Guyana Times - Wednesday, September 27, 2023

$515M Sister Hazel Campayne Block commissioned at St Rose’s High

The $515 million Sister Hazel Campayne

Block at the St Rose's High School was officially commissioned on Tuesday, having withstood several setbacks since the 2018 demolition.

This block is a spanking new three-storey facility with modern amenities, and is equipped with 10 classrooms, a furnished Information Technology Laboratory, a library, a Headteacher’s Office, an auditorium, a cafeteria, and an open courtyard with accommodation for up to 400 students.

The block has been named after Sister Hazel Campayne to honour the contributions of the Ursuline Sisters’ Convent made to the

education sector. Built almost entirely of wood some 175 years ago, the old building had become an unsafe and outdated environment for students to occupy. As such, a $16.9 million demolition exercise in 2018 paved the way for its reconstruction.

The reconstruction was expected to last two years, and over 200 timber piles were installed. The company at that time installed about 90 per cent of the piles, and reportedly removed its resources and abandoned the work site.

Upon taking office in 2020, the Government made efforts to complete the block. The contract was terminated, and in September 2021, a new contract was signed

for the construction of the new block at the cost of $515 million.

Principal Rayon Tobin shared that the replacement structure features many aspects of the original design, and integrates the design of the Marian Wing on the property, including the retention of the green space and courtyard.

“Today I am pleased to let you know that all of that have materialized, and we are seated in a spanking new building. Today our children are happily using this building. They’re very pleased…We have endured all the noise, all that was happening, and we stayed here. We ensured that we stayed because we had a focus in mind to have a spank-

ing new building where our learners, teachers and other staff members could be comfortable,” he said.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand said that after the PPP took office in 2020, the demolition exercise sparked conversation, since the institution had stood tall for decades. However, the foundation was sinking and the floors were worn, hence it was a sound decision. However, the demolition left the premises in a state of dishevelment, since no construction had started.

“A set of old rusty zinc blocking off so you can’t see the true impact of not finishing this school, and you can’t see the ugliness that was left in place of the failure to finish this school, and

the effect it was having on children. That was an unacceptable position to be in,” Manickchand recalled.

She added that some children who started school after the demolition finished their school life with a dilapidated school structure, unable to have the true St Rose’s High School experience.

“The children who started school in 2017 finished school here at St Rose’s with a dilapidated square footage that meant nothing to them, that holds no memory to them. It is far more than the 20 classrooms and teaching and learning that happens in there.”

She noted that beyond academics, common spaces serve an important role in

a student’s school life. The Ministry is also looking at well-furnished rooms.

“Schools are far more than places to learn…We have to have common spaces. We are building out what I hope will be a garden where lasting relationships will be built, where students will learn about each other, and how they can better this country, where they can break bread together,” she said.

St Rose’s High School was founded by six nuns and two postulants from the Ursuline Convent in Ireland in 1847. However, today, the school falls under the auspices of both the Education Ministry and a Board of Governors. (Rupa Seenaraine)

Education Minister Priya Manickchand unveiling the plaque in the company of stakeholders The new three-storey block houses several key facilities and classroom spaces

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, Sep 27 – 02:30h – 04:00h and Thursday, Sep 28 –03:30h – 05:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Wednesday, Sep 27 – 14:55h – 16:25h and Thursday, Sep 28 – 15:30h – 17:00h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

There will be thundery showers and sunshine during the day. Expect clear skies at night. Temperatures should range between 24 degrees Celsius and 34 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly to South-Westerly between 0.44 metre and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 15:16h reaching a maximum height of 2.63 metres.

Low Tide: 08:47h and 21:09h reaching minimum heights of 0.58 metre and 0.56 metre.

Guyana-Venezuela Border Controversy

Guyana refutes Venezuela’s UN presentation of “falsehoods” on

border

controversy

– rejects any extra-judicial settlement, urges Venezuela to abide by ICJ

“This all derives from Venezuela’s grotesque claim to two-thirds of Guyana. Throughout, the Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana has acted, and continues to act in relation to neighbouring Venezuela, in full accordance with international law and has consistently invited the Government of Venezuela to do the same.”

LOTTERY NUMBERS

The presentation Venezuela made at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on its border controversy with Guyana, has been rubbished by Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, for containing excessive false -

The diplomat urged Venezuela to adhere to Article IV of the 1966 Geneva Agreement, which allowed Guyana to have the matter brought before the ICJ after the collapse of the good offices mechanism. She made it clear that Guyana would not agree to any other reso -

and protested against Guyana’s efforts to auction its oil blocks, even though all the blocks are in Guyana’s sovereign territory.

President Dr Irfaan Ali had issued a stern response in a video broadcast over the weekend,

munity. Support has come from the United States (US), Caricom, the Organisation of American States (OAS), and the Commonwealth.

Guyana’s case against Venezuela is currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). However, the Spanishspeaking country has been seeking to block Guyana from having its substantive application before the ICJ heard, on spurious grounds that include its claims that the United Kingdom should have been made a party to the case, instead of Guyana. Venezuela has also claimed that the 1899 Arbitral Award is void due to what it claims was fraud committed by the UK at the time.

Guyana’s legal team is headed by Co-Agent and Counsel, Sir Shridath Ramphal, and includes a member of the Bars of the United States Supreme Court and the District of Columbia, Paul S Reichler; and Professor Emeritus of the University Paris Nanterre, former Chairman of the International Law Commission and member of the Institute de Droit International, Alain Pellet.

hoods “even by their accustomed standards.”

Using her right of reply as Guyana’s UN representative, Rodrigues-Birkett urged that the intelligence of the international community not be insulted by Venezuelan falsehoods, including its accusation that Guyana’s territory will be used as a platform for military action against Venezuela.

This falsehood, uttered by Venezuela’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Yván Gil, when he made his presentation to the UNGA General Debate last week, was also parroted by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a social media post he made a few days ago.

“The intelligence of the international community should not be insulted by Venezuela’s allegations that Guyana is allowing its territory to be used as a platform for military aggression against any State including the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela,” Rodrigues said in her reply.

lution of the border controversy, other than one that sees the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issuing a final, binding ruling on the case.

“Accordingly, if Venezuela truly believes that the best, or the only, way to resolve the controversy is by adherence to the 1966 Geneva Agreement, then it should adhere to that Agreement, plead its case to the ICJ, and accept the decision of the Court, when it is issued, as a final and binding settlement of the controversy.”

“Guyana will not agree to any procedure that contradicts the express provisions of the Geneva Agreement and bypasses the Court, which is the only means of settlement that is now authorised by Article IV of that Agreement,” the diplomat said, also urging Venezuela to confirm that it will adhere to the judicial process of the ICJ.

Venezuelan claims

Last week, Venezuela issued a communique that threatened Guyana

also announcing that he has since updated not only the Speaker of the House, Manzoor Nadir but also Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton, on the Guyana v Venezuela controversy, as well as the support Guyana has gotten from the international community.

In a social media post, Venezuelan President Maduro responded to President Ali and accused Guyana of jeopardising peace in the Region, despite the Spanishspeaking country initiating the controversy. It was here that he made the unfounded claim of Guyana allowing itself to be used as a platform for military aggression.

Maduro had also proposed to President Ali that the two sides meet with the Caribbean Community (Caricom) as a mediator, to return to the Geneva Agreement of 1966 that affirmed the 1899 Arbitral Award.

Guyana has received consistent support from the international com -

United Nations Secretary General António Guterres, in January 2018, decided that the case should be settled by the ICJ, after exercising the powers vested in him to decide how the controversy should be settled by the 1966 Geneva Agreement between Guyana, Venezuela, and the United Kingdom. He resorted to judicial settlement after the good office process between Guyana and Venezuela failed. Within the framework of the 1966 Geneva Agreement between the two countries, the Secretary General conducted good offices from 1990 to 2017 to find a solution to the border controversy.

Among other things, Guyana is asking the ICJ to adjudge and declare that the 1899 Award is valid and binding upon Guyana and Venezuela, that Venezuela is internationally responsible for violations of Guyana’s sovereignty and sovereign rights, and for all injuries suffered by Guyana as a consequence. (G-3)

Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil while at the UNGA

International Court of Justice

Editor: Tusika Martin

News Hotline: 231-8063Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761

Marketing: 231-8064Accounts: 225-6707

Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Industrial Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown

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

New road links and traffic congestion

Traffic congestion continues to be a major challenge in large and growing metropolitan areas all over the world. And in spite of several efforts being made by Governments and other development partners to remedy the situation, it is more than likely that traffic congestion will become significantly worse in the years to come. Both the economy and school systems require that people work and go to school during the same time resulting in road transport systems being overloaded.

Here in Guyana, traffic congestion in the city and its environs is almost unbearable, especially during morning and evening ‘rush-hour’ traffic. These days, it is normal to spend more than a half hour in traffic when going or coming from work or school, especially in areas along the East Bank and East Coast corridors where there is a huge build-up of traffic almost daily.

Not only is the traffic situation adding to people’s personal frustrations, but it is also certainly having a negative impact on the level of output of our citizens, both students and workers. For example, production hours are lost by way of employees coming to work late or the fact that they are so tired and stressed the next day after spending long hours either waiting for transportation or being stuck in traffic.

The establishment of new housing schemes across the country and the increasing numbers of vehicles being imported have contributed significantly to traffic congestion in and around the capital city. Thousands of persons have now been relocated from the city to suburban and rural areas where they were allocated house lots to build their homes. Most of these people have to travel back to the city where they work or their children attend school.

Also, many persons are now opting to purchase their own vehicles. They use these vehicles to commute to work and conduct their daily errands. In fact, within the last seven years or so, there has been a five-fold increase in the number of vehicles traversing our roads. However, the road network expansion programme, even though improving, still cannot accommodate this massive increase in the number of vehicles using our roads.

Traffic congestion cannot be eliminated completely; it is the way modern societies operate. However, there are certain steps that could be taken to immediately minimise the impact traffic congestion has on citizens and their ability to get to their destination with minimal delays. For example, the authorities could work to ensure that there is more Police presence in certain areas to properly direct traffic in order to ensure a smooth flow. In some areas leading in and out of the city, there is hardly any Police presence and some motorists use the opportunity to break the rules. There could also be more diversions where there is heavy traffic build-up.

As a long-term solution, an effective way to address the challenge is to continue expanding the road network in the country, especially in areas that are heavily populated. At present, there are too many vehicles, too few roads, and too little space, especially in the capital city.

There is no doubt that once completed, the East Bank/ East Coast Road expansion project will bring much relief to the travelling public. It is expected that the new roadway will serve as a corridor for communities on the East Bank of Demerara, including Perseverance, Mocha, Providence, Eccles, and Peter’s Hall as well as Aubrey Barker Road.

Instead of going through the hectic Georgetown traffic, the new road link will allow drivers the option to divert from the East Coast and onto the bypass road to access the East Bank of Demerara.

The authorities must continue to look at ways in which the road network in Guyana could be further expanded, improved, rehabilitated, and maintained.

Jeffries should know that he is siding with, and batting for, known election riggers

Dear Editor, Congressman Jeffries is apparently pushing the PNC agenda and operating off the PNC’s playbook, but he should be careful that he is not meddling in the internal affairs of a sovereign state.

