Guyana Times -Friday, September 15, 2023.pdf

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, September 15 –04:00h-05:30h and Saturday, September 16 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Friday, September 15 –16:50h-18:20h and Saturday, September 16 – 17:00h-18:30h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Sunshine is expected during the day, with clear skies at night. Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 34 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly to Easterly between 2.23 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 16:54h reaching a maximum height of 2.63 metres.

Low Tide: 10:45h and 22:32h reaching minimum heights of 0.54 metre and 0.59 metre.

“Democracy requires continuous vigilance” – Pres Ali

Recalling attempts to steal the March 2020 General and Regional Elections, President Dr Irfaan Ali has stated that those events have underlined the need to be constantly vigilant against efforts to subvert the will of the Guyanese people.

The Head of State made these remarks in his message on the occasion of International Day of Democracy 2023, which is being observed today.

Following a mostly smooth voting day, the March 2, 2020 elections resulted in a fivemonth political impasse after there were blatant attempts to rig the elections in favour of the then A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) regime.

According to President Ali, when those sinister forces attempted to undermine the integrity of free and fair elections in Guyana, it was a moment that tested the very core of the country’s democracy.

He noted, however, that it was through the vigilant efforts of citizens, the international community, and local institutions that they were able to thwart those who sought to steal the votes of the Guyanese people.

“It was a triumph of democracy, and it underscored the importance of remaining eternally vigilant against those who would subvert the democratic will of the people.”

LOTTERY NUMBERS

“Democracy requires continuous vigilance. The purveyors of authoritarianism and election manipulation are never far away. Their tactics evolve with time and become ingenious. We must be ever-watchful, guarding against any attempts to erode the foundations of our democracy,” the Guyanese Leader posited.

In addition to the “ominous challenge” faced in 2020, President Ali reminded that Guyana’s journey towards democracy has not been without adversity. From 1968 to 1992, he said Guyana endured a harrowing 24-year period of democratic interruption.

“The memories of that dark era serve as a stark reminder of the price we paid for liberty. It was a time when the voice of the people was stifled, their rights violated, extreme hardships were levied upon them and their dreams of a better future impaled. Had it not been for the stubborn resilience and fortitude of pro-democratic forces, Guyana would never have emerged from those perilous times,” the Head of State said.

But despite those events, President Ali stressed that Guyana’s hope never dimmed and the country emerged from those dark times into the brightness of a new era in 1992. He said democracy birthed “better days and brighter times”.

President Ali went on to point out that free and fair elections have been described as the lifeblood of democracy. He added it was through the exercise of their franchise

that citizens gave voice to their aspirations and directed the course of their country’s future.

“Free and fair elections are the mechanisms through which the people exercise their sovereignty... Today, as the world commemorates International Day of Democracy, Guyana reaffirms its unwavering commitment to safeguarding this precious right, born from the struggles and sacrifices of our people,” he noted.

The Guyanese Leader added, “The lessons of history teach us that democracy is fragile and can be easily undermined. It is our collective responsibility to protect and nurture it for ourselves and future generations.

“Today, as we observe the International Day of Democracy, let us remember the sacrifices made by those who came before us to secure our democratic rights. Let us honour their memory by preserving and defending the democratic values we hold dear. Happy International Day of Democracy!”

September 15 is celebrated as International Day of Democracy after being established in 2007 through a resolution passed by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

The theme for this year’s observance is “Empowering the Next Generation”, which the UN says is to encourage young people to get involved in democratic processes so

they can have their voices heard

The International Day of Democracy owes its existence to the Universal Declaration on Democracy, which was adopted on September 15, 1997 by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), which is an international organisation of national parliaments. In the following years, Qatar led efforts to promote an International Day of Democracy. Finally, on November 8, 2007, the day was established as the UNGA adopted by consensus the resolution titled “Support by United Nations system of efforts of Governments to promote and consolidate a new or restored democracies.” (G8)

File photo: British High Commissioner Greg Quinn, EU Ambassador Fernando Ponz-Canto, US Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch and Canadian High Commissioner Lilian Chatterjee leaving the Region Four RO office after walking out on the tabulation process on March 13, 2020

Editor: Tusika Martin

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

Helping Guyana’s fight for democracy

Today, as Guyana joins the rest of the world in celebrating International Day of Democracy, we again take a look back at the life of former Prime Minister of Barbados, the late Owen Arthur, who put up a fierce fight for Guyana’s democracy following the March 2020 General and Regional Elections.

Arthur, Barbados’s longest serving Head of Government, led the country for an unprecedented three consecutive terms, from 1994 to 2008, having served as a Member of Parliament for the constituency of St Peter from 1984 to 2013.

Even after his career in politics had ended, he continued to offer service to his country and the Region. Weeks prior to his death in July 2020, he served in a number of key areas, including the Jobs and Investment Advisory Council. This came after his work in the last year, as he helped the Barbados Government in the forging of a new industrial policy and in the review of the international trade options of Small Island Developing States. He was also still very actively involved in helping to forge regional integration.

Arthur was indeed the chief architect and intellectual guide of the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME). In many respects, he was a titan of regional integration, and a most distinguished son of the Caribbean. For many in the Region, he will be remembered as a true Caribbean man.

Prime Minister Mia Mottley had put it this way: “His intellect was larger than life, believe you me. His love of country as constant as a northern star. He discharged his duty as Prime Minister of Barbados and as a Caribbean leader with distinction. He shall remain in that pantheon of Caribbean leaders.”

Certainly, in years to come, there will be more detailed analysis of Arthur’s contribution to his country and the wider Caribbean Community.

Here, in Guyana, Arthur’s name will forever be among those who have maintained the fight to ensure that democracy and the rule of law prevail.

Arthur headed the Commonwealth Elections Observer Team in Guyana for the March 2 General and Regional Elections. His task was not an easy one. Perhaps he even expected some of what he was exposed to, due to his knowledge of our political and social history.

However, he stood up to the “forces”, as described by Mottley, who were bent on subverting the elections. When caretaker Foreign Affairs Minister Karen Cummings threatened to revoke the accreditation of international observers, he challenged her and did not back down. He made it known in no uncertain terms that he would not be bullied in the face of attacks.

Also, when he was attacked and ridiculed by APNU/AFC’s strongman Joseph Harmon, Guyana’s former Opposition Leader, for making his views known regarding the attempts by persons within the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and the APNU/ AFC, he again took the APNU/AFC to task. He was never afraid of saying it as he saw it. For him, citizens must have a right to choose their leaders in a democratic process, and nothing or no one should come in the way of their ability to do so.

As was stated by Vincentian Prime Minister and then Caricom Chair, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, prior to Arthur’s brief hospitalisation, he was deeply agitated about the imminent threat to democracy in Guyana. He said Arthur reserved some of his finest and most biting barbs for those in Guyana who, without right reason or principle, verbally abused Prime Minister Mottley and himself because of their stance in defence of free and fair elections.

Arthur had firmly stated that there are instruments of governance on which all relationships in Caricom nations, as sovereign countries, are based. He had explained that Guyana, along with other Caricom countries, is a signatory to the Charter of Civil Society, and this places an obligation on countries to ensure that they follow key democratic practices – a main element being the holding of free and fair elections.

He was very concerned about Guyana being portrayed as a “pariah state”, and had cautioned all the political leaders here to put country first.

We again salute the late Owen Seymour Arthur for his selfless service to our country on this International Day of Democracy!

Courtesy, charisma and culture are characteristics of President Ali

Dear Editor, “Take your sandals off your feet, for the place you stand on is holy ground.” Familiar words are effused to enforce an environment’s sanctity. At the G20 Summit, the privilege of practicing a past and present culture prevailed and prompted leaders to personally participate politely and publicly in principle and not politically.

A typical Indian custom, Prime Minister Narendra Modi garlanded each leader with a matching scarf to welcome them to the G20 Summit 2023, hosted by India and chaired by Bharat’s Modi, last Sunday in New Delhi. The traditional clasp hands for greetings were also accosted with the typical Western handshake to connect the humane communication of friendliness, along with the odd hug to embrace for closer affection. Donning socks and shoes, delegates opted for sandals or to walk barefoot as a mark of respect, to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, the icon of Bharat, at the Raj Ghat memorial site.

Guyana is a land of many waters and races and each nationality is allowed to practice, preach, and participate in their individual cultural upbringing. President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali sets the leading example of perfecting his “One Guyana” theme in order to promote unity among all Guyanese regardless of ethnicity, gender, age, religion, status, political affiliation, residence, or domain. His commitment towards this cause is not only genuine but his sincerity is fashioned in his humility and consistent participation with each and

sundry wherever he goes.

President Ali enjoys the freedom of mixing and socializing with anyone, not for any pomp or praise, promotion or parade, and not for any pretense or pride. President Ali is proud of his association with Guyanese of all levels as he continues his “reach the people” tour in all the regions across this land. He started this program from the inception of his office and it includes ministers and members of his cabinet to go along with him. Unlike the Opposition, he does not wait for election time to meet the people and make false promises. He listens to the people, learn of their problems, and immediately begins a process of resolution to provide satisfaction. “Unless you put yourself in a position to understand the problem of all people and all nations then how are you going to understand that leadership? How are you going to define that leadership?” questioned President Ali.

President Ali on Monday addressed the General Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist Centre for South Asian Religions. The Centre’s choice for the president was not by accident but a design to foster a belief in President Ali as being a role model as a president and one creating a precedent for people to follow. The President’s message was without any ambiguity as he clearly stated, “I want us at this leadership conference to reshape the conversation of diversity and differences, and come up with leadership values to promote a positive dispensation of differences and diversity.” President Ali is certainly

on course to burn any bridge that links any road to inequality or discrimination. In his rear-view mirror, he sees the likes of Norton, Burke and Hinds fading from sight. Fulfilling his mandate is the mission of President Dr. Irfaan Ali and he will not be deterred by critics and cynics who spread propaganda. His campaign to interact with people will continue. He declared, “My Government is one of the most accessible governments and if someone has no interest in meeting, that’s it. That’s their choice.” He does not play “hide and seek” and operates with “cloak and dagger” nor does he stay behind closed doors or go in public with an array of protection and security. He does not order truckloads of children and people to be hauled to his meeting place to make up the crowd and have them standing and waiting in the hot sun. A few months ago, he said to a resident in Berbice who was not comfortable with the President’s unannounced visit, “I don’t have any security concern in Guyana. I touch down anywhere anytime in Guyana.” This remark was greeted with a loud applause much to the embarrassment of the lone dissent.

As a President plying unchartered water and navigating a course with storms on the high sea, he has successfully gained the friendship of Guyanese from all backgrounds. President Dr. Irfaan Ali, on the 8th of September 2023, celebrated the observance of Sri Krishna Janmashtami with residents in Region 3 at Crane, West Coast Demerara.

Participating and enjoying

a meal of dhal and rice and seven curry, he advised, “We must seek enlightenment in our lives so that we will know what is right, we will know what the truth is, we will know where justice lies. We will know who has the best interest of our children; we will know who has the best interest of our country at heart… that is what the religious text in this occasion allows us to understand.” Here is a President who does not refuse to shake hands or is picky and choosy as to where he goes or with whom he meets. Courtesy, charisma, and culture are characteristics of President Ali.

Unlike other leaders who preach and practice hate, violence and racial discrimination, President Irfaan Ali teaches love, peace, and compassion for each fellow human being. On the 5th of September at the ACCC at a two-day International Symposium on the History and Legacy of Muslims in the Caribbean, he proclaimed, “Guyana can be that case study for the rest of the world where persons of a different faith, make up the cabinet, the parliament… and the seamless integration through which each supports the other is one that not only warrants attention but warrants a case study.”

President Irfaan Ali is certainly creating a dynamic dialogue for unity, cohesion and oneness among Guyanese to cooperate, live and work together in order to build a better country, through the richness of our culture.

