Guyana Times -Saturday, October 14, 2023.pdf

GPHC performs 4 new groundbreaking surgeries

P13 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 5522

THE BEACON OF TRUTH SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2023

SBM Offshore to design FPSO for Whiptail Project

Page 3

PRICE $100 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE: Eccles-Mandela Roundabout accident

AG files $4M lawsuit against driver for P10 negligent driving

One of the generic Fast4ward® MultiPurpose Floater hulls

Applicants P10 to now uplift passports in 5 working days – as Govt addresses 5000+ backlog

– as ExxonMobil to submit FDP this month-end

Govt reinvites requests for proposals for Amaila Falls Project “Go public” with PNCR’s Daniel corrupt offers – VP Seeram Jagdeo encourages charged for contractors – also calls on public to report corrupt practices assaulting wife See story on page 9

See story on page 8

Corriverton P8 labourer freed of murder charge "We never P2 bought his story" – family of suspect in Coldingen hit and run

– suspect holding out that he did not hit anyone

See story on page 7

Red Road collapse

No timeline for completion of repairs, cost yet to be determined See story on page 11

Duo charged over Kitty $58M heist freed P16 owing to lack of evidence

2 NEWS "We never bought his story" – family of suspect in Coldingen hit and run SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

– suspect holding out that he did not hit anyone

By LaWanda McAllister

A

s investigation into the fatal hit-and-run at Coldingen, East Coast Demerara intensifies, family members of the prime suspect, 45-year-old US-based Guyanese Rayon Rodney, have stepped forward to encourage the man to turn himself over to the custody of the Police.

With evidence mounting against him whose actions have allegedly led to the demise of 25-year-old Adzel Inniss, a truck driver of Burma Housing Scheme in Mahaicony, ECD, this suspect's family members have said they will not side with his wrongdoings.

In an interview with this publication on Friday, a family member of the suspect told <<Guyana Times>> that, since the incident, they have been working with the Police to have the man found, arrested and prosecuted for the crime.

“So, he usually borrows the car from his cousin-inlaw, his wife’s cousin. It is not the first time he would borrow the car. He came into the country for his

Dead: Adzel Inniss

grandmother’s funeral, and he collected the car and had it by the house he was staying in Victoria”, the relative explained.

“He was supposed to have the car for three days, because he came into the country for the funeral on a Thursday. He collected the car on the night before the funeral, and said he was going to take it back the Friday morning, because he was leaving on Friday evening,” the relative explained.

“On Friday morning, the owner of the car got a call from the person he (the suspect) was staying with, saying Rayon jammed the

car and that they should come and see the damage, and that he (Rayon) will fix it”, the relative said.

“The owner went to see the car, and he called the bodywork man to give an estimate of how much to fix the vehicle… When we (family) found out, he (suspect) said a truck hit him and drove away. So, we asked him what did the truck driver say, and if he drove behind the truck to get the number plate, and he said, ‘No’. We said we don’t buy that story; we never bought his story!” this relative detailed.

This relative claimed the vehicle remained at the house at which the suspect was staying because his cousin-in-law refused to have it moved until it was fixed, even though the suspect had promised to pay for the expenses.

“From the look on the car, I thought he probably hit an animal… So, everyone just went on living their lives normally, until the Police turned up at his cousin-in-law's house and told him that his car hit somebody down and drove away…”, the relative said.

The suspect in the Coldingen fatal accident, Rayon Rodney

The relative added that, on that same day, the owner of the car contacted the suspect and told him that the Police were in search of him for a hit-and-run accident.

They claimed that the man admitted to driving the car at the time, but kept holding out that he did not hit anyone, but it was a truck that had hit the vehicle and had caused the damage.

“He wouldn’t admit it is someone he hit! He keeps saying it is a truck. He was acting very normal, and he kept saying that the accident did not happen at the Chico Gas Station, it hap-

pened at another gas station… It is then we know the full story of what really happened. The cousin-inlaw was arrested because he is the owner of the car…

We don’t feel at any point the Police question the people that the car was at, or other persons… That car was just five months old”, the relative explained.

Torn between loyalty and the pursuit of justice, the relative has emphasised the importance of accountability, expressing sympathy for the victim's family and the need for closure in this tragic incident.

“We don’t know what the Police are doing to get him charged for the incident, but we have been trying too. Since the incident, he deleted his social media pages, especially Facebook, and his wife took down all of her pictures on Facebook.

Since the incident, contact was made with his wife and she said she was sorry how things happened, and she was helping with some information…”, the relative explained.

The suspect, who reportedly fled the country following the hit-and-

run incident, is accused of striking Inniss with a black Toyota Fielder Wagon on September 22, 2023 near the Chico Ramas Gas Station in Coldingen, ECD. Shortly after the incident, Police located the vehicle suspected to have been involved in the hit-and-run, registered as motor car PAD 9709, in Victoria, ECD. Investigators have said that after the vehicle had been located, family members of the suspect have said they were unaware of the incident, and that they have been wrongfully implicated in the case.

Family members are claiming that Rodney had been driving the car on the night of the accident, and he left the country just hours after he had allegedly struck down and killed Iniss.

This case, currently under scrutiny of the Director of Public Prosecutions, has stirred emotions among family members of both the victim and the suspect. As investigations continue, the suspect's family members have expressed hope that justice is served for Innis’s family.

NEWS

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

BRIDGE The Demerara OPENINGS Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, October 14 – 04:00h-06:00h and Sunday, October 15 – 05:00h-07:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, October 14 – 16:15h-17:45h and Sunday, October 15 – 16:40h-18:10h.

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, interrupted by thundery showers during the late-morning to early-afternoon hours. Clear skies are expected at night. Temperatures should range between 24 degrees Celsius and 34 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly to East South-Easterly between2.23 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 16:21h reaching a maximum

height of 2.71 metres.

Low Tide: 09:59h and 22:16h reaching minimum heights of 0.57 metre and 0.46 metre.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2023

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DISCLAIMER: WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS IN PUBLICATION. PLEASE CALL THE HOTLINE FOR CONFIRMATION - TEL: 225-8902

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Crude Oil

$90.89/barrel

+5.69

Rough Rice London Sugar

$287.37/ton $727.70/ton

+0.22 +2.32

Live Spot Gold Bid/Ask Low/High Change

Change %

USD Per Ounce $1932.50 $1873.20 0.00

$1933.50 $1933.80 0.00%

SBM Offshore to design FPSO for Whiptail Project - as ExxonMobil to submit FDP this month-end

D

utch company SBM Offshore has bagged the contracts to perform front end engineering and design (FEED) for a floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel for the Whiptail Development Project in Guyana.

Whiptail will be the sixth development project of the United States oil major ExxonMobil on the oilrich Stabroek Block offshore Guyana.

In a statement issued on Friday, SBM said it would eventually construct and install the FPSO upon the completion of the FEED contract. This, however, would be subject to the Guyana Government’s approval of the Whiptail Development Plan and project sanction, including the final investment decision

by ExxonMobil Guyana Limited – an affiliate of the ExxonMobil Corporation -to release the second phase of work.

According to the Dutch company, the FEED contract award triggers the initial release of funds by ExxonMobil Guyana to begin FEED activities, and commits a Fast4Ward® hull for the execution of the Whiptail development proj-

The Liza Unity FPSO was SBM Offshore’s first Fast4Ward® hull The Chief Executive Officer of SBM Offshore, Bruno Chabas

ect in Guyana.

Under the contracts, the FPSO’s ownership is expected to be transferred to Exxon at the end of the construction period, and before the start of operations offshore Guyana. The construction costs are expected to be partially funded by senior loans which will be repaid at the time of the FPSO’s transfer to the client.

SBM Offshore said it is expected to operate the FPSO through its integrated operations and maintenance model, combining SBM Offshore and ExxonMobil’s expertise and experience, leveraging key learnings and the operational excellence of the units currently deployed in Guyana.

SBM Offshore will de-

sign and construct the FPSO using its industry-leading Fast4Ward® program using the company’s seventh new build, a multi-purpose floater hull, combined with several standardized topside modules.

The FPSO will be designed to produce 250,000 barrels of oil per day, and will have an associated gas treatment capacity of 540 million cubic feet per day, and a water injection capacity of 300,000 barrels per day.

The FPSO will be spreadmoored in a water depth of about 1,630 metres, and will be able to store around 2 million barrels of crude oil.

Building on the experience to date of FPSOs Liza Destiny for the Liza Phase One Project, Liza Unity for the Liza Phase Two Project, Prosperity for the

third project – Payara, and ONE GUYANA for the fourth project – Yellowtail, the Dutch company said, it continues to commit to local content development in Guyana by sourcing fabrication scope locally and integrating Guyanese engineers into the execution and operational teams.

“We are proud to announce ExxonMobil Guyana has awarded the contracts for a fifth FPSO from SBM Offshore in Guyana.

This project demonstrates once more the value that our industry-leading Fast4Ward® program brings to our clients and other stakeholders while delivering carbon-efficient energy to the world,” SBM’s Chief Executive Officer Bruno Chabas has said.

TURN TO PAGE 7

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guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2023

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Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Industrial Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

Country first and above political interests

P

resident Dr Irfaan Ali, at one of Guyana’s Republic Anniversary observances some time ago, said: “My hands remain open for friendship…It remains outstretched to the proposition of unity, to the proposition of hope, and to the dedication of country above self.”

These are words that should appeal to our Opposition parties, more so the main Opposition – A Partnership for National Unity – who fundamentally appear unwilling to perform those duties in accordance with the rules and traditions that have historically guided Oppositions to govern their countries together with the Executive.

In the latter part of December 2020, if one can recall, former President David Granger had declined President Ali’s invitation to meet with all former presidents to engage in “frank discussions” on national issues.

At the time, many were hoping that the Opposition would have used the opportunity to put national interest in front of party politics, especially considering the events post-March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, which saw an attempt to alter the results of the polls. Since then, the Opposition – from which AFC has divorced itself and now stands on its own – has been functioning in a manner which can be described as haphazard. As this newspaper has done and said before, rather than reinventing the wheel, we will quote extensively from a document issued after a seminar by the “Majority and Minority Parties in African Parliaments”.

“The Opposition in Parliament has a duty to offer voters a credible alternative to the Government in office to make the majority accountable. To be a credible alternative, however, the Opposition must also be ready to exercise the responsibilities to which it aspires on a lasting basis. In other words, it must have a programme which it is ready to implement. In a democracy, political life is enriched by free competition of political programmes; it is impoverished by rivalry based on personal ambitions, which merely disqualifies it in the eyes of public opinion.

“Moreover, the Opposition in Parliament must show itself to be responsible and be able to act in a statesmanlike manner.

It must engage in constructive and responsible opposition by making counter-proposals. In its action, the Opposition must not seek to hinder pointlessly the action of the Government, but rather endeavour to encourage it to improve such action in the general interest.

“The duties of the Opposition are by their very nature defined by political and behavioural rules; not by constitutional norms or parliamentary texts. The duties, therefore, do not require codification. What is required is for the members of the Opposition – like all Members of Parliament – to exercise their responsibilities with due respect for the Constitution and the laws in force. They must, of course, refrain from advocating violence as a means of political expression. Indeed, their action must be in keeping with a spirit of mutual tolerance and a quest for dialogue and concerted action.”

Having examined the above, we hope that the Opposition will see the need to put the country first above political interests. One may want to believe that the majority of Opposition supporters want them to act in a mature and responsible manner.

That said, this level of goodwill by President Ali since taking office shows that he is ready to engage in political dialogue in a more structured and results-oriented manner.

We support President Ali when he said: “Today, we stand diverse and beautiful! Shaken but not fallen! Tested but not defeated! The trials of the past can either keep us in its wounds that refuse to heal and lay only an unsettled path, or can strengthen us to a resolute future - where we can remove those wounds, heal the pain, celebrate the victory of the trials, and renew our spirits in the oneness of a country and land that brings with it the glory of prosperity - the beauty of unity, and the success of hard work.”

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Friday met a delegation from the Dominican Republic's Private Sector at State House on Main Street, Georgetown, and discussions were focused on Guyana's development. Last year, Guyana and the Dominican Republic signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost economic cooperation and trade.

If President Ali’s action can fix passports, it can fix NIS, birth certificates, TIN, services at Government Ministries Dear Editor, News that the Passport Office is back to 5 days of processing for a passport is good news.

President Ali has shown that he is a man of action.

The President has tackled sloth at two Government Departments by announcing his cleanup initiative. We await a similar announcement for the “NIS”, which should really be called “SIN” – a sin and great iniquity against the old people of this nation. The NIS Board is right there with them as enablers and co-conspirators.

The President would do well to issue similar initiatives to fix a broken Government system, where the sloth and poor customer service at Ministries continue to bedevil the nation, and is especially more brutal against poor rural country people who do not know how to navigate the system.

People from remote regions are easily pushed around and victimised, and would readily pay bribes to get quick service and avoid the high transportation and related costs associated with our disease of “come-back-titis”.

I visited the Passport Office recently and observed things that can be changed, including the mindset of workers there. So, here are some suggestions: The Passport Office must use a ticket system, and call up people by their number. I find it so backward and demeaning that

you have to drag your behinds into every seat in the building in a game of musical chairs to get to the first chair to be served. This is 2023, not the 1970s, when Burnhamism ruled.

The Passport Office did a good thing by creating a Senior Citizen row of chairs to give some priority. I had observed 3 young folks sitting in that section, but Mr. Philadelphia quickly asked them to move, when I pointed that out.

The Passport Office should know that people are watching when friends and family are coming in and going to the head of the line and getting priority processing in the back room.

The air conditioning in the building needs improvement. The water stations need to be serviced during the day, to make sure there is water and there are cups.

Applicants must be seen as customers, and good customer service practices must guide workers’ interactions with the people.

To speed things up, the Passport Office may want to consider the feasibility of the “Apple Store” approach, where each employee can process a customer, and there is no designated cashier’s cage. While people are sitting and waiting, instead of Immigration staff doing traffic control duties, use them to go around and check people’s documents, so when they go to the back to take their pictures, the officers there don’t have much

to do.

They can also use appropriately programmed iPads to process applicants as they sit and wait. That makes the process more efficient. How about enabling online applications? That’s not rocket science! If we think creatively, we can avoid the old “sit and wait” culture, wherein you have to spend a whole day to get simple government business done, because of poor, broken systems.

The Passport Office has been closing off accepting applications by 9:00am.

So, a rural person or senior citizen who does not know that will get up early, spend a lot of money to go to the Passport Office, only to be told they are not accepting any more applications, and come back another day. We must end this bad practice.

The ‘Regional System’ was supposed to make things easier for people, but that’s a broken, ineffective and inefficient system that needs a makeover. The processing of passport and other applications at the ‘Regional Offices’ must be as efficient as the Georgetown Office.

Why should it take longer when we all deserve equal treatment and equitable services? We must put an end to longer processing times at the ‘Regional Offices’. That’s a root cause solution.

Finally, the passport application form needs to be revised. It is a citizen’s right to obtain a passport.

Section 7 of the form is not needed. Why is it necessary

to require a “recommender”, and the Passport Office has a narrow list of who can be recommenders? That must be a practice from colonial times, and should be scrapped.

Why does the recommender need to sign the picture that the picture is you?

