Guyana Times -Saturday, October 7, 2023.pdf

Govt moving to clear 5000+ passport backlog by next Friday – Pres Ali

Govt to use “bridge financing” if US Exim Bank loan delayed – VP Jagdeo Teacher suffered “complete shutdown”, still under psychiatric care after losing 8 students

Quartet freed of murdering Mon Repos handyman

442 malware attacks detected, mitigated at Govt agencies in 1st half of 2023 Charlestown fire was caused by ‘slack, overheated’ electrical points – GFS Supenaam speedboat operator dies after falling off boat

Tuschen man wanted for murder of Venezuelan national Essequibo businessman gets bail on rape charge

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, Oct 7 – 23:30h – 01:00h and Sunday, Oct 8 – 13:30h –14:15h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Saturday, Oct 7 – 11:25h – 12:55h and Sunday, Oct 8 – 12:45h – 14:15h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

There will be sunshine and light rain showers during the day. Expect clear skies at night. Temperatures should range between 24 degrees Celsius and 33 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to East North-Easterly between 2.23 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 10:19h and 22:44h reaching maximum heights of 1.94 metre and 1.99 metre.

Low Tide: 16:07h reaching a minimum height of 1.33 metre.

Govt moving to clear 5000+ passport backlog by next Friday – Pres Ali –

the team and they are working now in a concerted way, 24-hour shifts, to have this entire backlog [cleared],” he noted.

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

LOTTERY NUMBERS

In light of complaints about long waiting times for passports, President Dr Irfaan Ali has reassured Guyanese that this will be a thing of the past as the Government moves to clear the backlog within a oneweek period.

The Head of State made this announcement during a live broadcast on Friday afternoon where he addressed several pressing issues facing citizens.

Currently, there is 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 three months, to get the important travel document. In some cases, some persons are willing to pay a fee of $26,000 to get back their passports in three days.

However, according to the President, the Government is aware of this challenge and is now putting systems in place to ensure that this figure is reduced within a week’s time.

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

“So, that is about just over 5700 passports in the backlog – nationwide and in the diaspora. They are working to completely bring to nil, this backlog by next Friday. So, all things being equal, that is, they don’t have any challenges with the machines and so on, by next Friday, we’re hoping to bring this backlog to a nil position,” President Ali stated.

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.

“What I’ve seen is that people are not utilising the regional offices,” the Head of State pointed out.

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 over 4000 passports in the backlog. In Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), 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 (CuyuniMazaruni), there are some five passports in the backlog.

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 has now 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 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 demands.

He told an audience at an event in New York City that the global supply chain cri-

sis had impacted every sector including passport services, especially renewals – and the Guyanese diaspora has been complaining bitterly about the delays.

The Head of State had explained that the materials to print the Guyanese Passport booklet are provided by a leading international company in Canada. However, because of supply chain issues, there are tremendous shortages and delays of the materials needed to produce these documents.

“And whilst there is this shortage – I don’t know why – but the demand for Guyanese Passport has increased by 500 per cent. So, unfortunately, we are being hit with the perfect storm. We are getting hit by a supply chain crisis and a rapid increase in demand for the passport,” Ali said last year.

The President went on to note that, “And every day, the Consulate Office here would call the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and say people cussing [them]… But this is the reality. Since a year and a half ago [in 2021], we ordered, I think, 80,000 passports. We’ve been continuously ordering.”

says team to work 24 hours to end long waiting time

The Chief Immigration Office on Camp Street President Dr Irfaan Ali

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2023

Editor: Tusika Martin

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

Youth empowerment

Our Global Education System, as structured, teaches us that youths are the future of tomorrow’s world, and they possess the ability to redefine and change the socioeconomic and geopolitical dynamics of the modern world.

It also teaches us that young people possess the necessary creativity, talent, energy and drive, vision and outlook, as well as technological and transformational skills needed to confront some of the world’s most serious threats to the coexistence and continuity of the human race, and protection as well as preservation of the environment in which they cohabit.

As a result, elders across the globe and in very different locales have wasted no time in underscoring the importance of education, integrity, truth, knowledge and reason as prerequisites that should be instilled in youths in their most formative years.

This has led to the creation and continued development of formal and informal institutions and organisations, over several decades, if not centuries, aimed at preparing young people for the mantle of leadership, while nurturing them to shape and redefine the global order in a positive and more effective manner.

Additionally, there can be no argument made against the fact that the rhetoric and philosophy of many powerful and ordinary elders are supportive of young people adding their voices and joining on global discourses on crime and violence, ending wars and diseases, reducing poverty and inequality, ending human rights’ injustices and social discrimination, and maintaining the balance of power and the search for world peace.

Youths the world over — distractions aside — after working, studying and adhering to the social constructs of their time, are expectant that,, as soon as they feel they are of age, they can lead, rule the world, engineer positive and revolutionary changes, and take up their destinies.

Unfortunately, recent history is replete with examples of how the very system and elders that encouraged and educated youths are actively undermining their efforts to lead and create change as they see it.

The truth is, many elders refuse to step aside and allow new, youthful blood to take over the spheres of power and control that influence aspects of the world’s status quo.

Many of them use the excuse that youths are unsettled in their worldview, are too ambitious and inexperienced, and are possibly incompetent and problematic. So, they use various structural policies to give them ‘some kinda’ power, presence, and a limited voice, with the obvious aim of window-dressing to appear pro-youth and proinclusive.

In the developed world, any market analysis would show how hard it is for youths to climb to the top of dominant firms, entities, and leadership groups such as the UN, WTO, PAHO/WHO and a slew of others. They literally have to upset and fight against the discriminatory processes that favour elders over youth to get ahead; and in many cases, they prove themselves worthy of their portfolios, once interference is kept at bay.

Closer to home, there are fewer opportunities for youths to be part of a meaningful regional discourse and decision-making process that changes the way things are done in the Caribbean and South America.

While there are many established paper laws and institutions that seek to place youth into the pot of power, there are even more personalities and elders who prefer conformity to their traditionalistic and idealistic outlook on regional affairs over the daring, bold, and sometimes too-ambitious plans of youths.

Decades after, the Caribbean Community still does not have a cohesive, influential, and powerful youth forum that can hold its elders to account whenever they fail to deliver; or debate with meaningful outcomes, and not paper declarations, important socioeconomic and political issues that are retarding the forward movement of integration and the unification process, as well as the growth of the region.

At home, where power is concentrated in the realm of politics and wealth, the situation is worse, but not surprising. Youths are used as poster boys and girls for political campaigning purposes, marketing appeals by powerful companies, and rubber stamps for aid and donor agencies; but are hardly ever properly rewarded, promoted, empowered, or made influential.

While it is clear the Government is taking steps to deal with aspects of youth leadership and inclusivity by piloting a National Youth Policy, that policy remains in the theatre, undergoing corrective surgery even though it has been completed.

It seems as if youths are given prominence only when elders need them to access wealth, power and status. While there are hundreds of elders who are eager to step aside, and are not guilty of hoarding power and positions, there are thousands more who pay pure lip service to notions of youth power, influence and leadership.

It may be too late for the latter group when they realise that they should have been wiser, as the world they will live in is still to be shaped by the ideas and visions of the young.

Global South should learn from Big Pharma’s bullying of South Africa

BY: RaY MwaReYa

In August, a Supreme Court ruling forced South Africa’s Government to make public the secretive vaccine supply contracts it struck with big pharmaceutical companies at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The documents confirmed what many have long suspected: When selling its COVID vaccines to Global South countries, Big Pharma’s priority was not to help them bring a deadly pandemic under control, but to maximise its bottom line.