Yours respectfully,

Jai Lall

CPL 2023: Children join in the fun at the Guyana National Stadium on Thursday evening at the Guyana Amazon Warriors v St Lucia Kings game (Jemima Holmes photos)

President Ali & PM Phillips have put duty to country above self

Dear Editor, If there is any doubt in anyone’s mind in Guyana or in the diaspora about the leadership qualities of President Dr Irfaan Ali and Prime Minister Brigadier Mark Phillips to develop the country and unify and improve the lives of the people, especially the poor, then it should be laid to rest. These men are, beyond a shadow of doubt, the best leaders the country has ever had, and the people could not have asked for better leaders. They have put duty to country above self, politics, and partisanship.

The transition of Prime Minister Mark Phillips from being the Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) to becoming the Prime Minister of Guyana has been seamless and remarkable. Three years ago, he was not involved in politics, party or otherwise, but he has since not only become a proven and enduring leader, but has also demonstrated to the nation that

he has the political acumen and wherewithal to heal the racial divide between the two major races and move the country forward.

His progression seems natural and real, especially since he has risen to the occasion, accepted his responsibilities, and has so far performed his duties superbly and nobly. He is a team player who believes in collaboration and compromise, and has supported His Excellency in every way possible.

As the Head of State, President Dr. Ali’s fearless and dynamic leadership at the regional and international levels has catapulted Guyana into global leadership in the areas of food security, energy security, climate change, agriculture production, fair and balanced trade practices, and the sharing of technology by the developed to the less developed countries.

Prior to taking office in 2020, Guyana was barely recognized or known as a country by the developed

countries of North America and Western Europe, but three years later, and with huge oil reserves and massive foreign investments by several American oil conglomerates, President Dr. Ali has transformed Guyana into one of the most recognized and respected countries in the Caribbean and the wider world. This is exemplified by the recent US State Department’s invitation to President Dr. Ali to visit Washington, DC, and the subsequent visit to Guyana by the Secretary of State and other heads of states. Not to mention the State visit to Guyana, on September 12, of his Highness Sheikh Tamam Bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of the State of Qatar. These events suggest that Guyana is not only recognized by the Western developed countries, but also by the Middle Eastern nations.

Dr. Ali’s robust and spirited leadership has provided sound guidance to the leaders of the Caribbean

on several regional issues, including the reduction of the region’s huge food imports, agricultural production, free trade, migration; and, most of all, human development. Today, Dr. Ali’s influence has grown considerably, and has, for the first time in the country’s history, propelled Guyana to international status, as he proclaimed Guyana’s neutrality, respect for international law, human rights, and the media, which is considered the Fourth Estate.

President Dr. Ali has called for international cooperation, the sharing of global wealth, harmony, and an end to armed conflict.

Most of the leaders of the Caribbean and South America, as well as those from the developed countries, including the United States, have shown tremendous respect and trust for President Dr. Ali’s leadership. They have commended him for his strong leadership and dedication towards climate change, energy, food

Lovely cricket at its best!

Dear Editor,

The 2023 Caribbean Premier League is here in Guyana. As Guyanese welcome the Caribbean teams, with all the international players, expectations are sky-high for the Guyana Amazon Warriors to continue in their winning ways.

The entire Caribbean will be following the events in Guyana. Surely, it is not all cricket; this entire nation seems to be encompassed by an air of euphoric celebration. The cricket Carnival is fully pumped up, as this cricketing nation is rearing to see our Warriors in action. The Guyana National Stadium will be filled to capacity, and all roads would lead to the Providence Stadium.

The Warriors are undefeated thus far this year, and at home they are expected to comfortably extend their winning streak. The weather is perfect for cricket. The massive sold-out crowd at the stadium on Wednesday night was indeed a manifestation of this cricket-loving nation’s support for cricket, and its willingness to live in peace and harmony, as we vociferously united behind the winning Warriors.

The triumphant Amazon Warriors humbled the defending champions Jamaica Tallawahs in a convincing win. The Warriors won the toss and put the Tallawahs in to bat. The defending

champions managed to score a reasonable total, as they reached 152 runs at the end of their 20 overs. Only their captain Brandon King impressed with a solid half century.

The Warriors’ bowling was well supported by good fielding, and even on a lightning-fast outfield, the Tallawahs struggled to score freely. Bowling for the home team, skipper Imran Tahir led the way with four overs for a mere 19 runs, and took the wicket of Kirk McKenzie.

Golden boy Gudakesh Motie was also very good, as his four overs cost only 29 runs, but captured the vital wicket of Tallawahs captain Brandon King.

The Warriors’ bowling looks really good, but they should make a decision on the inclusion of Odean Smith in the team. Keemo Paul and Romario Shepherd should each be encouraged to bowl their allotted four overs.

However, it was the batting of the Warriors that really sent the massive crowd wild.

The two lightweight young openers Saim Ayub and Matthew Nandu put on an impressive century partnership. However, the management of the team must give better guidance to the players, as the two openers should have batted through the innings, as they brought the victory home.

The Warriors are on a roll, and this nation is rallying behind them for the ultimate victory. The massive crowd was in high spirits and anxiously awaiting the spectacle of master batsman Shimron Hetmyer and his thrilling strokeplay.

This year’s Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League is heightening and lightening up the fi-

nal rounds of matches in Guyana. This nation and the entire Caribbean are united in the enjoyment of our cricketers’ marvellous performances, as we proudly extend our world-renowned hospitality to all.

It is cricket, lovely cricket, at its best!

Sincerely,

Neil Kumar

security, and agricultural development, all of which have existential economic, political and social outcomes for all nations, especially underdeveloped ones.

Dr. Ali’s “One Guyana” initiative is indicative of his passion and genuineness to put the country and its people first. It is a groundbreaking concept with many imperatives, including uniting the people and ending the racial divide between Indo- and AfroGuyanese that started more than six decades ago due to political self-interest. It is also aimed at improving the living conditions of the poor and needy, and making Guyana prosperous so that all, regardless of race, ethnicity or political affiliation, share in the prosperity.

Despite some natural and man-made disasters, Guyana has undoubtedly had an amazing three years with President Dr. Ali and Prime Minister Mark Phillips at the helm. Today, the country has one of the fastest growing econ-

omies in the world, with a GDP hovering at around 43 per cent, and is considered one of the major oil producers. Such rapid economic growth and development have placed Guyana on an upward economic path never seen or experienced by previous Governments or generations.

In a few days, President Dr. Ali will address the United Nations, and we are almost certain that he would issue a call to all the leaders of the more than 150 countries to combat climate change, which has hamstrung the economies and well-being of the peoples in the developing countries. We also expect him to highlight Guyana’s steadfast support for food security, climate preservation, fair and balanced trade policies, and respect for the freedom and rights of all people to live in dignity in the pursuit of their prosperity and happiness.

Sincerely,

Asquith Rose

Test Questions

1) There are 432 girls in a school, if 3/8 of the students are boys…

(i) What fraction of the total number of pupils are girls?

(ii) What is the total number of pupils.

2) In a pack of 12 pencils, eight are blue and the others are purple.

(a) What is the ratio of purple to blue pencils?

(b) Jonathan bought 3 boxes of pencils. Calculate the number of blue pencils he received.

(c) If one blue pencil was replaced with one purple one, how many boxes of pencils should Soia buy if she wants to have 35 blue pencils?

In this fun and easy force and motion science experiment for kids, we’re going to explore centrifugal force by making a magic ball stay in an upside-down pail.

Materials: Pail Rope Ball

Instructions: Securely tie the rope around the

handle of the pail. Place the ball in the pail. Make sure you will not hit anything and then swing the pail in a loop. The centrifugal force will hold the ball in the pail.

How it works: Centrifugal force really isn’t a force at all, but is the result of inertia. Inertia is the tendency of an object to resist a change in motion.

Basically, an object at rest tends to stay at rest and an object in motion tends to stay in motion unless acted upon by an outside force. The ball wants to stay in motion and fly out of the pail, but the pail holds it in place.

Make this a science project: Try putting water in the pail. Try longer and shorter lengths of rope. (sciencefun.org)

BY DERRICK AUSTIN

André Leon Talley lordly lantern tall neon doyen dear to orated tenderly on art or a trend learned (Eden Tyndale Lear Eeyore Yoda Erato Leander Leda Troy Dante Donatella Leontyne) ornately real annealed oleander lonely eye

Source: Poetry (September 2023)

WORD SEARCH

UN Security Council Guyana to use seat to push resolution for Haiti

meetings with the Haitian stakeholders in Jamaica in June, and then in Haiti in July, as well as by the outcome of informal discussions among the stakeholders, which had taken place in August to reduce differences, as had been recommended by the EPG.

According to a statement issued, the Group returned to Haiti earlier this month with the intention of building on this political platform, fragile though it was, in order to make progress in the search for a sustainable solution to the longstanding political impasse.

It was noted that, in an impaired political environment, the agreed commencement of intensive mediation meetings with reduced groups of participants was delayed by the setting of conditions and non-compliance with the agreed limits on the number of persons to be present in a new phase of intensive mediation.

Nevertheless, following intensive discussions, including one that brought together Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry with representatives of the December 21 Accord, the Joint Declaration

on arrangements for the intensive mediation meetings to commence on September 12. This phase of the negotiations will be facilitated initially by the EPG via videoconferencing, and subsequently in person by the EPG, should the stakeholders so request.

“The EPG remains hopeful that, with determination, goodwill and a recognition that the interests of the people of Haiti must be the overriding concern of all stakeholders, a solution can be found to restore Haiti on a path of constitutionalism

Guyana will be using its non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to draw more global attention to, and support to end the prolonged crisis in, the Caribbean nation of Haiti.

Back in June, Guyana was among five countries elected to sit on the UN Security Council for the 2024-2025 term. This Council is a body responsible for maintaining international peace and security.

In an appearance at the Atlantic Council Studios in Washington, DC on Thursday, President Dr Irfaan Ali said one of Guyana’s main priorities during its two-year term at the Council is a UNbacked Resolution for Haiti. According to the Head of State, the French-speaking Caribbean nation is not generating sufficient global attention to its crisis.

“Frankly speaking, Haiti has not been getting the type of global attention that it deserves in this time of crisis,” President Ali has posited. He added, “Many of these conversations take place around Ukraine, and we forget Haiti. Haiti has been a longer problem than Ukraine, but all the com-

mentators and all the analysts forget Haiti exists… We see tremendous efforts globally on getting consensus for Ukraine, and we laud that, because we’re part of ensuring that every country must have peace and stability, and their territorial integrity must be defended. But we also can’t approach global problems with an uneven hand…”

Meanwhile, the Guyanese Leader also used the opportunity to highlight the need for the Western countries to step-up their support for Haiti.

“So, how are we going to get consensus, a UN Resolution on Haiti? How are we going to get Canada, the UK (United Kingdom), the US (United States), France; how are they going to participate? What resources are they putting in? We see Kenya and Rwanda – both of them saying they are ready to support by putting human assets into Haiti. The effort to get to a UN Resolution is as critical as the issue we are faced with in Ukraine,” the Head of State insisted.

President Ali went on to say that, as a small country, Guyana intends to utilise its temporary seat at the Security Council to ensure

that challenges all across the world are represented at that body. In fact, he added that democracy and territorial integrity must be championed.

Back in July, the United States had announced plans to introduce a resolution at the UNSC to authorize a “multinational force” in Haiti. This was after Kenya has offered to lead the mission.

Battered by a series of natural disasters over the years, the Caribbean nation of Haiti has been experiencing an escalated and protracted political, economic, and social crisis that has led to mass violence along with food and fuel shortages for several years.

Earlier this week, the Caribbean Communityestablished Eminent Persons Group (EPG) said they went to Haiti on September 4 for a five-day visit to build on the positive steps made in previous meetings with the Haitian stakeholders.