He may have already crossed that line. If the PNC are complaining to US officials, they must come with clean hands, as Judge Judy would say. Mr. Jeffries knows the PNC do not have clean hands. No matter what Mr. Jeffries does, he cannot sanitize the PNC, which have an indelible stain as election riggers. An unrepentant PNC have no way to go.

Mr. Jeffries should be mindful of the company he keeps. With the PNC, he is in bad company. The whole world witnessed how they tried to rig the 2020 elections in plain sight of the international observers. The five months of waiting for the PNC to concede and numerous court battles traumatized a nation that had experienced the agony of PNC’s rigging for 28 years, when they were a dictatorship.

So why is Mr. Jeffries so loyal to the PNC? Is it because the PNC operatives in New York are us-

ing the race card? Will Mr Jeffries ask the PNC to abandon their rigging ways, if he is to be an honest broker? Suppose Indos complain that the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) is dominated by one race of Guyanese, that the NIS office is denying NIS benefits due to them, and the Government does little to intervene, would

Mr Jeffries be concerned?

Suppose Indos complain that the PPP have not diversified the state agencies dominated by people who usually support the Opposition PNC, would Mr. Jeffries be concerned?

We are still to see a national diversity plan to address all the various inequities and anomalies in society. The Ethnic Relations Commission continues to be a totally useless outfit, gobbling up nearly $220 million a year with nothing to show for it.

Looking at the evidence, I would not say the PPP Government are engaging in racist practices, as happened during the Burnham/Hoyte era of “Paramountcy of the Party”, when a PNC card was your passport to heaven. That was the closest we came to apartheid. In the big areas of the GOAL

scholarships and distribution of house lots, no one can deny these are fairly done. We have the most diverse cabinet ever. The Government does nothing to address imbalances in diversity in employment across state agencies, and the status quo remains.

The Government responds with lightning speed to requests for help when they visit areas that consistently vote for PNC. Contracts have been given to folks with little history of construction, such as the $346 million Bamia School, which is behind schedule, given to folks known in entertainment and football ahead of companies with construction experience.

Apparently, some people want more of this model of awarding contracts. On the other hand, communities that usually support the PPP, complain that the Government ignore them and take them for granted, and that their response to their needs is slow, if any.

Blogger Rani Meer said, “UN charter- ‘No State or group of States has the right to intervene or interfere in any form or for any reason whatsoever in the internal and external affairs of other States.’ Yet we have the USA doing this

all the time. Hope Burke et al don't bring Jeffries down if the Republicans get a whiff of him practising partisan politics with a racist slant in another country.” The Government of Guyana and their lobbyists should reach out to Republican US legislators to let them know what the NY Congressman is doing, so he can be appropriately reprimanded, as needed. I will inform the Republican Congressional Delegation in North Carolina of Mr. Jeffries’ new friends and his association with a party known for rigging elections. All Guyanese abroad should be taking similar action’.

For their part, the Government must engage the Opposition and be more inclusive. They must answer Opposition questions in Parliament, and seek parliamentary approval for big-money projects. That’s the “One Guyana” we seek. The Government must end their delusion that they can obliterate the PNC. Constructive engagement of all friends and foes makes us a stronger, democratic Guyana.

Sincerely,

Dr Jerry Jailall

Congressman

The home of famous Guyanese singer Eddy Grant, located on an island in the mighty Essequibo River (Dauren Deonarine photo)

Exxon recovered US$11.4B from Stabroek Block since last year

– US$4B in costs recovered in 2023 1st half alone

The Bank of Guyana has reported that United States (US) oil giant ExxonMobil recovered US$4 billion in cost recovery for just the first half of this year, bringing the country closer to a time when Guyana’s oil revenue share from the Stabroek Block will substantially increase.

Under the terms of the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement, ExxonMobil is allowed to recover its investment in the Stabroek Block, via cost recovery. Specifically, no more than 75% of revenue from ExxonMobil’s share of oil lifts goes towards cost recovery.

According to the Bank of Guyana in its half-year report, Exxon recovered US$4 billion in the first half of 2023 through this mechanism. The report notes that this cost recovery was partly responsible for a deficit in the capital account of the Bank of Guyana.

“The current account recorded a higher surplus from increased crude oil exports, however, the overall balance of payments recorded a larger deficit of US$196.4 million

compared to US$100 million for the same period last year. This outturn reflected a capital account deficit which was relatively higher than the current account surplus.”

“The shortfall in the capital account was due to the outflow of oil revenues to the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) as well as cost recovery (withdrawal of equity) by the oil and gas sector despite higher inflows to the private sector in the form of foreign direct investments (FDIs) which expanded from US$1,946.3 million to US$4,045.3 million,” the report states.

At present, Guyana earns approximately 14.5 per cent of overall revenue from the Liza One and Two fields, separate from its profit share.

Last year, Exxon recovered a total of US$7.4 billion from the Stabroek Block.

With a total of some US$30 billion in investments offshore Guyana, ExxonMobil had already recovered the cost of its first oil-producing development in the Stabroek Block, Liza Phase 1, as of this year.

The development cost for the 120,000 barrels per day Liza Phase 1 project is pegged at some $3.7 billion. It is estimated that by next year, Exxon will recover its investment from its first two projects in the Stabroek Block, resulting in Guyana’s revenue increasing to at least 50 per cent.

Since taking office, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government has produced an improved model PSA that, among other things, reduces the cost recovery ceiling from 75 per cent to 65 per cent. This ensures that from the initial investment, more revenue from oil production comes to Guyana.

Other features in the PSA under the new fiscal terms include signing bonuses as high as US$20 million signature for companies that secure deep-water blocks, and US$10 million for the shallow-water blocks.

Additionally, all future PSAs would include the retention of the 50-50 profit-sharing after cost recovery; the increase of the royalty from a mere two per cent to

a fixed rate of 10 per cent and the imposition of a 10 per cent corporate tax.

This model PSA is being applied to future oil contracts, which could be awarded as soon as this year since the recent conclusion of the oil blocks’ auction. During the auction, a total of 14 bids were received from six companies, for eight of the 14 oil blocks off Guyana’s shores on the auction block.

The 14 oil blocks that were up for tender included 11 in the shallow area and three in the deep-sea area, ranging from 1000 to 3000 square kilometres (sq km). It is expected that the awarding of the new oil blocks will be done by the end of this year.

US oil major ExxonMobil, which is already producing oil offshore Guyana, is one of the six oil companies that submitted bids for the blocks. The other companies are SISPRO INC (Guyana); Total Energies EP Guyana BV; Qatar Energy International E&P LLC; Petronas E&P Overseas Ventures SDN BHD (Malaysia); Delcorp Inc Guyana and Watad Energy

and Arabian Drillers of Saudi Arabia; Liberty Petroleum Corporation of the US and Ghana-based Cybele Energy Limited; International Group Investment Inc and Montego Energy SA (London).

There is also interest from

governments in developing Guyana’s oil blocks. Among the countries that have expressed a willingness to work at a government-to-government level were India, Qatar and more recently, the Dominican Republic.

Richard Madeley is an example of why reparations are still relevant

Dear Editor, Richard Madeley’s name hardly rang a bell to Guyanese, until a few days ago, when he made headlines for his disrespectful interview with the President of Guyana. The scorn with which he treated President Ali, and the unbridled manner in which he was allowed to do it, are poignant reminders of why reparation remains a profoundly relevant priority today.

If Madeley allowed Guyanese to respond, we,

like our President, would tell him that we do not want to be bestowed with a castle that embodied the historical pretense that its occupants had the divine right to enslave entire African nations for generations to come.

Reparation does not equate to short-lived handouts and fleeting compensation; reparation means ensuring that the children descended from enslaved Africans can enjoy the same freedoms, social privileges and economic oppor-

tunities accorded to their British counterparts.

Instead, our children have inherited the trauma of generations of enslavement, denial of basic human dignity, and systemic discrimination and racism. Theirs is a legacy of brutality premised on the dehumanisation of African families, who have had their cultures, languages, identities and ties with their ancestral lands whipped out of them.

One of the many historical disadvantages was the

decimation of traditional African family structures, where the authority of elders, parents, and heads of households was stripped away. This, coupled with the separation of African men from their families, their physical abuse and psychological degradation, have left an intergenerational imprint on the mental health and identity construct of African families.

This is the historical injustice that holds the walls of England’s castles together, and it is this historical in-

Guyana no pagará por la Revolución Bolivariana fallida!

Dear Editor, We need to get some things straight in this country, and we need to do so quickly, because nothing less than national sovereignty is at stake. Those like GHK Lall bent on exploiting the threats from Venezuela for domestic political reasons will eventually be consigned to oblivion. Lall needs to shake in a hammock all night and reflect on the damage he is doing to this country. Imagine in the face of a defined threat from a foreign adversary, GHK Lall has the audacity to ventilate nonsense like “[t]he guardians of our sovereignty are mainly one kind of people.”

GHK Lall is using the Venezuelan threat to

Guyana’s national sovereignty to deepen whatever sources of political differences exist in this country. He is trying to fabricate a Maginot Line erected out of the raw materials of racial antagonism, trying his best to keep race alive. Yes, that is the mantra; keep race alive. Keep conflict alive. Keep division alive. Out of this bicameral mentality has emerged a Manichean world, a world cut up and compartmentalised in two, divided between the saved and the damned. The man’s narrative runs something like this – the supporters of APNU and especially the PNC are not included in development, and therefore, we need to have the US deliver shared gover-

nance. He has the Hakeem Jeffries/Rickford Burke formulation ‘down pat’.

In language that could easily be mined by the foreign aggressor, in this case Venezuela, GHK Lall expresses doubt about the will to defend Guyana. In his own words - “I am uncertain as to the strength of spirit in those who have been marginalised and demonised now that there is this urgent callup to rally around the flag” (Ibid). And further “[w]hen people are made to feel like outcasts, when they are consigned to the corral of losers, then national unity becomes the toughest of hard sells (Ibid).

A true patriot would never, I repeat, never provoke

disunity in a time of foreign aggression. The following is what might be said by someone who is not a self-aggrandising tout. “I call on my brothers and sisters from across this land, to stand strong in the face of Venezuelan aggression. And Venezuela should know that the Essequibo is ours! ‘Awe own’! We shall not yield even a blade of grass. Guyana no pagará por la Revolución Bolivariana fallida!

That, that is what a truly patriotic Guyanese should say in the face of foreign aggression.

Sincerely,

Dr Randolph Persaud

justice that requires reparation.

In a time of shifting global power dynamics, the question of reparation is now more than just a grievance; it is a pressing development priority for countries in the region. Conversely, it represents

an opportunity for former colonial empires to shed the weight of their historical shame and lay the foundation for an equitable future.

Respectfully, Anna Correia De Sá Omattie Madray

13:35

14:00

20:30

21:00

22:00

The blocks that were up for the recent auction

Iserve inertia. the book.

Foundation

Test Questions

(CONTINUED FROM YESTERDAY)

BY OVID

Then the summer farms, the orchards, the vineyards, The whole flushed, ripening harvest, shivered As she pondered how to make his death A parable of her anger.

If his cruelty, greed, arrogance Had left him a single drop of human feeling What the goddess did now Would have drained mankind of its pity. She condemned him To Hunger––

But infinite, insatiable Hunger, The agony of Hunger as a frenzy.

Destiny has separated Hunger

So far from the goddess of abundance

They can never meet; therefore Ceres Commissioned a mountain spirit, an oread: “Hear what I say and do not be afraid.