That seems to be an extra, unnecessary step. Would the officer not see it is you when you go to take your picture?

If they are doing electronic pictures, why is there need for a photo, when the picture is stored in their system?

What is the purpose of Question 5, that asks “Passport required for travel to?” Isn’t a passport required for travel to all foreign countries, and that therefore a redundant question? Also, why do you need to ask “Purpose of Travel?”.

Does it matter whether you go on vacation, for a funeral, or for other reasons? That seems to be an unnecessary question.

Thank you, President Ali, for intervening and jacking up services at the Ministries.

The people love that you are listening.

Thank you. Fire them up or fire those who stand in the way and are wedded to old mindsets and old practices that hurt our people. While you are at it, fire those ministers who cannot run proper ministries, don’t allow them to be a drag on your government.

Sincerely, Dr Jerry Jailall

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2023

5

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

A modern approach Unravelling the complexity of ringto overcoming the fencing: A call for informed discourse stigma of mental health disorders A distinguished lady expressed great distress at how she was treated by medical personnel when she experienced a mental health crisis and was admitted a patient. She recalled the inappropriate humour, the talking down to her, the use of force for her to take medications, and the general lack of sympathy for a condition she suffered, which was no fault of hers.

Her mental illness was a result of the genes she inherited in her generation line, which contained influences from Europe, Africa, and India. She felt humiliated, and would not wish to be seen seeking treatment for her condition at a mental health clinic.

Across the globe, stigma for mental illness is high, and leads to shyness for seeking treatment, ridicule and discrimination, and a lack of true understanding of the cause and nature of mental disorders.

In Guyana, articles support the notion that many families believe that mental illness is because of the influence of evil spirits, and that persons are often taken first for spiritual help, rather than medical help. Younger family members suffering from genetic disorders are often discouraged from seeking psychiatric help, and are admonished to not take medications but instead to pray away their perception and thought disorders.

Herbal medicines from naturopathic “doctors” are often viewed more favourably than psychiatric care and medications. Clinical experiences of four cases at a hospital offer direct evidence that the concept of an evil influence is held by families to be the cause of the disturbed behaviour.

The clinical disorders involved two dissociative disorders, one psychosis, and one conversion disorder.

Treatment and outcome were significantly affected by the attitudes of relatives who insisted on having exorcism only for their ill family member.

There are many causes for the inappropriate understanding that mental disorders are neurobiological disorders of the brain. The terms used for describing mental disorders, including the word “mental” itself, are often difficult to define and understand by medical persons themselves. Terms like “Schizophrenia” make no sense when converted to their original meanings.

This genetic disorder, by a breakdown of the word, becomes a “Split Mind”.

Telling a patient that their mind is split is as demeaning now as when children were called “mentally retarded”.

The experience with medical and nursing students shows that definitions of terms are inconsistent and confusing.

Students with no prior medical training would often define schizophrenia as a splitting of personality, derangement of the mind, mental illness, or madness.

Students who have knowledge would provide a definition of the term psychosis as a break from reality.

However, this does not represent the cause of the disorder, but rather a description of the behaviour.

With advent of the PET scan and genetic studies, the neurobiological nature of these disorders is clearly evident. The definition of good health considers mental health as separate from physical health, compounding the confusion for students, practitioners, and the general public. The reality is that mental disorders are all physical disorders of the brain. Naming the disorder in a manner that represents the biological cause has been shown to reduce the negativity, and studies show that families prefer more modern terminology. This is evident from the change of the term “mental retardation” to “neurodevelopmental delay”.

Trials for changing the word schizophrenia have shown promising results in several Asian countries that have moved to make the term biological. Reports show that the public, the medical teams, and the patients find the new terms less demeaning, and this results in greater compliance with treatment.

There appears to be much stigma associated with the condition of Schizophrenia in Guyana.

This disorder has its basis as neurochemical and genetic, and should be better termed a neuro-cognitive disorder of the brain.

Describing this and other “mental” disorders as disorders of the brain would improve the understanding by families in the same manner that many have come to understand that epilepsy and seizure disorders are not because of demon possession, but because of changes of electrical activity in the brain.

Dr Davendra Sharma Professor, Behavior Sciences Texila American University

Dear Editor, I seek your gracious space in your esteemed publication to share my insights on the intricacies of "ring-fencing," its related opportunities and risks, the concept of unavoidable costs, and consolidated financial strategies.

Despite my non-specialisation in the oil industry, my decade-long experience as a financial expert in multinational corporations and as a decorated finance faculty member equips me to offer valuable perspectives. My intention is to educate, offer a humble perspective, and counter some misguided public statements made by a specific media outlet.

It is imperative for self-proclaimed financial experts to comprehend the complexities of these concepts before disseminating opinions in the public sphere. The practical application of financial mechanisms like "ring-fencing" demands careful assessment, the formulation of robust yet flexible policies, and methodical implementation due to the potential adverse consequences affecting finances, socioeconomics, and the environment.

Regrettably, certain sections of the media have casually employed these complicated financial terms, often leading to misinformation and public discord. My hope is that commentators of such calibre grasp the responsibility their public utterances bear, especially in a Guyanese landscape increasingly discerning between misinformation and facts, as evident in the last general election.

The strategy of "ring-fencing" in the petroleum industry involves separating financial aspects of different projects, shielding profits of one segment from the risks of another. While theoretically sound, its practical application demands meticulous consideration. Unfortunately, certain individuals exhibit an absence of understanding regarding its complexities, but continue to peddle questionable information.

Mr. Glenn Lall’s discussions on "ring-fencing" lack depth. While he has a unique style, his oversimplified explanations, like the apple-cutting analogy, miss crucial points on serious finance and macroeconomic matters. In the oil industry, "ring-fencing" acts as a shield, separating the financial risks and revenues of diverse projects. However, this concept goes beyond theory; its practicality demands strategic assessment and thorough adoption.

For Guyana, a country with a developing oil sector, understanding this strategy is vital. To enhance understanding, let's delve into three critical risk categories: financial and marketing, operational, and environmental and Technological considerations.

1) Financial and Market: Managing tax structures and obligations for each ring-fenced project is essential to avoid financial losses. Shortterm trade-offs, like front-end loans, must be clearly communicated to the public. Effective

capital allocation and risk diversification are pivotal, given global economic fluctuations and market volatility.

Considering loan syndication and risk diversification is also vital.

Mr. Lall must recognize that Guyana's oil projects are not insulated from global economic shifts. If investments become excessively risky, the ability to secure capital and leverage positions can drastically change.

Guyana is susceptible to fluctuations in global oil prices and market exigencies. These variations can impact the profitability of different projects or segments disparately, potentially affecting the overall financial stability of the sector.

Some pundits had even inquired the urgency to extract oil, it is essential to question the timing within the context of the global movement toward renewable energy and climate change mitigation. Given this global swing, strategic decisions about maximising the value of fossil fuel resources have become pivotal.

2) Operational Considerations: Coordinating between ring-fenced projects can be challenging, potentially leading to inefficiencies and increased operational costs.

Additionally, volatility in oil prices and market demands can impact project profitability differently, affecting the sector's overall financial health.

3) Environmental and technological Considerations: Maximising resource value amidst rapid technological advancements demands astute environmental regulations. Outdated infrastructure could lead to stranded assets and financial losses in specific ring-fenced projects.

Mr Glenn Lall, in his analysis, has focused on one side of the concept, missing a holistic understanding. Ring-fencing is essential in scenarios involving varying tax regulations, complex capital structures, or severe market volatility.

In Guyana's context, understanding the Profit-Sharing Agreement (PSA) is crucial, as it incorporates taxes and allowable costs into profit and royalty computations. In simple terms, excessive taxation on a project or segment cannot coexist with the expectation of substantial profits. Such a scenario would inevitably lead to a diminished bottom line.

Addressing Mr. Lall's concerns about Suriname's ring-fencing application, it is essential to note that Suriname’s approach was different from Guyana's. Suriname had the opportunity to scrutinise initial terms and conditions, unlike the contract signed by the previous administration, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU). The coalition Government APNU would have had ample time to peruse the terms and make necessary objections, but they consented to one of the country’s largest contracts without the basic due diligence and proper technical support; however, this is now history.

The APNU Government signed an unconscionable con-

tract which has bound Guyana to some of the most draconian provisions, but failed to capitalise on negotiating any recognizable industry-standard or modeling around profit-share, royalty, cost containment, or bonus. Now the Guyanese population and incumbent administrative must abide with these provisions.

In my modest legal understanding on sanctity of contract, the conditions are binding. The Honourable Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mr. Anil Nandlall, had lucidly outlined those stern provisions in a parliamentary debate.

By contrast, the current Government, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, has proactively embraced the new sector through public consultations, involvement of technical experts, establishing robust financial investment instruments such as Sovereign Wealth Fund and Local Content Legislation, and ascribing to international framework on transparency, such as the Santiago Principles.

Additionally, when one is spoken on finance and risk mitigation, they also need to fully grasp financial terms such as “unavoidable cost” and techniques such as hedging.

Unavoidable costs are essential expenses like rent and salaries, crucial for a business to function, regardless of individual project productivity. Put simple, some projects may have a negative result, but on a consolidated level, discontinuation will have a devasting outcome; therefore, they are cushioned with better performing project or segments.

Whereas financial hedging means businesses use strategies to reduce risks linked to specific projects, these risks can be due to changing interest rates, exchange rates, or com-

modity prices, affecting a project's costs and profits. Hedging techniques aim to lessen these effects, making financial results more stable.

Certainly, it's widely recognized among investors, entrepreneurs, and governments managing various projects that keeping distinct financial records for each venture is paramount. This method enables thorough analysis and targeted enhancements in specific areas. Yet, during both the shortand long-term assessments, stakeholders zero in on the consolidated financial performance and overall result. This holistic view not only highlights the distinctions between immediate gains and long-term goals, but also forms the bedrock of strategic decision-making, ensuring enduring success in the competitive landscape.

Therefore, it is from a consolidated financial viewpoint stakeholders and governments measure and establish a pathway for long-term national development and growth.

In conclusion, informed discourse is essential. Ringfencing, while a strategic tool, cannot be applied universally with a cookie-cutter mentality.

Its success lies in meticulous analysis, ensuring a holistic view that balances short-term gains with sustainable longterm objectives. Therefore, when individuals take public platforms to speak, mere rhetoric cannot be the order of the day; and clearly, elaboration on their proposal will foster healthy dialogue.

Let us advocate for a nuanced understanding, steering Guyana toward a prosperous, informed, and united future.

Sincerely, Mahendra Hariraj Chief Financial Officer & Adjunct Professor

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2023

06:00 06:30 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:30 13:30 15:00 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 21:30 22:00 00:00

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2023

Foundation ◄

Page

Test Questions

BY WILLIAM DRUMMOND OF HAWTHORNDEN

In this fun and easy force and motion science experiment, we’re going to send some toothpicks travelling with a little bit of water and science.

Materials:

Bowl 4 toothpicks Liquid dish soap

Instructions:

Fill the bowl with warm water.

Place the toothpicks in the water so that they form the shape of a

square.

Now squirt a drop of liquid dish soap on your finger and then touch the water in the middle of the toothpick square.

This should send the toothpicks ‘travelling’ across the bowl!

Note: To repeat the process, you will need to clean the bowl and use new water and toothpicks.

How it works:

The liquid dish soap will break the surface tension of the water. The

water molecules will spread out and away from the soap and move toward the edge of the bowl. Since the toothpicks float, they will be carried and “travel” with the water toward the edge of the bowl.

Make this a science project:

Try popsicle sticks. Try cotton swabs. Try different temperatures of water (NB: adult supervision is needed for any experimenting that requires the use of hot water). (sciencefun.org)

I know that all beneath the moon decays, And what by mortals in this world is brought, In Time’s great periods shall return to nought; That fairest states have fatal nights and days; I know how all the Muse’s heavenly lays, With toil of spright which are so dearly bought, As idle sounds of few or none are sought, And that nought lighter is than airy praise.

I know frail beauty like the purple flower, To which one morn oft birth and death affords; That love a jarring is of minds’ accords, Where sense and will invassal reason’s power: Know what I list, this all can not me move, But that, O me! I both must write and love.

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

7

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“Go public” with corrupt offers – VP Jagdeo encourages contractors – also calls on public to report corrupt practices

I

n light of the recent fiasco involving the discrepancies in the oil audit, the Guyana Government is calling on contractors to report, publicly or to State officials, any corrupt offers they are approached with.

Currently, there are over 7000 Government projects being implemented across the country and according to Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, these cannot be monitored effectively. Hence, he is calling on contractors to report any instances of public officials engaging in corrupt practices.

“My message to people is

that anyone trying to shake you down for money, please contact us,” he stated.

According to Jagdeo, there are many attempts by public officers to ask contractors for money in exchange for certain benefits.

“We can’t know if a Clerk of Works on a project… is asking the contractor for money. But the contractors have to understand that if they comply with this, they’re not only breaching the system, they’re doing something illegal. They should contact us… it will be treated with high priority,” the Vice President as-

sured.

Jagdeo warned that if the Government found out that any contractor was complicit in such corrupt practices, then they, along with the public official, would be disciplined even if that contractor was found to be eligible on merit.

The Vice President further pointed out that even in the housing sector, there were numerous complaints daily about persons being shaken down for money in order to get their land approved.

“Please, don’t go to middlemen… There is no mid-

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Development Plan

Back in August, ExxonMobil Guyana President Alistair Routledge disclosed that the oil company intends to submit its Field Development Plan (FDP) for the Whiptail Project in October 2023. “[There will be] 1 million barrels per day of production by 2028. That reflects six projects…the five already sanctioned and the Whiptail project is the one we’re working on right now. We plan to submit a development plan to the Government in October of this year,” Routledge had explained at a seminar hosted by the University of London’s Chancellor Hall.

It was subsequently reported in August that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Whiptail development has been completed, and the project documents indicate that the project will cost US$12.9

billion.

ExxonMobil had approached the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for approval for the Whiptail development. According to the EIA, the project will target between 33 and 72 wells. The documents further detailed that development drilling is expected to last from late 2024 or early 2025 through mid-2030, with the possibility of extending it as late as 2031.

Installation of subsea components of the project is meanwhile slated to begin in the second half of 2025, or in early 2026. The installation of the FPSO vessel as well as commissioning and start-up are expected to occur in 2027.

The life of the project is expected to be at least 20 years.

According to the US oil company, the project will employ over 500 persons during drilling and installation.

Additionally, between 100 and 180 persons will be employed during production. It was further explained that the Whiptail FPSO vessel will be similar to the one for Yellowtail, and will be designed to target 300,000 barrels per day.

When it comes to any potential impacts from the project, the EIA states, the project will not disturb any natural onshore habitats, since it is

FROM PAGE 3

taking place over 195 kilometres off the coast. However, it states that the project may potentially have a meaningful impact on water quality, climate, and certain marine biological and socio-economic resources. However, mitigation measures were included in the assessment for the EPA to peruse.

Meanwhile, the EPA issued a notice in August inviting citizens to submit any concerns they may have about the project, within 60 days.

The Stabroek Block 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.

