansion and skills development for Caribbean nationals.

The grant funding follows a new cooperation agreement between Caricom and New Zealand, signed in June 2023. It also comes in the wake of the recent accreditation of Ambassador Te Puni as the Plenipotentiary Representative of New Zealand to Caricom in early February.

At that time, the Ambassador lauded the “valuable role” Caricom plays in supporting regional economic development and signalled her country’s “long-

term” commitment to the Community.

At the 32nd InterSessional Conference of the Caricom Heads of Government in 2021, a special ministerial task force was established and tasked with guiding the transformation of the regional agri-food system towards full commercialisation. A prime focus was to address the rising food import bill and to stimulate investment in agriculture and food production.

Guyana is presently the lead in agriculture and food security in the Caricom bloc. This is reflected in its transformative projects in priority commodities such as corn and soya bean – which will become one of the largest ag-

FROM PAGE 15

ricultural investments in the Region by 2026 with US$40 million invested.

Wheat production trials have commenced, along with the resuscitation of the cocoa and coffee industries. Guyana is also making strides in brackish water shrimp production, black belly sheep rearing, new rice varieties, and a new broiler facility to hatch eggs, among other successes.

As of 2022, the Region has achieved 57 per cent of the production targets towards reducing the food import bill by 2025. At that time, President Dr Irfaan Ali had asserted that more than 1.4 metric tonnes of commodities must be produced to achieve this target. (G12)

Humanity First Guyana Director of Marketing, Fahd Peerzada

Citizens participating in medical outreach at Guyana Police Force Officers' Training Centre on Camp Street

Regional

“Everybody is traumatised”: Haiti's violence renders thousands homeless

Afresh wave of violence

in Haiti this week triggered by a top gang leader's push to overthrow the Prime Minister has forced more than 15,000 persons to flee the fighting, accentuating an increasing sense of misery and lawlessness.

"Armed gangs forced us to leave our homes. They destroyed our houses, and we're on the streets," said Nicolas, who is living in a camp, sleeping in such cramped conditions he says he feels like an animal.

The situation escalated over the weekend as Prime Minister Ariel Henry went to Kenya to tie up a deal for the deployment of foreign troops to restore order. On Sunday, Haiti's threadbare Government declared a state of emergency after inmates escaped in two major prison breaks and heavy gunfire sounded across the capital.

Haitian and US media have reported that Henry may be attempting to return to Haiti from New York. When asked on Tuesday, United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said he had no information about his whereabouts or potential meetings.

Meanwhile, embassies have recalled their staff.

The Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, has sought to strengthen its border security and said it will not set up refugee camps for fleeing Haitians.

The UN's immigration office said during the weekend that at least 15,000 persons had been displaced due to violence.

"I didn't have time to take any of my things, not even my underwear," said Jasmine, who declined to give her last name, at a shelter on Tuesday. "I didn't know what to do."

Reynold Saint-Paul, a res-

ident of the Port-au-Prince neighbourhood Lalue, said he came to a shelter to find water – an increasingly scarce commodity in the capital.

Meanwhile, the BBC reported soldiers have been deployed to defend the airport of the Haitian capital, from an assault by armed gangs.

Witnesses reported hearing shots ringing out in the vicinity of Toussaint Louverture Airport as security forces clashed with armed men.

The gangs' aim is to prevent the return to Haiti of Prime Minister Henry, who is believed to be abroad. (Excerpt from Reuters)

“No official report” on armed men invading Black River High – Jamaica Police

Head of the St Elizabeth Police, Deputy Superintendent Coleridge Minto has moved to clarify reports of an invasion by armed men at Black River High in the parish on Tuesday.

In an audio release, Minto said the Police didn’t receive an “official report” about armed men entering the school.

“The information we have is that sometime after 10:30 this morning, some students were involved in a dispute, as a result of [it]

one of the boys reportedly left the school and later returned with other men. The Police were contacted [and] visited the school. However, none of these men who reportedly came on the compound were seen. I also spoke with the Principal who confirmed that the boys involved in the incident are known and that the school is treating with that matter,” he said.

“The police has no official report of any gun being on the compound and in speaking with the Principal he also indicated that he

has no report of this nature. Our school resource officers of the Community, Safety and Security team will continue to work with our schools in the parish and will continue to provide support to the schools,” added Minto.

A Police source told Observer Online on Tuesday that students and staff at Black River High were sent scampering after armed men reportedly invaded the compound following an alleged altercation between two students. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

In Argentina's barrios, rising poverty stalks Milei's austerity drive

Debora Blanco has lived for years with her eight children in a house on the outskirts of Buenos Aires with no proper door or windows, nor electricity, mains gas, running water or sewers. Now she doesn't have enough food to eat, either.

Argentina's poverty rate topped 57 per cent at the start of the year, one recent study showed, with millions like Blanco battling triple-digit inflation and smarting from a sharp devaluation of the peso

in December that sapped the real value of people's money.

That pain in the South American country's poor barrios looms large over new libertarian President Javier Milei's aggressive austerity drive as he seeks to overturn a deep deficit and tame inflation over 250 per cent – before losing popular support.