Far away to the north of Scythia Lies abarren country, leafless, dreadful: Ice permanent as iron, air that aches.

“A howling land of rocks, gales and snow. There mad Hunger staggers. Go. Bid Hunger Take possession of Erysichthon’s belly. Tell her she has power over all my powers

Tie the other end of the string to Now put the book on a carpeted

Grab the rubber band and pull the book across the carpet. The rubber band will stretch as the book starts to move, but will not stretch as much once the book begins mov-

Inertia explains that an object in

motion tends to stay in motion and an object at rest tends to stay at rest. To overcome inertia, you have to get the book moving by stretching the rubber band further than you have to once the book is moving.

Make this a science project: Try pulling the book across different surfaces. Try different lengths of string. Try different lengths and sizes of rubber bands. (sciencefun.org)

“To nourish Erysichthon. Let al I pour Or push down this fool’s gullet only deepen His emptiness. Go. My dragon-drawn chariot Will make the terrific journey seem slight.”

The nymph climbed away and her first halt Was the top of Caucasus.

She soon found Hunger raking with her nails

To bare the root of a tiny rock-wort

Till her teeth could catch and tear it. In shape and colour her face was a skull, blueish. Her lips a stretched hole of frayed leather Over bleeding teeth.

TO BE CONTINUED

WORD SEARCH

Tuesday's answers

IsDB lauds Guyana for aspiration to become ‘El Dorado’ of agriculture

–Gov’t reiterates Guyana’s commitment to diversify agriculture

Reiterating Guyana’s commitment to a diversified agriculture sector, Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh on Monday led Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) President Dr Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser and a delegation on a tour of Guyana’s growing corn and soya fields.

Dr. Al Jasser and his delegation, currently in Guyana for a twoday visit, were taken to the Tacama Gold Incorporated’s corn and soya bean project in Region 10 (Upper Demerara/ Upper Berbice). During the tour, Minister Singh informed of Government’s efforts to promote a strong and diversified non-oil economy. According to the Finance Minister, agriculture would continue to be a mainstay of the country’s non-oil economy.

“During the tour, Minister Singh highlighted to Dr. Muhammed AlJasser and the IsDB delegation Government’s efforts to promote a strong non-oil economy, and in particular one that is diversified and resilient,” a statement from the Ministry of Finance said.

“He reiterated that agriculture will continue to be a mainstay of the country’s non-oil economy. Other sectors targeted for investment and expansion include tourism, non-oil extractives such as gold and bauxite, and Information Communications Technology (ICT).”

The importance of ag-

riculture to Guyana has also been acknowledged by IsDB, with the bank writing on its social media page that Dr Al Jasser was left impressed by the corn and soya fields he and his delegation had inspected.

“Guyana is aspiring to become an El Dorado of crops and halal meat production and export. The country is now successfully producing the strategic crops that are necessary for livestock and poultry breeding,” IsDB said in its statement.

For the 2023 first half, Guyana’s non-oil sector recorded 12.3 per cent growth. According to the Mid-Year Report, the growth trend is expected to continue for the rest of the year. Corn and soya are two of the rapidly growing new crops being implemented in Guyana.

At present, there is a consortium that includes Guyana Stockfeeds Limited, Edun Farms, and Bounty Farm Limited. Other investors are Royal Chicken, SBM Wood,

Dubulay Ranch, and the Brazilian-owned N F Agriculture, who are cultivating over 1000 acres of soya bean crop in the Tacama Savannah. The first cultivation trial was launched in 2021.

In the feed industry, Guyana imports close to US$30 million in products annually. The aim is to not just attain self-sufficiency, but to establish the country as a net exporter of soya.

Additionally, President

Ali has already disclosed that there is a huge international interest in joining the local industry. Key stakeholders in the massive corn and soya bean project include the Government, farmers, and private companies. However, the Government has played a crucial role in supporting the growth of the industry with a commitment of over $1.2 billion to infrastructural development in the Tacama area of the Berbice River.

Last year, the Government improved ac-

cess to the area by constructing 40 kilometres of road, with the remaining seven kilometres scheduled to be completed in 2023. Additionally, the Government invested in a drying and storage facility for corn and soya bean, which will be completed this year, establishing the first such facility in the country.

Plans are also afoot to start cultivating corn and soya bean in Moco Moco Village, North Rupununi. The Ministry of Agriculture is also assessing the capacity in other regions with the aim of taking the project there in the future.

Earlier this month President Dr. Irfaan Ali had revealed that as of the

first half of 2023, Guyana cultivated over 3000 acres of soya beans and over 1200 acres of corn. President Ali had also indicated

Government’s commitment to ensuring that by the end of 2026, Guyana will have 50,000 acres of land cultivated in corn and soya.

IsDB President, Dr Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser (second from left) with Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha and Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh at the farm

An image of the corn and soya cultivation

$507M infrastructure works open access for Poke Bridge land allottees

Persons who have been allocated residential lots in Phases Four and Five, Tract CH&PA (Poke Bridge), and Lethem in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) will soon have access to their lands as infrastructure works are almost completed.

On Tuesday, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), Sherwyn Greaves, visited the location and was briefed on the ongoing works.

The contractor, R Kissoon Contracting Services, is expected to wrap up works on the road network in Phase Five by the end of this week, while the road network in Phase Four has been completed.

Also, works are ongoing on the drainage networks, as culverts are being built. The laying of the pipe network for water supply will also commence soon.

Approximately 575 persons have been allocated lands at Tract CH&PA. CH&PA also rolled out the processing of Agreements of Sale for the initial 150 allottees of the Tract CH&PA Housing Scheme.

This process was a critical stage since it gave beneficiaries legal ownership of their land to later receive the Certificate of

Title, which can be used to obtain financing from banks to construct their dream homes.

In May of this year, this $507 million contract was signed for the ongoing infrastructure works which when completed will see some 400 persons gaining access to their land. Already, some persons have started construction on their homes in some sections of the scheme.

At that time, Housing Minister Collin Croal had informed that the multi-million contract invested is the first phase of infrastructure works expected within two years. Moreover, a new well was to also be drilled in the scheme

and electrical networks were to be installed.

To further boost homeownership in the region, 58 residents have also received steel and cement housing subsidy vouchers and the Lethem Housing Support Project will provide 600 residents with two-bedroom homes at a cost of $3 million, with the Government contributing $1 million for each home’s construction. These ongoing projects represent the Ministry’s investment of over $1 billion in Region Nine.

Last year, the Government embarked on the first 100 homes under the Lethem Housing Support Programme.

Being tested… …by

success

The Good Book is full of advice about how adversity’s really good for us - since it evidently really builds “character”, and prepares us to deal with whatever contingencies might come our way. So, as our Eyewitness has been soaking in the Warriors' first championship victory, after completing ten long years dealing with the adversity of perennially being the bridesmaid but never the bride – he wonders whether it was this adversity that prepared them for this eventual success!! Maybe it was… but he wished it coulda been earlier!

The CH&PA was required to construct a $3 million low-income home and provide $1 million in support to each beneficiary for the building cost.

The Housing Ministry then partnered with the New Building Society, Republic Bank Guyana Ltd, and the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry, to offer loans to the tune of $2 million, at a rate of 3.5 per cent to the prospective homeowners.

The programme was aimed at promoting occupancy in housing schemes, having observed that close to 300 empty allocated lots existed in nearby schemes such as Tabatinga and Culvert City.

But it was what it was - and now they’ve finally hit success after ten years of famine, the question arises as to what will success do for the Warriors’ fans in general, and the Warriors themselves in particular. Well, after just one day, your Eyewitness can see that Warriors’ fans have really built up a head of steam during the decade of disappointment – and now they can finally let it all hang out!! Many fans at Providence kept on celebrating through the night, and were joined by their countrymen and countrywomen all across our dear Mudland in alcohol-fuelled merriment. Your Eyewitness even saw fireworks bursting in the air like it was Divali!! And maybe it was to the Warriors' longsuffering fans!

This “sport” was picked up and continued with even greater fervour on Monday – and employers certainly lost hundreds of thousands of man-hours because of the exuberance generated by this (unexpected?) win!! After all, no matter what the bravado of boasting that “this was our year” – even by this Eyewitness - there had to have been some smidgen of doubt to make even the most diehard of fans wonder if the apparent jinx would manifest itself once again this year. Seems to your Eyewitness that the intensity of the extended celebration is in direct proportion to the relief felt!!

Now we come to the Warriors. The over-the-top exuberance of the players was expected. Were they also relieved that they broke the jinx?? Even though, in franchise cricket, the players do change – TKR’s Pooran was once the Warriors’ captain! - they still represent the team and its history. They had tasted the agony of defeat for long, but now that they’ve tasted the thrill of victory, your Eyewitness expects them to keep to their winning ways!

He was especially touched by the emotions of Captain Imran Tahir, who broke down in tears after victory was clinched. He was made captain late in the day this season – and at 46, certainly late in the day for him.

Your Eyewitness feels winning the title will make several underperforming stars pull up their socks. In particular, he really hopes that Hetmyer – who’s now a veteran – will fulfill his potential at last!

…and CSEC

For donkey years, those in the educational sector have been promising a “turnaround” in the delivery of their various curricula in a more efficient manner –meaning, we’d get better results. What’s happened, however, is when they say that, they simply mean they’ll just intensify their efforts to “teach to the test”, so the results would APPEAR better. But even here they’ve failed abysmally!

Take the NGSA. (As Rodney Dangerfield would say, “Please!!”) When it was the “Common Entrance”, there were complaints that the test wasn’t accomplishing its purpose - “evaluate” the children in their areas of strengths and weaknesses, so that remedial/customised efforts could be made.

To date - 20 years after the “assessment” changethere hasn’t been a SINGLE review of a student’s score after they moved on to Grade 7 (secondary school) to follow up with remedial/customised interventions.

So, the top 1% will have their 15 minutes of fame, and we will all bask in their reflected glory, then sink into the (educational) slime once again!

…by Cricket Carnival

The Day after the Warriors’ victory, the overarching Cricket Carnival unleashed its Road Parade – an explicit imitation of the Trini Road March, with nothing left to the imagination!!

But those Trini girls spend all year preparing their bods!!

CH&PA officials on the ground to inspect ongoing development

PNCR Executive member to be Guyana’s new Ambassador to Venezuela

Executive Member of the Peoples National Congress Reform (PNC/R) Dr Richard Van West-Charles has been selected by the Guyana Government to be the new Ambassador to Venezuela.

Dr Van West-Charles is son-in-law of the late Guyanese President Forbes Burnham, who was also the founding leader of the PNC. Just two years ago, he was vying for the leadership of the PNC, but lost to Aubrey Norton. Dr

West-Charles had served as Head of the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) under the former APNU+AFC administration.

Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd has told Guyana Times that Guyana is currently awaiting Venezuela’s acceptance of Dr Van West-Charles’s credentials. According to Todd, this is a matter of “high priority”.

Further, he explained that Government’s selection

Dr Richard

Construction worker dies after falling from building

President Dr Irfaan Ali and Dr Richard Van West-Charles during a recent meeting at State House

of Dr. Van West-Charles for this position also demonstrates the current administration’s commitment to “inclusive governance”.

Guyana’s last Ambassador to Caracas was Cheryl Miles, who had been appointed as Guyana’s Head of Mission in Venezuela back in 2016, and was removed from the post in December 2019. Meanwhile, the Venezuelan Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Guyana is Carlos Amador Perez Silva, whose letters of credence were last year accepted by President Dr Irfaan Ali.

activities are ongoing.