ExxonMobil has said it anticipates at least six projects offshore Guyana, including the now Whiptail project, will be online by 2027. Production has already started on the Liza Phase 1 and 2 projects, while the third development, Payara, will start up at the end of this year. (G-8)

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

dleman here… Anybody who says that to you, you just bring it to the President’s attention, or the Minister’s or my attention, or the Tender Board. Get it out in the public domain, go public with it – that is what we need,” Jagdeo declared.

Oil audit

His comments came on the heels of the controversy surrounding the ‘unauthorised’ reduction of ExxonMobil’s cost oil claims, which the Government said was significantly reduced without its knowledge by staff at the Natural Resources Ministry.

Following an audit on the cost oil claims, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) supported the US$214 million sum that was initially flagged in 2019 by British firm IHS Markit when it did an audit of ExxonMobil’s cost of oil expenses racked up between 1999 and 2017 from its operations in Guyana.

However, it was disclosed last month that staff from the Natural Resources Ministry’s Petroleum Department had reportedly engaged the US oil company and reduced this figure to

US$11 million and then subsequently to US$3 million.

VP Jagdeo had contended that the Government was under the impression that the reduced US$3 million, which he previously disclosed publicly, was determined by the GRA – the technical body appointed as its sole advisor to review these audits.

Under Article 23 and Annex C of the 2016 Stabroek Petroleum Agreement, the Guyana Government has the right to conduct audits on Exxon’s cost oil claims.

In a statement last month, ExxonMobil said it has acted in good faith and cooperated with the Guyana Government during the auditing of these figures.

Meanwhile, last week, Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat, in trying to bring full clarity on this matter, disclosed that the Ministry’s Senior Petroleum Coordinator, Gopnauth Gossai, was the individual behind the reduced figure and that disciplinary action would be taken against him.

Bharrat emphasised that the Ministry’s role was to oversee the process of conducting the audit as per the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), as well as to facilitate the exchange of information and documentation among the relevant parties, including the GRA, which is the sole and final authority to determine the final outcome in relation to the audit.

It was explained that based on advice from Gossai, the initial claim of US$214 million was reduced to US$3.4 million and the Minister wrote the

GRA to confirm this figure by seeking a “No Objection”.

In fact, Gossai reported this reduced figure during a July 2023 meeting with the Vice President and the Natural Resources Minister. “…I was under the impression that the reduced figure was done in collaboration with the GRA. I subsequently learnt that the GRA did not agree with the position and the initial claim of US$214,911,994 remains the same.”

“I wish to restate that the position of the Government of Guyana today remains consistent with its original position that the only authority to make a final determination is the Guyana Revenue Authority.

Therefore, after examining all the facts it is clear that Mr Gossai acted without the requisite authorisation to engage EEPGL and provided inadequate advice; as such, I have asked the Permanent Secretary to take the necessary disciplinary measures,” Minister Bharrat indicated.

Further, he noted that systems would be established to ensure no repetition of this lapse in the future. Additionally, staff members have been advised to make full disclosure with all contacts and sharing of information with stakeholders in the sector.

During his press conference on Thursday, Vice President Jagdeo was asked what specific disciplinary action would be taken against Gossai. In response, he redirected the question to the Natural Resources Ministry and its subject minister. He, however, confirmed that Gossai was still in the country. (G-8)

8 NEWS

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

PNCR’s Daniel Seeram charged for assaulting wife

M

ore than one month after he had allegedly assaulted his wife, Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) Chairman and Executive Member of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R), Daniel Seeram, appeared before a magistrate to answer to this charge, and has been placed on bail in the sum of $50,000.

Seeram appeared on Friday before Sparendaam Magistrate Alisha George and pleaded not guilty to the allegation levelled against him. The charge he faces details that, on September 11, 2023, he assaulted his spouse at their Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown residence so as to cause her

grievous bodily harm.

The Regional Chairman was represented by Attorney Bernard DaSilva, and the case will continue on December 8.

It has been reported that, on the day in question, Seeram and his wife were involved in a heated dispute, during which they physically assaulted each other. He is also accused of brandishing his licensed firearm before the woman.

When Seeram eventually left the residence, his wife filed a report of the incident at the Turkeyen Police Station.

Marks of violence were reportedly seen on the woman’s body.

A former army cap-

Daniel Seeram

tain, Seeram was last year charged with using threatening language to his father-in-

law over an incident in which he and his father-in-law had each allegedly pulled their licensed guns on each other.

In that case, he was placed on $20,000 bail.

Some reports at the time had stated that Shaheed Hamid had reported at the Turkeyen Police Station that his son-in-law had drawn his gun, cranked it, and threatened to kill him. Other reports had however stated that Seeram reported to the Alberttown Police Station that he had gone to speak to his wife when her father pulled a gun on him. Both men had been arrested, and their firearms and ammunition seized. This publication is unaware of the legal status of that matter.

Corriverton labourer freed of murder charge

D

ave Jacobs of Corriverton, C o r e n t y n e , Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), who had been facing a murder charge in connection with the death of 43-year-old Loochan Kamaldeo, called “Tyron”, which occurred on January 3, 2020, has had the charge against him tossed out by a Judge for lack of evidence.

The now-freed 22-yearold Jacobs had been on trial before Justice Sandil Kissoon and a jury on this indictment, but after the prosecution had concluded its case on Thursday, Defence Attorney Surihya

Dave Jacobs, now freed, is seen during his initial court appearance in January 2020

Sabsook filed a no-case motion arguing that there was

not enough evidence to convict her client, and that he

should not have to mount a defence. Justice Kissoon agreed with the defence, and therefore directed the jurors to return a formal verdict of not-guilty.

According to reports, Kamaldeo had lived at the Corriverton Market, and had been a watchman for roadside stallholders; and during the day, he worked as a porter. His body was found in a pool of blood on January 3, 2020. Based on reports received, his body was found in a curled position with a wound to the left side chest. He was pronounced dead at the Skeldon Public Hospital.

Vendors at the market had reported that the late Kamaldeo had been put out of his home by his relatives, who had then locked the house and migrated. He had been living in the market, and had been described as a very friendly person.

He had also been referred to as a well-known destitute.

How do we deal with…

Y

…corruption?

our Eyewitness would like to ask the question frontally - and brutally: is it possible to get rid of corruption in general, and in Government in particular?? And he’d like to give you his answer just as frontally and brutally – NO!! There aren’t any ifs and buts about this; corruption is endemic to the human condition. One famous philosopher who’s quoted all over the place for centuries on these matters pronounced, “Out of this crooked timber we are made.” We come into the world already bent towards corruption. We didn’t need any apple to bend us, or any serpent to stray us!!

So, does this mean we gotta accept corruption??

Absolutely not!! Some people are also born with the urge to kill their fellow human beings: should we allow the Ted Bundys of the world to get away with their cold-blooded slaughter?? More to the point, we’re all born with the urge to either lay or get laid with whomever turns us on. Do we allow folks to bop others on the heads like the cavemen and cavewomen of yore, and drag them into their lairs to satisfy their urges?? No siree Bob!! The thing is, we gotta set up rules of the game to control those tendencies that are detrimental to us as a society living the good life.

So, now about corruption? The first thing is that we all gotta follow your Eyewitness’s philosophy as stated above and assume that EVERYONE is out to screw you over. That shopkeeper selling you rice?? Check his scale.

That contractor bidding for contracts?? Check out if he’s bribing the folks in charge of procurement. The contractor executing the contract for a road or a bridge or whatever?

Check out if he’s bribing the Government supervisors - and so on and so forth.

But because corruption didn’t just drop from above in 2020, the Government can reasonably point out that it has ALREADY put in place institutions to do the exact checking your Eyewitness mentioned!! There’s a public bidding process and system; there are folks appointed by the Government to oversee the procurement process, and so on; but yet the accusations of corruption keep coming faster and more furious than Vin Diesel!! The question is what the Eternal One signalled all the way back to Roman times: Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Who will guard the guardians?? In this case, who will keep tabs on them in an infinite regression?!!

Well, since the corruption we are worried about right now concerns the Government spending our money, the suggestion by VP Jagdeo brings us - John Public – into the picture. He advises that the moment we suspect or hear about corruption in public life, we have a duty to go public!!

Let’s all get whistles and start blowing!! …occupied Coastlands??

According to Pres Ali, we’re fast running out of coastlands, so we gotta come up with a plan to satisfy the new demands arising out of his government’s developmental plans!! Well, to your Eyewitness, the solution’s pretty simple: just as the U.S invented the slogan “GO WEST, YOUNG MAN!!” when their East Coast started getting crowded, we can encourage everyone needing land to “GO SOUTH, YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN!!”

Now, your Eyewitness is aware that the President warned against cutting down our interior forests, which we’re committed to preserving. But we know that down south ain’t all forests!! There’s the sand and clay belt where Silica City’s being constructed; then the vast Intermediate Savannahs where we’re planting soya and corn. Not to mention the Rupununi Savannahs that can swallow Jamaica without even burping.

We just gotta build more roads and railways to those areas!! …unequal framing?

In the Hamas-Israeli way, we’re confronted by the personalised stories of the Israelis killed, but never those of the Palestinians. On Yahoo, we read of the “mourning Manhattan mother whose free-spirited 26-year-old Israeli daughter was killed in Hamas brutal weekend rampage.” At best, we read that “676 Palestinians killed by Israeli troops earlier this year”!!

The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Guyana Times’ editorial policy and stance

Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com

NEWS

9

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt reinvites requests for proposals for Amaila Falls Project

T

he People’s Progressive Party/ Civic Government, in staying true to its promise, has reinvited Requests for Proposals (RFP) under a Build-Own-OperateTransfer (BOOT) model, to advance the development of the long-awaited Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP).

According to published documents from the Prime Minister’s Office, the project will integrate and expand the Guyana Power and Light’s national grid to include Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Interested parties MUST submit one proposal based on a BOOT model, which includes the construction of a hydro dam, transmission lines from Amaila to Linden plus sub-stations at the Amaila site as well as upgrades and completion of roads and bridges to the site.

According to documents, the hydro may be re-engineered to take account of changes in turbine technology, thus allowing more than 165 megawatts (MW) to be generated and transmitted.

Responses to this RFP will be conducted in three stages:

Stage 1: Prequalification of parties capable of undertaking each of the above (hydro and transmission lines/substations).

Prequalifications will be conducted on a rolling basis, following which prequalified candidates will be allowed access to the data room.

Stage 2: Prequalified parties will be asked to provide feedback on the preliminary project structure and project documents. This response will be used to revise the initial project structure and project documents to issue the final RFP by January 31, 2024.

Stage 3: Formal RFP submissions based on the final project structure and contractual documents due 45 days after issuance of the final project.

The deadline for submissions for prequalification is November 28, 2023.

Additional details of the project are found in the daily newspaper where the RFPs are published by the Prime Minister’s Office.

The AFHP – a brainchild of the previous PPP/C Administration – has been on the cards since 2011.

However, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) Opposition parties having a majority of seats in 2014, barred the project from becoming a reality.

The PPP/C outlined the resuscitation of the project in its 2020 Manifesto. Fast forward to 2021, Cabinet granted its no-objection for the Prime Minister’s Office to engage the China Railway Group Limited to construct

the hydro. However, discussions ended in a deadlock when the company wanted to change the model.

According to reports, the company was unable to secure the necessary financing for the BOOT model, thus the request to change the contract to an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) model. At the time Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo made it clear that the Government was not keen on the EPC option since the BOOT model would allow the Administration to assume low risk.

Only last week, Jagdeo indicated that there has been mounting interest in the Amaila Falls Project from firms in the Region and around the world including in Europe and Asia.

“Up to last [month], we’ve had another interest from a Brazilian company.

We’ve had a company from Austria [and] several from Korea, so now I think there is a large number of people approaching us and the best way to do this is through a public process – a bid process,” Jagdeo had stated.

Meanwhile, the Vice President had disclosed in July that at least two proposals were received from

companies in Brazil to do the hydro project. He had noted too that companies out of the United States have similarly submitted proposals to take over the initiative.

During a visit to the US in December 2022, President Dr Irfaan Ali said he told US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and her team that the Amaila Falls Project is open to US investors.

Back in October 2022, Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Mark Berman had disclosed that the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) had also held discussions with the Guyana Government on the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project.

Canada is well known for its hydropower infrastructure. In fact, the clean and renewable energy supplied by hydropower accounts for over 60 per cent of all the electricity generated in Canada, and Berman has said this was an area in which Canada could provide assistance to Guyana.

The 165-MW AFHP was the flagship initiative of the Bharrat Jagdeo-crafted Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). But the project failed to take off de-

spite having a developer in United States-based Sithe Global, which was backed by investment major The Blackstone Inc. In August 2013, Sithe Global announced that it was pulling out of the project, which it said was too large to continue without national consensus and had cited the lack of consensus in Parliament. At the time, the then APNU and AFC opposition had both expressed concerns about the project and voted down key pieces of legislation which consequently halted the project.

Then during its term in office from 2015 to 2020, the APNU/AFC coalition Administration again shelved the project.

The Amaila Falls Project plays an important role in the Government’s plan to create an energy mix to address the increase in electricity demand while phasing out dependency on fossil fuels that are contributing to global climate change.

The Hydropower Project, along with the 300MW Gasto-Energy Project and the solar power project, is expected to cut electricity costs by 50 per cent, bringing with it tremendous benefits for citizens and businesses across Guyana.

Modern Arbitration Bill completed, awaiting Cabinet’s approval – AG

G

uyana is one step closer to becoming the arbitration capital in the Region with the completion of its first-ever Modern Arbitration Bill.

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC, recently disclosed during his weekly programme – Issues in the News – that the Bill was now ready and it was expected to undergo a final set of reviews before being taken before Cabinet for approval and then the National Assembly when it resumes.

“A lot of work has gone into it and it is now completed. The Attorney General Chambers will send it one last time to important stakeholders for their input and then it is going to go to Cabinet for consideration and then to Parliament,” Nandlall indicated.

The Legal Affairs Minister explained that the Bill was extracted from a Model Bill of the Caribbean that was crafted by IMPACT Justice – a regional justice sector reform project funded by the Government of Canada to improve access to justice in the Caribbean.

However, Guyana’s Arbitration Bill contains significant dimensions that were specifically tailored for the local environment.

The Guyana Government had retained the services of two United States-based law

nies or companies that are offering arbitration services to locate in Guyana and operate under the Bill. It allows for judiciary-driven arbitration as well, as it allows for parties to decide between

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC

firms to review the piece of legislation and even conduct arbitration workshops here for lawyers in the State sector, private practice and the Private Sector.

Additionally, IMPACT Justice did a series of trainings and workshops on arbitration in Guyana focusing specifically on this bill.

According to AG Nandlall, once passed into law, this bill will form the foundation for commercial and domestic arbitration to be done in Guyana. The proposed legislation contains key provisions of the UNCITRAL Model Law on Arbitration, which is the international gold standard rule regarding arbitration.

“This bill also permits international arbitral compa-

or among themselves to take their disputes for resolution by arbitration utilising the law. It will permit international arbitration companies operating in the arbitration capitals in the world to come

to Guyana to do arbitration if they wish,” the Minister noted.

With the enactment of the Arbitration Bill, the Government would be persuading companies execut-

ing contracts in Guyana or with Guyana or Guyanese companies to choose Georgetown as the seat for the settlement of disputes by arbitration.