His plans include slashing the size of Government, trimming back subsidies for fuel and transport, shutting State institutions, and auditing welfare schemes.

Milei, an economist, is calling for patience and says his tough medicine reforms are necessary. That argument propelled him to office, winning over many voters in last November's election who were tired of the economy sliding from one crisis to another.

But Argentines won't wait forever. Already protests against Milei's spending cuts are starting to build and strikes have become a regular occurrence. (Excerpt from Reuters)

UNC wants Joint Select Committee to probe SSA

The Opposition United National Congress (UNC) wants the Parliament's National Security Joint Select Committee (JSC) to investigate the circumstances which led to Strategic Services Agency (SSA) Director, Major Roger Best being sent on administrative leave; T&T Ambassador to Washington, DC, Brigadier-Gen Anthony Phillips-Spencer being made acting SSA Director and the agency's operations being reviewed.

The UNC made this call in a signed letter to JSC Chairman, Port of Spain South Member of Parliament (MP) Keith Scotland, from Oropouche

East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal and Opposition Senator Jayanti Lutchmedial.

Moonilal and Lutchmedial are the Opposition's representatives on this committee.

In their letter, they called for the committee to summon National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds, his immediate predecessor Energy Minister Stuart Young, Commissioner of Police (CoP) Erla HarewoodChristopher and other National Security Ministry officials to appear before the JSC "and answer questions into the sudden and suspicious decision to send the Director of the SSA and install an acting Director in his stead."

A statement on Sunday from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) said, "The National Security Council (NSC) has recommended to the Cabinet that the Head of the SSA be replaced immediately and that new leadership and management be installed with despatch."

The Trinidad Guardian reported Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley said the decision to remove Major Best was based on troubling information provided to the NSC by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS). The information, he said, warranted drastic intervention. (Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday and Trinidad Guardian)

Venezuela sets presidential election for July 28

Venezuela will hold its presidential election on July 28, the head of the national electoral council said on Tuesday, though uncertainty remains over who will be the Opposition coalition's candidate with President Nicolás Maduro expected to seek another term.

The country's Supreme Court in January upheld a ban on holding public office imposed by the country's controller general against Maria Corina Machado, who overwhelmingly won an October Opposition primary to determine its presidential candidate.

The ban prompted a re-

instatement by the United States of some sanctions against the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) member after months of nascent rapprochement between the two. The United States has said oil sanctions roll-backs that it carried out last year will expire in April unless Machado is allowed to run.

Machado, a 56-year-old industrial engineer, has rejected the possibility of a substitute candidate, saying her ban is contrived by Maduro's Government to protect him from a viable challenger. The ban was upheld at a time when Maduro has faced declining support among his

socialist party's traditional base.

A March 25 deadline for candidate registration may force the Opposition's hand. Machado's campaign said she was in the country's Andean region and it offered no immediate comment after the election date was announced.

Maduro's re-election to a six-year term during the last presidential vote in 2018 was criticised by the Opposition, the United States and others as fraudulent.

Government-allied lawmakers, Opposition groups and others last week proposed a variety of dates, ranging from April to December (Excerpt from Reuters)

Brazil's ex-military chiefs told Police Bolsonaro discussed coup in 2022, sources say

The former Heads of Brazil's Army and Air Force have confirmed to Federal Police that ex-President Jair Bolsonaro discussed a draft decree to prevent the handover of power after the 2022 election, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Their testimonies, delivered to investigators in recent weeks, augur badly for Bolsonaro, whose political career looks finished and is now widely seen as battling to stay out of jail.

Bolsonaro has been ruled politically ineligible until 2030 for spreading electoral misinformation during the 2022 campaign, and recently had his passport seized by Police probing his efforts to cling onto power after he lost to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the election.

Last week, former Army Chief Marco Antonio Freire

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro standing in front of his house before testifying to the Federal Police in Brasilia, Brazil, February 22, 2024 (Reuters/Adriano Machado photo)

Gomes told Police in a seven-hour deposition that there were discussions with Bolsonaro over a draft de-

cree that could have prevented Lula's inauguration, two sources said.

That followed testimony from former Air Force Chief Carlos Baptista Junior, who last month also told Police about the discussions with Bolsonaro on ways to prevent Lula taking power, one of the sources said.

"I've spoken with various sources over the last 48 hours. I'm certain. There is nothing concrete against the President," Bolsonaro family spokesman Fabio Wajngarten wrote on X, adding that he had not yet had access to the ex-military chiefs' testimonies. Neither Gomes nor Baptista Junior could be reached for comment.

Bolsonaro currently faces various criminal probes that are close to reaching their conclusions. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Residents who fled violence gather to receive meals at a school being used as shelter as the Government declared a state of emergency amid the violence, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, March 4, 2024 (Reuters/Ralph Tedy Erol photo)

Around the World

OOIL NEWS

Oil falls 1% on concerns over China's economic growth plan

il prices fell nearly one per cent on Tuesday as scepticism around China achieving its economic growth target and investors' declining risk appetite countered a weaker US dollar.

Brent crude futures settled 76 cents, or 0.9 per cent, lower at US$82.04 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures fell 59 cents, or 0.8 per cent, to US$78.15 a barrel. Both benchmarks had dropped by more than a dollar during the session.