In 2018, Guyana moved to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) after exhausting all means of negotiation with Venezuela, including the good office process between the two South American neighbours. Guyana is seeking a final and binding ruling on the October 3, 1899 Arbitral Award to settle the longstanding border controversy.

Venezuela has since announced a planned referendum, to have its citizens vote on the border controversy with Guyana. Guyana has reached out to Venezuela and communicated its displeasure over this development.

An 18-year-old construc-

tion worker lost his life on Tuesday morning after falling from the fourth floor of a building in Georgetown.

The worker, identified as Javid Shaw from Dochfour, East Coast Demerara, was working on the fourth floor of an apartment building at Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, when he fell.

According to eyewitnesses, Shaw was attempting to ascend to the upper levels of the building when he lost his

balance and fell. He struck a metal loading tray housing a generator before landing on the ground.

The impact of the fall rendered him unconscious, and he was rushed to a city hospital, where he was in critical condition until he succumbed to his injuries.

Just a few months ago a labourer died after falling from a building under construction at Sheriff Street, Campbellville, Georgetown.

Kevin [only name given], of Sophia, Greater Georgetown,

had perished in that accident. Following the accident, Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton reiterated his commitment to ensuring safe working conditions for all workers, irrespective of the industry. He said he firmly believes that work-related fatalities are unacceptable and vowed to address unsafe work practices and workplace conditions through comprehensive inspections across construction sites and other workplaces.

Venezuela continues to lay claim to more than twothirds of Guyana’s landmass, the Essequibo, and a portion of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in which almost 11 billion barrels of oil have been discovered over the past eight years, and in which oil production

Having rejected both of Venezuela’s preliminary objections, the ICJ has set April 8, 2024 as the time limit for the filing of a Counter-Memorial by Venezuela.

Recently, Venezuela issued a communique in which it criticised Guyana’s oil blocks’ auction and threatened Guyana’s economic development, but this was swiftly criticised by the international community.

Meanwhile, in regard to other diplomatic vacancies, Minister Todd said Government is actively working to fill those positions. Guyana’s last Ambassador to Brazil was George Talbot, who was appointed to the post in March 2016, and held same until April 2021, when he was appointed Guyana’s Ambassador to the Caribbean Community (Caricom) – a post he still holds along with being the Director of the Department of the Americas at the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry.

Van West-Charles

Dead: Javid Shaw

Guyana to establish US$14M regional food hub

Guyana is taking a lead role in the Caribbean agriculture sector with the establishment of a regional food hub.

This was disclosed by Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha as he made a presentation in a meeting with the President of the Islamic Development Bank, Dr Mohammed Sulaiman on Monday.

The land for the facility has already been identified on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway and it will cost some US$14 million.

“We want this Guyana

here to be the food hub. The primary production hub of the Caribbean so that we could supply the Caribbean. What we have, our colleagues in the Caribbean, don’t have. We have arable flat land and abundant fresh water. Now with the investment coming on board, we can modernise the infrastructure, and start ramping up of the productions,” he stated.

Mustapha said Guyana is looking to play a lead role in reducing the Caribbean’s food import bill by 2025. He further stated that Guyana

will work with the State of Roraima in Brazil to form a partnership in the development of the Hub.

However, Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh expressed that the Government has been in discussions with the Prime Minister of Barbados about sourcing inputs from Northern Brazil and transporting them through Guyana to Barbados and vice versa.

“We see the regional food hub as very much a regional initiative…as a piece of infrastructure that will contribute to a more

efficient market for agricultural products, across the entire Caribbean and Northern South America.”

He pointed out that this will also give rise to the growing logistics industry

in Guyana moving goods, services, and people. The project will be partly funded by the Government.

Meanwhile, this move was commended by Dr Muhammad Sulaiman Al-

Jasser.

“I think to have a target to be the Caribbean hub for food. I think that’s a great ambition and it’s doable and I think the highway that will participate with you in building…connecting you with the largest economy in South America. You have a huge market. Whatever you produce here, you could sell there, and whatever you need you can bring from there also,” he said.

The establishment of modern farms, increased use of technology and more efficient farm practices are also the goal.

Additionally, Dr Muhammad Sulaiman Al-Jasser’s visit follows the conclusion of the United Nations General Assembly, which saw fruitful discussions related to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

President of the Islamic Development Bank, Dr Muhammad Sulaiman Al-Jasser; Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha and Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh, during a field visit to one of Guyana’s major agricultural projects

GBTI introduces 1st Mastercard Black Card

– Pres Ali, First Lady are 1st recipients

The Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) has recently introduced its Mastercard Black Card with the first of its kind issued to President Dr Irfaan Ali and First Lady, Arya Ali on Saturday.

The bank’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), James Foster, related that the financial institution was thrilled to introduce yet another first – this premier Mastercard Credit Card – to Guyana while adding that the bank is committed to continually upgrading its use of technology and innovative solutions to offer value to its customers.

“Mastercard is a premier brand in the credit card market, and GBTI is proud to be the first 100%

Guyanese-owned bank issuing and acquiring partner. Our Point-of-Sale terminals accept all the major credit cards for a seamless and convenient payment experience,” the CEO stated.

GBTI has added Mastercard Black and Gold credit cards to its line of card products which are now available at all GBTI branches.

As our country continues to experience unprecedented economic growth and development, the Black Card is a further testament to our improving profile on the international financial stage.

GBTI Mastercard Credit Card users will experience exclusive benefits when travelling or shopping at

Mastercard partner merchants around the world.

As an introductory offer, persons applying for MasterCard Credit Cards before March 2024 will receive a waiver of 50% of the annual fee which ranges from US$50 – US$350.

GBTI Mastercard Credit Cardholders will enjoy the reliability and convenience of transaction alerts via email for added peace of mind; tap payment for swift transactions; swift replacement of lost or damaged cards; access to free monthly online statements effortlessly; and convenient online payment options.

GBTI is Guyana’s largest indigenous bank and has been the first to introduce several firsts, includ-

ing ATM cards, in Guyana. The bank diligently strives to maintain and protect our rich and warm Guyanese

brand. We promote a culture of engagement, proactivity, innovation, and customer-centricity. More

information on GBTI Mastercard Credit Cards can be found at www.gbtibank.com.

President Irfaan Ali and First Lady Arya Ali received Guyana's first Mastercard Black Card from GBTI CEO James Foster and Deputy CEO Shawn Gurcharran in the presence of bank staff members

China’s development trajectory can guide Guyana’s growth –

PM Phillips

…19th Chinese Medical Team arrives in Guyana to provide medical care

Prime Minister Brigadier (Retired) Mark Phillips reaffirmed Guyana’s commitment to strengthening the bilateral partnership with China while noting that the development model in several sectors can serve as a guide for Guyana’s ongoing transformation.

The Prime Minister made these remarks on Monday at Pegasus Hotel in Georgetown during a celebration of the 74th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, and the 30th anniversary of the Chinese Medical Team initiative.

“Guyana congratulates China on its numerous achievements and remarkable journey over the last seven decades, demonstrating the futuristic vision of Chinese leaders and the tenacity and perseverance of the Chinese people. China is now a worldwide powerhouse playing a vital role on the global stage,” Phillips said.

According to Phillips, Guyana can draw important lessons from China's development model in infrastructure investment, industrial promotion, and support for the manufacturing sector to drive economic growth and employment creation, as well as their focus on education and attracting foreign investments.

He noted that President Dr Irfaan Ali’s recent trip to China advanced cooperation in the areas of transportation, energy, and telecommunications.

“We also look forward to collaborating on food, energy, and climate security issues that are key to global sustainable development,” Phillips said.

As Guyana remains consistent in its support of the One China policy, Phillips expressed hopes for China

to also support Guyana’s efforts to preserve sovereignty in the face of Venezuela’s claim to two-thirds of its territory.

“The maintenance of sovereignty and territorial integrity is at the heart of a nation’s existence and development,” Phillips said.

Medical brigade

“The cooperation programme between Guyana and China is firmly established in a number of areas, including infrastructure, technology, agriculture, and education,” Phillips said.

“We are particularly appreciative of the assistance provided for developments in our health sector, especially during the pandemic. I want to especially recognise the invaluable contributions of the Chinese medical personnel,” Phillips said.

Notably, China has been providing medical assistance to Guyana for the last 30 years, through its revolving door of medical brigades.

Over this time, some 263 doctors have treated about one million local patients and performed more than 30,000 surgeries.

When Guyana Times spoke with the Head of the 19th Chinese Medical Team, Dr Chu Xuehui earlier in the month, he described the experience as unforgettable and commended the development of Guyana’s healthcare provision.

“Through the efforts of the previous teams, I think the medical system in Guyana has improved gradually. The Guyanese doctors can do lots of operations now by themselves – not just the four common operations, but they can do some complex surgeries like the resection of the stomach for colon diseases, and they can even do some laparoscopic surgeries. So, there’s been great progress,” Xuehui had stated.

In addition to conducting check-ups and surgeries on patients across the country, the medical team usually facilitates training sessions to advance the skills of Guyanese doctors and has been instrumental in advancing the medical technologies available in the country.

The 19th team arrived in Guyana on Friday and intends to add to these efforts.

Prime Minister Mark Phillips and wife Mignon Bowen-Phillips, Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Guo Haiyan, and members of the 19th Chinese Medical Team

Prime Minister Mark Phillips

Ramsammy’s Ruminations

last two weeks – the possibilities are enormous

Last week, Guyana stood as one and rejected Venezuela’s war call. The President spoke on our behalf, and calmly, gracefully, but forcefully rejected Venezuela’s claim to Guyana’s land, and rejected Venezuela’s threat of war to forcefully give effect to their false claims. President Irfaan Ali made us proud when he stood tall, unbending, and told Venezuela we were not intimidated by their threats.

We are a peaceful nation, but it does not mean we will capitulate to threats. He spoke in Guyana and outside of Guyana. He spoke to Guyanese, and he spoke to the world. The Leader of the Opposition and the Opposition parties spoke in support, and pledged that, on this matter, they stand firmly with the President, the Government, and the people of Guyana. Last week, and on this Venezuelan threat, Guyana was and is ONE GUYANA.

Last Sunday, the RBL CPL finals were played in Guyana. The Guyana Amazon Warriors faced their CPL rival. It was the 11th CPL finals. The Trinidad and Tobago Knight Riders had won four titles before Sunday; the Guyana Amazon Warriors had played in five CPL finals before Sunday and had never won any championship before. As they had done on all the previous occasions, the Guyanese people put aside all their differences and came out in support of the Guyana Amazon Warriors. Politics was put aside, religion took a dive, cultural differences melted; and racial animosity, to the extent it has divided us, faded into the background. ONE GUYANA was on display.

Led by the President himself, the Vice President and the Prime Minister, the Guyanese people came out to the Providence National Stadium, or looked at the game on TV, or listened on the radio. The Guyanese diaspora everywhere also got involved. Many took flights to Guyana, even if some had to watch the game on TV. Others watched the TV in cities like New York, Miami, London, Toronto, and across Caricom -- everywhere Guyanese live.