Every single contract –there were a total of four that were revealed, with Johnson & Johnson (J&J), Pfizer, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (Gavi), and the Serum Institute of India –turned out to overwhelmingly favour Big Pharma and demand South Africa pay much more than its more powerful counterparts to protect its citizens from the worst of COVID.

An analysis of the contracts by the Health Justice Initiative (HJI), the South African health equality non-profit that launched the legal bid to get the contracts released, revealed that J&J charged South Africa 15 per cent more per dose of its COVID vaccine than it charged the European Union, while Pfizer-BioNTech charged the country nearly 33 per cent more than it reportedly charged the African Union. The biggest apparent markup paid by South Africa was to the Serum Institute of India, maker of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine. South Africa paid US$5.35 a dose, compared with the EU’s price of US$2.15.

What we found in these contracts was shocking – in fact, infuriating – but not at all surprising. Anybody paying a little

attention to the global pharmaceutical market already knows that Big Pharma companies have been pressurising countries across the Global South to buy their essential medicines and vaccines for extortionate prices and under exploitative conditions since long before the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nevertheless, getting to read these contracts in their entirety was still a big win for health equality advocates in Africa and beyond. All Big Pharma companies employ large teams of top-quality lawyers to keep their unethical and unfair contracts secret, and the governments bullied into signing those contracts also try their best to keep them hidden from the public. So while we have always known that Big Pharma is exploiting Global South governments, we did not know to what extent until we saw the shameful contracts signed by South Africa.

Furthermore, the revelation that the Serum Institute, a vaccine manufacturer based in the Global South, and, Gavi, which was supposedly formed to improve equitable access to vaccines across the globe, joined in the bullying of COVID-stricken South Africa into signing unfavourable contracts. According to the contract made public, Gavi gave no guarantees to South Africa about the number of doses it would receive, or the delivery date, but South Africa remained liable to pay for everything it ordered, making it obvious that smaller Global South nations cannot depend on anyone other than themselves when it comes to delivering life-saving vaccines and medicines to their citizens in a timely manner.

Now that we know the severity of the problem, we need

to take action. We need to treat what we learned about South Africa’s treatment by Big Pharma as a wakeup call and make sure no Global South government finds itself in a similarly helpless situation when the next pandemic inevitably knocks on our door.

What needs to be done is clear: Global South nations should make pharmaceutical research and development a priority, build reliable supply chains for core materials, expand their manufacturing capabilities, and work towards truly freeing themselves from Big Pharma’s clutches. This is an especially urgent necessity in Africa, where, the International Finance Corporation says 70 to 90 per cent of all medicines prescribed are imported from abroad.

Many African nations already have the basic infrastructure in place to free themselves from the clutches of Big Pharma – if not immediately today, in the not-too-distant future.

South Africa, for example, is home to Biovac- a part stateowned vaccine manufacturer that is ready and eager to help the country begin its journey towards pharmaceutical sovereignty.

Global South governments should focus on investing as much as possible in such initiatives and make pharmaceutical localisation one of their longterm priorities.

Regrettably, not all Global South governments seem to have clocked the many future advantages of localised medicine and vaccine production.

In South Africa, for example, a recent tender for pneumococcal vaccinations, which Biovac manufactures locally, was awarded to a supplier in India that offered to provide

a cheaper alternative. Such moves – clearly made with short-term budgetary concerns in mind – gravely hinder efforts for pharmaceutical independence in these countries.

“India is a great supplier of vaccines to the global community in general and to Africa in particular,” Biovac chief executive Morena Makhoana told me. “The COVID-19 pandemic, however, has proven that concentrated vaccine manufacture can be a risk – we witnessed India closing its borders and restricting the export of its COVID-19 vaccines.”

It is, therefore, important for Global South governments to refrain from taking contracts away from local manufacturers and awarding them to bigger players abroad for short-term savings.

“It is important that Africa becomes [pharmaceutically] self-sufficient”, Makhoana said. “This can only be achieved if companies [like Biovac] are supported by their governments.”

South Africa’s COVID vaccine contracts offer undeniable proof that Big Pharma is harming the peoples of the Global South by prioritising profit over lives. It is high time Global South governments take a stance against Big Pharma’s abuse and free themselves from the clutches of these predators.

Pharmaceutical independence, which requires immense financial and human investment, would not come overnight. However, governments can put their countries on the path to freedom simply by supporting the local manufacturing efforts of companies like Biovac. (Al Jazeera) (Ray Mwareya is a fellow of the World Ethical Data Foundation and a technology journalist.)

As Guyana observes Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2023, Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, and staff stand united in pink as a display of solidarity for the warriors battling cancer, as well as those who may have lost the battle and their families

– The extortionate vaccine contracts Pretoria signed during the pandemic demonstrate why achieving pharmaceutical sovereignty should be a priority for all developing nations

Reminiscing on the Struggle for Guyana’s Democracy: Oct 5, 1992

Dear Editor, October 5th, 2023 marked the 31st anniversary of the restoration of democracy in Guyana. It was the date for the nation's first free and fair election, marking the end of the dictatorship. Several activists penned articles reminding the public how the country was transformed into a dictatorship, what life was like in that hell-hole, and the struggle for democracy. Others reminisced about the struggle.

When Guyana became independent in 1966, it was among the most progressive democracies in the world, with a free, independent judiciary, press, civil service, police, army, elections, and the like that characterize a democracy. The country quickly descended into authoritarianism right after

independence, developing into a full-blown dictatorship within a short period of time.

An array of forces, locally and internationally, mobilised into action to remove the dictatorship and restore democracy. The diaspora and political forces at home organised to combat the dictatorship. The diaspora informed the world about human rights violations at home, and lobbied governments, prominent personalities, as well as international organizations to pressure the dictatorship to respect human rights and return the country to democratic governance.

The struggle was long in the diaspora (1970s onwards), and succeeded with the first free and fair elections being held on October 5, 1992. It resulted in the

PPP being elected to office, and Dr. Jagan rightfully occupying the highest elective position in the country.

In New York, as was the case in Washington, Canada, England and other locations (including the Caribbean), only a handful of individuals were involved in the overseas struggle against the dictatorship. Guyanese started coming to the US during the late 1960s as foreign students (I20 immigrants). Increased numbers came during the 1970s as the dictatorship got a firm grip on the country. As economic conditions worsened during the 1980s, a wave of Guyanese exited the country -- exceeding 30K annually – mostly going to North America, Suriname, Venezuela, French Guiana, and the islands in the region.

Very few Guyanese were involved in, or showed interest in, any struggle against the dictatorship. Only a handful of Guyanese pioneered the movement against the dictatorship from NY. They were virtually all students at college. The group this writer belonged to were students at City College from 1977, and only a few students or Guyanese in general were interested in matters pertaining to Guyana or the Guyanese diaspora or community in New York. All of the groups in America, except for my group at CCNY and another group in Washington DC, were affiliated with political parties in Guyana.

The support groups were small during the 1970s, but grew in size, stature and importance during the 1980s. A handful of us mobilized and

led the movement – planned, organized, and staged rallies, street protests, and petition drives; prepared and distributed literature; posted flyers; engaged in sit-ins and fasts; participated in letter-writing campaigns to governments and international organizations, among other activities — to bring awareness of the violation of human rights and lack of democracy in Guyana.

The US and other Governments were lobbied to help restore democracy in Guyana. Several individuals were involved in that struggle. Some were active on the ground. Some contributed funds. All of the political parties in Guyana had support groups in the diaspora raising money for them. The ACG raised the most funds -- millions of American dollars that were donated to

the PPP. Other parties also received substantial funding from support groups in America.