Weighing on prices, China, the world's biggest oil importer, set an economic growth target for 2024 of around five per cent. While the target is similar to last year's goal and in line with analysts' expectations, the lack of big-ticket stimulus plans to prop up the country's struggling economy disappointed investors.

"The growth target is OK, but the missing part is how they want to achieve that – what sort of stimulus is unclear for now," UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said.

Risk-off sentiment in the broader financial markets also put pressure on prices, Staunovo added. Gold prices hit a record high on Tuesday on rising bets for a US interest rate cut in June, while Wall Street fell on weakness in megacap stocks.

Providing some support to oil prices, the US dollar slipped on easing growth in the services sector. A cheaper greenback typically supports oil prices by lifting demand from investors holding other currencies.

"Beyond that, the market is really just looking for the next headline here, with the upcoming storage reports in focus," Mizuho analyst Robert Yawger said.

The latest round of weekly US inventory reports were expected to show crude stocks increased by about 2.1 million barrels last week, which would be their sixth straight week of builds, while distillates and gasoline stockpiles are forecast to decline, according to an extended Reuters poll.

The first of this week's two inventory reports, from the American Petroleum Institute (API) industry group, was due after 16:30h ET (2130 GMT) on Tuesday. The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) will publish its weekly update today at 10:30h ET (1530 GMT). (Reuters)

Hungary President signs Sweden's NATO membership ratification

Hungary's President Tamas Sulyok has signed the bill that approved Sweden's accession to the NATO military alliance, the President's office said on Tuesday, clearing the way for Sweden to become the 32nd member of the alliance in the coming days.

Stockholm abandoned its non-alignment policy for greater safety within the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The remaining formalities, such as depositing accession documentation in Washington, are likely to be concluded swiftly.

"It is tremendously important and hopefully we will now become members and it will not be a matter of weeks, but a matter of days," Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson told a news conference in Stockholm. "It will be good for Sweden and it

Biden says Gaza ceasefire deal is in Hamas' hands as Ramadan nears

US President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that a deal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages was in the hands of Hamas, as delegations held a third day of talks with no sign of a breakthrough.

Negotiators from the Palestinian militant group, Qatar and Egypt – but not Israel – are in Cairo trying to secure a 40-day ceasefire in Hamas' war with Israel in time for the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which begins early next week.

The deal presented to Hamas would let some hostages captured by Palestinian militants in the October attack that precipitated the war go free, while aid to Gaza would be increased to try to avert famine as hospitals treat acutely-malnourished children, and Hamas would

provide a list of all the hostages held in Gaza.

But in Beirut, Hamas official Osama Hamdan repeated his group's main demands: an end to the Israeli military offensive, withdrawal of Israeli forces, and the return of all Gazans to the homes they had been forced to flee.

He said any exchange of prisoners could not take place except after a ceasefire, reflecting Hamas' view that a ceasefire must, above all, be a step towards a settlement of the conflict.

Israel for its part wants merely a pause in fighting to get hostages out of Gaza and more aid in, insisting that it will not end the conflict before Hamas is "eliminated".

Government spokesman Avi Hyman told a briefing before Hamdan spoke that the Islamist movement would have to "come down from their

delusional positions and come into our orbit".

Washington, Israel's main political and military backer and a sponsor of the talks, also put the onus squarely on

Gaza's rulers.

"It’s in the hands of Hamas right now. Israelis have been cooperating. There’s been a rational offer," Biden told reporters. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Trump looks to knock out rival Republican Haley in Super Tuesday voting

Donald Trump aimed to knock his sole remaining challenger for the Republican US presidential nomination, Nikki Haley, out of the running on Super Tuesday, which would allow him to focus his campaign energy on Democratic President Joe Biden.

The former President, who has dominated the Republican campaign from the start despite his litany of criminal charges, has swept all but one of the contests so far, winnowing a sprawling Republican field of candidates down to two.

While Trump cannot win enough delegates, to formally clinch the nomination on Tuesday, when 15 states hold Republican contests, another dominant performance would further pressure his remaining rival. The day's contests will award more than one-third of Republican delegates –and more than 70 per cent of the number needed to secure the nomination.

The first polls were due to close at 19:00h EST (0000 GMT) in Vermont and Virginia, with voting wrapping up in Alaska at mid-

Meta's Facebook, Instagram back up after global outage

will be good for NATO. It will be good for stability in the entire Euro-Atlantic area that Sweden can become a fullfledged member of NATO."

Most NATO countries approved Sweden's bid quickly after its application in May 2022, but Turkey and Hungary delayed the process, unhappy with Sweden's perceived support for Kurdish separatists and criticism of the Hungarian Government.

The accession of Finland last year and soon Sweden, which has not been at war since 1814, is the most significant expansion of NATO since it took in members from eastern Europe after the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.

The accession is a blow to President Vladimir Putin and Russia now faces an almost unbroken chain of NATO members to its west stretching from the Black Sea to the Arctic. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Meta-owned Facebook and Instagram were back up on Tuesday after a more-than-two-hour outage that was caused by a technical issue and impacted hundreds of thousands of users globally.