TURN TO PAGE 14

10 NEWS Applicants to now uplift passports in 5 working days SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

– as Govt addresses 5000+ backlog

F

ollowing last week’s intervention by President Dr Irfaan Ali, the Central Immigration and Passport Office will resume processing passports within five working days.

In a statement on Friday, the Home Affairs Ministry said that the backlog of passports had resulted in applicants experiencing delays in uplifting their passports for an undesirable amount of time.

However, this lengthy time has been addressed as part of the Head of State’s plan, and steps have been taken to return to the standard passport processing time.

“Commencing from Monday, October 16, 2023, the standard processing time of five (5) working days is back in effect.

This means that applicants can expect to receive their passports in the standard processing time of five (5) working days for first-time applications and renewals at a cost of G$6000, and within seventy-two hours (72hrs) for the expedited service at an additional cost of G$20,000,” a notice from the Ministry detailed.

This move is also in conjunction with the passport issuance exercise, which will commence on

The Central Immigration and Passport Office on Camp Road, Georgetown

Saturday, October 14 at the Central Immigration and Passport Office and the Regional Passport Offices.

Up until recently, there was a backlog of more than 5700 passports for persons both in Guyana and in the Diaspora. Persons seeking a new passport or a renewal have been complaining about the long wait time, as much as two months, to get the important travel document.

In light of these complaints, President Ali last week committed to clearing the backlog within a one-week period.

“We have a backlog of about 5300-plus passports… So, I have brought

together the team and they are working now in a concerted way – 24-hour shifts, to have this entire backlog [cleared],” he noted during a live broadcast on October 6.

The backlog comprised some 5302 outstanding passports within Guyana and another 400-plus applications from the Guyanese Diaspora.

Moreover, the Guyanese leader also used the opportunity to implore citizens to make use of their Regional Passport Offices in order to further reduce the burden and backlog at the central office.

In recent years, the Guyana Government has moved to decentralise

passport services, with the establishment of offices in various regions across the country.

At the Central Passport Office in Georgetown, there are currently more than 4000 passports in the backlog. In Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), there are about 900 outstanding passports; at Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), there are another 900-plus passports; at Anna Regina, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), there are just over 100 passports; at Parika, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), there are about 45 passports and at Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), there are some five passports outstanding.

There are also Passport Offices at Mahdia in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and at Lethem in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

While the Government as of now has purchased “a lot of passports” back into the system, the backlog was mostly caused by global supply chain issues stemming from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

In fact, the Guyana

Police Force, through the Central Immigration and Passport Office, in June 2022 had disclosed that its operations have been affected by a delay in the shipment of materials used to print passports.

Then in September 2022, President Ali announced that the Government had ordered some 80,000 new passports to meet both local and Diaspora demand.

Only recently, the Home Affairs Ministry had announced that Passport Offices throughout Guyana would be open on Saturdays to address the backlog.

At the Regional Passport Offices, passports are available to be uplifted over various periods – at Anna Regina from October 16 to October 25, 2023; at Parika from

October 16 to December 18, 2023; at New Amsterdam/ Springlands from October 16 to December 11, 2023; at Bartica from October 16 to December 12, 2023; at Lethem from October 16 to October 30, 2023 and at Linden from October 16 to November 2, 2023.

In addition, a weekly announcement will be published notifying the public of the dates and times for the Central Immigration and Passport Office distribution exercise.

“Check your white slips for your return date; this will indicate which Saturday you should visit the Passport Office,” the GPF explained. Moreover, the normal passport and immigration services will be available from Monday to Friday.

Eccles-Mandela Roundabout accident

AG files $4M lawsuit against driver for negligent driving

Troy Humphrey

I

n response to his defiance of the State's demand that he pays $2.1 million for repairs to the roundabout at the intersection of EcclesMandela Four-Lane Road and Dumpsite Road, following his collision with the structure last month, Troy Humphrey is currently being sued for more than $4 million in damages.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, has commenced legal proceedings on Friday. He is requesting damages exceeding $1 million for negligent driving, damages exceeding $1 million for damage to public property, and special damages of $2.1 million, which represents the cost of fixing the water fountain and oth-

er roundabout components.

Give days after the accident, on September 20, Nandlall wrote to the 28-year-old Humphrey, of Lot 12-12 Norton Street, Georgetown, requesting that he reimburse the Government for the $2.1 million that it had to spend on emergency repairs for the structural damage.

Nandlall had cautioned that if the sum was not paid within 14 days, the State would be compelled to institute civil proceedings against him in the High Court for recovery of the aforesaid sum as special damages, along with general damages, interests, and costs.

Humphrey has been accused of neglecting and/ or failing to make any payments, according to the lawsuit. Nandlall is therefore requesting that a Judge give the orders outlined in his Statement of Claim in the given circumstances, together with costs, interest on any amount granted, and any additional orders the court thinks appropriate.

The Attorney General has said in his pleadings that video evidence unquestionably shows Humphrey was speeding and neglected to apply the brakes, which caused the catastrophic col-

Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC

lision into the roundabout.

He said that, following the collision, both of the occupants in Humphrey's car were rendered unconscious.

Regarding this, he argued that the only conclusion that can be made about Humphrey's behaviour in these situations is that he was careless.

“The roundabout, apart from being a symbol of national pride and to beautify and modernise our country, was part of the Government’s overall infrastructural programme to connect the new fourlane highway from Ogle to Eccles to the old East Bank Demerara road,” Nandlall added.

Three persons, Humphrey included, sus-

tained injuries when the speeding car owned and driven by Humphrey crashed into the roundabout at the intersection of the Eccles to Mandela FourLane Road and Dumpsite Road. The accident occurred at approximately 21:40h on September 15.

According to Police reports, the car was travelling south on the eastern carriageway of the Eccles to Mandela Four-Lane Road at a high speed. As it approached the intersection, marked with road markings to regulate traffic flow, the driver failed to stop, and collided with the roundabout. The collision resulted in extensive damage to the roundabout, including the water fountain, and the vehicle itself.

All three occupants sustained injuries to their heads and other parts of their bodies, and were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC), according to the Police.

The Police Force said its ranks found open and sealed bottles of alcoholic beverages both inside and outside the vehicle at the accident scene. Additionally, the driver narrowly avoided colliding with a parked Police anti-crime patrol vehicle which was stationed at the roundabout during

The roundabout being repaired after the accident

the accident.

On the criminal side, Humphrey was charged with a slew of traffic offences last month. He entered not-guilty pleas to all of the accusations against him, which included dangerous driving, intentional property damage, driving an uncertified car, and operating an uninsured car.

He has been placed on a total of $150,000 bail on all charges except the dangerous driving charge, for which he was remanded to prison because at the time one of the accident victims

was still hospitalised.

The State, including public corporations and statutory authorities, has committed to vigorously pursuing compensation for damage to, and destruction of, public property as part of a plethora of measures to address the wanton recklessness and negligence by road users, the ensuing carnage, and the destruction of public property.

The $60 million roundabout was commissioned by President Dr. Irfaan Ali in early September.

NEWS

11

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Red Road collapse

No timeline for completion of repairs, cost yet to be determined F ollowing the unusual development of a bulge on ‘Red Road’ at Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD), the Public Works Ministry is working around the clock to fix the damaged roadway.

On Thursday, the road bulged some six to eight feet as a result of the weight of the stockpile of aggregates on the extension of the parking lot of the National Stadium, the Public Works Ministry said.

During a press briefing on Friday, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill noted that four contractors – EC Vieira Investments Ltd, AJM Enterprises, Excel Engineering and GuyAmerica Construction would assist in redistributing the weight of the stockpile. The total tonnage of aggregates in the stockpile amounted to 30,000.

“We have since been able to arrange orders with con-

The stockpile of aggregates by Red Road

tractors who need an urgent supply of crusher run. [On Friday], we expect to move about 9000 out of the 30,000 tonnes off-site,” Edghill said.

“There are four contractors actively engaged in Government contracts that need crusher run. We have our auditors on site and there

Suspect in Grove brutal attack arrested

Some of the injuries the victims sustained as a result of the incident

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ore than a week after beating and chopping two cousins at Grove, East Bank Demerara, the main suspect has been arrested.

Guyana Times has been informed that the man was taken into custody at the Grove Police Station on Wednesday, and is assisting Police with their investigation of the incident.

Two Saturdays ago, the two cousins: 23-year-old Randolph Persaud, known as “Christopher,” of Grove, and Leon Archer of Melanie, East Coast Demerara, were brutally attacked, beaten and chopped by a group of men at a bar.

The attack reportedly stemmed from an old grievance, as the assailant held a grudge against Persaud due to a relationship between one

of his friends and the attacker’s ex-girlfriend.

Archer and Persaud had gone to the bar to buy liquor, and while there they encountered the attacker, who suddenly lashed out at Persaud, causing him to fall. When Archer tried to intervene, he was also attacked. Archer had attempted to defend himself, but had been brutally beaten and chopped in the process.

Both men had been rushed to the Diamond Hospital, East Bank Demerara, for medical treatment. Persaud suffered a broken nose and lacerations, while Archer was treated for multiple chop wounds.

It is still unclear whether the other suspects have been arrested. Investigations into the incident are still ongoing.

is a scale in the compound.

So, everything has been documented and that operation of loading of trucks and moving off-site has been continuing,” Edghill said.

Some 150 metres of the road were destroyed.

Given the magnitude of the damage, Edghill was unable to give a specific timeline for the completion of repairs or an overall cost for the operation, but noted his intention to complete it “in the shortest possible time”.

To safely implement this project, the Ministry engaged with GTT to remove the fibre-optic cables under the roadway and with the Guyana Water Inc (GWI) to ensure the water supply was not affected.

Minister Edghill also noted that Excel Engineering and GuyAmerica Construction will be handling the reconstruction of the damaged roadway.

“It is clear that in the first instance, we’ll be seeking to

Contractors working to restore the damaged Red Road

get the road rehabilitated and restored so that we could have traffic. But even before this event, there were some development plans,” Edghill said.

“We want to be able to execute a turning lane so that the traffic doesn’t have to be backed up when you’re turning in, and widening the bridge. So, I have asked my team to look at the possibility of how we can get that done at the same time while we’re having this current inconvenience, to execute those works,” Edghill said.

As these repairs continue, Minister Edghill urged pedestrians to avoid using the roadway as it presents significant safety risks.

“The fact that people are still walking in and out is a major safety concern for us at the Ministry of Public Works, as well as the contractors on site. We would love to have a remedy where there could be an alternative, [but] people are still choosing to go to the

The damage evident on Red Road

Eastern East Bank Highway as opposed to going the other way, so we have to get that remedied,” Edghill said.

Owing to a shortage of crusher run in the country, this stockpile of aggregates was generated by the Public Works Ministry, to distribute aggregates across various Government projects accordingly.

However, Edghill noted

that this Red Road experience has prompted the Ministry to re-evaluate the level of tonnage that could be stored in stockpile yards.

“I guess we have to now put some closer monitoring and regulations on how much weight and how much tonnage we can put in a stockpile yard… depending on where that is located,” Edghill said.

(Pooja Rambaran)

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt fast-tracking documents for lands allocated at Williamsburg/Hampshire

Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal

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n an effort to fast-track the documentation process for lands allocated in the Williamsburg/ Hampshire Housing Scheme in Region Six(East Berbice-Corentyne), a special exercise was held on Friday at the Regional

Some of the applicants being fast-tracked

Housing Office.

A team from the Land Administration

Department joined the staff of the Region Six Housing Office as they engaged

more than a hundred persons who were allocated residential house lots.

The allottees were invited to sign up for their Agreements of Sale document, thus starting the process for the processing of their transports.

Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) Chief Executive Officer Sherwyn Greaves

was also on the ground to process and hand over the Agreements of Sale immediately to the allottees.

Apart from persons visiting the regional office on a daily basis to conduct this transaction, Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal told the new allottees, the exercise was geared at fast-tracking the process and was done as persons have raised concerns about the turnover time to uplift Agreements of Sale after they would have signed up.

He added that while the regional offices do these exercises on a daily basis, engagements such as Friday’s play a significant role in ad-

dressing the backlog.

Additionally, the allottees were also facilitated with the signing up for Transport. Altogether, some 250 persons were allocated low and moderate-income lots in the Williamsburg/Hampshire Scheme.

Friday’s exercise saw just over 100 persons signing and receiving their documents.

With this document in hand, persons can now approach financial institutions as well as utility companies for financing and much-needed services as they move along their journey to home ownership.

NEWS

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14,, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Cost to repair damaged ICT infrastructure GPHC performs 4 new groundbreaking surgeries to be borne by those culpable

Doctors performing one of the surgeries

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he Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) on Friday reported that four minimally-invasive laparoscopic surgeries were performed by renowned regional surgeons/professors from the Caribbean Association of Endoscopic Surgeons (CaSES) at the health facility.

Three of these surgeries were conducted for the first time at the hospital and one for the first time in Guyana, marking a significant milestone in the field of modern medicine.

These surgeries include Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy; Rouxen-Y Gastric Bypass – a procedure that offers new hope to patients in need of gastric bypass surgery; Tip Inguinal Hernia Repair – a procedure to repair the right inguinal hernia and Laparoscopic Hysterectomy

– a procedure that involved the removal of the uterus.

These momentous surgeries were broadcast live from the operating theatres to a training room at the Institute of Health Science Education (IHSE) thus enabling participants to witness and learn from the experts. The distinguished surgeons provided narration throughout the procedures, ensuring a valuable educational experience for all.

“This remarkable day served as the prelude to the 11th Conference of the Caribbean Association of Endoscopic Surgeons (CaSES), hosted in Guyana this year. The conference continues to bring together leading experts and medical professionals to share insights, advancements, and best practices in the field of endoscopic surgery,” the GPHC stated in a media statement.

The hospital further added that the successful laparoscopic surgeries and the training facilitated by CaSES 2023 signify a significant leap forward in modern medicine at GPHC and in Guyana.

“By embracing laparoscopic techniques, patients can now anticipate reduced pain, fewer wound complications, quicker post-operative recovery, shorter hospital stays, and a faster return to their regular lives and work routines,” it noted.

Furthermore, the event provided an invaluable opportunity for participating surgeons from across the Caribbean and Guyana, along with several residents of the GPHC/IHSE General Surgery Programme, to receive training in basic laparoscopic suturing. All participants received certificates, recogniing their dedication to advancing their skills and providing enhanced care to patients.

The CaSES conference continues its momentum with the official opening ceremony at the Grand Coastal Hotel, where esteemed local Guyanese surgeons, alongside other regional presenters, will delve into the advancements in surgical practices within the Region.

This collaborative effort underscores the dedication of GPHC’s IHSE to fostering innovation and excellence in health care, setting new benchmarks for the future of medical services in Guyana.

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n its efforts to safeguard the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) assets of the State, the National Data Management Authority (NDMA) has taken the position that individuals involved in the accidental or deliberate damage of State-owned ICT infrastructure will be held responsible for the full cost of replacement and repair.

The Authority has noted a rise in vehicular accidents resulting in significant damage to poles and ICT equipment used as part of the Safe Country Project.

Over the past four months, multiple Safe Country Systems have suffered damage in Regions Three and Four. Investigations conducted by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) have led to the identification of the individuals responsible.