The various groups and prominent individuals lobbied the Governments of the developed democracies to apply pressure on the Guyanese regime to restore democracy. Statements were issued by American legislators, President Bush, and others from the American administration. Canada and the UK also issued statements calling for democratic rule in Guyana. None of the socialist nations ever issued a statement calling for democratic rule in Guyana. Without the critical role played by the diaspora, October 5 1992 would not have happened.

Yours truly, Vishnu

Bisram

Largest gymkhana on Corentyne planned for New Year's Day at Brighton

Dear Editor, The Macedonia-Joppa Voluntary Committee (MJVC), a non-profit organization, in collaboration with the Brighton Turf Club (BTC), will usher in the New Year (January 1, 2024) with the largest gymkhana extravaganza at Brighton Park Racetrack on the Corentyne Coast.

For decades, Brighton Turf Club had always held horse races on New Year’s Day as a form of entertainment for the residents in the various villages in the Macedonia-Joppa district and beyond. It was a tradition the residents looked forward to every New Year’s Day, to celebrate and have fun; but the tradition ended in the mid-1990s due in part to the passing of several executive members of the Brighton Turf Club and to the lack of finance to maintain the track and the pavilion, which eventually collapsed about a decade ago.

But as time went by, most of the new executive

members of BTC did not carry on the tradition, because they became less interested in horse racing and concentrated their efforts on other sporting events, including soccer and cricket. Thus the tradition of having horse races on New Year’s Day at Brighton Park Racetrack came to an end.

However, after a hiatus of almost three decades, Brighton Park Turf Club will return to its traditional horse-racing agenda on New Year’s

Day 2024. The all-day gala event will commence at 11:00am, and is expected to attract hundreds or thousands of horse-racing and games fans, not only from the Macedonia-Joppa district, but throughout the Corentyne and as far as West Coast Berbice and elsewhere.

There will be five regular races and one thoroughbred race, and different breeds of horses are expected to compete for the top prizes. The winner in each category would be award-

ed cash and trophies. Also, several other activities, including side attractions, are planned for the extravaganza; such as trampoline and bouncy castle for children, greasy pig, bag race, and a donkey race, and many others.

Weather permitting, the gymkhana -- a spectacular event – would be the only one of its kind to be staged on New Year’s Day on the Corentyne, where horse-racing has always been the second most popular sporting event after

cricket.

In the last two years, the popularity of horse-racing has soared to new heights, due largely to the thrilling combination of speed, strategy, and connection between horse and jockey, which has captured the hearts of horse-racing fans throughout the Corentyne. It is a unique blend of both sport and entertainment, that brings people together to enjoy an array of some of the best tasty local dishes, such as barbeque chicken, roast

pork, fish and chips, jerk chicken, cook-up, fried rice, and roti and curry, among others. There would be the customary lively Hip-Hop, Soca and Reggae music supplied by the lively, dynamic, and popular YARD VYBZ Sound. It will be a day of merriment, and all are invited.

Sincerely, Dr

Asquith

Rose,

Chair Ms. Vanessa RossAlbert, MJVC Public Relations Director

MJVC

Page Foundation

Test Questions

BY ROBERT BURNS

On Turning One Down with the Plow, in April, 1786

Wee, modest, crimson-tippèd flow’r, Thou’s met me in an evil hour; For I maun crush amang the stoure Thy slender stem:

To spare thee now is past my pow’r, Thou bonie gem.

Alas! it’s no thy neibor sweet, The bonie lark, companion meet, Bending thee ‘mang the dewy weet Wi’ spreck’d breast, When upward-springing, blythe, to greet The purpling east.

Cauld blew the bitter-biting north Upon thy early, humble birth; Yet cheerfully thou glinted forth Amid the storm, Scarce rear’d above the parent-earth Thy tender form.

The flaunting flowers our gardens yield High shelt’ring woods an’ wa’s maun shield: But thou, beneath the random bield O’ clod or stane, Adorns the histie stibble-field Unseen, alane.

There, in thy scanty mantle clad, Thy snawie-bosom sun-ward spread, Thou lifts thy unassuming head In humble guise;

But now the share uptears thy bed, And low thou lies!

Such is the fate of artless maid, Sweet flow’ret of the rural shade! By love’s simplicity betray’d And guileless trust; Till she, like thee, all soil’d, is laid Low i’ the dust.

In this fun and easy science experiment, we’re going to use a chemical reaction to make a candy container popper that goes off with a real “bang”!

Materials:

Plastic M&M’s Minis candy container Scissors

Alka-Seltzer tablet

Water

Instructions:

Use the scissors to cut the plastic

hinge on the candy container lid. The lid should be separate from the container.

Break the Alka-Seltzer tablet into fragments and put at least half of the fragments into the container.

Fill the container three quarters of the way full with water and quickly snap on the lid.

Set the container on the ground upside down on its lid and step back. Wait and watch your rocket launch.

How it works:

Alka-Seltzer contains citric acid and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). The water allows the citric acid and sodium bicarbonate to mix and an endothermic chemical reaction occurs. This reaction releases carbon dioxide gas. The carbon dioxide gas builds up pressure in the candy container until it pops!

Make this a science project: Try different amounts of AlkaSeltzer. Try different amounts of water. Try different temperatures of water. (sciencefun.org)

Such is the fate of simple bard, On life’s rough ocean luckless starr’d! Unskilful he to note the card Of prudent lore, Till billows rage and gales blow hard, And whelm him o’er!

Such fate to suffering Worth is giv’n, Who long with wants and woes has striv’n, By human pride or cunning driv’n To mis’ry’s brink; Till, wrench’d of ev’ry stay but Heav’n, He ruin’d sink! Ev’n thou who mourn’st the Daisy’s fate, That fate is thine—no distant date; Stern Ruin’s ploughshare drives elate, Full on thy bloom, Till crush’d beneath the furrow’s weight Shall be thy doom.

WORD SEARCH

Govt remains committed to improving lives of working class – Finance Minister

- as Trade Unions are engaged in Budget 2024 consultations

Government welcomed the opportunity to receive suggestions, comments and other inputs from the Trade Unions on matters of interest and importance in order to inform Government policies in crafting Budget 2024.

He also thanked the Unions for their cooperation and interest in engaging with the Government on behalf of the workers they represent.

Prime Minister Mark Phillips and Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh on Friday led a series of budget consultations with several Trade Unions from across the country, at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC).

The consultations allowed for the Unions to raise and discuss issues of interest, particularly in relation to the National Budget and other

matters.

The consultations saw participation from Unions affiliated with both the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) and the Guyana Trade Union Congress (GTUC) as well as the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU).

In his introductory remarks, Prime Minister Phillips indicated that the

Dr Singh, while delivering remarks, reiterated the Government’s commitment to sustained improvements in the lives of the working people of Guyana. He also outlined the various initiatives already implemented by the Government since resuming office and emphasised its commitment to continued engagements with the Unions and other stakeholders as the country navigates this period of rapid transformation.

He also reiterated the

Government’s intention of reaching each and every citizen on the ground in a manner that brings Government to the people, and not just making decisions through representative organizations.

“We have increased job opportunities, invested heavily in the macroeconomy and we continue to ensure that we maintain macro-economic stability,” Dr Singh said, while adding that in all of its decisions, the Government always focuses on striking a balance

Gas-to-energy project

between the immediate needs of today and the needs of tomorrow.