The disruptions started around 10:00h ET (1500 GMT), with many users saying on rival social media platform X they had been booted out of Facebook and Instagram and were unable to log in.

The White House National Security Council was monitoring the incident and not aware of any specific malicious cyber activity at this time, a spokesperson said.

At the peak of the outage, there were more than 550,000 reports of disruptions for Facebook and about 92,000 for Instagram, according to outage tracking website Downdetector.com.

"Earlier today, a technical issue caused people to have

difficulty accessing some of our services. We resolved the issue ... for everyone who was impacted," Meta spokesperson Andy Stone said in a post on X, without elaborating on the issue.

Meta, whose shares were down 1.2 per cent in afternoon trading, did not immediately respond to a request seeking more details on the technical problem.

The company has about 3.19 billion daily active users across its family of apps, which also includes WhatsApp and Threads.

Its status dashboard earlier showed the application programming interface for WhatsApp Business was also facing issues.

However, the outage for WhatsApp and Threads was much smaller, according to Downdetector, which tracks outages by collating status reports from several sources, including users.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

night EST (0500 Wednesday GMT).

Biden is expected to win Tuesday's Democratic contests easily, though activists opposed to his Israel policy are calling on Muslim Americans and progressives to vote "uncommitted" in Minnesota in protest.

Haley, a former United Nations Ambassador under Trump, has faced mounting questions about how long she will continue her long-

shot campaign, particularly after losing her home state of South Carolina 10 days ago.

"As much as everybody wants to go and push me out, I'm not ready to get out yet," she told Fox News in an interview.

Trump was leading Haley in every Super Tuesday state where public polling data was available, according to poll tracking website 538. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Ukraine says it has sunk a Russian patrol ship near Crimea

Ukrainian sea drones hit and sank a Russian Black Sea Fleet patrol ship off occupied Crimea in an overnight attack, the Ukrainian military said on Tuesday.

Ukraine's GUR military intelligence agency said a special unit called Group 13 had fired Magura V5 maritime drones at the Sergey Kotov near the Kerch Strait, which connects the Sea of Azov to the Black Sea.

It said on the Telegram messaging app that the vessel had sustained damage to the stern, starboard and port sides, at an estimated cost of US$65 million.

"Right now this ship is on the seabed as a result of fire damage by unmanned boats," navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk said in televised comments.

Andriy Yusov, a GUR spokesperson, said a helicopter had been on board the vessel.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy made no direct reference to the reported sinking of the vessel in his

nightly video address.

But he said Ukraine had "proven what we are capable of, what our strength is capable of."

"That is shown by the number of downed Russian aircraft and the capabilities of our boys against the Russian fleet. There are no safe havens for Russian terrorists in the Black Sea and nor will there be."

And there would be, he said, "no safe space for them in the sky, given sufficient Ukrainian strength".

Meanwhile, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for top Russian commanders Sergei Kobylash and Viktor Sokolov for suspected war crimes in Ukraine, it said in a statement on Tuesday.

The ICC, based in The Hague, said there were reasonable grounds to believe that the two were responsible for "missile strikes carried out by the forces under their command against the Ukrainian electric infrastructure from at least 10 October 2022 until at least 9 March 2023". (Excerpt from Reuters)

Mourners carry the body of 11-year-old Palestinian Amr Al-Najjar, who was killed in an Israeli raid, during his funeral near Nablus, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, March 5, 2024 (Reuters/Mohammed Torokman photo)

PEANUTS

DAILY HOROSCOPES

(March 21-April 19)

(April 20-May 20)

(May 21-June 20)

(June 21-July 22)

(July 23-Aug. 22)

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

Refuse to let your emotions stand in your way. Actions speak louder than words. When in doubt, start small. Don’t let outsiders talk you into something you don’t need.

Evaluate situations, offers and questions before agreeing to participate. Be honest about your feelings and the outcome you expect to achieve before you break ground. Refuse to let conflict turn into anger. Be prepared to go it alone if necessary.

Tread carefully. Know your objective and prepare meticulously, and you will conquer any challenge that comes your way. Personal improvements, fitness and a trendy new look are favored.

Stick to a budget, and you’ll have nothing to lose. Turn your ideas into a reality. Go to the experts for advice, and it will encourage you to expand your skills.

Do the legwork required to understand the ramifications before making a decision that can alter your life. Reach out to someone you can rely on to tell you the truth.

Stop procrastinating. Be the one to make the first move, embrace life and take responsibility for your happiness. Don’t fear the unknown or change when learning something new is an option.

Make changes at home that add to your comfort and convenience. Liven up your routine by incorporating healthy, fun activities that get you up and moving and encourage improved health and fitness.

Let your imagination run wild and put your energy into something you feel passionate about. Positive change will transpire. Opportunity is available, but you must let go of the past.

Your outgoing nature will work against you if you are too generous with your time and suggestions. Someone will quickly take advantage of you by using your ideas to beat you at your own game.