These individuals will now

Damaged ICT infrastructure

face charges as prescribed by the laws of Guyana. In addition, the individuals who accidentally or intentionally damage these assets will be obligated to bear the costs associated with their repair or replacement.

To avoid these consequences, road users are re-

minded to “Respect the Road”. As the Guyana Police Force continuously reiterates, “Road safety is everyone’s business.” So let us work together to ensure safety on our roadways by practising the five Cs – care, caution, consideration, common sense, and courtesy.

14 NEWS

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

17 Reg 2 teachers complete Management Certificate course

A section of the gathering on Friday

Master trainer Maydha Persaud with the top performers

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eventeen educators from Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) on Friday graduated from the Education Ministry’s Management Certificate course.

The programme – a specialised course designed to improve teachers’ leadership skills – was executed through the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD) and catered to Heads of Departments, Senior Teachers, and Head

Teachers.

During the 11th graduation and prize-giving ceremony at the Anna Regina Secondary School (ARMS), master trainer and retired Head Master Maydha Persaud stated that it has been recognised and agreed that one of the key factors influencing effectiveness was the nature and quality of the leadership and management provided by headteachers.

Persaud emphasised the importance of the Head in

an institution, describing them as the heart and as such, their leadership style as the heartbeat. He highlighted that an effective Head should inspire the staff to prioritise quality teaching and view students as knowledge consumers.

Persaud added that it was against that backdrop that the Education Ministry embarked on the Management Certificate course.

The course was introduced to Guyana in 2000, as

Modern Arbitration Bill completed...

Nandlall further pointed out that many of the international and commercial agreements being executed presently in Guyana or covering local operations contain arbitration clauses as the desired mechanism of settling disputes. But the seat of that arbitration is outside of Guyana, therefore, once this bill becomes law, it will influence companies to situate or identify Guyana as the seat to do their arbitration.

“It will bring a lot of international dispute resolutions to these shores; it will bring a lot of revenue to these shores; it will bring a lot of employment to Guyanese and of course, once the arbitration takes place here, all the monies expended in relation thereto are going to be done here. International arbitrators will have to come; they will have to stay at hotels; witnesses will have to come and they will have to stay at hotels. So, Guyana is going to be benefiting from almost every conceivable perspective,” the Attorney General noted.

He further outlined that once Guyana was self-sufficient with regard to arbitration, the Government would move onto the second stage to refine the process and the infrastruc-

ture to such an extent that the country truly becomes an attractive destination for arbitration in the Caribbean, Latin America, and South America.

“This bill will lay the foundation for that… The truth of the matter is that more and more companies across the globe are choosing arbitration as the preferred method of resolving their commercial disputes.

So, whether they want to go through the courts, we are building an efficient judicial system. If they want to go to arbitration, we are building an efficient modern arbitration system as well.

“The first step in that direction is to get the law right and I believe, respectfully, that we have the law here. We now have to begin the educational process so that we have an educated and qualified population to serve the sector and where best to start than the university itself that will be graduating the lawyers and those who wish to be academically trained in the area of arbitration,” the Legal Affairs Minister stressed.

Already, Nandlall has reached out to the University of Guyana and encouraged the tertiary institution to include a com-

FROM PAGE 9

mercial arbitration course in its Bachelor of Laws Degree programme in order to familiarise law students on arbitration law.

In keeping with its commitment to create a modern platform for arbitration as an effective method of settling commercial and other disputes in the country, the Government of Guyana has established an Arbitration Unit.

The Arbitration Unit will liaise with the Judiciary and key stakeholders at periodic intervals as this initiative is part of the Government of Guyana’s declared intention to create modern infrastructure for the arbitration and conciliation of commercial disputes in Guyana.

The Unit was established by AG Nandlall and comprises representatives from various stakeholder organisations. These include Jamela AAli, SC, from the Bar Association of Guyana; Attorney Suriyah Sabsook from the Berbice Bar Association; Norman McLean from the Private Sector Commission (PSC) and from the AG’s Chambers, Deputy Chief Parliamentary Counsel Joann Bond and Deputy Solicitor General Deborah Kumar with AG Nandla

a joint effort of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the Education Ministry, and the pilot project started in Region Two. It is the brainchild of the Commonwealth of Learning and was first conducted in Kenya, Uganda, Botswana, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe, all in Africa, Persaud noted Speaking on the achievements of the course, Persaud mentioned that the management course was taken to Belize and then brought to Guyana.

“In 2000, it was piloted in Region Two for 30 Head Teachers and the master trainers were from Guyana

and Canada, and the outcome was a resounding success… since 2003, the course has been undergone by school administrators in all 10 regions under the management of the NCERD Director and conducted by regional master trainers,” Persaud added.

The duration of the course is 18 months.

Persaud said the course qualification was also used for senior promotions and was worth six points which are equal to that of a Certificate in Education at the University of Guyana (UG).

Meanwhile, the Regional Education Officer of Region

Two, Shoundelle Hercules extended heartfelt congratulations to the graduates and urged them to consider applying for senior positions.

Delivering the charge to the certified graduates was the top graduating teacher of batch 10, Vishnu Narine, who charged the educators to be good teachers and managers in their respective schools.

Alicia Moore, an English Head of Department (HOD) of the Charity Secondary School, was awarded the prize as the best graduating teacher and as such, received a number of trophies for her outstanding performance.

Additionally, Chalisa Nandram, a teacher at the Abram Zuil Secondary School, copped the second position while Sandiya Samaroo copped the third position.

Also in attendance at the ceremony were the Regional Chairperson Vilma De Silva, Regional Vice Chairman Humace Oodit, Regional Executive Officer Susan Saywack, and the various District Education Officers.

Responsible drinking encouraged on Guyana's roads, says Traffic Chief

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raffic Chief, Senior Superintendent Mahendra Singh has urged motorists to exercise responsibility while consuming alcohol, emphasising that individuals could drink as much as they desire, as long as they remain within legal alcohol consumption limits.

Singh clarified that according to the law, the permissible blood alcohol limit is 35 micrograms.

However, he stressed the importance of having a sober companion if one intended to exceed this limit.

"You may imbibe as much as your pocket permits you to do, but you must always be cautious when you get to the alcohol limit. You must have someone that is not yet into the imbibing… so that he will be able to get you back to point B,” Singh stated.

Singh acknowledged that alcohol consumption could lead to confrontational behaviour, emphasising the need for individuals to recognise their limits and remain in control. He questioned the logic of individuals becoming helpless owing to excessive alcohol consumption, especially when it endangers the lives of oth-

Traffic Chief, Senior Superintendent Mahendra Singh

ers on the road.

"When persons are under the influence of alcohol, much of the power they have inside is usually demonstrated… how can you go and consume alcohol to the extent that you are almost helpless? When you do that and your action causes the death of others, how can you explain that?" Singh asked.

Addressing concerns about Police presence affecting local businesses, Singh assured the public that law enforcement would strike a balance between ensuring road safety and not impeding entertainment venues or causing financial losses to business owners.

"We are not going to

do enforcement in such a way to cause us [the Police Force] to be looked upon as though we are anti-entertainment, and in such a way that will cause a business to say they are losing business because the Police are always looking to test someone" he affirmed.

Singh reiterated that the Traffic Department's primary goal is to ensure the safety of all road users while preserving the country’s lively entertainment scene.

Over the past two months, there has been a surge in efforts by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to crack down on driving under the influence (DUI) cases.

A month ago, a total of 33 drivers were arrested and subsequently brought before the court on charges related to DUI. The drivers arrested were apprehended for operating vehicles under the influence of alcohol, posing significant dangers to themselves and others on the road.

These arrests, according to the Police Force, underscore the significant dangers associated with driving under the influence and highlight the steadfast commitment of the Police Force to maintaining road safety.

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

16 NEWS Duo charged over Kitty $58M heist freed owing to lack of evidence T SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

wo years after being charged with executing a daring $60 million robbery at Wallison Enterprise in Kitty, Georgetown, Delroy Jackson and Peon Lee have been cleared of all armed robbery charges.

Magistrate Rhondell Weever on Thursday accepted the no-case submission presented by Attorney Dexter Smartt on behalf of the duo. He submitted that the prosecution had not proven a case against his clients, so the defence has nothing to respond to.

The pair had initially pleaded not guilty to a charge which alleged that on August 5, 2021, they robbed Wallison Enterprise of GY$38 million in cash and GY$20 million worth of raw gold —property of Francis Santos Lumes — while armed with a gun and in the company of others.

Jailed: Keyon King

Jailed: Dequan King

It had further been alleged that they robbed Lumes of gold jewellery and cash amounting to GY$224,000; Fernanda Carmichael of an iPhone valued at GY$350,000, and Williams Batista DaSilva of a phone valued at GY$160,000.

Magistrate Weever

agreed with Smartt’s argument, and concurred that there indeed was insufficient evidence to secure a conviction against the men.

In his submissions, Smartt cited the length of time the case had been pending in court, and criticised the prosecution's handling of

Freed: Peon Lee and Delroy Jackson

the case at a slow pace. The prosecutor had called only one witness on Thursday, with the remaining 15 still pending, this publication was informed.

In her remarks, Magistrate Weever empha-

sised the harm caused by prosecutors picking and selecting which witnesses to call at a trial, calling it an unjust technique to delay proceedings, while noting that such conduct is unfair to the court and defendants.

On August 5, 2021, several armed men who pretended to be customers executed a daring daylight robbery on Wallison Enterprise at Lot 23 Gordon Street, Kitty, Georgetown.

After committing the robbery, the armed men bound and gagged the cashier and two other staff members, whom they locked in a room. However, moments after escaping in a white motor car, the cashier managed to free herself and raise an alarm.

Investigations led to the arrest of Keyon King, who was at the time a Sergeant in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF); Jackson and Lee, who were both security officers attached to the business at the time; and later to Dequan King, the driver of the getaway car.

While Keyon King and Dequan King have pleaded guilty and been respectively sentenced to three years and two and a half years’ imprisonment, Jackson and Lee had always maintained their innocence.

In October 2022, Waterkant News in Suriname reported that Dequan King, who was also wanted for murder in French Guiana, was arrested on the evening of October 9, 2022 by the Regional Assistance Team in Paramaribo, in collaboration with the National Security Directorate. He was later extradited to Guyana.

Dequan King had told the magistrate who sentenced him that he had not been involved in the robbery, but had only transported the robbers to the location in his taxi.

He said he fled to Suriname after local Police issued a wanted bulletin for him.

And while in Suriname, King had said, he was arrested for a crime for which he did not disclose the nature.

Wanted bulletins had also been issued for two other men who were caught on

CCTV robbing the business.

A wanted bulletin had also been issued for Antonio Maraj, who had faced several armed robbery charges in Guyana and was shot and killed in French Guiana in 2022. Information suggests that Maraj’s slaying had been gang-related.

Police had said Maraj was one of the persons caught on CCTV recording during the Wallison Enterprise robbery in Kitty.

Moreover, a wanted bulletin had been issued for Jamal Hazel. There are no reports of him ever being arrested for questioning in relation to this robbery-under-arms incident. Hazel, an ex-soldier, is last known to be residing at Guyhoc Park in Georgetown.

Police had found the car belonging to Keyon King parked outside a house at Lot 435 Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara. Upon searching those premises, Police had found and seized several household items. It was reported that neighbours had told Police that the man who lived there had left for the interior.

Following leads, detectives had turned up at the home of Keyon King at Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), where a search was conducted in the house, but nothing substantial was found.

However, during a search in the yard, the detectives noticed a “disturbed” piece of land and decided to dig. They unearthed a buried bucket in which was found GY$15 million in GY$5000 notes, and an additional GY$3 million in GY$1000 notes. The bucket was reportedly wrapped in two black garbage bags, while the money was neatly packed in transparent bags.

As such, Keyon King and his wife were arrested.

During interrogation, King told investigators he was part of the initial plan to rob the gold establishment, but had not been among those who had committed the act. The ex-GDF Sergeant also said his wife was not aware of the robbery, and as such, he requested that she be released.

(Feona Morrison)

NEWS

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2023 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

10-Year-Old burnt by stepfather…

Grandmother was taking care of child for years - blames CPA for taking child away

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he grandmother of the 10-year-old boy who allegedly was burnt by his stepfather last month has said that the child’s parents are unfit to be parents, and that she is blaming the Child Care and Protection Agency (CPA) for removing the child from under her care.

This 10-year-old boy was reportedly burnt by his stepfather at their Enmore, East Coast Demerara home on September 7. The child had lived with his grandmother from the age of 8 months old until she was forced to send him back to his mother when he was 9 years old.

This child’s grandmother, 56-year-old Maurina Boyce, told Guyana Times in an interview that she was forced to give up custody of the child following intervention of the Child Care and Protection Agency.

She explained that her

son and his wife had lived at Corriverton with their 8-month-old baby, and would visit her every morning for breakfast. However, they did not show up one morning, and that had prompted her to visit their home, two streets away.

“My son and her had one child. I don’t know what was the problem, but she went away and left the child behind. The morning after I see that they did not come -- because they would normally come for breakfast -- I went over, and noticed that the house was locked up. So, I took down the key, and when I opened the door, I see that the child was lying on the bed sleeping,” she detailed.

She said that from that day onwards, she had been taking care of the little boy, providing for all of his needs and ensuring that he obtained a birth certificate in

order for him to attend school.

Boyce related that after eight years, the child’s mother approached her and requested to spend time with her son for a few days, as his other grandmother who was visiting Guyana had wanted to see him.

“I mind him from 8 months to 9 years, and when the $40,000 (school grant) was being paid, his mother came and said his grandmother want to see the child.

We did not agree, so we ended up at the Police Station, and they sent us to the Child (Care and) Protection Agency,” Boyce detailed.

“The man at the Child (Care and) Protection Agency told them that they cannot get the child, but they could come and visit until further instructions,” Boyce explained. This decision did not go down well with the mother, Boyce

Charged: Zabar Khan

Grandmother Maurina Boyce

said, “And she went to Georgetown, and so we had to go there with the child.

They told us that we have to give the child to the mother, because he has to get to know his siblings…”

Boyce said she was told if she did not want to hand the boy to his biological mother, he would be placed in a foster home. As

such, the woman said, she reluctantly handed over her grandson to his mother and stepfather.

However, those arrangements were only to be temporary, and the Child Care and Protection Agency ordered that after the three days, the boy should be returned to his grandmother for the remainder of the

school term.

“And the first weekend he went (to his mother), he never come back. The next time we heard about him was when the tragedy occurred and my daughter saw it on the internet and showed me,” the woman cried.

It has been alleged that the boy, now 10, was burnt by his stepfather. The child has sustained extensive third-degree burns covering approximately 30 per cent of his body. He remains hospitalised. Both parents were arrested, but the child’s mother was subsequently released.

On September 18, 42-year-old Zabar Khan, a spray painter of First Street Foulis, East Coast Demerara, was charged with attempted murder of this 10-year-old boy, and also charged with the felonious wounding of a 12-year-old. Khan has been remanded to prison, and will have to return to the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court on October 31.

Antigua & Barbuda scholar takes up Assistant Director post at PAHO

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r. Rhonda SealeyThomas, a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda, was on Thursday sworn-in as the new Assistant Director of the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Dr. Sealey-Thomas holds a Bachelor of Medicine, a Bachelor of Surgery degree, as well as a Master of Public Health and a Doctorate in Public Health from the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica.