Following the engagements with Trade unions, Dr Singh alluded to President Irfaan Ali’s continued commitment to the Government’s ongoing engagements with the Trade Unions and all other stakeholders.

The Government team also comprised Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Gail Teixeira; Public Service Minister, Sonia Parag; Health

Minister, Dr Frank Anthony; Education Minister, Priya Manickchand; Advisor to the Minister of Public Service, Jennifer Westford; Permanent Secretaries of the Ministry of Agriculture and Labour, Delma Nedd and Mae Thomas, respectively; Director General of the Agriculture Ministry, Mandanlall Ramraj and Chief Labour Officer, Dhaneshwar Deonarine.

Meanwhile, the participating Unions included the Guyana Agricultural & General Workers Union (GAWU), the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial & Industrial Employees (NAACIE), the Clerical & Commercial Workers Union (CCWU), and Guyana Labour Union (GLU), the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU), the Guyana Local Government Officers Union (GLGOU) and the General Workers Union (GWU).

Govt to use “bridge financing” if US Exim Bank loan delayed – VP Jagdeo - says

With the Guyana Government seeking a $134 billion loan from the United States Export-Import (EXIM) Bank to fund the gas-to-shore project, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo said that even if there is a delay in accessing the loan, this would not affect the timeline for the delivery of the facility.

Back in April this year, it was announced that Guyana had applied for a US$646 million loan from the US Exim Bank to finance its model gas-to-energy project, which includes the construction of an Integrated Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) plant and a 300-megawatt (MW) combined cycle power plant at Wales, West Bank Demerara (WBD), utilising natural gas from the country’s offshore operations.

While the US EXIM Bank is yet to approve the loan, the Guyana Government is confident that this will eventually happen.

“President [Dr Irfaan] Ali met with the President of US EXIM Bank [Reta Jo Lewis] and had really good discussions. It’s moving forward; it’s moving apace,” Jagdeo assured reporters during a press conference on Friday.

According to the Vice President, however, even if there is a delay with the processing of the loan, it would not affect the 2024 year-end timeline for the gas project. In fact, he explained that there is a retroactive way of financing the project.

“…Because it’s a timing issue of when [the money from the US Exim Bank] comes out – and it will happen – and if there is need for, we can have bridge financing until that loan comes onstream and from what I gather, the loan can fund retroactive expendi-

ture. So, if you have bridge financing then you can go back and clear it easily once the loan comes on stream,” Jagdeo stated.

This loan application for the gas-to-energy initiative comes on the heels of Guyana and the US EXIM Bank signing a US$2 billion Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in July 2022 to finance infrastructure, energy, telecommunications, water treatment and sanitation, and agricultural projects here.

The multi-billion-dollar transformational project will see gas being piped from the Liza Field in the Stabroek Block to onshore at Wales via 225 kilometres of pipeline that will be procured, installed, and operated by US oil major ExxonMobil to the tune of US$1 billion.

ExxonMobil as the operator along with its co-venturers is currently engaged in exploration and production activities in the oil-rich Stabroek Block offshore Guyana. Based on studies conducted, the US oil giant would be able to produce up to 50 million cubic feet of gas per day for this initiative without impacting oil production activities offshore.

In Budget 2023, the Government allocated a whopping $43.3 billion for the

gas-to-energy project. This allocation was in addition to the $24.6 billion injected into the start-up of the transformational project. The NGL and 300MW power plant components of the gas-to-shore project, are expected to cost US$759.8 million and will be financed through sources that include budgets and loan financing.

Already, in the first half of this year, a total of $9.6 billion was spent to develop the gas-to-energy project, that is, just over 22 per cent of the 2023 budgeted sum being spent.

This is according to the Finance Ministry’s 2023 MidYear Report, which included updates on Guyana’s progress for the year when it comes to energy, including the progress that is being made on installing forms of renewable energy, such as solar in the hinterland.

The report provides more details on what the money for the gas-to-energy project was spent on, including the preparation of the site that will house the Integrated NGL plant and the 300-megawatt (MW) combined cycle power plant at Wales.

“With respect to the gas-to-energy project in the Wales Development Zone,

$9.6 billion was expended in the first half of the year of the $43.3 billion budgeted. These included outlays related to the development of the material offloading facility, the heavy haul road and preparatory works at the 100-acre site to prepare for the power plant and the integrated natural gas

facilities,” the report states.

Meanwhile, back in August, the Government also went before the National Assembly to request an additional $5 billion in supplementary funding for the gas-to-energy project, which will go towards the necessary infrastructure to support the

project.

Specifically, it had been explained by Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh, that the money for the project would be used for upgrading the electrical distribution network necessary to integrate energy from the power plants in the project.

Members of the various unions at the meeting

Prime Minister Mark Phillips and Cabinet members during the engagement

timeline of project will not be affected

Quartet freed of murdering Mon Repos handyman

Righting wrongs…

…done to Cuba?

Justice Navindra Singh

on Friday instructed the jury to render formal verdicts of not guilty in connection to the four individuals accused of the 2018 murder of Christopher Swamy, a handyman, while highlighting how “poor” the Police investigation into the case was.

Before the High Court Judge and a jury, Vickash Persaud, Mustafa Douglas,

Fareed Haniff, and Rajkumar Singh had been on trial for the murder of Swamy, which took place on October 21, 2018, during the course or furtherance of a robbery in the now dead man’s home.

Following the conclusion of the prosecution's case, the attorneys for the four men filed no-case submissions requesting an acquittal without their clients having to provide a defence since the prosecu-

tion had failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Judge reviewed the material before making his decision on the no-case, finding that there was no

Aformer President wrote what amounted to a cry from the heart – a cri de coeur - to the US: to change its policy towards Cuba and end its embargo that was imposed all the way back in 1962 by John F Kennedy!! That’s 61 years of forbidding US businesses from trading - or conducting any form of business - with a country that’s just 90 miles from Florida. It is the longest blockade in history!! And Cuba had been practically its colony, producing sugar, sugar daddies and mafiosi for decades before!! Can you imagine what’ll happen to our dear Mudland if, by the stroke of a (foreign) pen, we couldn’t import – say - spare parts for our factories and vehicles?? Dear reader, that’s why Cuba has all those antique American cars with tailfins from the 1960s – not to mention inefficient factories!!

But seriously, folks, don’t you think there’s gotta be some reason for the US to be acting this way?? After all, it’s not like the policy’s helping them make friends and influence other countries. As the former President pointed out: last year, 185 COUNTRIES out of 193 at the UN voted for the US to quit with the blockade!! The only country that votes along with the US is Israel – the remaining seven abstain!!

So why??

evidence connecting any of the accused to the robbery/ murder.

Justice Singh made several points in his remarks, including how the Police's probe into the man's killing was "poor" and how two of the accused should have been discharged at the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) stage.

Nevertheless, he upheld the no-case arguments, directed the jury to return not-guilty verdicts in favour of all the accused, and

The US involvement with Cuba goes way back before the 1960s, when the former President was identified. Back at the end of the 19th century, Cuba had defeated Spain to become independent – but the US invaded, and went on to rule it like a colony in everything but name. By the 1930s, President Batista acquiesced in the Mafia making Havana the casino capital playground of the American elite. Do you remember The Godfather, and the scene with Hyman Roth and Michael Corleone on a rooftop in Havana in the late 1950s?? That’s verisimilitude, baby!!