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Listen to reason, but don’t give up on your dreams. Adjust what’s out of reach and replace it with something else. Think of the possibilities and trust your instincts.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

Be secretive and carefully plot your next move. You’ll accomplish the most if you are low-key and focus on finishing what you start. The element of surprise will give you the edge you need.

You’ve got what it takes to forge ahead. Don’t stop or doubt your ability to maneuver your way to victory. Trust and believe in yourself no matter what. Hard work and confidence will be crucial.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

PICKLES

ARCHIE

Harvey receives Atlantic Region Track Athlete of the Year award

After a stellar 2023 on the collegiate circuit, Guyanese distance athlete Attoya Harvey has defied all odds to be named Atlantic Region Track

Athlete of the Year 2023; along with Coaches Greene and Weste, who both have been named men's and women's Coach and Assistant Coach of the Year.

Harvey being picked as the Atlantic Region

Women's Indoor Track

Athlete of the Year has matched the award she won for the 2023 cross country

season, as she enjoyed a fantastic debut indoor season for the Mustangs.

Harvey was the topranked athlete in the Atlantic Region in all four of her individual events this season, the 600-metre run (1:37.73), the 800-metre run (2:12.55), the 1,000-metre run (3:00.63), and the mile run (5:07.38). At the NJCAA Indoor Championships, Harvey earned three podium finishes: in the 800-metre run, the distance medley relay, and the 4x800m relay.

Harvey was part of

the eight-member squad that represented Guyana at the Commonwealth Youth Games in July 2023. The others were fellow CARIFTA medalists Tianna Springer, Javon Roberts, Malachi Austin and Narissa McPherson, who competed in Track and Field; and Ariel Rodrigues, Elliott Gonsalves and Shareefah Lewis, who competed in swimming.

At those CARIFTA Games, Harvey picked up a silver in the 3000m Open, clocking 10:45.74 seconds to finish behind Jamaican Kaydeen Johnson, who sprinted to the finish in a time of 10:41.11s, while Bahamian Akaya Lightbourne (10:47.01s) was third.

Nmaking the list could now focus on their preparation for this year’s Georgetown Zone of the Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” competition, which is set for kicking off on March 15 at the National Park.

Fans are being assured that the long wait for the Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” competition, widely regarded as the most famous of the street football tournaments in the country, is now over, and all roads would now lead to the arena for the anticipated fireworks over the eight days of competition.

The teams making the cut are: Alexander Village, Sparta Boss, Albouystown, Sophia, North Ruimveldt, Leopold Street, Back Circle, North East La Penitence, Tiger Bay, Gold is Money, Stabroek Ballers, Festival City, Broad Street,

Unstoppable, Bent Street, California Square, Lodge All Stars, Stabroek Ballers B, Bent Street Young Gunners, Bad A Yard, Up Top Boss, Laing Avenue Ballers, Street Ballers, Sophia B, Make It Happen, Ballers FC, Renegade All Stars, Airport Ballers, Rising Stars, Back Road Ballers, Tucville Rangers and Middle Road Ballers. With the competition re-

Upper Mazaruni U15 Football Tournament 2024…

Waramadong, Kamarang win opening matches

The Upper Mazaruni

Under-15 male and female Football Tournament commenced last Sunday with a spectacular march past, followed by exhilarating football action from the young ballers.

The air was filled with enthusiasm and anticipation as each team proudly paraded itself on the field before spectators who came from various villages to rally behind their

first match concluded with Waramadong emerging victorious by a score of 3-1 over Jawalla. It was a thrilling start to the tournament, and showcased the skill and determination of both teams.

favourite teams.

The electric atmosphere of the ceremony not only showcased the strong community support, but also highlighted the significance of this tournament in bringing together people from diverse backgrounds, all with a shared love of football.

Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” competition 2024… Team names released for G/town Zone

speaking recently, said that because of the tournament’s absence for a prolonged period, the promoters are just as excited and anxious as the teams and fans to see the unrivalled tournament make its return to the sports calendar.

“We are hoping that the tournament enjoys an exciting return, and it is played with the same level of discipline and keen rivalry that fans became accustomed to in previous years,” Baptiste has said.

turning after an unavoidable hiatus, the organisers are pulling out all the stops to ensure that this hugely popular tournament makes a triumphant re-entry into the football arena. Lucrative prize monies and trophies totalling more than $1.5 million would be up for grabs, while an automatic berth into the National Final is assured.

Guinness Brand Executive Lee Baptiste,

He revealed that, to this end, they have been planning meticulously to ensure that teams, management staff, and fans who come out to the event have a great time, a feature that is usually associated with the tournament.

The other playing days are March 16th, 17th, 22nd, 23rd, 24th and 30th, while the final is set for March 31st.

As the teams took their positions, ready to showcase their skills and determination on the field, the opening ceremony set the stage for what promises to be an unforgettable journey of competition, camaraderie, and sportsmanship in the Upper Mazaruni U15 Football Tournament.

In an exhilarating first match of the tournament, between Jawalla and Waramadong, the action was non-stop and the goals were plentiful. Just 2 minutes and 44 seconds into the game, Galieon Henry of Jawalla stole the ball from the defence and unleashed a powerful shot into the corner of the net, giving his team an early lead.