She has worked for the Ministry of Health in Antigua and Barbuda for over 25 years, most recently serving as Chief Medical Officer from 2005 to 2023.

In her new post, Dr. Sealey-Thomas is part of PAHO’s Executive Management team; along with PAHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, Deputy Director Mary-Lou Valdez, and Director of Administration Kristan Beck.

“Dr. Sealey-Thomas

knows, understands, and shares the values and the mission of this great organization. Indeed, the work of her whole life reflects these values of equity, excellence, solidarity , respect and integrity,” PAHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa related.

“The Organisation is quite fortunate to have her at this crucial time.”

During the ceremony, the new Assistant Director highlighted the primary health challenges the Region of the Americas must face over the next few years, including non-communicable diseases, climate change, the ability to have resilient systems, and the urgent need to strengthen pandemic preparedness and response.

Dr. Sealey-Thomas has expressed her commitment to working with Dr. Barbosa to support his vision for the future of PAHO and for the Region of the Americas.

“There is a wealth of knowledge, skilled personnel, learning institutions, and other entities that bind us together,” she said.

“It is my aspiration that, during my tenure, we work even closer as a Region, in line with PAHO’s value of solidarity.”

Also speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Health, Wellness & the Environment of Antigua and Barbuda, Sir Molwyn Joseph, underscored the “pivotal role” PAHO has played, and “must continue to play” in the Region, and welcomed Dr. SealeyThomas’s appointment “because of our deep knowledge of her capacity to perform successfully and every confidence in her ability to strengthen the PAHO team.”

Dr. Sealey-Thomas oversees the departments of Communicable Diseases, Prevention, Control and Elimination; Social and Environmental Determinants for Health Equity; Evidence and Intelligence for Action in Health; Health Systems and Services; Innovation, Access to Medicines and Health Technologies; and Noncommunicable Diseases’ Prevention and Mental Health; as well as

(CLAP); and the Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information (BIREME).

“Please be assured that I embark on this journey with humility, determination and compassion,” Dr. Sealey-Thomas has said.

“Let us all remember that our collective efforts are the driving force behind building healthier, more resilient and more equitable societies throughout the Americas.”

New Assistant Director of the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), Dr Rhonda Sealey-Thomas

the special programmes on Comprehensive Immunization and the Regional Revolving Funds.

In addition, three PAHO/WHO technical centers are under Dr. Sealey-Thomas’s responsibility: the Pan American Center for Footand-Mouth Disease and Veterinary Public Health (PANAFTOSA); the Latin American Center for Perinatology, Women and Reproductive Health

Biography

Dr. Sealey-Thomas started her career as a Medical Officer for the Ministry of Health in Antigua and Barbuda in 1994. She then served as the country’s Chief Medical Officer from 2005 to 2023, where she acted as the primary advisor on most pertinent health issues.

Dr. Sealey-Thomas began her collaboration with PAHO in 2004 as an Associate Consultant in the Non-communicable Diseases Unit, where she helped shape the Organisation’s approach to regional challenges such

Minister of Health, Wellness & the Environment of Antigua and Barbuda, Sir Molwyn Joseph

as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

She was a member of PAHO’s working group in charge of crafting a Health Agenda for the Americas during 2005-2006, a member of the Organisation’s advisory group on the Noncommunicable Disease Agenda in the Caribbean, and was also Chair of the Regional Validation Committee for the Elimination of Mother-toChild Transmission of HIV and Congenital Syphilis.

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2023

guyanatimesgy.com

Regional

Brazil tells landowners to Chinese Embassy criticises Costa stop setting fires in Amazon Rica for 5G company restrictions “climate emergency” C

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razil's Government told ranchers and farmers on Friday to stop setting fire to the Amazon rainforest as clouds of dense grey smoke make the air increasingly unbreathable in the northern city of Manaus, threatening sanctions if they do burn areas of land.

"Fire is not natural in the Amazon, it comes from criminal actions or deforestation," Environment Minister Marina Silva told reporters. "There are people criminally setting fire to public and private areas."

The world's largest rainforest is facing a historical drought worsened by the El Niño weather phenomenon.

Rainfall below average is increasing the polluting effects of the region's annual burning season.

This is the time of year when fires tend to spike in the Amazon as rains subside, making it easier for ranchers and farmers who use fires to clear land, raise cattle and grow commercial crops.

According to the Brazilian Government, 60

Smoke from wildfires in the Amazon is seen in the port of Manaus, Brazil October 12, 2023 (Reuters/Bruno Kelly photo)

of the 62 cities in northern Amazonas state have declared a state of emergency because of drought and wildfires, and the month of October is expected to be "challenging".

Silva said the Government would send more than 300 firefighters and two aircraft to help put out the fires.

Those who deliberately set fire to private areas will have their properties embargoed and no longer be able to obtain funding, according to the head of en-

vironment agency IBAMA, Rodrigo Agostinho.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has staked his international reputation on reversing environmental back-sliding under his far-right predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, when Amazon deforestation soared.

In the first nine months of 2023, deforestation in the region fell 49.5 per cent on a yearly basis, according to preliminary data from space research agency INPE. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Field in Venezuela Opposition primary narrows as Superlano withdraws

F

ormer lawmaker Freddy Superlano on Friday withdrew his candidacy in Venezuela's Opposition presidential primary, throwing his support behind front-runner Maria Corina Machado and further narrowing the field of competitors just over a week before the vote.

The often-fractious Opposition is seeking a unity candidate to run against President Nicolás Maduro, who has yet to officially announce his candidacy, in 2024.

Superlano, who was polling with about five per cent support, is, like Machado and fel-

low Opposition figure Henrique Capriles, barred from holding public office, in decisions the Opposition has said are arbitrary and unfair.

Capriles also withdrew this week from the October 22 primary, which has 11 remaining candidates.

"We are supporting Maria Corina," said Superlano, a 47-year-old engineer, during a joint event with Machado. "On the street everyone is convinced that she is the winner of this primary."

Machado, taking Superlano's hand, said the two "were in the same fight".

Machado, 56, an industrial engineer, has said there is no back-up plan if she wins the primary, though she would be barred from registering her candidacy with the electoral council.

"We're not worried about the bans. I'm going to register and that's that," said Machado.

Washington has said it is willing to loosen sanctions in exchange for concrete steps by Maduro's Government toward free and fair elections, including setting a date for the vote and lifting candidate bans. (Excerpt from Reuters)

posable diaper for adults as the object that prompted the scare, the Central American country's police said on X, formerly Twitter.

The Boeing 737-800 aircraft had been isolated from other planes when it landed back at Panama City's international airport at 10:59h local time (1559 GMT) following the bomb scare, Panama's aviation authority

said in a post on X. Passengers have begun boarding the aircraft to resume their travel to Tampa, Copa Airlines said in a statement later, adding that authorities have ruled out any type of threat.

Panama City's international airport, where 17 commercial airlines operate, did not reply to requests for comment. (Reuters)

osta Rican officials are undermining economic ties with China after authorities from the Central American country deemed Chinese companies a cybersecurity threat to the development of 5G networks, the Asian nation's embassy said on Friday.

Earlier this week, Costa Rica's Science, Technology and Telecommunications Minister told lawmakers that China represents a security threat for the emerging digital network, while another senior Ministry official labelled its government "totalitarian".

The Chinese Embassy in San Jose criticised the remarks in a statement.

"These comments gravely affect the confidence and expectations of Chinese companies to undertake economic-trade activities in Costa Rica and they erode the good energy to develop bilateral relations," the embassy wrote in a statement.

The statement went on to say China deemed the comments "irresponsible and unfounded."

In August, Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves approved a decree aiming to regulate 5G mobile

network development and banned firms from countries that have not agreed to an international cybercrime convention.

The decree's ban applies to tech companies from China, South Korea, Russia and Brazil, among others.

Chaves issued the directive shortly after Laura Richardson, a senior US military commander, visited Costa Rica, where she questioned growing Chinese investment in Latin American infrastructure development including ports and 5G networks.

(Reuters)

US Navy woman allegedly paid men to kill Jamaican MP hubby’s daughter and child’s mom

L

eoda Bradshaw, the US Navy Petty Officer charged with the abduction and murder of the 10-month-old daughter of Member of Parliament Phillip Paulwell and the child’s mother, allegedly paid men to commit the crimes.

The allegations were detailed in a press release issued by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) on Friday, after Police revealed that 27-year-old Toshyna Patterson and her 10-month-old daughter Sarayah Paulwell were murdered and their bodies disposed of.

It is alleged that Bradshaw was in a relationship and shares a child with Paulwell, who she considered to be her spouse. A US resident, she allegedly arrived in Jamaica on September 6, and on the

Leoda Bradshaw

said day began conspiring the alleged kidnapping and murder plot with her cousin Roland Balfour, Richard Brown and Roshane Miller.

During these conversations up to the 9th of September 2023, there was an agreement made under the direction of Bradshaw for these men to kidnap and kill Toshyna Patterson and her 10-month-old daughter, Sarayah Paulwell who was

the product of a relationship that Patterson had had with Paulwell. This plan also contained part payment (which had been made) of a certain amount of money by Leoda Bradshaw to the men for the successful execution of the plan, the ODPP stated in the release.

It is further alleged that on September 9, Patterson and her 10-month-old daughter were taken from their home at Gilmore Drive in Kingston by Bradshaw in a tinted SUV. The mother and child were subsequently delivered to men, including two of Bradshaw’s co-conspirators in St Andrew.

Patterson and her daughter were said to be then forcibly taken to an area in East Kingston and murdered by the men who were armed with a firearm.

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Guatemalan President says cannot remove attorney general amid protests

Passengers taken off Panama plane G after bomb scare, diaper blamed

A

Copa Airlines aircraft bound for Tampa, Florida, from Panama City turned back following a suspected bomb threat and the 144 passengers on board were disembarked, but the scare turned out to be a false alarm, authorities said on Friday.

Officials carried out an emergency inspection of the aircraft, and identified a dis-

u a t e m a l a n President Alejandro Giammattei on Friday called for roadblocks to be lifted and said he cannot remove the country's attorney general, something demanded by protesters who accuse authorities of blocking the Government transition.

Attorney general Maria Consuelo Porras, whose office has said she will not step down, has been investigating the party of President-elect Bernardo Arevalo in what he and the Organisation of American States (OAS) have branded an attack on democracy. (Reuters)

Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei delivers a broadcast message where he mentioned that the country would no longer tolerate street blockades, which he called illegal, in Guatemala City, Guatemala, October 9, 2023 (Guatemala Presidency/Handout via Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2023

19

Around The World

“Only the beginning”, says Netanyahu OILNEWS OIL NEWS as Israel makes 1st raids into Gaza Oil prices jump nearly 6% amid geopolitical tensions, post best day since April

O

il prices rose more than five per cent on Friday as investors remained on edge about escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures jumped 5.8 per cent to settle at US$87.7 per barrel for the best day since April 3. International benchmark Brent crude futures with December expiry climbed US$4.89, or 5.7 per cent, to US$90.89 per barrel.

WTI crude gained more than four per cent this week, posting its biggest weekly gain since September 1.

The Israel-Hamas conflict has ratcheted up concerns that the fighting may affect regional energy production. The Middle East accounts for more than one third of global seaborne trade.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) on Thursday described market conditions as “fraught with uncertainty”, but said the Israel-Hamas war had not yet had a direct impact on physical supply.

The IEA sought to assuage market concerns by saying it stands ready to act to ensure markets remain “adequately supplied” in the event of an abrupt supply shortage.

The energy agency’s response includes member countries releasing emergency stocks and/or implementing demand restraint measures. Israel is not a major oil producer and no major oil infrastructure runs close to the Gaza Strip.

The US on Thursday tightened sanctions against Russian crude exports, restricting two shipping companies that it said violated the G7?s oil price cap, a mechanism designed to retain a reliable supply of Russian flows in the market while curbing the Kremlin’s war chest.

“Enforcing our sanctions is central to our effort to limit Russia’s profits on its oil trade. The price cap is designed to keep Russian oil flowing while imposing new costs on Russia, not to reduce oil supply,” a Treasury spokesperson told CNBC via email.

“Indeed, oil prices fell in the hours following the announcement. Of course, oil prices are sensitive to many factors, including ongoing conflict in the Middle East,” they added.

The G7, Australia and the European Union implemented a US$60-per-barrel price cap on Russian oil on December 5 last year. It came alongside a move by the EU and United Kingdom to impose a ban on the seaborne imports of Russian crude oil.

Together, the measures were thought at that time to reflect by far the most significant step to curtail the fossil fuel export revenue that is funding Russia’s war in Ukraine.

On Thursday, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said it was imposing sanctions on two owners of tankers carrying Russian oil priced above the price cap: one in Turkey and one in the United Arab Emirates.

The YasaGolden Bosphorus tanker, which is owned by Turkeybased Ice Pearl Navigation Corp, was said to have carried crude oil priced above US$80 a barrel after the price cap took effect.

Meanwhile, OFAC said the SCF Primorye, which is owned by United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based Lumber Marine SA, carried Russian oil priced above $75 a barrel from a port in Russia after the price cap mechanism came in.

The move to clamp down on Russian oil sales “demonstrates our continued commitment to reduce Russia’s resources for its war against Ukraine and to enforce the price cap”, said Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo.

“We remain committed to implementing a price cap policy that has two goals: reducing the oil profits upon which Russia relies to wage its unjust war against Ukraine and keeping global energy markets stable and well-supplied despite turbulence caused by Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine,” Adeyemo added. (CNBC)

I

sraeli infantry made their first raids into the Gaza Strip on Friday since Hamas fighters rampaged through southern Israel, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a campaign of retaliation had only just begun.

Israel has vowed to annihilate Hamas after its fighters burst out of Gaza a week ago and stormed through towns and villages, killing 1300 Israelis, mainly civilians, and making off with scores of hostages.

Since then Israel has placed the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, home to 2.3 million Palestinians, under a total siege and bombarded it with unprecedented air strikes. Gaza authori-

ties say 1900 people have died.

On Friday Israel gave more than a million residents of the northern half of Gaza 24 hours to flee to the south to avoid an onslaught. Hamas vowed to fight to the last drop of blood and told residents not to go.

Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said troops backed by tanks had mounted raids to attack Palestinian rocket crews and seek information on the location of hostages, the first official account of ground troops in Gaza since the crisis began.

"We are striking our enemies with unprecedented might," Netanyahu said

An Israeli tank takes position near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, October 13, 2023 (Reuters/Amir Cohen photo)

in a brief statement which, unusually, was televised after the Jewish Sabbath had begun. "I emphasise that this is only the beginning."

Several thousand Gaza residents took to roads

heading out of the northern part of the Gaza Strip, but it was impossible to assess their numbers. Many others said they would not leave. (Excerpt from Reuters)

At UN, Palestinians call for halt to Israeli offensive, world powers mull options

T

he Palestinian United Nations envoy appealed to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Friday to do more to stop a "crime against humanity"

by Israel, which has warned nearly half of the population of the Gaza Strip to relocate as it plans an assault.

"He has to do more.

Whatever was done is not sufficient. We need all of us to do more to stop this crime against humanity," Palestinian UN envoy Riyad Mansour told reporters before a meeting of Arab Group Ambassadors at the United Nations.