Those fellas had contacts all the way to the US Presidency, and so it wasn’t surprising when President Eisenhower hatched a plan to support an invasion of the island after a radical upstart lawyer overthrew Batista!! The Cold War with the Ruskies offered a rationale when Castro became chummy with the latter to gain shelter. And so the embargo was imposed, when Kennedy – who succeeded Ike – executed the invasion at the Bay of Pigs. Its failure embarrassed JFK – and set the template for the real reason why the blockade still exists: a successful Cuba could inspire another pipsqueak “shithole” state to challenge US policies!!

We got caught up for that very reason when Jagan expressed admiration for Castro, and his and our fates were sealed. We still haven’t recovered from the race divisions introduced then!!

Does the former President want a rerun??

…with BRICS??

One surely well-meaning Guyanese from the diaspora suggested we leverage our weight on the world stage by joining BRICS. But what exactly is BRICS?? We know the name BRIC - Brazil, Russia, India, and China - was concocted by a Wall Street fella early in the millennium. He considered them as significant “emerging economies” - as opposed to the older “developed” and “developing” dichotomy that prevailed after WWII after decolonization. South Africa was added after the named countries actually began to meet annually in 2009. Talk about serendipity!!

later discharged them.

Justice Singh counselled the former murder accused to make the most of this second chance in order to meaningfully contribute to society before they left his courtroom. Family members and friends of the now freed men sobbed as they hugged and kissed them outside the courtroom. Two of them, Persaud and Douglas, told this publication that they felt relieved and that they were in jail for a crime they knew nothing about.

But exactly what have they achieved since?? Whether you slice it or dice it, they’re still a bunch of wannabees that want to challenge American unipolarity – and find safety in numbers.

They’ve been unable to agree on any significant issue, and we saw that at their meet earlier this year, when Chinese President Xi didn’t show up!! Even without the excuse that Russia’s Putin had: He coulda been arrested!!

Guyana should stay put!!

…in petroleum giveaway?

Seems that the Exxon contract is the gift that keeps on giving…and giving…and giving!! First there was Trotty, who accepted a US$18M bonus instead of US$600. And now a reduction by Bobby from US$214 to US$3M. “Briga” Bobby must face the music!!

B y F eona M orrison

Freed: Vickash Persaud (left) and Mustafa Douglas Freed: Fareed Haniff (left) with his Attorney-at-Law Jevon Cox

Justice Navindra Singh

Dead: Christopher Swamy

Rajkumar Singh is currently on remand on another murder charge

442 malware attacks detected, mitigated at Govt agencies in 1st half of 2023

The National Data Management Authority (NDMA) detected and mitigated some 442 malware attacks at several Government agencies in the first quarter of 2023 alone.

This was revealed on Thursday during the NDMA’s cybersecurity training for heads of public sector agencies, hosted at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown. The event signalled the official launch of Cybersecurity Month, which is observed annually in October.

During the event, the General Manager of the National Data Management Authority (NDMA), Christopher Deen, while noting the urgency of dealing with cybersecurity threats, advised all heads of Government Ministries and agencies to report all cybersecurity threats as soon as they are detected.

Deen reminded the participating agency heads that cyber incidents do not go away on their own, not-

ing that NDMA’s ICT specialists have the expertise to deal with these incidents but the team can only do so if reports are made to the authority.

“Please do not wait until the mould spreads throughout the entire organisation and the walls begin to crumble before you take action. NDMA would have heard from some of you; we would have engaged, we would have provided technical support, and we would have assisted you (in the past) and

we stand ready to do so now.”

He further disclosed that NDMA has a dedicated Security Operations Centre (SOC) which provides 24hour technical service on cybersecurity issues. All Government agencies are urged to take advantage of these experts if there is ever a cybersecurity threat within their organisation.

The General Manager said that NDMA is committed to sharing its expertise with ICT specialists at the various entities to aid in developing their internal capacity.

“NDMA is here to offer you a helping hand. This (NDMA) is not an agency that will be running around dictating to you in a carrot and stick method; we are here to offer you a helping hand to develop your capacity in-house because we cannot do it alone and we must work together to build this capacity in our country, in Government, across Guyana.”

Echoing similar sentiments, NDMA’s

Cybersecurity Specialist, Mahendra Kissoon, expounded on the fact that collaboration is paramount in promoting safe cyber spaces.

He disclosed that NDMA detected and mitigated some 442 malware attacks at several Government agencies in the first quarter of 2023 alone. This data, he explained, comes from NDMA’s SOC semi-annual summary report for 2023.

Kissoon, during his presentation, advised that cybersecurity issues need immediate action to mitigate any lasting damages. He further encouraged those present to report any cybersecurity issues so that ICT specialists could offer their expertise on a way forward.

He noted that there is a direct relationship between security and risks, explaining that the stronger the security, the smaller the risks of cyberattacks will be.

Kissoon encouraged the group to employ the necessary systems to mitigate these threats and prevent the loss of sensitive information.

No bail for miner accused of breaking into Albouystown store

When he appeared before the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts on Friday, a miner of Hogg Street, Albouystown, Georgetown, who is charged with breaking into Shabana & Sons Liquor Mart & General Store and stealing cash and items worth over $5 million, was remanded to prison.

Akeem Marshall, a 28-year-old father of one, was charged with three counts of break and enter and larceny when he appeared before Magistrate Rhondell Weever.

He is accused of breaking into the business place between August 18 and 19 in Albouystown, Georgetown, stealing $4,765,000 in cash, $1 million worth of GTT and Digicel phone cards, an Xbox worth $60,000, and two cell phones worth $40,000 in total.

Marshall pleaded not guilty to all of the charges and was not assisted by a counsel. Marshall's release on bail was opposed by the

Police prosecutor due to the seriousness of the crime and the amount of money involved. The Magistrate upheld these objections.

The defendant was ultimately remanded until November 10. Marshall has previously been accused of armed robbery. According to sources, the accusations against him were dropped because the Police did not hold a proper identification parade.

Quartet freed of murdering...

Attorney-at-Law

Madan Kissoon represented Douglas, while Haniff was represented by Attorneys-at-Law, Dexter Smartt, Dexter Todd and Jevon Cox. Persaud and Singh were represented by Attorneys-at-Law Kezia Williams and Tracy Marks, respectively.

State Counsel Marisa Edwards and State Counsel Mikel Puran were the prosecutors. Meanwhile, Rajkumar Singh remains on remand in relation to another murder.

In March 2022, the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) reported that inmate Mahase Rajpaul was stabbed by Rajkumar Singh after a fight broke out between them in the prison’s holding bay. Rajpaul died while receiving treatment at the hospital.

It was reported that Swamy, 30, a father of two, was gunned down during an invasion at his Mon

FROM PAGE 8

Repos, ECD home. Police stated that Swamy was among a group of persons including his wife, hanging out and imbibing in front of the house when at about 01:30h on the day in question, they were reportedly confronted by masked men, one of whom brandished a handgun.

Police said the suspects relieved one of the persons of a cell phone and an undisclosed sum of cash, after which they assaulted another person to the head. It was during the commotion that Swamy was shot in the chest. The men then fled the scene.

Swamy was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

A post-mortem examination performed by Government Pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh, found that the now dead man had a gunshot wound to the left side of his chest.

NDMA General Manager, Christopher Deen

Remanded: Akeem Marshall

Chief Education Officer, Labour Ministry PS to

be summoned before Mahdia

Chief Education

Officer Saddam Hussain and Permanent Secretary of the Labour Ministry Mae Toussaint Jr Thomas are expected to be summoned before the Mahdia Commission of Inquiry – a decision taken after they failed to show up to Friday’s hearing.