The Group – comprising former Prime Ministers Dr Kenny D. Anthony of Saint Lucia, Bruce Golding of Jamaica, and Perry Christie of The Bahamas – has been encouraged by the positive steps made in previous

“The Group was, however, disappointed that the tone of the discussions had hardened, and that the positions of some stakeholders had regressed significantly, reflected in the strident calls for the resignation of the Prime Minister. These developments coincided with the alarming deterioration of the security situation in Port-au-Prince in August and the deepening of the humanitarian crisis in the country,” the missive detailed.

of Kingston and Civil Society, an agreement was reached

and democracy,” the Group has stated. (G8)

President Dr Irfaan Ali during an interview at the Atlantic Council Studio in Washington, DC

Convicted drug trafficker appeals prison sentence

Found guilty of drug trafficking last July, for which he was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment by Senior Magistrate Sunil Scarce, 53-year-old Michael Andrew Morgan has appealed his conviction and sentence, and his lawyers Glen Hanoman and Everton Singh-Lammy are expected to petition the High Court soon for him to be released on bail pending appeal.

After he had been found guilty of trafficking seven pounds of cocaine at his home in Ixora Avenue in Eccles, East Bank Demerara, Morgan, a pilot, had had the custodial sentence imposed on him in addition to a fine of $4,917,000.

It has been reported that on the day in question, June 27, 2022, Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) officers, acting on intelligence, conducted an opera-

tion to unearth narcotics at Morgan’s home; and that had resulted in the discovery of a quantity of cocaine, 27 rounds of 9mm ammunition, one .32 Taurus firearm, and one magazine with 25 matching rounds of .32 ammunition. The items were

sized, and Morgan was arrested and prosecuted. Notwithstanding the Magistrate’s decision, Morgan, in maintaining his innocence, had told a Probation Officer that he was “set up by someone”, and that the drug was not

Twin Towers...

…22 years on

Well, what a difference two decades make!! Your Eyewitness remembers distinctly where he was on Sept 11, 2001. How could he forget?? He was in an insurance office discussing some mundane matters whenon the TV in the lounge to keep clients distracted - leapt the images of those planes plunging into the Twin Towers. He could distinctly see bodies falling as the smoke billowed into the skies. No business was done in THAT insurance office for the rest of that day!! It was just about 9:30am.

found at his home.

In his sentencing remarks, Magistrate Scarce had mentioned that Defence Counsel Glen Hanoman had asked him to consider giving his client the three-year minimum prison sentence, but in dismissing that appeal, the Magistrate had pointed out that no unique arguments had been advanced for the court to take such action into consideration.

A variety of factors, including the seriousness and frequency of the offence, and the commercial quantity of cocaine involved, had been taken into account by the Magistrate in arriving at an appropriate sentence. According to the Magistrate, the trafficking of illicit drugs is a scourge on society, and thus a message needed to be sent to deter persons who might be inclined to commit such crimes. This offender has been given full credit for time spent in pretrial custody.

The case was prosecuted by CANU Prosecutor, Attorney-at-Law Thalia Thompson. Morgan had made his first court appearance on June 29, 2022, and had been sent on remand.

Before Magistrate Scarce and High Court Justice Gino Persaud, Morgan’s lawyers had made bail petitions, but those were all rejected. As such, he was kept on remand pending the hearing and determination of his trial.

Morgan, who completed his secondary education at Queen’s College, has a degree in aeronautical science from a United States university, and is also a certified pilot, according to his lawyers. Prior to his incarceration, he worked as an auto dealer.

Michael Andrew Morgan and his brother Peter Morgan have been under the CANU radar for more than two decades. In fact, Peter Morgan was deported from the United States back in 2015, after serving time in federal prison on drug trafficking charges. He had been arrested for conspiring to import, possess and distribute five kilograms of cocaine in the US between December 2001 and August 2003.

Not long afterwards, we’d discover that of the 3000odds persons who perished on that fateful day, 25 were of Guyanese descent. And this year, we remembered them again! Imagine a pipsqueak country like ours - without even 3/4 million citizens - suffering such a loss in a city of 8.4 million people from every nation in the world! But then, it’s also a metaphor for Guyana’s own destruction, innit?? As many Guyanese are exiled to “foreign” as living in home. We’re the fifth largest immigrant group in New York City!! So, the 25 fatalities reflect our numbers in NYC?

In Guyana, the PPP had been bludgeoned into holding elections in March 2001 by PNC street protests that segued into violence and arson in Georgetown. But after they lost again, they returned violently into the streets again, and demanded “dialogue” with the Government! This continued desultorily through the year, and, on 9/11, recriminations were flying fast and furious about who were and weren’t “keeping their word”.

So, while there was tension in America after 9/11, OUR tension had been building here since Jan 12 1998. That’s when the PNC protests led to hundreds of Indian Guyanese citizens being beaten in Georgetown simply for PRESUMABLY voting for the PPP in the Dec 1997 elections!! Thereby confirming the sin of being “PPP supporters”! In Guyana, just five months later, there’d be the Mash Day Jailbreak segueing to the killing fields of Guyana - with its epicenter in Buxton.

9/11 would also lead to America vowing retribution on the perpetrators of the attack, and all their allies and their enablers. A War on Terror!! There followed the 2003 invasion of Iraq to destroy Saddam Hussein’s “Weapons of Mass Destruction”. They were never found, but 469,000 persons were killed - mostly civilians - and 4 million became refugees. The war continued through the Middle East, from Syria in the west (600,000 dead in the decade 2011-2021, with 6 million refugees) to Afghanistan in the east (250,000 killed, mostly civilians). As almost an afterthought, Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of the WTC attack, was killed in 2011.

Yes, 9/11 remains a very significant date for many!! …and democracy

While the “War on Terror” was waged in retaliation for 9/11, it also was accompanied by a parallel effort to “win the hearts and minds” of the societies being bombed: promising to bring them into the 21st century with “democratic” governments!! Each of the targeted countries was Islamic, and analysts couldn’t help concluding that America was enmeshed with the “Clash of Civilizations” - predicted by Huntington a decade before. The US, of course, was representing “modernity”, which was unilinearly following the arc created by Europe after the defeat of the Ottoman Empire after WWI!

So, with the end of the War on Terror (has it really ended?), has the battle for democracy also ended? And that begs the question as to whether democracy can ever come out of the barrel of guns in the hands of invaders. Is this what is happening in Ukraine?? The colonial empires - the Spanish, British, Dutch and French etc, - had tried it once before.

But they’d convinced us we were “savages” who needed “civilization”. Ain’t gonna work now!!

…rise from ashes

Twenty-two years – and US$11 billion – later, where there were the twin towers, the “triplet towers” now stand!! It’s mostly private, and much more residential rather than commercial as before. Meanwhile, over in Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon and Syria…

Michael Andrew Morgan, along with the cocaine that was seized from his home

Ability to fight crime, threats reduced significantly with declining arms imports – Pres Ali

aptation to climate change in this region. This issue is devastating, not only to economies and people, but infrastructure. Included in that infrastructure is the military infrastructure, the defence infrastructure. We cannot, in this new world that we are expected to lead in, develop defence strategies without understanding that climate change must be an integral part of that strategy.”

Commander-in-Chief

of the Armed Forces of Guyana, President Dr Irfaan Ali, has drawn attention to the lack of investments in defence architecture for the region, and the ripple effects it creates in security and protection of people.

He was delivering a presentation at the National Defence University in Washington, DC, on Wednesday when he zeroed in that if defence is to be provided for the region, authorities must look at the environment where this defence is needed.

In Central America and the Caribbean, arms imports increased by 23 per cent between the periods of 2010-2014 and 2015-2019. Mexico accounted for 70 per cent of those arms imports.

Looking at crime statistics of the sub-region, Ali indicated that the investments have in no way matched the level of crime or ability to fight crime.

In South American states, between 2005-2009 and 2010-2014, arms imports fell by 15 per cent. It fell by another 59 per cent during 2015-2019.

Ali stressed, “What that tells you is that there is very limited replacement. It tells you that there is a lot of inefficient assets, and the capacity to generate new capability to fight different forms of criminality and threats has been reduced substantially.”

Climate Change

The Head of State has posited that building defence strategies and infrastructure must take into account the damning effects of climate change, particularly for the Caribbean and Latin American region.

Climate change is one of the greatest vulnerabilities of this region. Adaptation to climate change comes at a price tag of between US$80 billion and US$110 billion.

Ali disclosed, “That is the estimated cost of ad-

Focus was placed on instances of wildfires, flooding, hurricane events, and other climate-related disasters which can wipe out a country’s GDP overnight. These have consequences on migration and poverty levels, and further, create a domino effect on security and crime.

“How do we ensure that, in this world, where we’re speaking about energy transition, there is energy security? And what shape and form will energy security take? The third area is food security. All of these are issues that influence decision making, because when the COVID-19 pandemic hit us, militaries and Governments had to make decisions on which budget you will cut. Because you had to find all expected expenditure to fight the pandemic that was not anticipated,” Ali said.

President Ali went on to note that policies without security are neither resilient nor sustainable.

Research and Development

Globally, the region is outspending the required investments in military, but a parity to the expenditure per capita changes the re-

sults dramatically, Ali said.

He dissected this information by saying, “You will see that per capita investment between 2015 and 2023 in the US grew by 42 per cent. Per capita investment in China grew by 55.4 per cent and 54 per cent in India over the same period.”

In the top 10 countries, however, investment in defence research and development as a percentage of GDP leads at 5.9 per cent for Israel. In the Western

Hemisphere, Brazil, the USA and Canada stand at just about one per cent of GDP.

“The burden of responsibility is placed on the US and Brazil to some extent when you look at research and development. This is critical for innovation and advancement of our defence system. We’re talking about cybersecurity, digitization, AI. These are all important aspects of what constitutes that research and develop-

ment aspect,” he said.

In making this visit to the USA, the Head of State was accompanied by Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd; Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Oneidge Walrond; Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud; National Security Advisor Captain Gerry Gouveia, and Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier Omar Khan. (G12)

…defence strategies must account for climate change, disasters

A section of the audience

President Irfaan Ali with members of his delegation and other stakeholders at the National Defence University in Washington, DC

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Businessman gets $800,000 bail on attempted murder charge

Businessman Vivendra Balgobin, a resident of Fifth Avenue, Bartica, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), who has been charged with attempted murder and had been remanded to prison, was on Thursday granted $800,000 bail.

The 46-year-old Balgobin had been arraigned before Bartica Magistrate Christel Lambert on September 2, and had not been required to plead to the indictable charge. He had been denied

bail, and had been remanded to prison. However, when the case was again brought before Magistrate Lambert on Thursday, September 14, Balgobin’s attorney, Bernard Da Silva, renewed the application for bail.

The accused has been placed on bail with the requirement that he lodges his passport with the court. The matter has been adjourned to September 28.

The charge against Balgobin alleges that, on

August 30, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Conroy Cox of Third Avenue, Bartica with intent to commit murder.

Police Headquarters have said that a brawl at a nightclub in Bartica resulted in Cox, called “Pink Boy”, a 38-year-old labourer, and a teenage girl from Second Avenue, Bartica being shot over spilled drinks.

erwise assaulted him. In anger, Cox had left the bar, but had reportedly returned shortly afterwards in a vehicle, and had continued to verbally abuse Balgobin.

Police have said that at time of the shooting, the victims and the business- man had been at a popular nightclub at Third Avenue, Bartica when Balgobin’s friend hit the table where the victims were sitting while he was passing, and that had caused bottles containing al-

Charged: Vivendra Balgobin

Injured: Conroy Cox

cohol to fall and spill on the victims.