The first half ended with Jawalla in the lead 1-0, but Waramadong came back strong in the second half. At the 3-minute mark, they were awarded a penalty, which was expertly converted by Devinson Mendason with a powerful shot that levelled the score.

Waramadong continued to press forward, and in the 9th minute of the second half, Prem Agard scored a magnificent header that sailed over the defence and goalkeeper to leave Jawalla stunned and trailing.

In the dying moments of the game, Waramadong sealed their victory with a third goal, courtesy of Devinson Mendason, who capitalized on the goalkeeper’s mistake to score his second goal of the game.

With the final whistle, the

The second match of the tournament, in which Kamarang opposed Phillipai Combined, was a spectacular display of skill and talent, with the excitement starting as early as when 15-year-old Timothy Rodrigues netted the first goal for Kamarang in the third minute of the game.

Rodrigues didn't stop there, but continued showing incredible prowess by scoring two more goals in quick succession – a stunning strike from outside the eighteen-yard box, followed by a toe-punch goal from the 5-metre box – to complete his first hat-trick of the tournament and leave the crowd in awe.

Continuing Kamarang's dominance, Iyaz joined the scoring frenzy with a goal in the eighteenth minute, swiftly followed by another in the twenty-second minute, to bring the score to an impressive 4-0 in favour of Kamarang.

Not to be outdone, Garvel Rodrigues added to Kamarang's tally with a well-taken goal in the twenty-ninth minute, further solidifying their lead. The onslaught continued as Gavin Mc Calmont found the back of the net in the forty-fourth minute with a powerful shot that left the goalkeeper rooted to the spot.

With time running out, Garvel Rodrigues confidently converted a penalty in the final minute to seal Kamarang's victory with a resounding 8-0 win over Phillipai Combined. It was an extraordinary performance that showcased Kamarang's strength and skill on the field.

Attoya Harvey copped silver in the 3000m Open

A glimpse of what to expect when the Guinness tournament is kicked off next Friday

Waramadong goal-scorers (left to right) Prem Agard and Devenson Mendason

Kamarang goal-scorers (left to right) Timothy Rodriguez, Gavin McCalmont, Garvel Rodriguez

GFF hosts Finance Governance Workshop

Representatives of the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) member associations, affiliates and elite clubs on Sunday attended a Finance Governance Workshop which made clear the necessary compliance process for obtaining funding through the Members Financial Assistance Programme (M-FAP) in 2024.

The one-day session, held on March 3 at the Guyana Olympic House at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, also provided participants with an understanding of the FIFA Forward Programme.

At the workshop, facilitated by FIFA Consultant Lance Cummings and GFF Accountant Marco Meredith, discussions were focused on the criteria for securing funding, including completion of the club licensing process and the maintenance of current

financial records, along with the GFF budgetary plans for 2024.

In brief remarks, GFF President Wayne Forde stressed that both member associations and clubs must ad-

here to compliance standards in order to access funding.

“The introduction of M-FAP is to aid clubs and associations in achieving their developmental goals, with the ultimate aim of nur-

AJM Enterprise adding quality, professionalism to West Berbice cricket

…Plans in place for countrywide cricket tournament

Cotton Tree Cricket Club were crowned champions of the AJM Enterprise Mash It Up T20 tournament, which was played last weekend at the Bush Lot Sports Complex Ground in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice).

The tournament lived up to expectations, and went beyond expectations, as it turned out to be a packed event in which thousands of viewers from across the world were locked in to view the matches on livestream.

After the successful payout of a one-million-dollar first prize, AJM Enterprise has indicated that it would continue to play a role in the development of cricket from West Berbice to all parts of Guyana, as plans are in place to host a countrywide cricket tournament.

The recently concluded tournament provided a marketing platform for young players in the West Berbice area to showcase their talent to the world. The likes of Guyana Under-15 player Arif Khan, Leon Swamy and Shamal Angel were the youngsters who gained from the AJM Mash It Up T20

tournament, it is a great tournament, and I am happy to play in it,” Swamy said after he blasted 87 for Cotton Tree.

Cotton Tree captain Roshan Gaffoor expressed similar sentiments in relation to the high quality of cricket played in the AJM tournament. “First of all, we must thank AJM for sponsoring such a wonderful tournament. To invest in so much cash and prizes. This encouraged cricketers in the West Berbice area to play, because the game was dying in the region. Now with the introduction of the AJM Tournament, people want to play cricket,” Gaffoor said.

Player of the final, Kevon Jawahir, also spoke highly of the level of cricket being played in the AJM tournament. “In this tournament,

you have a lot of franchise players, first-division players, playing; and at this second-division level, it is really good,” Jawahir said.

AJM Enterprise is a subsidiary of Jumbo Jet which has been in operation for more than three decades, and is synonymous with supplying heavy-duty equipment. As heavy-duty giants, Jumbo Jet is responsible for supplying the equipment needs of 70% of the local contractors.

AJM Enterprise, which deals with specialized transportation, crane rental, equipment rental, supply of raw materials, (sand and aggregate) and the list goes on, is involved in significant projects across Guyana.