Counsel Keoma Griffith informed the Commission, chaired by Retired Major General Joseph Singh, that both Government officials were expected to appear earlier this week.

They were not present then, as well as Friday morning when day six of the hearings were expected to commence.

As such, the Commission will be exercising its powers to issue summons, requesting them to appear on Tuesday, October 10, 2023. Mae Toussaint Jr Thomas was asked to testify since she is the former Permanent Secretary of the Home Affairs Ministry.

“For reasons unbeknownst to me, they are not here. I had expected these persons to appear much earlier in the week and for some reason, they have not attended to the Commission to answer questions. I am therefore asking this Commission to exercise its powers under the acts for the summons to be issued,” Griffith asserted and was granted permission.

The testimonies of key officials and personnel

who responded to the tragedy have been deemed important, as it bring clarity into the devastating event that claimed the lives of 20 children.

On August 10, President Irfaan Ali appointed Retired Major General Joseph Singh as Chairman and Attorneyat-Law Kim Kyte-Thomas and Chairman of the National Toshaos Council (NTC) Derrick John as Commissioners to probe the circumstances surrounding the fire that was set at the Mahdia Secondary girls’ dormitory.

There are three phases of the inquiry: evidence gathering, oral hearings, and report writing. It will last for two months unless extended by the President.

The Commission is tasked with investigating and reporting what actions were taken to provide care, medical attention, and support to the injured

and deceased and their relatives, in a timely manner. Recommendations are also expected from the commission, which will include necessary measures to prevent a reoccurrence of such tragedies.

In the early hours of May 22, the fire had already ripped through the Mahdia School dormitory after being maliciously set by a 15-year-old student. The facility housed students from the communities of Karisparu, El Paso, Micobie and Chenapau.

Information from the Guyana Fire Service indicated that 14 youths died at the scene of the fire, while six died at Mahdia District Hospital.

Initial reports indicated that the teenage accused threatened to set the place on fire after her cell phone was confiscated and more so after she was previously suspended for engaging in activities con -

trary to the rules of the institution.

The girls who perished in the fire are Subrina John, Belnisa Evans, Loreen Evans,

CoI

Bibi Rita Fiona Jeffrey, Lisa Roberts, Tracil Thomas, Delecia Edwards, Lorita Williams, Natalie Bellarmine, Arianna Edwards, Cleoma Simon, Martha Dandrade, Mary Dandrade, Omerfia Edwin, Nickleen Robinson, Sherlyn Bellarmine, Eulander Carter, Andrea Roberts and Sherana Daniels. Adanye Jerome, the five-year-old son of the dorm’s mother, was also among those who passed.

The fire was allegedly set in the bathroom area of the dormitory. According to the surviving female students, they were asleep and were awakened by screams.

Upon checking, they saw fire and smoke in the bathroom area, which

quickly spread in the building, causing several students to receive burns to their bodies and suffer from smoke inhalation, whilst several managed to escape.

Several of the injured students were air-dashed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for treatment.

On May 27, a 13-yearold girl was flown to the Northwell Health Burn Care Centre in New York to seek advanced medical care. She has since returned to Guyana for further treatment.

Information from the Guyana Fire Service indicated that 14 youths died at the scene of the fire, while six died at Mahdia District Hospital.

Former Home Affairs Ministry PS, Mae Toussaint Jr Thomas

Chief Education Officer Saddam Hussain

Wells at Diamond, Covent Garden expected to be operational in November

The Guyana Water Inc (GWI) on Friday stated that the drilling of wells at Diamond and Covent Garden, East Bank Demerara, has been completed, and these wells are expected to go into operation in November of this year.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Guyana Water Inc, Shaik Baksh said at the Diamond well, the utility’s engineers experienced some challenges due to unusual clay formation which collapsed at various points.

“We have overcome this situation and development of this well should commence at the end of October and should be up and running by November.”

The well at Diamond was drilled to a depth of more than 700 feet. Work commenced on this project after an old well in the community collapsed, causing hardship to residents there

GWI CEO Shaik Baksh

as well as in Peters Hall, Prospect, and some sections of Grove.

Both wells will bring much relief to residents, Baksh said.

“We understand the situation, we apologise to the residents of those areas, and we are trying our best to address the situa-

tion. A larger pump was placed at the Providence Well Station to pump more water into the system. We are going to make some interconnections between the Eccles and Providence Well Stations and Treatment Plants. These works should commence in another week or two to channel more wa-

ter to the Diamond area. A new well will also be drilled at Grove to ensure water security going into the future.”

Work has also been completed on the new well at Eccles and installation of the distribution system will commence soon. The East Bank corridor has been experiencing a drop in the level of service and GWI is making every effort to restore normalcy.

“We want to appeal to residents to conserve water, we are monitoring the situation to ensure the minimisation of hardships in water supply and improvement in the level of service. We have also read the riot act to managers, supervisors, and staff to ensure they respond promptly to complaints from residents, not only with regards to water supply but other areas of concern,” the CEO related.

Miner stabbed to death during argument over choice of footwear

Aminer was fatally stabbed during a confrontation over his choice of footwear at an event at Campbelltown, Mahdia, Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni), two Thursdays ago. Dead is 28-year-old

Manuel Francis also called “Sammy” of Campbelltown, Mahdia.

Police stated that the incident took place on September 28, 2023, during an Amerindian Heritage Day celebration in Princeville,

Mahdia.

Based on the information received, on the day in question, Francis, who was wearing a pair of ‘long boots’ went to the celebrations where he met another miner, a teenager, and both men started

Charlestown fire was caused by ‘slack, overheated’ electrical points – GFS

to consume alcohol.

The 19-year-old reportedly took offence at Francis’s choice of footwear and told him that ‘a long boot’ was inappropriate for the celebration. This led to a verbal dispute that quickly escalated into a physical confrontation, during which the teen allegedly pushed Francis to the ground.

In an attempt to defend himself, Francis drew a knife, resulting in the teenager being cut.

However, upon seeing the commotion, Senior Village Councillor Zilda David reportedly intervened and separated the two men.

Nevertheless, as she was escorting Francis away from the area, the teenager approached him from behind and dealt him three blows to the head and left shoulder with a piece of wood.

As a result, Francis fell to the ground and as he was getting up, the teen’s 27-year-old brother, who was nearby, whipped out a knife and dealt him one blow to the rib area. Despite attempts to save his life, Francis succumbed to his injuries.

The teenager and the suspect, who were heavily intoxicated, reportedly fled the scene but they were later apprehended. The Police are continuing their investigations.

The fire that destroyed a three-storey building in Charlestown on Wednesday evening that left at least 15 homeless was caused by a slack connection to electrical points which caused overheating, according to the Guyana Fire Service on Friday.

In a statement following its investigation, the GFS said this resulted in a breakdown of the installation, leading to arcing and sparking and the subsequent ignition of nearby combustible materials.

The Lot 33 Lyng Street, Charlestown, Georgetown house was occupied by 15 persons, who were all rendered homeless.

Firefighters, fire trucks, water carriers, and ambulances from the Central, West Ruimveldt, Alberttown, Campbellville, and Eccles Fire Stations were all part of the operation to contain and extinguish the blaze and to provide assistance to anyone who suffered injuries as a result.

By the time the fire was extinguished, the building and its contents were destroyed. Also affected by the fire was a building located at Lot 34 Howes Street, Charlestown, which suffered severe damage to a television set, a stereo set, a refrigerator, and a section of the southern internal wall.

Other items, including another TV, a fan, and a quantity of windows and walls, were slightly scorched due to radiated heat from the building of origin.