Cox and Balgobin had got into a heated argument, during which Cox had allegedly thrown liquid in Balgobin’s face and had oth-

Cox had reportedly then exited the vehicle, and at this point, Balgobin had pulled out his licensed firearm and discharged several rounds in Cox’s direction. Cox had been hit three times in the abdomen, and his teen companion had sustained a wound to her right hand.

Both victims were rushed to the Bartica Hospital, where they were admitted as patients. Two 9MM spent shells were recovered from the scene.

Vehicles parked in dangerous manner around GT clamped

Within the course of two days, several vehicles parked dangerously across Georgetown have been clamped as part of the current enforcement campaign undertaken by the Guyana Police Force.

On Thursday, September 14, between 09:00h and 12:00h, Traffic Headquarters ranks of the Guyana Police Force conducted an enforcement exercise against motor vehicles parked dangerously and causing obstruction on streets in and around Georgetown.

Several vehicles were 'clamped', and eight tickets have been issued for 'Leaving Motor Vehicle in a Dangerous Position'.

On Wednesday, between 9:00h and noon, Traffic Headquarters ranks also conducted an enforcement exercise against vehicles that were causing obstruction along several main roadways in Georgetown. During that exercise, several vehicles were observed to be parked dangerously on Camp Street,

Georgetown. As such, wheel clamps were utilized, and 11 tickets were issued. In July, exacerbated fatalities and reckless use of the roadways led to the launch of a new campaign –‘Respect the Road’. At that time, over 2000 persons were charged with ticketing offences.

Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken has said that ticketing has not been working, to some extent. Despite harsher penalties being meted out to defaulters, violation of traffic laws remains high.

Speeding, driving under the influence, poor driver behaviour, distracted driving and inadequate infrastruc-

ture are some of the factors contributing to the alarming statistics in Guyana.

From weekly statistics, it has been observed that men between the ages of 18 and 42 make up the majority of traffic fatalities, or drivers behind road accidents. Trends also include recklessness on the part of motorbikes and e-bike operators, which accounts for an alarming fraction of accidents.

Earlier this week, in a bid to clamp down on recklessness on the country’s roadways, the GPF released a list of top offenders on the new Mandela to Eccles Highway in the past 90 days, where cameras capturing the speed of drivers have been installed. In one day, some 377 traffic violation cases were recorded. According to the Police, that number of cases included 165 for speeding

and 15 for driving under the influence (DUI).

The Police have said that efforts have been intensified with a view to curbing poor

usage of the roads by motorists, who are engaged daily in empowerment sessions by traffic ranks countrywide. (G12)

Some of the vehicles that were clamped in Georgetown

Oil blocks’ auction…

Govt looking to conclude evaluation of 14 offers in October – VP Jagdeo – bids submitted for 2 deep-sea, 6 shallow blocks

With 14 offers by six bidders for eight of the 14 oil blocks offshore Guyana, the Government is aiming to wrap up evaluation of those bids next month.

This is according to Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo during his weekly press conference on Friday.

Following its launch in December 2022, the bidround closed off on Tuesday with six companies bidding for eight of the 14 blocks offshore Guyana that were up for grabs.

According to Jagdeo, Government is “very pleased” with the 14 offers that have been received from the six bidders.

“Some of the blocks are very competitive (with 14 offers from six bidders on the eight blocks),” the Vice

President noted. Of the 14 blocks on auction, three were for deep-sea areas and the other 11 were for shallow areas, ranging from 1000 to 3000 square kilometres (sq km). Offers were made on two deep-sea blocks and six shallow-area blocks.

VP Jagdeo disclosed on

Thursday that there were no offers for the following blocks: D3, S1, S2, S6, S9, and S11. This effectively means that bids were received for the D1 and D2 blocks in the deepsea area, while bids were received for the shallow area, on the S3, S4, S5, S7, S8 and S10.

Among the bidders are ExxonMobil; 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).

“We have to now allow the process to work. The evaluation would be done. We’re anticipating in early October to finish the evaluation and then to move on to discussions to conclude the agreements before the end of the year,” Jagdeo told reporters.

Meanwhile, in regard to the six blocks that received

no offers along with the other remaining blocks offshore, President Dr Irfaan Ali hinted on Wednesday that these could be available for Government-to-Government deals.

The Head of State also expressed satisfaction with the results of the bid-round, noting that it is in keeping with Government’s commitment for an open, public and transparent process in awarding the remaining blocks offshore Guyana.

Similar sentiments were driven home by VP Jagdeo on Thursday, despite some questioning the success of the bid-round.

“I’m very happy about it, given all the fiscal changes we made… When you change fiscal terms [on oil contracts], it can spook people, but I think, given the overwhelming success here and the discovery rates, a lot of these bidders are excited about the prospects, as we are,” he stressed.

The 2016 oil contract for the Stabroek Block, signed between the ExxonMobilled co-venturers and the then APNU/AFC Coalition Government, has been heavily criticised for low royalty, lack of ring-fencing provisions, and cost oil claims that will see Guyana losing billions, among other issues.

For these new deals, the current PPP/C Government has established a new Production Sharing Agreement (PSA). Under new conditions, Guyana stands to benefit from as high as US$20 million signature bonus for the deep-water blocks, and US$10 million for the shallow-water blocks. Additionally, while it includes the retention of the 50-50 profit-sharing arrangement after cost recovery, there is an increase of the royalty from a mere two per cent to now a 10 per cent

fixed rate; the imposition of a 10 per cent corporate tax, and the lowering of the cost recovery ceiling to 65 per cent from the previous 75 per cent.

Guyana, with ExxonMobil as the operator, began producing oil on December 20, 2019 in the oilrich Stabroek Block, which is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometres).

Exxon, through its local subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), holds 45 per cent interest in the block. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd holds 30 per cent interest, and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, holds the remaining 25 per cent interest.

Since last year, Guyana has been recording weekly lifts in the Stabroek Block, with oil production now at 340,000 barrels per day (bpd) from the Liza Destiny and Liza Unity floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels. With EEPGL making weekly lifts, Guyana’s crude entitlement of one million barrels occurs monthly from the two FPSOs.

ExxonMobil has said it anticipates at least six projects offshore Guyana would be online by 2027. Production has already started in the second phase, with the Liza Unity FPSO vessel in operation.

The third project – the Payara development – will target an estimated resource base of about 600 million oil-equivalent barrels. It was at one point considered to be the largest single planned investment in the history of Guyana.

Meanwhile, the Yellowtail development, which will be oil giant ExxonMobil’s fourth development in Guyana’s waters, will target a mammoth 250,000 bpd. (G8)

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

The 14 blocks offshore Guyana that featured in the recently concluded bid-round

Rakesh Permaul is set to represent Guyana at the Mister Universe Pageant in Panama next month.

The participation of this made possible following the acquisition of the franchise by local designer Dexter Gardener, who is no stranger to pageantry, having represented Guyana in the Mister Grand International pageant in 2021.

Born in Crabwood Creek,

The Miss Global International Pageant is renowned for celebrating the beauty, intelligence, and inner strength of young women from diverse backgrounds. This prestigious annual event provides a platform for these empowered women to showcase their unique talents, advocate for social causes, and develop essential leadership skills that would positively impact their communities.

With the hope of wowing the judges, the Guyanese

Corentyne Berbice and raised by his parents - his father being a cane cutter and his mother a housewife

– Rakesh Permaul, the youngest of six siblings, migrated to Florida

representative will join several beauties from around the world in Montego Bay on Saturday evening. On pageant night, the delegates would compete in various segments, including swimwear, talent, evening wear; and, more importantly, the intelligence segment.

Back in 2017, the title was claimed by Guyana’s Cynthia Dookie when the pageant was hosted in Jamaica. In 2015, Alicia Bess was the Second Runner-up, and Poonam Singh was First Runner-up

serve his motherland and simultaneously propel his self-development journey. It has always been his dream to represent his country on an international stage.

Permaul, who hopes to promote Guyana at the 7th edition of this pageant, firmly believes the world would be enlightened by his embracing this grand opportunity to expose his country’s biodiversity in terms of its breathtaking flora and extraordinary fauna.

Gardener, meanwhile, is con vinced that Guyanese have what it takes to place on the interna tional stage, but this can happen only with the undying support of their fellow citizens. He added that male pageantry has long been a topic of controversy in many cul tures and societies, including our own. It is widely believed that men who participate in pageantry are effeminate, and this notion often results in social stigma and dis crimination. Additionally, male pageantry has long been over shadowed by female pageant ry, and this has led to the per ception that male pageants are less significant than their female counterparts.

in 2016. Other beauties have since represented Guyana, but none has managed to win the coveted crown. In fact, several years have elapsed since Guyana last participated in the pageant.

Forde, a powerful, compassionate, and trailblazing young woman, intends to do her best to walk away with the title on Saturday evening.

The Miss Global International Pageant is run by its founder and chairman, Lachu Ramchandani.

ed time to host the local leg of the pageant.

Though the representative was not selected through a local competition this year, Gardener is hoping to do things differently next year, when he plans to host a local competition so that Guyanese men can have the chance to compete for the title of Mister Universe Guyana, and move on to represent Guyana at the international pageant.

wherever they may venture.

A truly down-to-earth man, Rakesh Permaul admits that he is a work in progress, and while he has never been involved in pageantry, he knows that this platform, “Environmental Sustainability”, would definitely enable him to

Gardener hopes to break the stigma attached to male pageant ry, and is hoping that the addition of this pageant can aid in so doing. This journey, he believes, would help to change the Guyanese atti tude towards male pageantry, and to show that male beauty pageants can be empowering and provide opportunities for men to showcase their talents and achievements.

Permaul was handpicked by Gardener, since there was limit

Miss Global International Guyana, Lateefah Forde Guyana’s representative to the Mister Universe Pageant, Rakesh Permaul

Mister Universe Guyana, Rakesh Permaul, and local franchise holder Dexter Gardener

$182M in contracts inked for Albouystown Phase 2 road upgrades

has a double-lane carriageway on the northern side and a single-lane carriageway on the southern side.

Last year when the project was launched, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill had stated that the Boulevard formed part of wider plans to modernise and transform the capital city of Georgetown.

Contracts to the tune of $182 million have been signed on Thursday for Phase Two of the road rehabilitation project at Albouystown and Castello Housing Scheme, West La Penitence, Georgetown.

Minister within the Public Works Ministry, Deodat Indar, and Permanent Secretary Vladim Persaud facilitated the signing of the 16 contracts for construction of the remaining eight streets and three bridges in the area.

At the signing, Indar assured, “We will continue to press forward to buildout this community. We will have the folks in the community do the buildout. That is what we said in the beginning; that is what the President came and said in this community; and that is what we’re doing.”

Contractors are being urged to ensure that works

promised that the company would produce a quality end product. He said, “I feel overwhelmed today; thankful to the Government today for giving us a second chance, because I did a road already in Phase One,

Between these two carriageways lies a promenade outfitted with lights, benches, concrete drains and strategically placed garbage bins to ensure the maintenance of a clean and environmentally-friendly space. In addition to increasing property value and easing traffic congestion, the project was also aimed at creating job opportunities, as contractors were encouraged to hire residents within the area.

Indar has outlined that with such infrastructure

and it was approved by the Government. They have given me a chance to be a contractor, and it was satisfactory to them. I’m very

comes the responsibility to maintain the facilities.

“We are working with this community. Although we are changing the infrastructure, we also have to change minds and hearts. Many times I have had to ask the Police to come and move their stuff, because we built a highway for people to pass through, and from, not place for people to park. We built a median where families can come and spend time. I’m starting to see vending and so on,” he commented.

are completed in keeping with the timeline. The minister encouraged, “Plan yourself properly, talk to the engineer, learn from those who have done good in the past.”

Fibian Jessop, a representative of the Amazon Infrastructure Company,

much pleased.”