Currently, AJM Enterprise has been working on the Schoonard to Crane Fourlane highway which would soon benefit thousands of commuters in Region Three.

initiative extends support to GFF members in four essential areas: administration & operations, equipment & material, competition and technical development, and infrastructure development.

The primary goal of FIFA Forward is to cultivate and enhance football on a global scale, ensuring that the sport can achieve its maximum potential in every country. This is accomplished through the provision of comprehensive, tailored funding and technical assistance to member associations and confederations.

turing widespread growth. Therefore, it is imperative that all levels adhere to compliance standards for the genuine professionalisation of football in Guyana," Forde has said.

It was Forde, as GFF President, who introduced the groundbreaking M-FAP programme in 2020 with full endorsement of Congress. The

FIFA Consultant Cummings noted that it is important for participants to share their ideas and opinions in “the Football Federation’s budgeting process. It’s not like the Federation is preparing a document to submit for approval to Congress, but it’s really getting Congress involved more at this level,” he explained.

GFF Accountant Meredith noted, “In the past three years, the GFF has distributed millions of dollars

in equipment to associations and clubs, along with preparatory grants for the initiation of regional senior leagues throughout Guyana.”

Ten elite clubs are presently competing in the KFC Elite League, which commenced on February 25 at the GFF National Training Centre at Providence, East Bank Demerara. The nine member associations are gearing up for the launch of their senior men's league.

Among those who were present at the workshop were members of the Bartica Football Association, Berbice Football Association, East Coast Football Association, Essequibo/Pomeroon Football Association, Georgetown Football Association, Upper Demerara Football Association, and the Women’s Football Association.

Representatives of Elite football clubs present were defending champions Guyana Defence Force, Guyana Police Force, Fruta Conquerors, Den Amstel, Buxton United, and Santos.

Archery Guyana grants affiliate status to new school club ISA Archers

Archery Guyana, the body governing Archery in the Land of Many Waters, and the sole entity affiliated to World Archery - the international governing body for the Olympic sport of archery - has granted affiliate status to “ISA Archers” on Tuesday, March 5th.

As a national member association, this is part of Archery Guyana’s mandate from World Archery, to administer the sport at a local level.

Archery Guyana has been working to introduce the sport of archery into schools for some time now, and has since facilitated the creation and development of school clubs.

President of Archery Guyana, Mrs Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon, noted that from its inception, Archery Guyana had envisioned developing the sport within the school environment with the aim of discovering and encourag-

ing athletes from the primary level all the way to the university level. This, she noted, would ensure the widest possible participation in Archery Guyana’s efforts to find the best archer to represent Guyana internationally, and specifically in the Olympic Games.

Archery Guyana has committed to providing the necessary training for instructors and certified coaches, both junior and senior. With this in mind, Archery Guyana sees archery as an additional event at school sports; inter-house, inter-schools and Nationals, thereby fostering a competitive spirit among students and the camaraderie for which archery is internationally known.

Mr Akram Hussain, Principal of ISA Academy located on East Street, has expressed delight in having archery in his school, and has welcomed the introduction of this Club – ISA Archers.

Representatives of the member associations, affiliates and elite clubs following the GFF’s Finance Governance Workshop

Nasrudeen Mohamed, founder of AJM Enterprise, presenting the million-dollar prize to Cotton Tree captain Roshan Gafoor

Principal of ISA Academy, Akram Hussain (at left) receiving the club affiliation package from Archery Guyana President, Mrs Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon, in the presence of Archery Guyana’s National Coach Saeed Karim

Sir Clive says proud of impending Caricom award

Last Wednesday, at the culmination of the 46th Meeting of the Conference of Caricom Heads of Government, it was announced that Guyanese and West Indian Cricket legend Sir Clive Lloyd will be receiving Caricom’s highest honour, the Order of the Caribbean Community (OCC).

Now citing some of the successes that West Indies accomplished under his stewardship, Sir Clive has expressed that receiving the award, which will be presented to him at the next Caricom Heads of Government meeting in July, is something to be proud of.

Inaugural Caricom Classic Chess tournament…

He made these remarks at the recent ‘A Day with Legends’ activity, wherein he and other members of the 1983 Shell Shield and Geddes Grant/Harrison Line Cup championship team were honoured.

Guyanese players off to smooth start

Chess players from participating territories made creditable efforts against their Caribbean counterparts to secure wins or draws in the Caricom Classic Team tournament that commenced at the Ramada Georgetown Princess Hotel on Monday, March 4th, 2024.

The first-day highlights started with the eight-member Guyanese contingent facing each other to contest the first round. In the afternoon, the two Guyana teams played their round-two

matches against Trinidad and Tobago & Jamaica.

For Guyana Team Two, reigning Junior Champion Keron Sandiford (1741) was paired with Joshua Johnson (2324) of Trinidad and Tobago. Kyle Couchman (1756) met Trinidad player Quinn Cabralis (2149), while Ysvett Hermoso Rodriguez (1959) played against former women’s champion Sasha Shariff (1567). Aditi Joshi (1605), playing board four for Guyana, met Zara La Fleur (1790) of Trinidad and

Tobago.