ONE GUYANA witnessed the Guyana Amazon Warriors become the CPL 2023 champions, the first time ever that the Warriors lifted the trophy. But what they really lifted, what they really celebrated, was ONE GUYANA. The Knight Riders were worthy opponents. They could not win; they had no chance. They were playing Guyana in Guyana, a nation that stood with the dream of ONE GUYANA. No matter where we came from, no matter who had voted for whom in March 2020, no matter what our ethnicity and race, our culture was on display, and we were Guyanese.

Just as we stood as ONE and let Venezuela know that we were not intimidated, we stood for GUYANA STRONG on Sunday. The Knight Riders wilted like a daisy in sweltering heat in the face of a team with a whole nation behind them. Our country looked inside of itself twice in the last two weeks and we found goodness and pride in being Guyanese. We were proud Amerindian Guyanese, Afro-Guyanese, Indo-Guyanese, Portuguese Guyanese, Chinese Guyanese, and Guyanese of all ethnic mixtures.

On the Venezuelan issue, we also have the overt support of the UN, the Commonwealth, Caricom, and other nations. Venezuela stands alone. None of the countries that traditionally support Venezuela have come out in support of our South American neighbour. Venezuela stood alone as ONE GUYANA emerged and shone last week. The President led from the front, and Guyanese were proud of his leadership. Venezuela know that they rattled their military wares, but Guyana took the diplomatic road, and so far, Guyana has won. The so-called “sword vs the pen” scenario was in play, and the “pen” won. Diplomacy won over war. This was Guyana that chastised the rich and powerful countries that have jumped to support the war in Ukraine, but found justification for neglecting Haiti, an obvious racial divide.

As ONE GUYANA shone in our refusal to capitulate to Venezuelan intimidation, the whole coalition of countries in the Global South stood with Guyana as Guyana highlighted the hypocrisy of the Global North on existential threats such as climate change, food and energy security, and the Global North’s myth of intellectual superiority over the Global South.

Twelve years ago, the CPL concept was born. The Guyana Amazon Warriors became the first team to be established in the new CPL. A local entrepreneur had the vision and courage to invest in the first CPL Team. Dr. Bobby Ramroop defied the odds and stood still as one of the few Caricom nationals to invest in the dream. His Guyana Amazon Warriors franchise is now champion for the first time, but the GAW are also the most successful CPL team so far. It is the team with the most wins in CPL history, the team that has been in the most finals, and the only team that has played in all the playoffs in the 11 CPL seasons. It is the only team in any of the Caricom territories that is owned by a national of that country.

As we celebrate together as ONE GUYANA, we have before us the two possibilities – a divided Guyana, which we are most of the time; and the energy, passion, love, and opportunities that abound all over us with ONE GUYANA. President Ali and the PPP Government are leading the ONE GUYANA vehicle. The people are responding. The Leader of the Opposition must now stand with us.

Norton Street man nabbed with 25lbs ganja

Twenty-four-year-old

Akeem Smith, also known as 'Family Man,' of Norton Street, Georgetown, was arrested on Monday with a significant amount of ganja in his possession.

The arrest took place at a checkpoint erected by

ranks of the Police Station at Weldaad in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice).

The Police have said that Smith was a passenger in Toyota Noah vehicle HC 6696 when it was intercepted at the checkpoint. As the vehicle came to a halt, a search was

conducted on the vehicle and its occupants, during which Smith, who was carrying two haversacks, reportedly attracted the attention of the officers.

As such, the haversacks were inspected and three transparent parcels with the cannabis were found.

He was informed of the offence committed and was taken into custody, where he admitted to the Police that the narcotics belonged to him. The cannabis was weighed and amounted to 11,339 grams (25lbs). Smith remains in custody pending charges.

Dr Leslie Ramsammy

The ganja that was found in Smith’s possession

One Guyana has been on display in the

Water treatment plant at Onderneeming to be functional by early 2024

Construction work on the water treatment plant at Onderneeming on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) is in the advanced stage and is expected to be completed early next year.

This is according to the Director of the contracting firm, Toshiba Water Solutions, Sanjay Agrawal, who was on-site during an inspection visit by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Guyana Water Incorporated, Shaik Baksh.

Agrawal explained that soon after the construction phase of the project is completed, equipment will be installed and tested to get the plant ready for commissioning in June 2024.

Thus far, the India-based company that specialises in providing turnkey services in water and wastewater collection, treatment, and disposal has encountered no major challenges.

Some 25 Guyanese are employed on the project and have been working diligently to keep the project on

schedule.

Baksh echoed his satisfaction with the progress of work on the plant and said he looks forward to the timely delivery of the project that will bring treated water to some 5000 residents from Taymouth Manor to Supenaam.

Water on the Essequibo Coast contains the highest level of iron content, and this has been the source of frequent complaints from residents there.

The water treatment plant at Onderneeming and another that will be built at Maria’s Delight, together with the existing plant at

Lima, are expected to significantly ease the residents’ concerns.

The water treatment plant that will be built at Maria’s Delight will serve residents from Walton Hall to Charity and is expected to be tendered before year-end.

Both the Onderneeming and Maria’s Delight projects include the installation of transmission lines, with the former costing some $2.2 billion and the latter $1.8 billion.

Aside from the treatment plants and transmission lines for the Onderneeming and Maria’s Delight projects, two wells each will also

4448 patients treated at Infectious Diseases Hospital in last 3 years

Since its inception in 2020, the Ocean View Infectious Diseases Hospital has served 4,448 patients, with a peak of 112 patients being hospitalised with COVID-19 at one time.

In addition, over a threeyear period, approximately 50 dedicated medical staff members have worked tirelessly within the walls of this institution to provide the best medical care to citizens.

As the facility celebrates its third anniversary, there is no doubt that it has played a pivotal role in Guyana’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the care of infectious disease patients.

In March 2020, Guyana experienced its first case of COVID-19 in a moment that brought both uncertainty and resolve. Sadly, it also marked the country’s first recorded COVID-19 fatality. At that time, GPHC embarked on an unprecedented journey to prepare for the challenges that lay ahead.

The hospital’s preparations in January 2020 were a mere glimpse of the reality that awaited. Due to the infectious nature of COVID-19, a provisional 14-bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) was established to cater to critically-ill patients. To accommodate this unit, several hospital departments had to be temporarily closed, highlighting the hospital’s commitment to addressing the pandemic’s demands.

As cases continued to surge, preparations were made to convert the Ocean

View Hotel into a dedicated COVID-19 hospital, marking a transformative moment in the battle against the virus. On September 1st, 2020, the first group of stable COVID-19 patients, initially maternity patients, were transferred to the Ocean View Infectious Diseases Hospital.

The ICU capacity at this facility catered for 28 beds, and then 38 beds, accommodating critical patients requiring ventilation. Additionally, the facility also housed moderately-ill patients while also providing essential services such as dialysis, surgical interventions (including c-sections for pregnant mothers, trauma, and paediatric surgeries), physiotherapy, and physiological support for COVID-19 patients.

Addressing staffing challenges posed by the pandemic, GPHC rallied medical staff from its own ranks, the Ministry of Health, and other regions like Linden to work as frontline healthcare

heroes. Decontamination stations were established within the hospital to ensure staff safety. Moreover, recognizing the difficulties some staff faced with public transportation due to virus-related fears, GPHC provided housing and transportation assistance for some.

As of this milestone, while COVID-19 is no longer considered a pandemic, the Ocean View Infectious Diseases Hospital continues to care for a limited number of COVID-19 patients, as well as patients with other infectious diseases, such as monkeypox, tuberculosis and MRSA. GPHC lodgers are also there.

The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation has said it acknowledges and extends its deepest gratitude to all frontline workers, staff, and partners who have made the Ocean View Infectious Diseases Hospital a symbol of resilience and hope in the face of adversity.

be drilled at these sites and will see the retirement of eight old ones.

Baksh related that the treatment plant, transmission line, and wells at Maria’s Delight are expected to be completed in 2025. This project, along with the project at Onderneeming, is part of the Coastal Water Treatment Project, which is geared at providing treated water to the population.

In addition to

Onderneeming, similar treatment plants are being built at Parika, East Bank Essequibo; Wales and Lust en Rust, West Bank Demerara; Caledonia on the East Bank; Cummings Lodge in Georgetown and Bachelor’s Adventure on the East Coast.

Most of these projects are expected to be completed in the second half of 2024 and will enable the provision of clean water to thousands of

residents.

Also, before the end of this year, GWI is expected to tender for another five new treatment plants in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, and Six.

GWI is committed to providing treated water to 90 per cent of the population by 2025, and the Government has been investing billions of dollars annually in the sector in support of this vision.

Vagrant dies after running into path of motor lorry

An unidentified vagrant was on Monday evening struck down and killed by a motor lorry with a trailer at the intersection of Avenue of the Republic and Regent Street in Georgetown.

Police have said the vehicle was at the time being driven by a 38-year-old resident of Sophia, Greater

Georgetown, heading south in the eastern carriageway of Avenue of the Republic, the traffic light signal having displayed green in his direction.

The driver told Police that he noticed four pedestrians on the eastern side of the road, and they suddenly attempted to cross. To avoid a collision, he

swerved, but the vagrant ran into the rear left wheel of the trailer and fell on the roadway, where he sustained severe injuries. An ambulance was called to the scene, but upon arrival, medical personnel pronounced him dead. The driver is currently in custody assisting with the investigations.

70-year-old man dies in Agricola accident

Hardat Harriram, a 70-year-old resident of Old Road Eccles, East Bank Demerara, has been killed in an accident that occurred along the Agricola Public Road, Greater Georgetown, on Tuesday, September 26.

The incident, which reportedly occurred at around 05:20h, involved motor jeep PJJ 9372, which was at the time being driven by a 38-year-old resident of Annandale, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Based on preliminary Police investigations, the jeep was proceeding south along the western drive lane of the road while Hardat was pushing a pedal cycle across the road from west to east. As Hardat approached the eastern carriageway, he stopped at the concrete

Dead: Hardat Harriram (Newsroom photo)

median, and remained there for a while, holding his pedal cycle while waiting for an opportunity to cross the road.

After waiting for some time, he proceeded to cross the road, but in so doing, he ended up in the path of the vehicle. The front

of the jeep struck Hardat and he was flung in the air, and when he landed on the road surface, injuries were observed on his body. He was pronounced dead on the scene by Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT). The driver remains in custody.

Director of Toshiba Water Solutions, Sanjay Agrawal (left); GWI CEO Shaik Baksh (second left) and GWI Water Treatment Infrastructure Unit Director Aubrey Roberts with technical officers

Men busy at work at the Onderneeming project site

Over 12,000 substandard electrical fittings, close to 5000 packets of illegal cigarettes destroyed

Following a series of nationwide mandatory inspections, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) on Tuesday seized and destroyed a quantity of cigarettes, electrical fittings and equipment, and safety matches that failed to comply with its standards.

Head of the Product Compliance Department, Quincy Troyer explained that these items are regularly monitored at the ports of entry, warehouses, bonds, and sales outlets, with inspectors examining them in accordance with the specific requirements for each product.

“Those products failing to meet the requirements of the standards will be placed on hold, pending the submission of a test certificate or [Declaration on Conformity of Origin] by the stakeholder. They will

be given 21 days to adjust their nonconformity. After

Natural Resources Ministry, Orica Mining conduct blaster certification course

According to Minister Bharrat, the training of Guyanese professional blasters aligns with the Ministry’s local content objectives and the Government’s development and growth strategy.