Phase One of the project included upgrades to Independence Boulevard which racked up a bill of $1.4 billion under the Urban Enhancement Project. The 1.8 km project, stretching from Saffon Street to Cemetery Road,

When the stretch of roadway was being upgraded, the vendors agreed to the move, and Government constructed a concrete platform for them to establish organized stalls with proper security. They are now able to ply their trade in a neat manner along the newly rehabilitated Independence Boulevard, allowing free traffic flow and continued activities. (G12)

One of the contractors signing the agreement in the company of Permanent Secretary Vladim Persaud

Guyanese tops Hugh Wooding Law School

Guyanese Rea Harris has been named valedictorian of the 2023 Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS) graduating class and has also copped a series of special prizes.

She was enrolled in the Trinidad-based law school’s two-year Legal Education Certificate (LEC) course— the final academic qualification to practise law in the Anglophone Caribbean.

Harris also copped the Mediation Board of Trinidad & Tobago Prize for Excellence in Mediation Studies, the Book Specialists Prize for Best Overall Performance – Academic and Extracurricular Activities – and the Book Specialists Prize for Second Outstanding Year II Student.

Rea Harris

The Attorney General’s Chambers and Legal Affairs Ministry on behalf of the Government of Guyana has

congratulated the attorney-in-waiting on this remarkable feat.

In a post via his

Facebook page, Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC said that Harris was attached to the Attorney General’s Chambers while studying for her Bachelor of Laws at the University of Guyana (UG) and then later completed her law school In-Service Training at his Chambers.

She was UG’s best-graduating law school for 2021 and for this accomplishment, she was presented with the Pro Chancellor’s Award by Education Minister Priya Manickchand.

“The Attorney General’s Chambers and Ministry of Legal Affairs is proud to celebrate Ms. Harris’s ac-

complishments and look forward to witnessing her continued success as she embarks on her legal career. We hope that she will continue to shine as a beacon of excellence and contribute significantly to the benefit of our country and its citizens,” Nandlall expressed.

US$200M Linden-Soesdyke Highway resurfacing at rocurement stage

Public Works Minister Bishop Juan Edghill has disclosed that, following the signing of the US$200 million loan from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) in May, the project of resurfacing the Soesdyke-Linden Highway is now in the procurement stage.

“The Soesdyke-Linden Highway, we have already secured funding from the Islamic Development Bank for the upgrade of that road. We’re at the procurement stage for that. Both East Bank (of Demerara) as well as the Soesdyke-Linden Highway are going to see major upgrades,” Edghill told reporters on Tuesday.

Upgrading the highway involves rehabilitation and reconstruction of 73km of the road, with two lanes undivided, nine bridges and six culverts with improved design, quality and standards. It also includes ancillary works and road corridor improvements providing essential public administration support, improved connectivity with communities, roadside and other facilities.

EBD road upgrades significant works are also being done along the EBD corridor as the Government had earlier this year secured a loan of some US$100 million from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to rehabilitate the road from Diamond/Grove to Timehri.

Addressing concerns of damage to the roadways along Grove by heavy trucks, Edghill noted that efforts are being made to minimise their impacts.

“In order for us to work and correct what is taking place at Grove, we can’t build that when the traffic is running, so we have awarded contracts to divert the traffic through Diamond, put in bridges to get over to Grove, where (commuters) will be able to come out to Busbee Dam, (Craig),” Edghill explained.

“Once the traffic will go through there, you have that thoroughfare that you could now dig up, take out all the slab, re-lay it, and build it into a road that can carry the tonnage – the heavy trucks. So, the entire road will be upgraded all the way to the (Cheddi Jagan International Airport),” Edghill explained.

Minister Edghill clarified that continuous efforts are being made to upgrade the main thoroughfares, put in connector roads, reduce

travel times, and ensure all necessary road safety mechanisms are in place.

As such, he further noted that work is also ongoing on developing the four-lane highway from Ogle to Eccles, a project being undertaken by Ashoka Buildcon and funded by the India Exim Bank that forms the first phase of the EBD connection to the East Coast Demerara (ECD).

“The intent of that road is to connect Ogle with Timehri. Silica City will (also) benefit from that,” Edghill said, with Silica City touted as becoming Guyana’s first smart urban centre, located along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway.

As at last month, infrastructure works along this emerging smart city were progressing smoothly, with Phase One including the construction of 100 residential homes as well as the development of apartment buildings, malls, condominiums, restaurants, and other amenities. (G13)

remanded for breaking into Judge’s property

Man

…labourer jailed for 18 months for theft

Randolph Thompson, a 40-year-old labourer of Queenstown, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), has been remanded to prison for allegedly breaking into, and stealing from, the property of a High Court Judge at Little Alliance, Essequibo Coast. He has been charged with committing the offence of break and enter and larceny.

Thompson was arraigned before Suddie Magistrate Esther Sam on Monday, and was not required to plead after the charge was read to him. The prosecutor objected to him being placed on bail,

and he was remanded to prison until September 26.

In another matter before Magistrate Esther Sam, Andrew James, called 'Awoo', a 22-year-old labourer of Onderneeming Sand Pit, Essequibo Coast, has been handed an 18-month jail sentence for simple lar-

ceny after pleading guilty as charged at the Charity Magistrate’s Court.

According to information disclosed in court, the offence was committed on Andre Corbin, a 44-yearold taxi driver, on July 31 at La Union, Essequibo Coast.

Randolph Thompson

Andrew James

Linden-Soesdyke Highway

Increased supervision in schools countrywide

The Education Ministry has announced that, for the new academic year and beyond, there would be an overhaul of the supervision of students from nursery to secondary schools, with guidelines that allow for greater monitoring.

Chief Education Officer Saddam Hussain has issued a circular informing of the changes. The following has been outlined, “The evolving dynamics of our education system requires synchronized changes in the allocation of teachers and their functions within respective schools. This is necessary for improved supervision and student outcomes, and more efficiently functioning schools.”

In nursery schools, general guidelines now provide that a headteacher would no longer be counted as a teaching unit. Instead, a headteacher must conduct a minimum of eight supervision sessions, classroom supervisory visits, or walkthroughs per week.

The guidelines have also outlined that multi-grade classes should be avoided where practicable, and should be established only when there are less than five learners per year group.

Additionally, two teachers are to be assigned to any class with more than 15 students.

One additional teacher, preferably with Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) training, must be assigned to each class where there are three or more SEND learners. Each nursery school must also have a data entry clerk.

At the primary level, provisions are now made for headteachers and deputy headteachers to also conduct at least eight supervisory sessions. A deputy should not be assigned a fixed class, but may serve as a floating teacher until a full complement of teachers has been hired.

Two teachers would be required to manage a class wherein there are more

than 20 pupils in Grades One to Two, and more than 25 pupils in Grades Three to Five.

One Information Technology teacher must be appointed to each primary school that has a computer laboratory, and teach classes on a timetabled basis. Grades A and B primary schools can have a minimum of two Spanish teachers.

In secondary schools, supervisory sessions will be required from headteachers, deputy headteachers, senior masters/mistresses, and heads of department.

In cases where classes have more than 30 students, two teachers must be assigned to each of those classes. Each school with a CAPE programme or dormitories would have an additional senior master/ mistress. Large secondary schools would have more than one teacher designated as Guidance and Counselling Officers.

Acknowledging that

immediate implementation of these changes can shock the system, the Ministry has clarified, “These changes must be made gradually, over the next academic year and beyond. School leaders must conduct a consultative rationalization of their staff to begin the implementation process. School leaders will be held accountable for the

sporadic and indiscriminate implementation of this circular.”

The Ministry is working aggressively to pursue universal secondary education, and creating facilities which are conducive for learning.

As such, Government is eliminating primary tops with the construction of several secondary schools across the country. New schools will call for greater resources in the teaching sector.

Schools to be built are the $1.9 billion Kopinang Secondary School (Region Eight), the $2.5 billion Hosororo Secondary School (Region One), the $2 billion Kwebanna Secondary

School (Region One) and the $2 billion Jawalla Secondary School (Region Seven). With establishment of the new Jawalla Secondary School, the Ministry would be able to close the primary tops in Philippi, Wax Creek, Chinoweing, Imbaimadai, Jawalla, Quebanang, Kako and Kamarang.

The new Kwebanna facility would serve the villages of Kwebanna, Santa Cruz, Waikrebi, Chinese Landing, Kokerite, Kariako, Warapoka, Assakata and Unity Grant.

After being ravaged by fire, the North West Secondary School in Region One is also being rebuilt. (G12)

Linden woman beaten to death by husband over theft of $500

Hours after being beaten by her reputed husband for allegedly stealing money, a 53-year-old woman was found lying motionless on a bed in her home at Amelia's Ward, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Dead is Bibi Shirah Bhagpattie, of Block 42 Amelia's Ward, Linden. Her companion, a 55-year-old farmer, has since confessed to beating the woman.

Police have said that the suspect and victim would normally have domestic problems, thus resulting in him frequently assaulting her. However, on Tuesday, at about 13:00h, the suspect and the victim had had a misunderstanding after he had accused her of removing $500 from his pants pocket, unknown to him, to purchase alcohol.

Upon enquiring from

her, a heated argument reportedly ensued between them, during which the victim 'chucked' the suspect to his chest.

This angered the suspect, and in retaliation, he dealt the woman one slap and one cuff to her face, causing her to receive injuries.

The injured woman left their home and went to her relatives, where she told them what had transpired. She later returned to her Amelia's Ward home; and on the following day, the suspect contacted one of the woman’s relatives and informed her that she was motionless.

Without hesitation, the relative went over to the house, where she observed the woman lying on her back, half-naked, with a towel wrapped around her. Other relatives were immediately alerted, and the matter was reported to the Police.

The woman's body was examined, and her face was 'black and blue' and swollen.

A post-mortem is expected to be conducted on Friday. The suspect was arrested and he is assisting with investigations.

Aresident of New Amsterdam, Berbice on Thursday celebrated her 100th birthday.

Georgina Lambert, called ‘Grams’, was born on September 14, 1923. Today she is 100 years old. Living at Winkel in New Amsterdam, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), the centenarian is part of a family tree of which her mother had lived to 105 years.

She had five siblings, none of which had lived to her age. Three of her six children are still alive, being 78, 73 and 67; the eldest three have passed away. Her youngest daughter alive takes care of her.

In her younger days, Pearl Hernandez has said, ‘Grams’ farmed to take care

of her family, now she has lost her eyesight, and cannot walk on her own.

“She can’t see, and she can’t walk. I am living with her for four years, and she used to see when I came here… it is about three years now since she don’t see. About one year now she not walking by herself. She used to go to the washroom and do everything for herself; is only now she can’t make it, Hernandez explained.

‘Grams’ is said to have been a very hard worker in her younger days, farming to earn a living and to take care of her family.

“She used to wuk hard planting cassava,” her daughter said, adding that while her mother farmed, her father had been a logger.

“She used to plant cassava, and she also planted rice; not plenty, just for us, and she used to pound the rice. We used to call it ‘local rice’.”

As to what ‘Grams’ eats, according to her daughter, it differs from what she likes. “Mostly, she eats porridge now, and she really likes fried rice. She would only want to eat fried rice all the time, but just a little bit,” her daughter detailed.

‘Grams’ grew up in the village of Waki Kalcuni, along the Berbice River in Region Ten (Upper DemeraraBerbice), where she went to school and also got married. Her husband passed away 48 years ago. She has 18 grandchildren, 46 great-grandchildren and 54 great-great grandchildren. (G4)

Dead: Bibi Shirah Bhagpattie

‘Grams’ turns 100; her mother lived to 105

Some of the 46 great-grandchildren posing with their cousins, aunts and Georgina Lambert, called ‘Grams’, on her 100th birthday

Regional Dominican Republic to shut border with Haiti from today, President says

The Dominican Republic will close its entire border with neighbouring Haiti today, President Luis Abinader has announced, as a conflict over the construction of a canal from a shared river worsens.