Countries urged Israel on Friday to hold off attacking northern Gaza, where more than a million civilians largely defied Israel's order to evacuate before it goes after

Hamas militants who slaughtered Israeli civilians last weekend.

Israel's UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan said on Friday that Israel's warning to residents in northern Gaza was "to temporarily move south ... to mitigate civilian harm".

He was speaking at an event Israel hosted at the UN with families of Israelis kidnapped

by Hamas and taken to Gaza in the attack.

Guterres briefed the 15-member UN Security Council behind closed doors on Friday.

"The situation in Gaza has reached a dangerous new low," he told reporters on his way to the briefing, adding that he was in constant contact with the leaders across the region to try and "prevent

Palestinians flee their houses heading toward the southern part of Gaza Strip after Israel's call for more than one million civilians in northern Gaza to move south within 24 hours, amid the IsraeliPalestinian conflict in Gaza City, October 13 (Reuters/Ahmed Zakot photo)

further dangerous escalation in the West Bank or elsewhere in the region, especially in southern Lebanon”.

Guterres reminded the

parties: "Even wars have rules ... Civilians must be protected and also never used as shields." (Excerpt from Reuters)

US Nobel-winning poet Trump-backed Jim Louise Gluck dies at 80 Jordan chosen as Speaker nominee L

ouise Gluck, a renowned poet who won a Nobel Prize for Literature in 2020, has died at age 80, according to media reports in the United States on Friday that cited her editor.

Her poetry was known for its candour in exploring family and childhood with "an unmistakable voice" and "austere beauty", the Swedish Academy, which is responsible for selecting the winner of the literature prize, said when awarding her the Nobel.

Her poems were often brief, less than a page.

Drawing comparisons with other authors, the Academy said Gluck resembled 19th-century US poet Emily Dickinson in her "severity and unwillingness to accept simple tenets of faith".

The cause of her death was not disclosed by Jonathan Galassi, Gluck's

editor at Farrar, Straus & Giroux, who confirmed her death for media outlets.

Galassi could not be reached immediately by Reuters.

A professor of English at Yale University, Gluck first rose to critical acclaim with her 1968 collection of poems entitled "Firstborn", and went on to become one of the most celebrated poets and essayists in contemporary America.

Gluck won a Pulitzer Prize in 1993 for her poetry collection "The Wild Iris", with the title poem touching on suffering and redolent with imagery of the natural world.

While she drew on her own experiences in her poetry, Gluck, who was twice divorced and suffered from anorexia in younger years, explored universal themes that resonated with readers in the United States and abroad.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

C

onservative firebrand Jim Jordan has been chosen as Republican nominee to become Speaker of the House.

The Ohio congressman won 124 votes from party members in the secret ballot held on Friday afternoon, with 81 against.

But Jordan, who has the backing of former President Donald Trump, is already facing mounting opposition from the ranks of his own party.

The week ends with Republicans no closer to successfully installing a Speaker amid continued infighting.

While Jordan emerged victorious from Friday's secret ballot against Georgia lawmaker Austin Scott, he faces mounting criticism from many House Republicans.

Immediately following the vote, Republican representatives held a second motion to

determine whether members would support Jordan in a floor vote, before breaking up for the weekend.

The second vote saw 55 members vote "no" on Jordan. As things stand, Jordan has no clear path to the Speaker's office, leaving House Republicans leaderless and wracked by uncertainty.

Supporters of Steve Scalise – who was nominated as the party's candidate for Speaker on Wednesday before withdrawing – have vowed to oppose Jordan at all costs.

And Jordan only narrowly expanded the fragile margin Scalise earned on Wednesday of 113 votes to 99. Whether he has enough support to win to secure an overall majority in the chamber is therefore unclear.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

20

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2023

guyanatimesgy.com

DAILY HOROSCOPES

ARCHIE

(March 21-April 19)

PICKLES

(April 20-May 20)

Take a fresh look at an old situation and evaluate your next move.

Relationships will require nurturing and changes that enforce equality. Keep the peace and be willing to meet people halfway.

A change is overdue. Decide what you want to keep and what you want to discard. An orderly attitude will help you make hard decisions. Follow through with your plans and chase new opportunities.

Speak up, but don’t share your secrets. You’ll draw a crowd, but not everyone will be supportive. Watch your back and gain experience by observing those trying to derail your plans.

(May 21-June 20) Look at what’s happening around you. Distance yourself from negative people or folks who are trying to take advantage of you. Keep your finances to yourself.

PEANUTS (June 21-July 22)

Stop, look and listen before making a move. Choose a path that takes you where you want to go. Verify any information you receive and proceed with confidence.

(July 23-Aug. 22) Pay attention, take notes and apply what you discover today. Redesigning your approach to situations you want to address will pay off. Offer incentives to gain support.

CALVIN AND HOBBES (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Share your thoughts, present what you have to offer and get involved in causes that concern you. Your input will lead to opportunities that invite attention and make an impact.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Get your juices flowing. Check out changes that others are making, and aspire to do whatever it takes to reach your desire. Refuse to let temptation intervene or someone’s jealousy ruin your day.

Be careful whom you trust or rely on.

Someone will lead you astray if given a chance. Be observant, ask questions and remain focused on what you are trying to achieve. Beware false information.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Do some research, and you’ll find what you need to make a good decision.

Take the time to reinvent yourself, update your look and strive for a healthier lifestyle.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Listen to others’ suggestions. Do what makes you happy, live in the moment and follow your heart. Gathering information will give you something worthwhile to work toward.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Concentrate on hard work, honesty and fair play. Use your imagination to devise unique ways to get your plans up and running. A relationship with someone special will offer stability.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2023

21

Cricket among sports approved

by IOC for LA 2028 Olympics C

ricket's return to the Olympics for the Los Angeles 2028 Games has been approved by the International Olympic Committee executive board.

Flag football, a non-contact version of American football, squash, lacrosse and baseball/ softball are also in. IOC members will now vote on Monday to ratify the board's recommendation.

IOC President Thomas Bach said the new sports allow the Olympic movement to "engage with new athletes and fan communities".

"Taking into consideration that these proposals and these sports are fully in line with the sports culture of our hosts in 2028, with the American sports culture, they will showcase iconic American sports to the world while bringing at the same

England were winners of the 2022 men's T20 World Cup in Australia

time international sports to the United States," Bach said.

Host cities are able to propose sports they would like added to the Olympic programme when they stage the event.

Cricket's only previous appearance at the Olympics was at Paris 1900, when Great Britain beat France in the final.

It was also the only match after the Netherlands and Belgium withdrew.

There is expected to be both a T20 men's and women's tournament at the LA Games, with the United States set to field a side as host nation.

The United States is co-hosting the men's T20 World

Cup with the West Indies in June 2024.

"We see the growing popularity of cricket, particularly the T20 format," added Bach.

"This is a win-win situation.

The Olympic Games will give cricket a global stage and the opportunity to grow beyond the traditional cricket countries and regions,” he said. "And for the Olympic Movement, it's the opportunity to engage with fan and athlete communities to which so far we have very little, or even no access."

The richest sports league in the world - the National Football League - helped support the flag football bid, which was led by the sport's governing body the International Federation of American Football (IFAF).

Flag football is five-a-side, on a smaller pitch - 30 by 70 yards - and no contact is al-

lowed, with players needing to pull the flag off the person with the ball, instead of tackling.

"The Olympics is the pinnacle of our sport," President of the IFAF, Pierre Trochet, told BBC Sport. "This is the right time and the right market. We have 20 million players playing worldwide and 72 national federations united across five continents."

Elsewhere, beach sprint rowing will make its debut at Los Angeles 2028 after being added to the programme.

Modern pentathlon is also included after the International Modern Pentathlon Union agreed to replace the showjumping discipline with obstacle racing, and reduce costs and complexity to make the sport more accessible.

Weightlifting will also feature after the IOC recognised

improvements that have been made in its anti-doping efforts.

Any decision to include boxing remains on hold as the IOC has yet to recognise another governing body for the sport, after withdrawing its recognition of the International Boxing Association earlier this year.

Boxing has been part of every Olympics since 1920 and will feature at Paris 2024.

"We want boxing on the programme," said Bach. "We have no problem with boxing or boxers, we have a problem with the governing body."

IOC Sports Director Kit McConnell said the proposed schedule would see Los Angeles 2028 exceed the IOC's previously announced limit of 10,500 athletes - imposed to limit costs - but would seek to limit the increase and the "impact it has on the existing sport". (BBC Sport)

ICC World Cup 2023: NZ vs Bangladesh…

New Zealand make it 3 wins in 3 matches

– but Williamson goes off hurt

K

ane Williamson resumed international cricket by doing Kane Williamson things, scoring a precise 78 against Bangladesh.

He shepherded New Zealand close to their eight-wicket win in Chennai, but couldn't quite see the chase through, as he left the field and retired hurt in the 39th over. Daryl Mitchell got New Zealand home with 43 balls to spare, putting the seal on the team's dominating start to this World Cup.

Williamson had missed seven months of competitive cricket due to a right knee injury he sustained during last season's IPL, and his World Cup return was thought to be improbable at the time. Even when he was named in the New Zealand side as their captain, he was expected to miss the initial stages of the competition. But not only did he return sooner than expected, Williamson showed little drop in quality, as he went through the gears against Bangladesh.

SCOREBOARD Bangladesh (50 ovs maximum) Litton Das c Henry b Boult 0 Tanzid Hasan c Conway b Ferguson 16 Mehidy Hasan Miraz c Henry b Ferguson 30 Najmul Hossain Shanto c Conway b Phillips 7 Shakib Al Hasan (c) c †Latham b Ferguson 40 Mushfiqur Rahim † b Henry 66 Towhid Hridoy c Santner b Boult 13 Mahmudullah not out 41 Taskin Ahmed c Mitchell b Santner 17 Mustafizur Rahman c †Latham b Henry 4 Shoriful Islam not out 2 Extras (lb 1, nb 4, w 4) 9 TOTAL 50 Ov (RR: 4.90) 245/9 Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Litton Das, 0.1 ov), 2-40 (Tanzid Hasan, 7.6 ov), 3-56 (Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 11.4 ov), 4-56 (Najmul Hossain Shanto, 12.1 ov), 5-152 (Shakib Al Hasan, 29.5 ov), 6-175 (Mushfiqur Rahim, 35.5 ov), 7-180 (Towhid Hridoy, 37.5 ov), 8-214 (Taskin Ahmed, 44.6 ov), 9-225 (Mustafizur Rahman, 47.6 ov) • DRS

BOWLING Trent Boult Matt Henry Lockie Ferguson Mitchell Santner Glenn Phillips Rachin Ravindra Daryl Mitchell

O-M-R-W 10-0-45-2 10-0-58-2 10-0-49-3 10-1-31-1 2-0-13-1 7-0-37-0 1-0-11-0

New Zealand (T: 246 runs from 50 ovs) Devon Conway lbw b Shakib Al Hasan 45 Rachin Ravindra c †Mushfiqur Rahim b Mustafizur Rahman 9 Kane Williamson (c) retired hurt 78 Daryl Mitchell not out 89 Glenn Phillips not out 16 Extras (lb 1, w 10) 11 TOTAL 42.5 Ov (RR: 5.78) 248/2 Did not bat: Tom Latham †, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult Fall of wickets: 1-12 (Rachin Ravindra, 2.4 ov), 2-92 (Devon Conway, 20.1 ov), 2-200* (Kane Williamson, retired hurt) • DRS BOWLING O-M-R-W Mustafizur Rahman 8-0-36-1 Shoriful Islam 7.5-1-43-0 Taskin Ahme 8-0-56-0 Shakib Al Hasan 10-0-54-1 Mehidy Hasan Miraz 9-0-58-0

Williamson struck ten fours and a six in his 108-ball 78, eventually going off with cramps. More than his innings, Williamson's biggest contribution was to add to two sizable partnerships. First, he made 82 for the second wicket with Devon Conway, after New Zealand lost an early wicket. Then alongside Mitchell, he added 108 runs for the third wicket. It made the chase an easy one for New Zealand, as they won with plenty to spare.

At the start of New Zealand's 246-run chase, Bangladesh gave their fans some hope when Mustafizur Rahman removed the high-flying Rachin Ravindra, opening for the first time in ODIs, in the third over. Mustafizur produced a second chance shortly afterwards when Conway, batting on 4, drove away from his body, only for Mehidy Hasan Miraz to drop the chance at point. It was a difficult diving chance, but that one sticking could have charged up Bangladesh.

Soon after the reprieve, Conway struck Shoriful Islam for two fours to break free.

Williamson then took his turn on Shoriful, cracking him over point and through point and cover in the 10th over.

Then it was Taskin who went for two fours in the 13th over, before he dropped Williamson at short midwicket when the New Zealand captain was on 27. Shakib, who suffered that drop, broke the second-wicket stand when he trapped Conway lbw for 45 off 59 balls. Conway's attempted reverse sweep went awry, as he missed the shot, hitting his

Kane Williamson brought up a half-century on his return to international cricket

back-leg.

The Conway wicket, however, did little to help the Bangladesh cause, as the next batter, Mitchell, immediately picked up the pace. He opened his account with a six off Shakib, before Williamson lifted his opposite number over longon for his first six. Williamson continued to find the odd boundary for the next ten overs, hitting Shakib and Mehidy for four more boundaries before Mitchell got back into action with a stinging pull off Taskin, followed by two straight sixes off Shakib and Taskin.

Even after Williamson called off his innings in the 39th over, Mitchell went after the Bangladesh bowling till the chase was completed in the 43rd over. Mitchell smashed six fours and four sixes in his unbeaten 67-ball 89.

Earlier, when Williamson put Bangladesh to bat first, it took them little time to fall into their familiar top-order slide.

Litton Das clipped the first ball

of the innings, from Trent Boult, right into Matt Henry's lap at fine-leg. It was a well-timed shot that he met after coming down the track, but he tried it on a difficult angle with the bat.

Litton became only the second Bangladeshi opener to fall in the first ball of a World Cup match, the previous being Hannan Sarkar against Sri Lanka's Chaminda Vaas in 2003.

Tanzid Hasan produced four boundaries in a quick recovery partnership with Mehidy, but the rookie left-hander once again fell on 16. It was a tame dismissal when Tanzid clipped a ball to short square-leg in the eighth over. A third soft dismissal followed in the 12th over, when Mehidy pulled Lockie Ferguson into fine-leg's lap for 30. He struck three superb cover drives in his 46-ball stay, but once again, Bangladesh sent him to a batting position which usually takes a bit of time to getting used to.

New Zealand reduced Bangladesh to 56 for 4 in the

next over, when part-timer Glenn Philips had the in-form Najmul Hossain Shanto hit to midwicket. Conway took a tumbling catch, but Bangladesh regrouped through their most experienced pair.

Shakib and Mushfiqur added 96 runs in almost even time by pressing back at the New Zealand side. Mushfiqur wasted little time by hammering Philips with his favoured slog sweep for a six. Two more Mushfiqur fours later, Shakib pulled Henry before smashing Mitchell Santner for a straight four.

Mushfiqur hit Ferguson for his second six, over third man, as Bangladesh looked to be on the road to recovery.