He has encouraged participants to pursue certification as a means to better themselves and Guyana as a whole. Almost 100 persons are attending this Programme.

With over 13,000 employees, Orica, headquartered in Australia, is the largest explosives provider in the world, and has been providing explosives to Guyana over the last forty years.

those 21 days would’ve expired, we are then forced to remove those products from the business place and have some amount of destruction involved,” Troyer said.

From January to date, inspectors seized 12,670 electrical fittings and equipment, including lamp holders, wires, cables, circuit breakers, panel boards, extension cords, power outlets, and plugs.

Some of these items were found to be without labels while others did not specify the country of origin, directions for use, and certification marks to prove that they were tested by an independent lab for quality.

address it because it’s illegal,” Troyer added.

Confiscated cigarette brands included Raquel, Memphis, Gold Mount, and most evidently, Atlanta, which Troyer said was seized primarily in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

In accordance with the Guyana National Standard (GYS) 28:2022 “Specification for safety matches,” 1340 packs of safety matches were seized for failure to comply with stipulated standards, most notably not being labelled in English.

Orica Mining Services, in collaboration with the Natural Resources Ministry, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), and the Guyana Mining School, on Tuesday commenced a three-day progamme to benefit blasters in the country with the expertise of global experts.

Titled ‘Safe and Efficient Blasting in Mining and Quarrying’, the programme is targeted to benefit experienced blasters and blasters’ helpers, and informative

presentations, interactive workshops and engaging discussions are to be led by industry experts and experienced professionals.

Topics to be covered include advanced blasting techniques, hazard risk management, blast design and optimisation, safety protocols, environmental considerations, and the use of modern technologies in blasting operations.

Training sessions are being conducted by international blasting experts who practise their trade worldwide.

In addition to educational sessions being provided, participants with the required field experience would also have the chance to write an exam administered by the GGMC on Saturday, in order to obtain a blaster’s licence.

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat opened the specialised course by commending stakeholders for this input, expressing that the need for experienced, locally-trained blasters has exponentially increased.

It has been reported that the gold mining and quarrying sector, driven by increased output, is estimated to have grown by 89.9 per cent in the first half of the year. This increase outweighs the declines observed in the gold mining and bauxite mining subsectors.

According to the MidYear Report, 209,756 ounces of gold were declared at the end of June 2023.

According to the report, small- and medium-scale gold miners declared 159,084 ounces at end of the first half of 2023. However, declarations from the large gold producers – likely a reference to Zijin Mining – expanded by 6.1 per cent.

Furthermore, all labels, brochures, instruction manuals, and leaflets associated with these products are required to be written in English and accompany the product at the time of the sale.

Meanwhile, 4730 packs of cigarettes were destroyed for missing key details such as a pictorial warning taking over 60 per cent of the package, manufacturing date and batch number.

“The GNBS is mandated by the Tobacco Control Act of 2017 and our responsibility is to ensure proper labelling of those products. We would have found some illicit cigarettes on the market through our surveillance exercises and when we find those illegal cigarettes, we seize them immediately. So, you’re not given any grace period to

Troyer explained that the GNBS is ultimately aiming to sensitise stakeholders to these standards and encourage them to ensure that the products they are offering to consumers are of good quality.

“The importers, dealers, and manufacturers of these products are required to register annually with the GNBS. We will guide you through the process of registration and we will sensitise you to the requirements of the standards. So, when you go to make a purchase overseas or even locally, you are aware of the requirements of the GNBS so you can make informed choices in doing so,” Troyer said.

“We also encourage you to supply samples prior to the importation, so you can check them to ensure they’re in compliance with the standard so you won’t have to go through all these inspection processes,” Troyer added.

Almost 100 blasters are benefitting from this programme

Guyana National Bureau of Standards destroying a number of substandard electrical equipment, illegal cigarettes and safety matches

Around the World OIL NEWS

Oil prices rebound, settle higher on worries about tight supply

Oil prices settled nearly 1% higher on Tuesday, rebounding from a slump to a two-week low in early trading as expectations of tighter supply outweighed worries that an uncertain economic outlook would crimp demand.

Brent crude futures settled 67 cents higher, or 0.7%, at US$93.96 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures settled 71 cents higher, or 0.8%, at US$90.39.

On Monday, Russia softened its gasoline and diesel export ban. Exports of products already accepted by Russian Railways and Transneft can to go ahead, while higher-sulphur gasoil and fuel used for bunkering will be exempt from the ban.

But the ban on exports of high-quality diesel and gasoline remains in place.

Oil supply remains tight as Russia and Saudi Arabia have extended production cuts to the end of the year. "Oil supply is expected to underwhelm demand in the foreseeable future and therefore any weakness, even if it is achingly startling, should not last," said Tamas Varga, an analyst at oil broker PVM.

The world's top central banks, the US Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank, have in recent days reiterated their commitment to fight inflation, signalling tight monetary policy may persist longer than previously anticipated. Higher interest rates slow economic growth, which curbs oil demand.

"Refined products remain under pressure as fears of higher oil prices for a longer period of time combined with higher interest rates for a longer period of time may depress demand," said Andy Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates LLC.

Limiting gains, the US dollar hit a 10-month high on Tuesday, as higher bond yields attracted investors towards the greenback.

As the major currency used for oil pricing, a stronger dollar typically weighs on oil demand as it becomes more expensive for importers relative to their local currency.

Rating agency Moody's said on Monday that a US Government shutdown would harm the country's credit, a warning coming one month after Fitch downgraded the United States by one notch on the back of a debt ceiling crisis.

"The threat of US Government shutdown and its potential impact on the country's credit rating can also be a factor in oil finding it increasingly challenging to provoke the magical US$100/bbl target," Varga added.

Industry data released after settlement showed US crude oil stockpiles rose last week by about 1.6 million barrels, according to market sources citing American Petroleum Institute figures. Analysts had expected a drop of 300,000 barrels. US Government data on crude stockpiles is due today.

Investors' concerns about tightening supplies in the Cushing, Oklahoma storage hub also boosted prices during the session, said Price Futures Group analyst Phil Flynn.

Crude stockpiles at Cushing are at their lowest in 14 months due to strong refining and export demand, prompting concerns about the quality of the remaining oil and the potential to fall below minimum operating levels. (Reuters)

Dozens dead, 105 missing after blast at Karabakh fuel depot – ombudsman

The death toll from an explosion and fire at a fuel depot in Nagorno-Karabakh has risen to 68, with a further 105 people missing and nearly 300 injured, the office of Karabakh's ombudsman said on Tuesday.

The blast occurred as thousands of ethnic Armenians fled the breakaway enclave after their fighters were defeated by Azerbaijan in a lightning military operation.

The authorities have not given any explanation of the cause of the blast.

Earlier, several media outlets cited the Armenian Health Minister as saying the death toll from Monday's incident had risen to 125.

Some outlets later edited their posts, saying that was the number of people killed in Karabakh during last week's Azerbaijani military operation and then transported to Armenia.

Canada's Speaker Anthony Rota resigns after Nazi in Parliament row

The Speaker of Canada's House of Commons has resigned after inviting a Ukrainian man who fought for a Nazi unit to Parliament and unwittingly praising him.

After first resisting calls to step down, Anthony Rota quit on Tuesday after meeting party leaders in Ottawa.

"I must step down as your Speaker," he said in Parliament. "I reiterate my profound regret."

The incident last Friday drew global condemnation.

Yaroslav Hunka, 98, got a standing ovation after Rota called him a "hero" during a Friday visit by Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky.

Rota has said he did not know of Hunka's Nazi ties and made a mistake in inviting him to attend the event.

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Monday it was "extremely upsetting that this happened".

"This is something that is deeply embarrassing to the Parliament of Canada and by extension to all Canadians," he told reporters.

During World War Two, Hunka served in the 14th Waffen-SS Grenadier Division, a voluntary unit made up mostly of ethnic Ukrainians under Nazi command. Division members are accused of killing Polish and Jewish civilians, although the unit has not been found guilty of any war crimes by a tribunal.

Earlier on Tuesday, Poland's Education Minister Przemys?aw Czarnek said he had "taken steps" towards extraditing Hunka.

Members of Trudeau's Cabinet had joined cross-party calls for Rota to step down.

Hours before the Speaker announced his resignation, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly called the mistake "completely unacceptable". (Excerpt from BBC News)

The office of Karabakh's ombudsman, Gegham Stepanyan, gave its toll and the number of missing later on Tuesday. It said on social media the number of injured had

reached 290, 168 of whom were taken to medical institutions in Armenia on Tuesday: 96 by helicopters from Armenia and belonging to Russian peacekeepers, and 72 patients by ambulances accompanied by the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The number of victims rose sharply from an earlier announcement by Karabakh authorities reporting 20 dead on Tuesday morning.

As of 1600 GMT on Tuesday, at least 28,120 of the 120,000 ethnic Armenians who call Nagorno-Karabakh home had already crossed into Armenia, the Armenian Government said . (Reuters)

Joe Biden makes history by joining UAW picket line

US President Joe Biden has backed striking car workers in Michigan during a visit to their picket line – a first for a sitting US President.

Biden said that the workers "deserve" raises and other concessions they are seeking.

The visit comes a day before his would-be challenger, Donald Trump, is due to arrive.

"We would much rather neither of them showed up," one worker told the BBC. "We don't want to divide people and when you bring politics into it, it's going to cause an argument."

While US lawmakers – and presidential candidates - frequently appear at strikes to express solidarity with American workers, it is considered unprecedented for a sitting President to do so.

Russian

Black Sea commander seen in video after Ukraine said it killed him

Viktor Sokolov, commander of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet in Crimea, has been shown attending a meeting a day after Ukrainian special forces claimed he died in a barrage of missiles.

In video and photographs released by the Russian Defence Ministry and shown on State television on Tuesday, Sokolov is seen taking part in a video conference with Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu and other top

admirals and army chiefs.

Ukraine’s special forces said on Monday that Sokolov was killed in the Russianannexed peninsula along with 33 other officers in a missile attack on the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet in the port of Sevastopol.

The statement added 105 others were wounded in the strikes.

While the report did not name Sokolov, Anton Gerashchenko, advis-

er to Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs, posted the admiral’s name and a photo on social media.

The Defence Ministry released a statement saying the meeting had taken place earlier in the day. Sokolov appears on screen several times without speaking.

Russia has suffered a string of attacks on the strategically important port of Sevastopol in recent months.

Ukraine’s counteroffensive has yet to yield signifi-

cant territorial gains against Russian forces, which control about 17.5 percent of the internationally recognised territory of Ukraine.

According to a September 19 scorecard by the Belfer Center at Harvard’s Kennedy School, Russia has gained 90 sq km (35 square miles) of territory from Ukraine in the past month while Ukrainian forces have taken 41 sq km (16 square miles) from Russian forces. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

But workers told the BBC they felt the rivals might politicise the strike, and urged them to "just stay away".

In brief remarks to the picketing workers on Tuesday, the Democratic President said that they "deserve the significant raise you need and other benefits".

He added that the workers should be doing as "incredibly well" as the companies that employ them.

Ahead of the visit, however, some workers sounded less than enthused about the visits.

Earlier in September the UAW declared a strike targeting Ford, General Motors and Stellantis, pushing the three major car companies for better pay and conditions.

Biden was invited to visit the UAW members by the group's president, Shawn Fain, who has sometimes been critical of Trump.