Santo Domingo said the closure, set to begin at 6am local time (10:00 GMT), will last “as long as necessary” with the support of the Dominican military and Police forces, though talks with Haiti are set to continue.

“Unfortunately, they left us no alternative but to take drastic measures,” Abinader told reporters during a news conference on Thursday.

He added that even if the Haitian Government –which is struggling to cope with a surge in deadly gang violence – could not control the construction of the canal, his country could.

“We have been prepared for weeks, not only for this situation but also for a possible peace force in Haiti,” Abinader said.

The Dominican president threatened earlier this week to close the border over construction work on the Haitian canal.

Officials in the Dominican Republic say the project will divert water from the Massacre River, which runs in both countries, and violate the 1929 Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Arbitration.

Relations between Haiti and the Dominican

Persad-Bissessar condemns PM's 'atrocious' failure to replace National Security Minister

The continuing tenure of Fitzgerald Hinds as Trinidad’s National Security Minister has once again incurred the indignation of Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

Amid speculation that the three-day Cabinet retreat would have resulted in a reshuffle, especially in the removal of Hinds, PersadBissessar expressed her disappointment after the Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley thwarted any such expectation.

Persad-Bissessar said, “It is simply atrocious that after a three-day Cabinet retreat, Keith Rowley chose to keep Fitzgerald Hinds as the Minister of National Security.

“I call on Rowley to put our citizens' lives first and select a competent person to helm our national security apparatus.”

She said his refusal to replace Hinds with someone competent, “has now gone past dictatorial arrogance to total disregard of our citizens' opinions and fears”.

“He has once again ignored the cries of the population to remove Fitzgerald Hinds as National Security Minister.”

“While Keith Rowley admits that crime is totally out of control, he refuses to act in the best interest of the population.”

Saying the society is violent, she said, does not absolve the Government of its responsibility in controlling violent crime and murders.

Republic, which share the island of Hispaniola, have faced heightened tensions in recent years, notably over border security and the treatment of Haitian migrants and asylum seekers in the Dominican Republic.

Haiti’s Government had said on Wednesday that it met with Dominican officials in the Dominican Republic that day to try to resolve the canal dispute. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Brazil riots: 1st man tried for storming Government buildings gets 17 years

Aman has been sen-

tenced to 17 years in prison for his involvement in riots that shook Brazil's capital in January after the presidential election.

He was one of thousands who refused to accept the far-right President Jair Bolsonaro's loss, ransacking Government buildings in protest.

Aecio Pereira, convicted of attempting a coup, is the first to be tried in connection with the attacks.

He denied wrongdoing and said he believed he was at a peaceful protest.

Pereira, 51, was arrested inside the Senate build-

ing, He had filmed himself at the Senate President's table during the riots, wearing a T-shirt marked with the words "Military Intervention" while he urged fellow supporters of Bolsonaro to "take to the streets".

The mob he was part of claimed the election result was rigged and invaded the presidential palace and the high court in Brasilia, smashing windows, throwing furniture into fountains and vandalising artwork.

Some had also been camping outside army buildings around the country calling for a military intervention.

"The [rioters'] objective was to violently seize Brasilia and spread a criminal attack against the rule of law across the country," Justice Cristiano Zanin said on Thursday as he sentenced Pereira.

He is part of an initial group of four people that will be tried over the riots before Brazil's Supreme Court, which plans to hear 232 cases involving the most serious alleged crimes committed during the demonstrations.

Prosecutors are also investigating more than 1000 others over the attacks, mostly on lesser charges.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Quest to bring Priest charged with torture in Argentina to justice

Survivors of crimes committed by the 1970s military junta in Argentina are fighting to see a priest stand trial for his alleged role in kidnappings and torture against opponents of the regime.

As Elena Basso reports from San Rafael in Argentina, the case shows that the wounds caused by the coup are still far from healed.

"The moment I saw Franco Reverberi, the priest from my village, come in, was the moment I thought I was going to die," recalls

Mario Bracamonte.

The fact that a clergyman was visiting him in his prison cell in northern Argentina came as no comfort at all.

"I was lying on the floor soaked in blood after a night of torture. He came in dressed in his military uniform and looked at me impassively. I could not believe it."

Mario Bracamonte was one of thousands of Argentines who were kidnapped by soldiers after the military coup on March 24, 1976.

The military junta led by

In a statement after Thursday’s post-Cabinet news briefing chaired by Dr Rowley,

She accused Dr Rowley of continuing to ignore the terror citizens were facing owing to the crime crisis.

“I wish to remind Rowley that the only stability that exists under this Minister is a stable rise in the murder rate and violent crime. (Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

High-level US-Cuba talks yield no progress on top disputes, Cuban official says

US and Cuban officials made progress on a range of issues during high-level talks in Washington this week, but were unable to narrow differences over the biggest disputes between the countries, Cuba’s Vice Foreign Minister said on Thursday.

Cuba’s main concerns are that it remains on the US list of state sponsors of terrorism and the Biden Administration’s continuation of Washington’s Cold War-era economic embargo against the Communistruled island.

In an interview with Reuters, Cuban Vice Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio said: “We believe that it is unreasonable for the United States to continue to carry out a policy with which it disagreed before coming into office, that they know is hurting the Cuban popu-

lation as a whole."

He said progress was made in talks on migration issues and cooperation in law enforcement, health, science and technology. “We welcome them, but they're not the defining factor, the overriding issue,” De Cossio told Reuters.

A State Department official said US law includes exemptions and authorizations for exports of food,

medicine, and other humanitarian goods to Cuba.

"President Biden remains committed to policies that will advance the democratic aspirations of the Cuban people," the official added.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel will continue to press on the issue this month when he addresses the United Nations General Assembly, De Cossio said. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Uber to appeal Brazil court's US$205M fine for irregular labour relations

Jorge Videla which seized power targeted anyone who opposed the dictatorship and an estimated 30,000 people were killed before the transition to democracy in 1983.

Mario, who was 28 at the time, had ended up in the soldiers' sights for his leftwing activism.

Like thousands of others before and after him, he was taken to a clandestine detention centre where perceived opponents of the regime would be tortured away from prying eyes. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Uber on Thursday said it rejected a ruling from a Brazilian labour court ordering the ride-hailing firm to pay one billion reais (US$205 million) in fines for irregular working relations with the drivers on its app.

The sentence, handed down by a São Paulo state court, also ordered Uber to recognise its employment relationships with all its app's drivers and register their professional work cards, with a penalty of 10,000 reais for each unregistered worker.

The lawsuit, filed in November 2021 with Brazil's public prosecutor's office, accused the company of controlling the way in which professionals' activities should be carried out, "which con-

stitutes an employment relationship."

Uber said it would appeal the decision and would not adopt any of the measures listed in the sentence before all applicable resources have been exhausted.

"There is evident legal uncertainty," it said in a statement, citing legal precedents involving other companies such as delivery platforms Lalamove, Loggi and Ifood, and taxi app 99.

(US$1 = 4.8677 reais) (Reuters)

Haitians are seen at the banks of the Massacre River, which runs between Haiti and the Dominican Republic on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola [Ricardo Rojas/Reuters file photo]

Cuban Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio (Reuters/Alexandre Meneghini file photo)

Around The World OIL NEWS

President Biden’s son Hunter indicted on 3 federal gun charges

Oil rises to highest peak in 2023 on tight supply expectations

Oil prices climbed on Thursday to their highest this year, as expectations of tighter supply outweighed worries about weaker economic growth and rising US crude inventories.

Brent crude rose US$1.82, or 1.98 per cent, to settle at $93.70, after touching US$93.89, its highest since November 2022.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained US$1.64, or 1.85 per cent, to US$90.16, closing above $90 for the first time since November.

On Wednesday, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said Saudi Arabia and Russia's extended oil output cuts will result in a market deficit through the fourth quarter. Prices briefly pulled back on a bearish US inventories report before resuming their climb.

"That this genuinely bearish stock report only led to a brief temptation to sell speaks volumes and underlines the market mentality," said Tamas Varga of oil broker PVM.

Both benchmarks remained in technically overbought territory.

Hedge funds have been buying crude oil futures for the past two or three weeks as "fundamentals continue to get stronger, driven mostly by heavy demand for both gasoline and diesel", said Dennis Kissler, Senior Vice President of Trading at BOK Financial.

A day before the IEA report, the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) issued updated forecasts of solid demand and also pointed to a 2023 supply deficit if production cuts are maintained.

"The market is getting increasingly nervous about the sufficiency of supply," said John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital.

"Russia and Saudi are acting in a way that could materially constrain supplies as we get into the peak northern hemisphere demand season, for the winter period," Kilduff added.

The European Central Bank raised its key interest rate to a record peak, but signalled this was likely its final move to tame inflation.

Investors see a 97 per cent likelihood the US Federal Reserve will hold interest rates steady in its next meeting on September 20, according to the CME FedWatch Tool.

Meanwhile, China's central bank said it would cut the amount of cash that banks must hold as reserves for the second time this year to boost liquidity and support the country's economic recovery.

China is the world's second-largest oil consumer and its economic recovery has remained choppy, worrying markets about demand. (Reuters)

President Joe Biden's son, Hunter, has been criminally charged with three counts of lying when buying a firearm, after a proposed plea deal collapsed.

The indictment marks the first time the child of a sitting President has been criminally prosecuted.

A planned plea bargain to resolve gun and tax-related charges he faced abruptly fell apart in July.

All three counts relate to Biden, 53, allegedly lying on forms while buying a gun when he was a drug user.

Prosecutors allege he falsely claimed that he was "not an unlawful user of and addicted to any stimulant narcotic drug" when he pur-

chased a Colt Cobra Special revolver at a Delaware gun store in October 2018.

At the time, Biden was a heavy user of crack cocaine.

Under US federal laws, it is a crime to lie on such documentation, or possess a firearm while a drug user.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison, the Justice Department said in a statement. Actual sentences for federal crimes are usually less than the maximum possible penalties. It is still unclear when and where Biden's initial court appearance will take place.

Biden's Attorney, Abbe Lowell, suggested the charges had been influenced by "Republicans' improper and

Hunter Biden

partisan interference in this process".

He said his client "did not violate the law" and that his brief possession of an unloaded gun was never a threat to public safety.

Cornell Law School professor Randy Zellin told the BBC he believes that Biden is

unlikely to serve any time in prison and a plea agreement is likely.

"It's a nonsense case," he said. "Nobody got hurt. It's a victimless crime. He's never been in trouble before. Is this really how we want to waste judicial resources?" (Excerpt from BBC News)

Ukrainian President set to visit Washington amid budget debate

Ukrainian President Volodymyr

Zelenskyy is set to visit the seat of the United States Government in Washington, DC, next week, as he makes the case for ongoing aid to his wartorn country.

Details of the visit started to appear in US media on Thursday afternoon, with anonymous Government sources confirming the plans.

Zelenskyy is expected to meet with US President Joe Biden at the White House on Thursday, along with a stop at the Capitol.

His appearance will coincide with a debate in Congress over federal spending, as lawmakers face an impending

September 30 deadline to pass a budget.

The Biden Administration has asked Congress to allocate a total of US$24 billion for Ukraine support, including US$13.1 billion in additional military aid and US$8.5 billion for humanitarian support.

But some politicians, particularly in the Republican Party, have balked at the prospect of sending more money and supplies to Ukraine, as it attempts to repel Russian forces.

Congress has already approved aid totalling over US$113 billion. But the last time the legislature approved funding for Ukraine was in December

'Alien bodies' presented in Mexican Congress panned as stunt

AUFO hearing in Mexico's congress that featured the presentation of alleged remains of non-human beings faced swift international backlash on Thursday, with critics labelling it a "stunt", and questions from officials in Peru, where the apparent specimens first emerged.