Two additional buildings, a motor car and a motorcycle were also damaged as a result of radiated heat.

One of the occupants, Odessa Alves, had shared with Guyana Times how in a matter of minutes, the entire three-storey wooden and concrete structure was engulfed in thick smoke.

It was about 18:00h and the woman said she stood at the door, speaking with a friend. Her son first drew her attention to fire emanating from the top flat of the house.

The mother of four said she sprinted up the stairs with two buckets of water, which proved futile in dousing the flames. Realizing that the fire was rapidly spreading, persons called on her to abandon the building and rush to safety. However, she made one final attempt to throw some valuables out the window but even this was pointless.

“I meet at the window to throw stuff out the window but I couldn’t throw nothing. A guy tell me come out the house and I run down from the back,” she recalled.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Fire Service said it will continue its efforts to provide excellent service countrywide and charged Guyanese to implement proper safety measures in their homes.

“Fire safety and prevention involves each citizen, and we are imploring all to be vigilant, practice fire safety, and equip homes with warning devices (smoke detectors and fire alarms) and fire suppression tools (fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems, and fire extinguisher balls).”

To prevent electrical fires, the Fire Service urged persons not to not overload outlets, refrain from using illegal connections; desist from putting electrical wires over curtains, underneath rugs or pinning them behind furniture; plug heat-generating appliances directly into an outlet, not into a power strip or extension cord.

Homeowners should also have a licensed electrician review their house’s electrical system every ten years. Small upgrades and safety checks can prevent larger problems.

Laptops and phones should only be charged on hard surfaces, not on beds or sofas. Additionally, charging equipment should be disconnected when devices are fully charged. Overcharging can lead to battery fires. Also, electrical devices and appliances should be unplugged when not in use.

Dead: Manuel Francis

The fire destroyed the entire three-storey building

CoI into Mahdia deadly fire Teacher suffered “complete shutdown”, still under psychiatric care after losing 8 students …GFS’s response was “disorganised”

the role of part-time dorm father and her 19-year-old son, Derick Nedd Jnr, served as a Mathematics teacher at Mahdia Secondary. The family resided in the teachers’ quarters, located a stone’s throw away from the school’s compound.

On the night of May 21 at about 23:15h, PetersNedd and her husband were in their quarters when they heard screams which at first, they thought were coming from a ‘scary movie’ from another section of the dwelling.

Months after the Mahdia School dormitory fire claimed the lives of 20 children, teacher Amanda PetersNedd on Friday testified on the effects it continues to wage on her entire household.

Still reeling from the impact, the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) heard on Friday that her son – also a teacher at the school – lost eight students that night and subsequently suffered a complete shutdown.

Peters-Nedd moved with her entire family of five to Mahdia in 2022 to serve as Head of the English Language Department after it was found that there were no trained teachers in the region to reach the subject.

Her husband also took up

After the screams persisted, her husband decided to check and it was then they were both alerted of the horror that was unfolding - the Mahdia Secondary School girls’ dormitory was on fire. Rushing over to the scene, she assisted with providing clothing to the girls who escaped the burning building.

“I said it appears as if the people upstairs are watching a scary movie. The sounds were like that. [Her husband] said no, that it sounds like it’s coming from the female dorms and he ran outside the front door and saw the flames. He said the dorm was on fire and both of us ran in that direction…Some of the girls were black because of the smoke and some of them had no clothes…

The place is usually very hot so most time the chil-

Tuschen man wanted for murder of Venezuelan national

dren don’t really sleep with much clothes on,” the educator shared.

The fire had consumed the front section of the building and sometime after, the Guyana Fire Service arrived on the scene, operating in what was described as a “disorganised” fashion.

“They were very much disorganised. For me, it was like they weren’t trained to attend to this quick response. That’s my personal view because I did not get the response that I expected them to,” the teacher added.

Impact

The woman told the CoI that her son was mostly affected by the tragedy. The 19-year-old Mathematics teacher is a first-year stu-

dent of the Cyril Potter College of Education.

After the news broke that the devastating fire had claimed 20 lives, he had to be medevacked to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was diagnosed with acute stress disorder.

Sobbing, the mother shared, “He had a complete body shutdown. They had to medevac him out of Mahdia to Georgetown where he spent an entire week in the hospital. He is currently still attending the psychiatric clinic at the Georgetown Hospital. He is still greatly affected by this incident. The doctor said he was diagnosed with acute stress disorder because not everybody is made to deal with a certain amount of stress and it was

too much for him.”

While Peters-Nedd has not benefited from any psychological support, her husband is receiving such services. Her other two children – both minors – have also been affected. Since the tragedy, the family has moved back to their Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo home where she is employed as an acting Head Teacher of Uitvlugt Secondary School.

“Nobody has come to talk to me about the matter. My husband is affected. He sleeps sometimes two or three hours per night.”

She recalled receiving $50,000 per day from the Government when her son was hospitalised. However, at this time, she noted that no other financial support

has been offered.

Unsafe

Meanwhile, the former Mahdia Secondary School teacher shared that she had raised concerns about the dorm mother living in a storage room, which housed old batteries.

“I indicated to her that the batteries would give off gas sometimes and it’s not safe for her kids and she needs to make sure that the Department of Education does something about it. I think when people from the Energy Agency came as well, they said the room is not safe for her and her kids.”

Steve Jerome, the primary dorm father, was responsible for this aspect of the dormitory and would have notified the Regional Department of this issue. (Rupa Seenaraine)

EdwinJose Mounos Rivas, a 31-year-old Venezuelan national who resides at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), is wanted by the Police for questing in connection with the murder of another Venezuelan national, Alejandro Máximo Farrera.

It has been reported that Farrera was fatally stabbed on Sunday evening, while on his way to collect his wife and nine-year-old daughter who was celebrating her birthday.

The 29-year-old Farrera, a father of two, had been celebrating his elder daughter’s birthday earlier in the day, but his wife had later taken the girl for a birthday outing. Farrera was called to pick them up at the head of their street, but was confronted by two assailants.

Eyewitnesses detailed

that a brief argument had erupted between Farrera and the men before he was fatally attacked. One of the assailants had allegedly brandished a knife, with which he stabbed Farrera four times before fleeing the scene on his bicycle. Police suspect that the motive behind the attack could be robbery.

Family members revealed that Farrera bled to death after collapsing on the roadway. They have expressed their deep sorrow, especially as the deceased man’s wife and daughters had returned to find him lying lifeless in a pool of blood.

The Police are asking anyone with information on the whereabouts of the wanted man to contact them on these telephone numbers: 225-6940, 225-8196, 226-7476, 227-1149, 911, or at the nearest Police station.

Former Mahdia teacher

Amanda Peters-Nedd

Wanted: Edwin Jose Mounos Rivas Dead: Alejandro Máximo Farrera

Supenaam speedboat operator dies after falling off boat

Aspeedboat operator succumbed to his injuries one day after he reportedly fell and hit his stomach while attending to his boat in the vicinity of the Supenaam Stelling, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

The dead man has been identified as 45-year-old Elton Wong also called “Wongy”, a father of four of Supenaam. Based on reports received, the incident occurred on Wednesday evening at about 22:00h.

After sustaining injuries, he was reportedly rushed to Suddie Public Hospital to seek medical attention. He was reportedly treated and admitted that evening. The following day, arrangements were made for him to be transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

However, on his way, his condition deteriorated,

thus forcing the ambulance to divert to the Leonora Hospital where doctors at the facility made every effort to save his life. He reportedly succumbed to his injuries there.