In his Truth Social post, Trump - who has not been invited by the UAW – vowed that car workers are "toast" if they do not endorse him and if he does not win the election.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Medics of the Russian peacekeeping troops treat people injured in an explosion at a fuel depot outside Stepanakert, in an unknown location in Nagorno-Karabakh, a region inhabited by ethnic Armenians, in this still image from video published September 26, 2023

US President Joe Biden addresses autoworkers on the picket line

CALVIN AND HOBBES

DAILY HOROSCOPES

Reach out to people who push you to try new things. A potential partnership needs monitoring. You and a teammate will likely bring out the best and worst in each other. Proceed with caution.

(March 21-April 19)

Take better care of yourself and your relationships. Don’t let unacceptable behavior be your downfall. Consider what’s possible and how to utilize your intelligence.

(April 20-May 20)

Refuse to get sucked into someone else’s dilemma. Don’t believe everything you hear. Focus on meaningful relationships and making your surroundings suit your needs.

(May 21-June 20)

Dedicate more time to listening and learning. What you discover will help you move from one situation to another with ease. Sidestep anyone trying to interfere with your progress.

(June 21-July 22)

Take nothing for granted. Look at every angle and say no to frivolous or uncertain ideas. Figure how you can use your skills to do something enjoyable and lucrative.

(July 23-Aug. 22)

SUDOKU

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Change can be good if you don’t hesitate. Size up situations and set boundaries to avoid taking on too much. Keep life simple. Concentrate on learning all you can.

Pay attention to the people you love. Your actions will impact someone who needs encouragement. Don’t let ego or anger cause problems at home or with joint endeavors.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

Make your mark, press forward with discipline and seek out people heading in a similar direction. A partnership will help you maintain momentum and meet your deadline.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

False information will slow you down. Don’t rely on others to do things for you. Take control of your destiny and do your best work. Discipline and focus will be necessary.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Use brainpower to overcome adversity. Rely on your experience and ingenuity to get you moving in the right direction. A domestic change will help you alleviate stress and lower your overhead.

Keep moving in a direction that soothes your soul and eases stress. Disregard what others choose to do and go about your business. Don’t be afraid to say no.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

Come up with a plan and follow through. Don’t let anyone guilt you into doing something you don’t want to do. Give your all, and don’t lose sight of your objective. Trust your gut.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

Developments in local horse-racing…

Rachel lands biggest payday

…is now leading creole money-earner

In less than two minutes last Saturday, the mount Rachel, a well-balanced, Guyana-bred, roan/grey, three-year-old filly earned $2 million for her handlers at one of the few Saturday race meets held in Guyana.

This has been the highest payday in her racing career so far, and very few professionals in the world earn that sort of pay cheque in such a short time. She

is now the leading money earner in the three-yearold category for Guyana and T&T-bred horses. She heads this list with Derby winner Firecracker in second, and Gypsy King and Red Ruby following.

She had one disappointing run in the first Derby at Port Mourant in July, finishing unplaced in a race won by Red Ruby. She, however, bounced back from that

run to surprise most in her starts thereafter.

Rachel is a filly owned by Bronson Cheefoon and trained by his dad John Cheefoon. Her claim to fame did not happen overnight.

The daughter of an unnamed mare and USA-bred stallion Rock Moviestar, her promise began earlier in the racing season. She displayed her potential by finishing second to Gypsy King at

the Port Mourant Turf Club (PMTC) in April, and proved that wasn’t a fluke run when she triumphed at Bush Lot United Turf Club (BLUTC) a few weeks later, beating Foreign Link over seven furlongs.

Her next start was in the Derby on Guyana Cup day (13th August, 2023) at the Rising Sun Turf Club (RSTC), where she finished a neck behind Trinidad-

bred shipper Firecracker. Last Saturday, one of the first Saturday cards in a very long while, Rachel avenged her narrow loss to Firecracker with a comprehensive victory, finishing at least two lengths ahead of T&T-bred horses Scandal and Firecracker to take home her highest pay cheque of $2 million. That win took her to the top of the ladder with earnings close to $5 million.

Speaking about her defeat in the Derby at RSTC to Firecracker, her groom ‘Johno’ Cheefoon explained that her rider Kissoon Chan did not make his move too early in the race. He explained, “He told me he felt that Firecracker arrived in the country days before the race. He believes she will not be that ready, so he decided that he will try and slip the field, and Firecracker will not be able to catch her, and that is what he did, but she got caught.”

Last Saturday the tactics were reversed, as Firecracker, fitted with blinkers for the first time in Guyana, was hustled into

the lead by her rider Colin Ross in the seven furlongs contest. Ross had opened up a sizeable lead, but heading up the backstretch, Firecracker’s strides began to shorten. Rachel was sent after Firecracker, and easily overtook her, with Scandal, another Trini-bred, in hot pursuit.

For a fleeting moment Scandal looked the winner when he made his challenge, but he did not carry through, because he did not keep a straight course. His rider ‘Milla’ was unable to correct the move, and if he had done so, the finish would have been very exciting. Rachel galloped on to a resounding success, to the joy of her supporters and the Cheefoon family.

The Cheefoons’ other racer, Hartland, also won last Saturday, the Cheefoons being pretty confident of the colt triumphing.

This newspaper contacted the Cheefoons, but was unable to get hold of owner Bronson to confirm whether they would now invest the proceeds from Rachel’s victory to buy another horse.

Taylor emphasizes spending time at the crease

Former Captain Stafanie Taylor has said the West Indies Women would need to emphasize spending time in the middle if they are to have any chance of competing with Australia when the pair lock horns in three T20Is and three ODIs, beginning on Sunday at North Sydney Oval.

The Windies are coming off a pair of home series wins against Ireland in July (2-0 in the ODIs and 3-0 in the T20Is), and would be looking to take that momentum into Australia. A big reason for those series wins was the team’s batting. The first ODI saw the hosts bat the full 50 overs to post their second highest ODI score ever, 297-6, before successfully defending it. The third ODI also saw an impressive performance with the bat, when the Windies lost only four wickets and needed only 41.3 overs to chase down 203.

The T20s were no different, with the West Indians securing a pair of eight-wicket wins as well as a tense two-wicket victory.

From an individual standpoint, after a rough

few years due to a persistent back injury, Taylor enjoyed a welcome return to form during the ODI series. She made scores of 55 and 79* in her two innings, and is looking to continue that form against the current World Champions.

“I’ve been feeling really good for some time. The injury would’ve definitely slowed

me down a little bit, but it’s nice that I’ve been working hard to get my body back up, and it’s been really good,” she said in a press conference ahead of Sunday’s series opener.

“For me, it’s trying to get myself back to the top, and spending some time at the crease is going to be crucial, because I find that once I’m

able to do that, I know runs will come. I just have to believe in myself,” she added.

Just like in the Ireland series, the team will be a good mixture of youth and experience, having some players who took part in the most recent ICC Under-19 Women’s World Cup as well as the CWI Regional Under-19 Women’s Tournament. The

32-year-old complimented the youngsters before emphasizing that it is up to veterans like herself to help them achieve their full potential.

“I think we have a good crop of young players coming through. We’ve seen them in the Under-19 World Cup, and it’s been really good so far, where we have our Under-19 tournament that recently concluded in Trinidad and a lot of those U19s have been integrating with the senior team. You saw that in the recently concluded Ireland series,” Taylor said.

“Having them in the system, it’s for us to try an impart that knowledge that we have onto them. And this series is going to be crucial for them, but also it’s a learning experience, and you don’t want to burden them too much,” she added.

As the most experienced member of the team, Taylor also provided insight relating to conversations she has had with the younger players in the team, or players who haven’t yet played in Australia.

“Well, I haven’t played here in a long time, to be fair;

but, from what I’ve known is that Australian wickets tend to be a bit bouncy. It might be worth playing a bit late, especially with the pace of the fast bowlers. I’ve played a few times at North Sydney, and it’s a good wicket. I think the wickets here are going to be really good for batting. Spending time at the crease will be crucial if we want to score runs,” Taylor said. This series will also be the first opportunity for new head coach Shane Deitz to take charge of the regional side. In his own introductory press conference a few weeks ago, Deitz proclaimed that he wanted to bring a new attacking brand of cricket to the West Indies Women.

Taylor says that discussion hasn’t taken place quite yet.

“We’ve only had one practice session so far. We haven’t really had a meeting to discuss how we’re going to play, or what it’s going to look like for this series. The first game is Sunday, and we just had a meeting to welcome everyone, and had a light practice session just to have a feel of things,” she said. (Sportsmax)

Rachel in action (File Photo)

Former West Indies Women’s Captain Stafanie Taylor

Courts Optical Pee-Wee tournament…

St John’s, Rosignol, Potaro bag big wins

and Akray Santos (26th) found the back of the net.

Meanwhile, West Ruimveldt overcame Sophia Primary 4-1. Dane Vancooten (1st, 18th) and Deshawn Thomas (9th, 14th) found the back of the net twice each for West’s 4. Joshua Blonde scored for Sophia in the 25th.

A double from Jaydon Dick in the 8th and 13th minutes, alongside one from Dominic Thomas in the 22nd, led Tucville Primary to a 3-0 win over Belladrum

Hilton’s hattrick (14th, 16th, 36th) paved the way for St Stephens Primary to pick up a 3-0 win against Leonora.

There were goals galore to be witnessed at the Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground on Carifesta Avenue in Georgetown last Saturday, as the 10th edition of the Courts Optical PeeWee Under-11 Football tournament got underway.

Region Two’s Kabakaburi Primary were among the first to pick up a win, defeating Soesdyke Primary 4-0. A Jamie Baird brace (8th, 32nd) and one each from Romel Elliott (6th) and Jadon Baird (10th) did the trick.

Another brace, this time from David DeCosta (29th, 38th), led Redeemer Primary to a 3-1 win over Tapakuma Primary in the next game. While Shivraj Persaud (39th) was the other goal-scorer for

Redeemer, Adron Fredericks netted Tapakuma’s consolation in the 35th. Then two hattricks off the boots of Kriston Chadler (6th, 22nd, 37th) and Isaiah Daniels (1st, 8th, 39th) lit up the venue as St John the Baptist defeated Tuschen Primary by a 9-0 margin.

Kareme Welcome also contributed two to St. John’s tally.

Ezekiel Haynes (3rd, 7th, 12th, 28th) was the marksman on show in the next game, netting 4 goals in Potaro Primary’s 6-0 win over St. Ambrose. Michael Telemarque (15th) and Mark Timmerman (40th) netted one each for Potaro.

F.E. Pollard secured a 3-1 win over One Mile

Primary on account of goals from Kaiden Washington (1st), Jayden Sargeant (13th) and Season Smith (15th).

Devin Stephens netted the lone goa for One Mile in the 38th.

Next it was Rosignol Primary’s chance to bask in a victory, defeating Winfer Gardens Primary 6-0. John Collins struck thrice in the 3rd, 19th and 31st minutes, while one goal each came from Richard Pompey (8th), Jeremiah Grant (11th) and Delante McKenzie (14th).

All Saints and St Gabriel’s Primary had the first draw of the tournament, finishing 2-2. A. Samuels netted a double in the 3rd and 17th minutes for a double for All Saints, while

Hosts Bermuda among four hunting T20 World Cup spot

Simeon Devonish did the same for St. Gabriels in the 15th and 32nd.