Mexican Journalist and long-time UFO enthusiast

Jaime Maussan showed politicians at the hearing on Tuesday two tiny "bodies" displayed in cases, with three fingers on each hand and elongated heads. He claimed they were found in Peru in 2017 and were not related to any life on Earth.

Maussan has made similar controversial claims in the past.

The images from the congressional hearing, the first of its kind in Mexico, sparked international curiosity as well as substantial scorn.

Former US Navy pilot Ryan Graves, who also attended the hearing to share his personal experience with sightings of "unidentified anomalous phenomena", or UAP, heaped criticism on the presentation.

"Yesterday's demonstration was a huge step backwards for this issue," Graves said on the X social media platform, formerly known as Twitter.

"I am deeply disappointed by this unsubstantiated stunt."

Graves participated in US Congressional hearings on UAP in July, when he said that airspace sightings of unexplained phenomena were "grossly under-reported".

Maussan said in the presentation that the specimens were recovered near Peru's ancient Nazca Lines and had been carbon-dated by Mexico's National Autonomous University (UNAM) and concluded to be about 1000 years old. He claimed they were not related to any species on Earth.

Similar such finds in the past have turned out

to be the remains of mummified children.

Peruvian Culture Minister Leslie Urteaga said no scientific institution in the South American country had identified the remains as non-human and questioned how the specimens had left Peru.

Maussan, speaking to Reuters on Thursday, said his critics had yet to present evidence to counter his claims.

In a press conference on Thursday, NASA officials fielded questions about the Mexican presentation as they released their own report on recommendations for helping the Pentagon detect and examine UAP.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

— before Republicans took control of the House of Representatives.

Now, with a narrow conservative majority in the lower chamber, far-right politicians hold greater sway over how budget legislation is de -

cided. Just last July, 70 House Republicans, led by Florida Representative Matt Gaetz, backed a proposal to cut off security assistance to Ukraine altogether.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

UAE seizes billion-dollar amphetamine haul

Police in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have seized 13 tonnes of amphetamine pills smuggled in furniture.

More than US$1 billion worth of the drug known as Captagon were found after officers were alerted to a suspicious-looking shipping container.

A video showed Dubai Police tearing open wooden panels and doors where 86 million pills were hidden.

Dubbed "the poor man's cocaine", Captagon is reportedly one of the most popular drugs among youths in the Gulf.

The Police did not mention the suspected origin of the illegal shipment, but Captagon is believed to be produced in huge quantities in Syria.

At the height of the country's civil war armed groups supplied the drug to fighters – which is highly addictive and often laced with caffeine – to boost their courage.

Deepening poverty is

said to have forced many ordinary Syrians to become involved in the illegal Captagon trade, which is worth billions of dollars.

Although there have been denials from the Syrian Government, reports have linked powerful figures in business and the military to the manufacturing and distribution of Captagon.

Dubai Police said they seized five shipping containers holding the 13 tonnes of pills in a major operation.

Video footage they released showed officers tracking the containers and monitoring suspects, as well as dismantling 651 doors and 432 wooden panels to get to the narcotics.

An international gang planned to ship the drugs hidden in containers to the UAE and then transport them to another country, said Major General Eid Mohammed Thani Hareb, head of the Police's anti-narcotics department.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

DAILY HOROSCOPES

Sign up for something you love to do and include people you love being around. A social setting will offer a platform to express your thoughts and desires. Make an image adjustment.

(March 21-April 19)

You know how to play the game, so don’t hesitate to participate. Push forward with a smile and the confidence of a winner. Leave nothing to chance and plan your actions with care.

(April 20-May 20)

Participate in social events or activities requiring agility, physical skill and a competitive attitude. Refuse to let what others say affect your ability to get things done.

(May 21-June 20)

Keep an open mind and a calm demeanor. Pay attention to what others do. A positive change at home will improve your life and your relationships with friends and family.

(June 21-July 22)

Tone things down, keep things simple and stick to what you know and do best. Taking on too much will lead to unwanted change. Concentrate on strengthening your position.

(July 23-Aug. 22)

Express your thoughts and desires, and discuss your plans with someone you want by your side. Explore the possibilities that can lead to a rich and fulfilling life. Take ownership of your existence and manufacture the happiness you crave.

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Pay attention, note what everyone around you does and develop a team of allies you can count on. Share what you need to, but keep secret matters to yourself. Romance is in the stars.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

Share your thoughts. The response you receive will lead to a plan that addresses a cause that concerns you. Being bold will attract attention and support. Step outside your comfort zone.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Actions are necessary, but don’t expect everything to run smoothly. Opposition is apparent. Don’t believe everything you hear. Put your best foot forward.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

Anger won’t solve problems, but positive action will point you in the right direction. An unexpected change at home will turn out better than anticipated.

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Accept the inevitable and devise a plan to compensate for any setback. Use your strengths to get others on board. A strong front will discourage anyone from interfering with your plans.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

Think outside the box and add some flavor to the conversation. Your attitude and unique point of view will help you convince others to see things your way. Use your power of persuasion.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

LGC hosts benefit tournament in support of late Dhanai

Johnson named Player of the Series, but Windies U19s lose by 7 wickets

briefly to have the hosts in a spot of bother at 39-3.

Isai Thorne (1-29) and Tarrique Edward (1-16) were the wicket-takers for the West Indies in the losing effort.

The West Indies U19s lost, but Johnson did not come away empty-handed. For his scores of 149, 52 and 157 not out, he was named Player of the Series.

Scores: West Indies U19 127 and 277 v Sri Lanka U19 326 and 81-3. Sri Lanka winning by seven wickets. (Sportsmax)

On August 31, 2023, the lifeless body of 57-yearold Dalchand Dhanai (Nanda) was found at the Lusignan Golf Club.

Dhanai had been a security officer attached to the club for more than 30 years. As such, the Golf Club hosted a benefit tournament last weekend, where all proceeds went to the family of Dhanai ($190,000).

Speaking on behalf of the LGC was Public Relations Officer Paton George who said, “This tournament was held to aid the family as all proceeds went towards them. This is our way of supporting the family, someone important was lost and the golf club will continue to support Nanda’s wife through this dif-

ficult time. The Lusignan community is a united community and a valuable family member was lost that day. We will continue to aid the family, not just through this fundraiser but through other channels of support.”

George also stated that through this tragedy there would be more community awareness and vigilance against wayward individuals who may be few in numbers, but tend to cause a negative impact. He also relayed that the club was ensuring that it played a leadership role in helping the family and the community to heal and go forward, to have a better future.

The results for the tournament were as follows:

1st – Miguel Yunes and Miguel Oviedo (Gross 70, HC 8, Net 62)

2nd – Mike Mangal and Rohan Albert (Gross 70, HC 5, Net 65)

3rd – Kassim Khan and Ayube Subhan (Gross 69, HC 4, Net 65)

Dhanai started working at the Lusignan Golf Club at a very young age as a groundsman, and was later given the responsibility of overseeing the premises. The Executive and members of Lusignan Golf Course would like to express their condolences to the family members of Dhanai in their time of bereavement.

Man City treble winners nominated for FIFA men’s awards

Six players who helped Manchester City win the Treble in 2022-23 are among the nominees for the men's player of the year at the 2023 FIFA Best Awards.

Erling Haaland, Julian Alvarez, Kevin de Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, and Rodri and Bernardo Silva make up half of the 12 players in contention for the prize.

Two-time winner Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe are also up for the prestigious award along with England's Declan Rice.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is a nominee for coach of the year.

He faces competition from three other bosses including Tottenham's former Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou.

Argentina World Cup winner Messi is the current holder of the player of the year award.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who won the first two editions of the award, is not nominated after joining Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr last December.

Rice, 24, is looking to be-

come the first English player to win the prize.

Manchester City's Ederson is nominated for best goalkeeper along with recent Manchester United signing Andre Onana.

The nominees were shortlisted by a panel of football experts that included former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba.

Voting for the eighth annual awards opened on Thursday on Fifa.com and closes in mid-October.

National team coaches, Captains, Journalists and fans make up the list of voters.

Best Men's Player nominees

Julian Alvarez (Argentina/ Man City)

Marcelo Brozovic (Croatia/ Al Nassr)

Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium/ Man City)

Ilkay Gundogan (Germany/ Barcelona)

Erling Haaland (Norway/ Man City);

Rodri (Spain/Man City)

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia/Napoli)

Kylian Mbappe (France/ Paris St-Germain)

Lionel Messi (Argentina/ Inter Miami)

Victor Osimhen (Nigeria/ Napoli)

Declan Rice (England/ Arsenal)

Bernardo Silva (Portugal/ Man City)

Best Men's Coach nominees

Pep Guardiola (Spain/Man City)

Simone Inzaghi (Italy/Inter Milan)

Ange Postecoglou (Australia/Tottenham)

Luciano Spalletti (Italy/ Italy national team)

Xavi (Spain/Barcelona)

Best Men's Goalkeeper nominees

Yassine Bounou (Morocco/ Al Hilal)

Thibaut Courtois (Belgium/ Real Madrid)

Ederson (Brazil/Man City)

Andre Onana (Cameroon/ Man Utd)

Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Germany/Barcelona) (BBC Sport)

Despite a heroic 157 not out from Jordan Johnson, the West Indies U19s lost by seven wickets to Sri Lanka U19s in the second Youth Test at Dambulla on Thursday.

Resuming from their overnight score of 251-8 with Johnson on 133 and Tamarie Redwood yet to score, the West Indies U19s added 26 to their total, and were bowled out for 277. Johnson added 24 of the runs made, but Redwood was run out for two and Deshawn James run out without scoring, leaving Johnson on 157 not out.

Needing just 79 for victory, Sri Lanka made 81-3 from just 18.4 overs to secure victory.

Sineth Jayawardene top-scored with 30 while Rusanda Gamage was not out on 21 at the end with Ravishan De Silva on 17 at the other end. The pair added 42 runs for the fourth wicket, after the West Indies threatened

SCOREBOARD

West Indies Under-19s

2nd Innings

Stephan Pascal c †Shanmuganathan

b Piyumal 25

Steve Wedderburn c Jayawardene

b Thewmika 37

Jordan Johnson not out 157

Mavendra Dindyal c †Shanmuganathan

b Ruvishan Perera 15

Devonie Joseph † c &

b Thewmika 16

Joshua Dorne lbw

b Tharupathi 16

Nathan Sealy (c) c &

b Thewmika 1

Tarrique Edward c †Shanmuganathan

b Tharupathi 0

Isai Thorne lbw

b Piyumal 1

Tamarie Redwood run out

(Pulindu Perera/Thewmika) 2

Deshawn James run out

(Ruvishan Perera/Thewmika) 0

Extras (lb 6, nb 1) 7

TOTAL 68.5 Ov (RR: 4.02) 277

Fall of wickets: 1-39 (Stephan

Pascal, 9.3 ov), 2-110 (Steve

Wedderburn, 25.4 ov), 3-158

(Mavendra Dindyal, 36.6 ov),

4-192 (Devonie Joseph, 41.5 ov),

5-237 (Joshua Dorne, 52.3 ov),

6-238 (Nathan Sealy, 53.4 ov),

7-239 (Tarrique Edward, 54.4 ov),

8-250 (Isai Thorne, 57.5 ov), 9-265 (Tamarie Redwood, 66.1 ov), 10277 (Deshawn James, 68.5 ov)

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Kaveesha Piyumal 16-5-57-2

Vihas Thewmika 21.5-2-63-3

Sineth Jayawardene 8-1-31-0

Dinura Kalupahana 2-0-26-0

Malsha Tharupathi 12-2-51-2

Ruvishan Perera 9-0-43-1

Sri Lanka Under-19s 2nd Innings (T: 79 runs)

Pulindu Perera run out (Sealy/Edward) 3

Sineth Jayawardene (c) c Sealy b Thorne 30 Malsha Tharupathi c Thorne b Edward 2 Rusanda Gamage not out 21 Ravishan de Silva not out 17

Extras (b 8) 8

TOTAL 18.4 Ov (RR: 4.33) 81/3

Did not bat: Dinura Kalupahana, Diniru Abeywickramasingha, Sharujan Shanmuganathan †, Vihas Thewmika, Ruvishan Perera, Kaveesha Piyumal Fall of wickets: 1-33 (Sineth Jayawardene, 4.1 ov), 2-39 (Pulindu Perera, 5.1 ov), 3-39 (Malsha Tharupathi, 5.2 ov)

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Isai Thorne 6-1-29-1

Deshawn James 1-0-14-0

Tarrique Edward 6.4-0-16-1 Nathan Sealy 5-1-14-0

Irish trainer banned for 3 years over steroids in horses

Irish trainer Luke Comer has been banned from racing for three years after 12 of his horses tested positive for banned anabolic steroids in an "unprecedented" scandal.