The Guyana Team One match-ups were against the Jamaican team. Nathan Hinds (1988), played white against Guyanese CM Taffin Khan’s (2000) black. Guyanese FM Anthony Drayton (1936), played white against Jhustice McDonald’s (1893) black, Adani Clarke (1905) played white against current women’s champion Jessica Callender’s (1585) black, while Guyanese Shazeeda Rahim (1559) played white against Jamaican Krishna Gray’s

(1789) black.

In round two of the tournament, Guyanese Shazeeda Rahim (1559) (ratings) accepted a draw offer from higher-rated Trinidadian opponent Krishna Gray (1789). Kyle Couchman (1756) made the draw offer to higher-rated Trinidadian (2149) Quinn Cabralis, who accepted.

Reigning Guyanese National Open Champion Taffin Khan (2000) secured his first win over a participant with an unstoppable passed pawn over Jamaican Nathan Hinds (1988). Both players were engaged in an endgame struggle with hostile knights and pawns, but Khan prevailed.

In another match-up, a jubilant Keron Sandiford (1741) walked away with a draw over his much higher-rated Trinidadian opponent FM Joshua Johnson (2324). Sandiford offered his opponent a truce, and it was accepted. Drayton (1936) finished his match with Jamaican Jhustice McDonald (1893) in what was deemed a theoretical draw.

The Guyanese Team One drew with the Jamaican team in round 2, but Guyanese Team 2 succumbed to Trinidad and Tobago.

“I think you feel proud that your people have, you know, given you an award for services rendered, and I think we made the West Indies feel proud,” the twotime 50- Over World Cupwinning Captain of 1975 and 1979 said.

He went on to enlighten about the team’s accomplishments during his tenure as captain, “We have some records that I do not

think will be broken, it will take some time. 39 Test matches without losing one, 11 straight successive wins; and if you’re 17 years old, you would not have seen the West Indies lose. And we’re only 5 million people, 14 islands, we’re not one country like Australia or India or Pakistan, we’re 14 islands; and to get those guys together to do such a marvellous job is something to be proud of.”

Speaking later at the same event, President Dr. Irfaan Ali beamed with

pride as he congratulated Lloyd on the award, the consideration of which was set in motion by none other than President Ali himself.

“I was most honoured, Sir Clive Lloyd, to be the one proposing your name for sure,” The Head of State shared at the Everest Cricket Club (ECC) Ground on Carifesta Avenue last Sunday.

“You deserve it, and you should have had it a very long time ago. So, we’re very proud of you and we congratulate you.”

Sir Clive is considered one of the most successful Test captains in the history of West Indies Cricket, having captained the West Indies Team between 1974 and 1985. Sir Clive was named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1971, and was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2009. Back in 2022, the West Indies Legend was finally knighted after the ceremony had been delayed owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sir Clive is set to receive the OCC award in July in Grenada, where the next Caricom Heads of Government meeting is scheduled.

Annual Easter Swimming Programme begins on March 26

In what has become a successful initiative for the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport (MCYS), in collaboration with the National Sports Commission (NSC), the annual Easter Vacation National Swimming Programme will officially commence on Tuesday, March 26th.

The programme, which had its rebirth in 2022 and is free of cost, has evolved into a national policy that is tailored to children and individuals aged 18. The programme will also cater to individuals with disabilities, further extending its scope of importance and impact.

It will be implemented at four facilities, underscoring its national nature. Those facilities are: the Aquatic Centre at Liliendaal, the site of its intended launch; the Colgrain Swimming Pool on Camp Street in Georgetown; the Watooka Swimming Pool in Linden; and the Albion Estate Pool in East Berbice.

Experienced national coach Paul Mahaica will again reprise his role as programme coordinator and lead trainer.

In excess of 7,000 individuals participated in 2023, which also encompassed the novel Adult Learning Programme. Similarly, more than 12,000 participants have utilised the programme since its re-imagin-

ing in 2022.

Director of Sports, Steve Ninvalle, has said, “Since it’s rebirth in 2022, overwhelming, to put it mildly, might be an understatement in terms of the response that has been garnered for this programme. The initiative, which is essentially the process of teaching a life skill, has developed into a cultural phenomenon, and that is evident by the immense support that has been afforded.”

According to Ninvalle, “While the groundwork would have been done in the previous editions in sensitising the populace about the programme via several different avenues, inclusive of social media, it’s resulting success during that period and it’s expected and continued eminence going forward are primary reasons for its continued historic turnout.”

Ninvalle further said, “With the mammoth turnout that is once again a reality, safety is the guiding star and the building block of this programme, which has never had an unfortunate consequence or episode. We intend to maintain that unblemished record in every regard as we strive to create the ideal environment for learning, social interactions, and discourse; so that this initiative can continue its upward trajectory.

“With success, the natural tendency or progression is for expansion. That is a reality that is being explored as queries have emanated from other environs about that possibility, as the programme is currently being staged in three regions. A gradual but structured expansion is being explored for both programs,” he further stated.

Sir Clive Lloyd during Sunday’s Legends match

Sir Clive Lloyd was knighted back in 2022

Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle

GM Anand making the ceremonial first move of the second round of the Caricom Classic

Trinidad going against Guyana Team 2 in Round 2