Also drawing by the same mar gin were St Pius and Den Amstel Primary. For last year’s run ners-up St Pius, Aaron Vasconcellos and Daniel Chesney scored in the 7th and 17th minutes respectively. For Den Amstel, Akeem Boodie (20th)

A nail-biter saw Marian Academy sneaking past Smith’s Memorial 3-2. Christiana La Rose (1st), Maxwell Viapree (3rd) and Rhys George (39th) netted one each for Marian, while Dalwin Nelson (7th) and Jomary Beverny (22nd) scored once each for Smith’s In addition, defending champions Enterprise, Friendship and North Georgetown Primary enjoyed walkovers. The PeeWee tournament will continue this Saturday, September 30th, at the same venue.

Man Utd beat Palace to reach EFL Cup 4th round

Cup holders

Manchester United have cruised into the Carabao Cup fourth round with a comfortable victory over Crystal Palace in their all-Premier League encounter at Old Trafford.

First-half goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Casemiro set United on their way to a place in the last 16, with the Brazilian providing the cross for Anthony Martial’s clinical first-time effort 10 minutes after the restart. Having faced various forms of chaos in the last few weeks, this was the kind of straightforward night United manager Erik ten Hag must have longed for, as his side completed the biggest win of a season in which they have struggled so far.

casions.

re’s still a lot to come, but we’re moving forward.” To cap a disappointing night for the Eagles, who return here in the Premier League on Saturday, goalkeeper Dean Henderson only lasted 19 minutes on his debut against his former club, as he was forced off with muscular pain after making a routine clearance. (BBC Sport)

The journey to next year's ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA continues, with Bermuda set to host the Americas Qualifiers from 30 September to 7 October 2023.

Bermuda, Canada, Cayman Islands and Panama will battle it out in a double round-robin format over six days to earn a place in the 2024 edition of the Men’s T20 World Cup – the biggest one yet, featuring 20

teams in total.

As host, Bermuda will look to continue their good form, in which they won the Subregional Qualifier, to return to the biggest stage in men’s T20 cricket after their historic appearance in 2007.

Canada, arguably favourites of the event, would look to confirm this status and seal their ticket to a new World Cup participation. The Cayman Islands are a regular fixture in the regional final, but are yet

to go through, and as such, they will push hard to make it this time. Panama are underdogs, as their participation may come as a surprise to many; but with no real pressure on their backs, this could allow them to play freely and upset the main candidates.

This event promises to be a competitive affair, with the four teams confident of their chances of making it through to the main stage.

(Sportsmax)

With Mason Mount back in the starting eleven, and fellow summer signing Sofyan Amrabat making his first start - albeit at leftback - ten Hag was at least able to integrate to an extent some key pieces of his United puzzle. Plenty of instances of controlled possession, which many supporters have been disappointed ten Hag has failed to implement so far, were on display too.

Evidently, the game plan was to create an overload on the United right with lofted cross-field passes from the left, which both Amrabat and Mount were able to execute.

Morocco international Amrabat in particular

caught the eye as an inverted left-back. The on-loan Fiorentina man’s early shot was poor, but he was excellent aside from that, and demonstrated an excellent passing range, plenty of energy, and an ability to spot danger when it arose.

Fellow full-back Diogo Dalot created the opener when he burst onto Facundo Pellistri’s pass, and pulled a low cross back for Garnacho to finish, before Mount’s superb corner picked out Casemiro six minutes later to double the hosts’ lead and effectively end the contest.

Martial’s strike from an acute angle was his first goal of the season, and it came in his first appearance at Old Trafford since ten Hag was booed for bringing him on in place of Rasmus Hojlund against Brighton.

Having been a spectator for most of the night, goalkeeper Andre Onana was called upon to make two excellent late saves, denying two close-range efforts from Palace striker JeanPhillippe Mateta on both oc-

One Retired Teacher. Please call: 654-1535.

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

Under-11 football action underway on Saturday last

Bermuda are hosting the Americas T20 World Cup Qualifiers

Alejandro Garnacho set Manchester United on their way to a comfortable win

‘Special, phenomenal, tremendous’ - Warriors describe CPL title win at home

There couldn’t have been a better place for the Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) to secure their first-ever Caribbean Premier League (CPL) title than right at home at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence, EBD.

From inception of the tournament in 2013, the team had played in 5 finals, but those games never took place at home. While in 2022, the country’s premier cricket facility hosted its first final, 2023 has been the year that history was on the Amazon Warriors’ side.

9 wickets on Sunday last.

As jubilation overtook those at the National Stadium, Guyanese players Shimron Hetmyer, Keemo Paul and Romario Shepherd reacted to the commanding Championship win.

“Words can’t even explain it, to be honest. It’s been there, the winning feeling hasn’t kicked in as yet. I’m still waiting for the tears to come, because it’s been year after year, I think, we’ve been working pretty hard on our team and what’s not. And then being able to finally cross the line

ly tell it was a champion team,” an ecstatic Shimron Hetmyer shared.

Equally overjoyed, Keemo Paul shared, “To be

said.

He added, “You know, it’s pleasing to see how much people out here support us. And next year again

Buoyed by the cheers and encouragement from thousands of enthusiastic fans, the Guyana Amazon Warriors defeated the Trinbago Knight Riders by

this year, it was fantastic!

Great effort from the boys!

I think that’s what happens when you have basically all the awards in your team. I think that’s how you real-

honest, I really don’t know how to feel right now. It’s just emotional, ecstatic; it’s just a wonderful feeling man! Trust me.

“Well, you know, for the first time, it’s tremendous! For the guys, you know, they really worked hard over the past couple of weeks, and this is the reward for hard work. For people who say that we can’t cross the line, we did tonight. For all those who think, ‘What’s going to happen if we don’t cross the line?’, well I guess we will never know,” GAW Vice Captain Romario Shepherd

‘Six Head’ National Novices Championships set for this weekend

The Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) will officially stage the 2023 edition of the Andrew 'Six Head' Lewis National Novices Championships from Friday, September 29th to Sunday, October 1st at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue.

The event will feature participation from notable gyms such as defending champions the Guyana Defence Force, the Guyana Police Force, Forgotten Youth Foundation, Pace and Power, Rose Hall, Vergenoegen, and Republican, and action will commence on a daily basis at 18:00hrs. The medical assessment and weight-in will occur on Thursday at the National Gymnasium from 16:00 hrs.

GBA President Steve Ninvalle has declared that National Novices Championships are where the sport's developmental journey begins.

Named after Guyana's notable world champion the late Andrew Six Head Lewis, the tournament has evolved into a combination of national scouting for the GBA and a conduit and bridge in our structured and methodical process, Ninvalle has said.

"Each tournament hosted under the umbrella of the GBA is underpinned by

its own unique objectives, and the National Novices Championships is an exhibition of the nation's potential for the future, which continues to indicate a positive consequence, given Guyana's empirical dominance of the region. The GBA continues to emphasize the importance of such competitions, events that have an enduring importance in the overall framework for the sport. As such, its impact and value cannot be questioned, much less understated, given the influence and impetus it has provided to the sport's fraternity," the GBA boss added.

Terrence Poole, Technical Director of the GBA, has said, "This tournament is very im-

I’m sure we’ll give them a reason to continue supporting us.”

Quizzed about the significance of winning their first title on home soil, words like ‘special’, ‘phenomenal’, and ‘tremendous’ were only some of the expressions the Warriors used to describe the occurrence.

“To win any tournament is special, but this one, this one just takes the cake really, and having the final in Guyana as well, that makes it even more special. Having our home crowd, playing on our home ground, and ev-

erything. Just being a part of this franchise has been good to me, and I’m happy that I can be part of a team that gives us our first win,” Hetmyer noted.

On the same topic, Paul related that it was all about pleasing the fans. “It’s phenomenal, to be honest. In our pre-match meeting, we said we gotta do this for the people, for the fans. They’ve been tremendous, they’ve supported us right through, and we just wanted to do this for them and for our family, and that’s exactly what we did. So, we came out here tonight, and that’s exactly what we did,” he said.

“The first time in front of our home fans. The finals. You know, the way they sup-

port us really had the guys going, even though Coach wanted us to blank them out and play the game as hard as possible. And tonight we did that exactly, cause when we had the first couple wickets, you know, we said we’re going to crush them; we’re not going to lay back and give them singles and so. We keep pressing,” Shepherd added about the motivation of the home crowd.

In addition to the CPL Trophy, the Amazon Warriors captured the following accolades: the Player of the tournament (Shai Hope), highest run-scorer (Shai Hope), and highest wicket-taker (Dwaine Pretorius), alongside 5 players in the “team of the tournament”.

CWI President Dr Shallow congratulates GAW on being RBL CPL 2023 Champions

Cricket West Indies

(CWI) President Dr. Kishore Shallow has extended his warmest congratulations to the triumphant champions of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (RBL CPL) 2023, a missive from the CWI has said.

Following an exhilarating tournament, the final of which was held in Guyana on Sunday night, the Guyana Amazon Warriors prevailed over the Trinbago Knight Riders to become champions of the RBL CPL 2023.

throughout the tournament were on full display, making the summer-culminating event a resounding success.”

Dr. Shallow also acknowledged the strength of the eleven-year partnership with CPL, saying, “The relationship between the CPL and CWI has been nothing short of extraordinary. Together, we continue to elevate Caribbean cricket, showcasing our region's best talent to global markets, honing the skills of emerging talents, while invigorating the spirit of the game among fans.

portant to the growth of the sport. It's the beginning stage, where we identify the talents and abilities of the fighters and the potential they have to move forward in the sport. This is where we earmark talent for the future. We are expecting a large turnout for the tournament from the various gyms. Everyone comes with the intention to win, so I expect a very competitive event."

The Championships, staged in honour of the former world champion Andrew Six Head Lewis who unfortunately died on May 4th, 2015 in a vehicular accident, have birthed the journey of many of the nation's leading premier amateur pugilists.

The CPL is a celebration of talent, sportsmanship, and the unifying power of cricket within our region. This year's tournament showcased exceptional skills, dedication, and teamwork, capturing the hearts and imaginations of fans across the Caribbean and beyond.

In his congratulatory message, President Dr. Kishore Shallow remarked,

“I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to Imran Tahir and Guyana Amazon Warriors, who emerged as the champions of CPL 2023. Their consistency throughout the tournament demonstrated the spirit of cricket and the depth

of talent that exists within the Caribbean with contributions from youngsters like Kevlon Anderson and Matthew Nandu when they got their opportunities. It was heartening to also witness the responsibility accepted by some of the senior players, including Player of the Tournament Shai Hope, along with Romario Shepherd and Gudakesh Motie.

“The final match, held in Guyana, showcased the unwavering passion that fans have for the sport. The skill and dedication of all participating teams and players

“The Government of Guyana and other host countries should also be credited for their continued commitment and support of this amazing product.

“As the champions of the Caribbean Premier League 2023 celebrate their victory, the cricketing community eagerly anticipates the next chapter in the region's cricketing calendar, the CG United Super 50 Cup, which commences next month. CWI remains dedicated to fostering excellence in cricket and ensuring that our beloved sport continues to inspire and unite the Caribbean and the world.”

Shimron Hetmyer was ecstatic about the victory at home

Keemo Paul

Romario Shepherd

GBA President, Steve Ninvalle Former World Champion Andrew 'Six Head' Lewis

CWI President, Dr. Kishore Shallow