He was also fined a total of 85,000 euros and the 12 horses banned from running for a period of two years.

Comer has been ordered to pay 755,754 euros (£650,000) in costs.

He categorically denied that he or his staff were involved in doping the animals.

Comer admitted traces of banned steroids methandienone and methyltestosterone were found in hair sam-

ples taken from the horses at his stables in County Meath.

The case failed to establish how the drugs got into the horses' systems. Comer argued that hay fed to the horses may have been contaminated with drugs through pig slurry.

An Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board referrals committee, which dealt with the case, said the presence of banned substances in so many horses at one time was "quite unprecedented".

"It is fair to say that there was no direct evidence of deliberate doping in this case," it added.

"The board makes the

case that there is no basis for concluding that there was environmental contamination."

The billionaire property mogul made history three years ago when he saddled He Knows No Fear to be the longest-priced winner in racing history at odds of 300-1.

He Knows No Fear was among the horses based at Comer's stables in County Meath that tested positive in November 2021.

The Irish St Leger, won by Eldar Eldarov at the Curragh last Sunday, was sponsored by the trainer's Comer Group International.

(BBC Sport)

The winners of the benefit tournament

The late Dalchand Dhanai

Johnson was named Player of the Series for his scores of 149, 52 and 157 not out against Sri Lanka U19s. He received his trophy from match referee Ranjith Priyantha.

Electronic scoreboard now on stream at National Stadium

The clash between the Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) and St Lucia Kings on Thursday night saw another first for the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, with patrons being able to enjoy the luxury of an electronic scoreboard.

Hours after several complaints circulated on social media on Thursday morning, regarding the use of the manual scoreboards at the venue on Wednesday night, the new electronic scoreboard was whipped into working shape by noon.

While the structure for the scoreboard was already completed when the Guyana leg of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) bowled off on Wednesday, the electrical installation was completed on Thursday in order to get the board working by the time the anticipated clash bowled off.

The scoreboard now complements the side screen, both located on the grass mound of the Stadium.

The idea of installing an electronic scoreboard at the country’s premier cricket venue was first explored in 2022 when the Subject Ministry was undertaking works to rehabilitate the National Stadium for the return of the CPL

Courts Optical powers Pee Wee Tournament for 10th edition

Courts Optical has hopped aboard the Pee-Wee train as title sponsors of the record 10th edition.

The announcement was made at the launch of this year’s Under-11 Primary Schools’ tournament on Thursday afternoon at the company’s Main Street, Georgetown head office.

Once again organised by Guyana’s top grassroots football administrator, the Petra Organisation, the decade-old tournament will, for the first time, carry the Courts Optical brand.

The significant ceremony was attended by Courts Optical Brand Manager Richard Simpson; Petra Co-Director Troy Mendonca; Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Technical Director Bryan Joseph and the Ministry of Education’s Deputy Chief Education Officer, Marti DeSouza.

positive impact. Let’s not underestimate the power of this investment, it’s not just financial, it’s about creating positive social impact, while enhancing Unicomer’s reputation.”

The teams will be divided into eight groups of four, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the knockout stage. The losers from the elimination will battle in the plate section of the tournament to round off the top 16 teams.

after the COVID-19 break.

Earlier this year, more headway was made on the project. This was revealed in another section of the media, where it was disclosed that the scoreboard was secured at a cost of $40 million.

At the launch, it was disclosed that a total of 32 schools can possibly vie for the Pee Wee title from September 23 to November 12, with all matches being played at the Ministry of Education’s Ground on Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown.

During Thursday’s launch, Simpson addressed the massive milestone that the tournament was embarking on and what the tournament meant for the company.

“This year the tournament is celebrating a milestone, which is 10 years. Ten years is not something simple to look over, it is showing that there’s opportunity and it’s showing that there’s a bright future for the tournament,” Simpson shared.

He went on to add, “It’s not about the numbers, it’s more towards how we can develop the community and how we can nurture young talent to make a lasting,

A championship trophy, medals and uniforms will be presented to the winning team, while each player will also be presented with a tablet.

The second-place side will leave with a trophy, medals and balls while third place will collect a trophy and balls. There will also be the usual individual prizes up for grabs.

Enterprise Primary School is the current champions after they claimed the title of the ninth edition in 2022 with a 2-1 victory over former champions St Pius, in the final.

This year’s tournament will have a wider reach, including teams from Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, and 10.

MoE, GCF collab for Chess in Schools training

The Ministry of Education (MoE) is hoping to popularise the game of chess in schools and made the first step towards that goal this week, through collaborative efforts with the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF).

The two teamed up to recruit the services of FIDE Chess Instructor Jerry Nash, who has been introducing teachers from around the country to the game, over the past week.

In an invited comment, MoE Allied Arts Head Nicholas Fraser revealed that the training exercise would help the Ministry foster its mission of expanding sport in schools.

“We, as the Ministry of Education, we are very keen on having this sport, because it is recognised as a sport by the IOC [International Olympic Committee), in schools. Because as you know, the Ministry is very interested in having every student who graduatessSecondary school to have some experiences, some skills in a sport. So, this will be added to that programme,” Fraser explained about the Ministry’s intentions.

He added, “The Unit of Allied Arts, we will be ensuring that we have more

resources placed towards this. We’ve already identified an officer, who will be following these schools because generally you tend to have some hurdles that they may have to cross once they get back into the schools to get it into the programme.”

This week’s training saw teachers from 14 primary and secondary schools across the country, including Regions Three, Four, Six and 10.

Fraser went on to inform that this particular sport was ideal given its added academic benefits.

The Allied Arts Head

highlighted, “Obviously, from the content that you would’ve seen, there are a lot of links between the activities that the students

will be doing and other subjects. So, mathematics, even critical thinking, things which are more soft skills that you need to de-

velop, they are easily developed using chess.”

“So, yes, we do know that there are some positive benefits from the activity and of course, that would’ve weighed in on the decision to have this event,” Fraser added.

The exercise began on Monday, September 11 and was scheduled to conclude today. Teachers from Queen’s College, President’s College, St Joseph’s High, St Rose’s High, Skeldon Line Path Secondary, Westminster Secondary, Richard Ishmael Secondary, Uitvlugt Secondary, JC

Chandisingh Secondary, Vryman’s Erven Secondary, Mackenzie Primary, St Barnabas Special School, Harold B Davis Special, Qayyim Academy, School of the Nations and members of the GCF were under Jerry Nash’s tutelage for the past

A look at the scoreboard which was up and running on Thursday night

Courts Optical’s Richard Simpson

few days.

A look at the interactive sessions held by FIDE Instructor Jerry Nash Allied Arts’ Nicholas Fraser

CPL: St Lucia Kings secure play-off spot

The Guyana Amazon Warriors’ winning streak of six matches in the 2023 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) ended when the St Lucia Kings breached the Providence fortress with a seven-wicket win.

Sri Lankan Bhanuka

Rajapaksa led the Kings’ chase with a blistering 86 from 49 balls, to help the Kings chase 168 with ease.

New Zealander made 55 from 43 balls to put Kings in the winners’ row.

Sikandar Raza added the finishing touch as Kings ended on 170-3 in 17.1 overs.

For GAW, Shepherd, Paul and Imran Tahir had one wicket each.

Earlier, the unchanged Guyana Amazon Warriors won the toss and elected to bat first. A new pitch was

Warriors had earlier posted 167-5 in 20 overs, while Kings reached 170-3 in 17.3 overs.

Despite losing a wicket, St Lucia Kings had a blistering start, adding 47-1 in the powerplay. Johnson Charles was trapped leg-before by Romario Shepherd for one, at 5-1.

Rajapaksa and Colin Munro went past a 50-run partnership in 37 balls.

The pugnacious lefthander Rajapaksa reached his 50 from 26 balls, with a six off Keemo Paul. Boundaries continued to flow for the Kings as Odean Smith’s first over of the night yielded 19 runs. At the half-way stage, Kings

were in control on 91-1 in 10 overs. Rajapaksa was on 64 at this stage, going all guns blazing.

Kings reached 100 runs in 10.3 overs, with Rajapaksa hitting Gudakesh Motie down the ground. Rajapaksa’s brutal innings ended when he was removed by Paul for 86, ending a 132-run partnership.

Rajapaksa struck nine fours and five sixes to bat Kings into a winning position. Munro, who played a supporting role, reached his 50 from 39 balls. The

used, and the Warriors had a slow start. Matthew Nadu struggled to get the ball off the square, and his misery ended when he was run out for three from 11 balls.

Warriors were 10-1 in 3.1 overs. Shai Hope joined Saim Ayub and the duo steadied the ship. Hope welcomed Alzarri Joseph to the bowling crease with an exquisite cover drive, followed by a touch of class into the third-man boundary. At the powerplay, Warriors were 35-

1. Warriors reached their

50 in 8.1 overs. The canny Raza then cleaned up Ayub for 16 from 20 balls with Warriors on 50-2.

Hope and Khan added 32 runs together for the third wicket. Hope found it difficult to score his free-flowing cover drives, and was caught and bowled by the impressive Matthew Forde at 82-3 in 13.1 overs. He had struck five fours in his 38 from 35 balls.

The Kings’ fielding effort was poor for most of the game, and Shimron Hetmyer scored a boundary straight down the ground the second ball he

faced.

Azam Khan struck the first six in the 16th over as Warriors breached the 100-run mark. Khan took a liking to Peter Hatzoglou, taking him for 18 runs in one over, including two sixes and one four.

Joseph, who bowled with extreme pace, was finally rewarded with the wicket of Khan at 119-4 in 16.4 overs. Khan was fearless, walking into a Joseph delivery and slamming him for a flat six. The Pakistani made 40 from 25 balls, an innings laced with three sixes and four

fours.

Hetmyer then took matters into his own hands when he struck the leg-spinner Hatzoglou for a 100-metre six over the mid-wicket boundary. Paul got into his own when he struck McKenny Clarke for 21 runs in the penultimate over.

Joseph continued to bowl heat rocks and he removed Paul for 19 (13 balls). Shepherd slammed an unbeaten 10 from four balls while Hetmyer made

19 from 12 balls to take Warriors to 167-5 in 20 overs. Joseph had 2-31 in his four overs. Warriors posted 72 runs in the last five overs.

The 2023 CPL will continue on Saturday, September 16 with two matches. Jamaica Tallawahs will play St Kitts and Nevis Patriots from 10:00h, while Guyana Amazon Warriors will play the mighty Trinbago Knight Riders from 19:00h Eastern Caribbean time.

Shai Hope anchored the innings

Romario Shepherd removed Johnson Charles early

Another week day, another packed house at Providence

Azam Khan struck 40 from 25 balls.

Colin Munro supported with a fifty

Saim Ayub was cleaned up