Shortly after Mushfiqur reached his fifty though, Shakib cramped up. After taking a bit of medical attention, the Bangladesh captain took off his helmet as he smashed Ravindra for a straight four and a six over midwicket. He added another six off Ferguson, but he was out next ball, again trying to slog the fast bowler.

Mushfiqur followed him back shortly afterwards, though the Henry delivery that bowled him kept really low. It was still a valiant knock, given that he had walked in with the task of reviving Bangladesh's innings.

Tohwid Hridoy, now batting out of position at No 7, couldn't kick on, so it was left to Mahmudullah, batting at No 8 for the first time in 13 years, to ensure a decent finish. He ensured Bangladesh batted out the 50 overs, remaining unbeaten on 41, but it was still a subpar team score.(ESPNCricinfo)

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2023

GFF Women’s Division 1 League kickstarts today T he inaugural season of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and Women Football Association (WFA) Women’s League Division One is set to kick off on October 14 with an exciting doubleheader between Santos and Potaro Strikers and Fruta Conquerors and the Guyana Defence Force football clubs.

The league, which will feature both current and former national players from a total of seven football clubs, was officially launched on October 12.

Participating teams are Santos, Potaro Strikers, Fruta Conquerors, Guyana Defence Force, Pakuri Jaguars and Guyana Police Force football clubs.

WFA President Andrea Johnson said the introduction of an elevated league for senior female players marks a significant stride in enhancing the level of competition of football in Guyana. “I'm thrilled to announce the official start

of the Women's Division 1 League. With an unwavering commitment to promoting women's football and providing a platform for talented athletes, the league is all set to deliver another unforgettable season of competitive and inspiring play,” Johnson shared.

“This season promises to be a celebration of talent, dedication and sportsmanship, as teams from Georgetown and its surrounding areas as well as Bartica come together to showcase their skills and passion for the beautiful game.”

The victorious team will be awarded a cash prize of $300,000, while the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth-placed clubs will receive $200,000, $100,000, $75,000, $50,000 and $25,000, respectively.

The Women’s League Division One will showcase the best female clubs selected from the GFF's nine Regional Member Associations. Teams will

compete in a round-robin format, with each team playing against each other twice in the first and second rounds. Each team will earn three points for a victory, one point for a draw, and no point for a loss.

Johnson noted that the GFF and WFA “remain steadfast in its commitment to the development of women's football, offering a platform for athletes to thrive both on and off the field. We are dedicated to fostering an environment of inclusivity and equal opportunities for all.”

Football fans can expect

A glimpse of what to expect during the Women’s League

a series of thrilling matches over the next six weeks.

“We invite the communities to join us in supporting these extraordinary women by attending the matches and spreading the spirit

of women's football in every Region. Together, we can empower women in sports and inspire future generations of female athletes,” Johnson has said.

The opening day match-

es will be held at the GFF National Training Centre (NTC) in Providence, East Bank Demerara from 1:30pm.

The league is set to conclude on November 11.

LGC to host STP Investments Hockey League continues at Inc tournament today National Stadium tomorrow

drains, etc.) and materials delivery (sand, loam, mud, stone, asphalt, etc.).

The company’s vision is to establish one of the largest sustainable construction companies in Guyana and the Caribbean through ownership of its value chain that complements its products and services.

T

he National Stadium will be lit up as the Farfan & Mendes and Woodpecker Products Men’s and Women’s FirstDivision Leagues continue on Sunday 15th October 2023 with four obliterating games.

The Saints Women will look to bounce back after their loss on Sunday as they ignite the action against YMCA Old Fort at noon (12hrs). The second game will see the two sides in search of their first win, as Pepsi Hikers Men’s battle against the YMCA Old Fort at 13:30hrs. The third game will see one team coming out with a loss after both teams won their first game on Sunday.

LGC VP Brian Hackett receiving the sponsorship cheque from STP Investment Inc Project Manager David Harinarine

Glimpse of what to expect

Last game is defending Women’s Champions GBTI GCC taking on the Woodpecker Hikers at 15:00 hrs.

The Powerhouse

Saints will close off the proceeding as they come against Bounty GCC at 16:00hrs, both teams having secured their first victory on Sunday Last.

GBA National Junior...

1. BS U19 – Raah Russell vs. Tristian Goveia 21-4, 21-7 2. GS U19 – Leshaunte Berkley vs. Tyra Gomes 215, 21-14 3. GS U19 – Genvieve Bookram vs. Charisma Etwaroo 21-10, 21-3 4. BS U19 – Haresh Persaud vs. Azariel Mason 21-16, 21-9 1. BS U19 – Adeeb Zaman vs. Marcus Samuels Walkover 2. GS U11 – Riyo Alexander vs.

Arianna Bassier 21-6, 21-5 3. GS U15 – Malia Haley vs. Gianna Ramnarine 2112, 21-15 4. GS U15 - Gabrielle Felix vs. Aaliyah Bacchus

21-15, 21-10

1. XD U19 – J. Uwagboe & N. Eastman vs. R. Russell & G. Bookram 21-12, 21-19 2. BD U15 – E. Bulkan & E. Bulkan vs. J. Nedd & M. Holder 21-11, 21-12 3. BD U15 – R. Rambiriche & A. Ramnarine vs. M. Farouk & L. Lewis 21-9, 21-9 4. GD U19 – M. Beharry & L. Berkely vs. G. Felix & G. Ramnarine 21-9, 21-15 1. GD U19 – N. Eatsman & M. Haley vs. A. Bacchus & T. Gomes 21-14, 21-11 2. BD U19 – A. Zaman & T. Goveia vs. S. Birkett & A. Persaud 21-13, 21-18 3. BS U19 – J. Debidin vs. Haresh Persaud 21-9,

FROM PAGE 23

21-11 4. BS U19 – F. Waddell vs. Jonathan Robinson 214, 21-15 1. BD U15 – E. Bulkan & E. Bulkan vs. M. Farouk & L. Lewis 21-11, 12-21, 2113 2. BD U15 – R. Rambiriche & A. Ramnarine vs. J. Nedd & M. Holder 217, 21-9 3. BS U19 - Xavio Alexander vs. Jedidiah Uwagboe 21-2, 21-9 4. GD U19 – M. Beharry & L. Berkley vs. A. Bacchus & T. Gomes 21-6, 21-14 The tournament continued on Friday evening, and is expected to conclude this evening.

T

he Lusignan Golf Club will today be hosting the STP Investment Inc. Golf tournament. This announcement was made on Thursday during a brief press briefing at the Oasis Cafe.

The format of the tournament will be Stroke play, and the action will tee off at 12:30 hrs. The prizes up for grabs will be trophies or prizes 1st to 10th (Net scores), 1st to 4th (Gross scores), Nearest to the Pin and Longest drive.

Speaking on behalf of the LGC, Vice President Brian Hackett said, “STP has been a partner with us for the last two years. They have come on board and joined the golf club in spreading the awareness of golf. We're happy to be partner with them, of course, and we look forward to continue our fruitful relationship with them. This comes at a very good time in the golfing calendar for the golfers, as we prepare for the GTT Business Solutions Invitational Golf Tournament on October 2829, 2023. This is where golfers from across the Caribbean, North America and other parts of the globe come together to compete for the prestigious title of the Best Golfer of the Year.”

The LGC Vice President also noted that the club

is happy to have the STP Investment tournament, as players can come out and compete and sharpen their game for the tournament ahead.

“So, we are excited to have them on board, and more excited that they have come on board. Competition is going to be fierce this weekend. We expect a lot of players to come out to ensure that they can participate and improve their games,” Hackett shared.

All participants are advised to contact the club's manager on the day of the tournament to collect their scorecards, pay their tournament fees, and proceed to their allocated tee boxes to begin play at 12:30pm. Once on their respective tee boxes, players must await the sounding of the horn or siren as indication to begin teeing off.

Presentation of prizes will be held at the completion of the tournament at approximately 17:30 hrs.

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23

GFF, Racing Madrid sign MoU that would ‘transform youth football in Guyana’ T

he Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and Racing Madrid Football Club (RMFC) of Spain have embarked on a groundbreaking partnership to elevate youth football to new heights across Guyana with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Wednesday, October 11.

The landmark partnership was formalised with the signing of the MoU between GFF President Wayne Forde and RMFC President Steve Nijjar at the GFF Georgetown headquarters.

RMFC is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain with ties to Genova international school, which is recognised as the world's largest and most successful academy for player pathways and development.

President Forde noted that the MoU, which is the federation’s first partnership with a European club, symbolises the beginning of a transformative collaboration between the GFF and RMFC, with the focus being to provide valuable opportunities and resources to nurture and promote young talent.

“This is the GFF’s first partnership with a professional European football club, and we are all very excited about the many possibilities our collaboration with Racing

From left, Parliamentarian Lennox Shuman, Wayne Forde, Steve Nijjar and Bryan Joseph

GFF President Wayne Forde and RMFC President Steve Nijjar displaying an RMFC shirt

Madrid will create. Together, we will embark on a wide range of capacity-building initiatives, with special emphasis on the development, mentorship and international exposure of youth coaches.”

The MoU establishes a framework for cooperation between the GFF and RMFC, focusing on various aspects of youth development, including coaching education, grassroots development, youth football programmes, women's football development and elite player development.

“Racing Madrid has a long history of excellence that is supported by a global network of professional football relationships. They have enormous experience in youth academy programmes, of

lutely delighted to have this partnership with the Guyana Football Federation, and we are looking forward to helping all the players and the coaches in Guyana to get to the next step and improve the game.

“Our goal is to help the country of Guyana get into the next World Cup, whether it be Youth World Cup or Senior Men's World Cup; and

which the GFF intends to benefit from in the coming years.

I would like to express a warm thank you to President Steve Nijjar for working closely with me over the past few months in constructing this historic partnership,” Forde has said.

The partnership would also create opportunities for talented young male and female players in Guyana to gain exposure and secure placements in prestigious European clubs and academies.

Both the GFF and RMFC are committed to working closely to implement impactful initiatives that would shape the future of youth football in Guyana.

RMFC President Steve Nijjar added they are “abso-

that is what we are going to work hard for through Racing Madrid and Geneva Football School,” he said.

The MoU also facilitates the organisation of international youth camps aimed at preparing gifted Guyanese players for upcoming competitions, and provides valuable technical assistance to enhance the already estab-

lished GFF National Youth Academy Centres.

The academy programme introduced in 2017 to offer boys and girls from as young as five years old tailored football training sessions has already made a remarkable impact on the sport nationwide. Thousands of aspiring young football players across Guyana have benefited from the age-specific, structured training programme, which is a pathway for both Guyana's national youth and senior teams.

RMFC owner Morris Pagniello noted that he is “very happy to start this ambitious project with this ambitious federation, giving youth players of Guyana a real pathway to professional football.”

President Forde's administration remains committed to forging impactful partnerships that would significantly contribute to the growth and long-term viability of football in Guyana.

Confident Golden Jaguars battle Puerto Rico today

GBA National Junior Tourney serves off

The results for day one of the competition are (Winners in Bold): 1. BS U19 – Jedidiah Uwagboe vs. Shane Birkett 21-5, 21-13 2. BS U15 – Lamar Lewis vs. Adriel Persaud 17-21, 2117, 21-18 3. BS U11 – Joel Rambiriche vs. Liam Brumell 21-4, 21-7 4. GS U11 – Anjaneysa Godette vs. Arianna Bassier 21-3, 21-1

Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle, is flanked by Executives of the GBA at the tournament’s opening

T

he Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) has run off the National Sports Commissionsponsored National Junior Badminton Tournament on Thursday evening at the Gymnasium.

There are three categories in which the young athletes are competing: U11, U15, and U19, and there are singles, doubles and mixed doubles divisions. According to the GBA, the tournament attracted children from many schools around Georgetown, and some from Berbice.

Director of Sport (DoS) Steve Ninvalle was on hand on Thursday evening to share brief remarks and serve off the first shuttle to open the tournament.

“I would like to say that from the level of the National Sports Commission, we are very heartened by what we see happening in Badminton.

Badminton is one of the more organized core sports as it relates to its nursery and its academy. And that is why, when we have requests from the Badminton Association, we tend to treat it as priority, because of the level of organization and what you’re doing at the Academy,” Ninvalle said in words of praise to the GBA. Meanwhile, the GBA did their bit in raising awareness for Breast Cancer Month, and celebrated Pinktober by asking participants to wear pink.

1. BS U19 – Jonathan Robinson vs. Nikolas Pollard 21-13, 21-18 2. BS U15 –Sergio Alexander vs. Mohamed Farouk 21-17, 23-21 3. GS U15 – Malia Haley vs. Aaliyah Bacchus 21- 11, 21-14 4. GS U15 – Gabrielle Felix vs. Gianna Ramnarine 6-21, 21-10, 21-12 1. BS U15 – Avinash Ramnarine vs. Micah Holder 21-9, 21-4 2. BS U15 – Egan Bulkan vs. Jaquan Nedd 21-11, 2116 3. BS U11 – Ethan Bulkan vs. Liam Brumell 21-0, 21-3 4. BS U15 – Ruel Rambirichie vs. Lamar Lewis 21-5, 21-4 TURN TO PAGE 22

Omari Glasgow

C

urrently sitting at second place in Group D of League B in the CONCACAF Nations League 2023/2024, Guyana’s senior men’s national team the Golden Jaguars will, over the next few days, have the opportunity to solidify their spot atop the group.

This quest will require them to defeat Puerto Rico in their ever-important clash today, and possibly repeat the feat next Tuesday.

With the Golden Jaguars being in preparation mode over the past week, Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz has noted that their prep has been ideal.

“I thought the guys, in the four days that we had going into this game here in St. Kitts, I thought the guys gave 100%. Even this last session, 10 o’clock in the sun the day before the game, the sun is fierce and everybody, every player, has given 100%; and this is the type of preparation we wanted and needed going

Golden Jaguars Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz

into an important game like this against Puerto Rico,” Shabazz shared on Friday.

Quizzed about what can be expected from the team on Saturday, Shabazz divulged that the Golden Jaguars have employed a new style of play, and they will be looking to utilise it.

He revealed, “We have now developed a way that Guyana wants to play. It took a while, but now we’ve got buy-in from the players, both local and overseas-based. We want to try and build the ball out at the back, keep possession, open the opponents, and attack through the flanks. But also, we want to try squeeze them and make life difficult for them.

“It’s going to be tough against a team that can also move the ball as Puerto Rico can, but the battle is going to cry, and we’re very confident that we could do what

is necessary to get the results,” a confident Shabazz added.

Meanwhile the team’s highest goal scorer thus far, Omari Glasgow, revealed that the Jaguars are in a good space ahead of the clash.

“I think the team came back with a bit more energy.

Tactically, we understand what the coaches want us to do and what we got to do.

So, I just think the team is in good shape, as a team, to go out there and perform on Saturday against Puerto Rico,” Glasgow shared.

About his personal expectations, the forward added, “Well, for me, just goals and assists and help the team win. That’s it.”

Guyana and Puerto Rico will go head-to-head at the St. Kitts and Nevis Football Association (SKNFA) Technical Center from 15:00hrs today.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2023

Sport is no longer our game, it’s our business

Pg 23

sign MoU that would battle Puerto Rico ‘transform youth football today in Guyana’ Pg 23

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