When contacted, his wife, Louanna Wong, explained that her husband passed away due to fluid buildup. She recounted that when she received the call about her husband's accident, she rushed to the hospital.

She recalled that her husband was placed in an ambulance and taken onto the ferry for Georgetown.

"I had no difficulty with the nurse on the boat while transporting my husband. He had a laceration, and the nurse assisted him; she tried her best to ensure he got better. But due to fluid buildup, he couldn’t make it."

"When we reached Leonora, they didn’t al-

low me to go into the room. Later, the nurse came out and told me he didn’t make it… I know she tried her best, but he left us…" the grieving woman said.

However, a relative lashed out at the services provided by the Health Ministry, claiming that had the services been up to standard, Wong would have still

been alive.

In a missive, he vented his frustration at the manner in which the Suddie Public Hospital is operating and more so the treatment meted out to the sick by healthcare workers.

“I am saddened by the passing of a great soul and the treatment he received at the Suddie Public Hospital. He was admitted to the facility on Wednesday evening and despite being crying out in pain, they only conduct-

ed a scan on his body the following day.”

The relative stated that the scan showed that he had internal damage, he was bleeding and needed urgent treatment, which he could only receive at Georgetown Public Hospital or at a private health facility

“The administration at Suddie Hospital chose to send him by ambulance on the ferry to Georgetown which normally takes about four hours. Imagine this

man who needs urgent treatment and is being sent on a ferry service.

He noted that the decision by the administrator to send the injured man by ferry caused him his life.

“I think the Government needs to employ people who are capable of doing the right thing and have respect for people's lives,” the man added.

Meanwhile, an investigation is underway by regional health officials.

Dead: Elton Wong

GWI urges citizens to conserve water as El Nino season intensifies

- also blames GPL for water disruptions

With the effects of El Nino being felt on the coastland, and more particularly the hinterland regions, Guyana Water Inc (GWI) is appealing to the citizenry to conserve water and report wastages where they occur.

“We want to appeal to residents to be more prudent and cautious in the use of water during this period so that everyone could enjoy an adequate level of service,” Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shaik Baksh stated during a press engagement.

The utility company is working closely with the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) and other agencies in monitoring the situation.

Visits have been made to all the regions, and from observations, the hinterland regions have been most affected due to depletion in the supply of surface water — water from creeks and springs.

At Salbora, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), the creek is depleted by some 80 per cent, and at Madhia, where there are two wells, the residents are still encountering some hardships.

As an emergency measure, Baksh said that GWI is moving to drill a new well in Madhia to bring re-

lief to the residents of the township and surrounding communities.

Mabaruma, Matthews Ridge, Port Kaituma and other areas in Region One (Barima-Waini) are also experiencing low water supply due to the depletion of springs there, notwithstanding wells are in these sub-regions.

Baksh also reported that the static level of wells in Kamarang and Jawalla, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), has reduced and the hand-dug wells in Region Nine are drying up.

However, the deep or climate-resilient wells in the region have been responding well to the extreme dry weather. Where they are located, residents have not been experiencing hardship.

GWI will be drilling wells in all hinterland com-

munities — 40 are being drilled this year — and between 50 to 60 will be drilled next year. This massive programme will enable the Government to achieve the target of providing 100 per cent access to stable water supply in the hinterland regions by 2025.

On the coastal belt, the demand for water by households and farming communities has also been high but the wells in this part of the country have been producing water at maximum.

In Regions Two, Three and Four, the water supply has been stable with some areas experiencing a lower level of service. Notably, residents whose water is supplied by the Lama Canal, which supplies water to about 60 to 80 per cent of Georgetown, have not experienced a drop but in Regions Five and Six,

Essequibo businessman gets bail on rape charge

Abusinessman of Lot 33 La Belle Alliance, Essequibo Coast, was on Friday granted bail in the sum of $500,000 on a rape charge when he appeared at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court.

Haimchand Takram called "Collie Boy", 60, was not required to plead to the indictable charge when he appeared before Magistrate Esther Sam. He is accused of committing the offence on the victim, who is under the age of 16, between September 1 and 30, 2022.

Despite the prosecu-

tor's objections, bail in the amount of $500,000 was approved with the require-

ment that the defendant stay 100 feet away from the complainant and her family.

The man needs to lodge his passport with the court and if he needs to travel, he must get approval first. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 9:00 am, Takram must report at the Anna Regina Police Station.

His case has been adjourned until October 24, when the Anna Regina Magistrate's Court will hear it for statement disclosure.

this situation, GWI is supplying water on a 24-hour basis and at maximum level in these regions. GWI is also undertaking an intensive well maintenance programme to keep supply stable in the long term.

Aside from El Nino, power outages have been affecting water supply in all the regions on the coastal belt as well as contractors damaging water infrastructure across the country. GWI is urging residents to report these contractors so that they can be held accountable for their actions.

Bureau of Statistics to conduct 2-month economic survey

The Bureau of Statistics will be con ducting a National Economic Survey from Wednesday, October 11, 2023, that will run for two months, with the aim of gathering comprehensive data from businesses across all industries and regions within Guyana.

During the first phase of the survey, enu merators from the Bureau will visit every business across the country to collect basic information such as their names, ownership, and a measure of their size.

The list of all businesses will then be used to draw a sample of businesses across every industry and region nationwide. Enumerators will return to the fields to administer the economic questionnaire to the selected sample during the second phase.

Data collected from this survey will enable a holistic understanding of the country’s economic landscape, thereby allowing the Bureau to create more accurate and informed economic models.

Vital data will be collected on business performance, outputs, and intermediate costs, which will be instrumental in enhancing the computation of Guyana’s Gross Domestic

Product (GDP).

The data and statistics derived from the execution of the National Economic Survey will also hold substantial benefits for the business community and the public. These will facilitate better-informed Government policies that cater to the needs of the population, thereby enhancing overall quality of life.

Businesses will be better positioned to operate in a more transparent and data-driven landscape, fostering growth, investment, and market expansion. Accurate economic data will empower these businesses to make strategic hiring decisions, contributing to increased employment opportunities.

Further, reliable economic indicators lead to enhanced consumer trust, promoting spending and

economic activity as well as enabling the average citizen to be more aware of the country’s economic performance.

It is the legal responsibility of all business owners to participate in this exercise and it should be noted that staff of the Bureau of Statistics are bound by the Statistics Act to ensure the confidentiality of all information collected. Severe penalties are in place for breaches of confidentiality and no information about the finances of businesses will be made public or provided to any other agency. All data collected and analysed will be provided to the public in aggregated format, at the regional and industry levels.

The Bureau of Statistics is responsible for collecting, compiling, analysing, and publishing socio-economic and other statistical data.

This data is collected from across Government Ministries and agencies, private entities and the public through surveys, the largest being the ongoing National Population and Housing Census.

Persons are encouraged to contact the Bureau of Statistics if they have not yet been counted in the 2022 Census.

GWI CEO Shaik Baksh and senior officers at the media briefing

Haimchand Takram

“A culmination of an almost 30-year-long struggle for democracy”– PPP/C remembers Oct 1992 elections

As part of its annual tradition to keep the significance of the date October 5, 1992, alive, the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre, commonly called Red House, hosted an evening of reflection to mark the anniversary of what is largely considered the first free and fair general election after almost three decades in Guyana.

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony delivered an address on behalf of President Dr Irfaan Ali, where he underscored the importance of the date and its direct relation to democracy in the country.

“The struggle was raised since the loss of power by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) in 1964 – an act which saw the progressive erosion

of the rights of workers, the destruction of the country’s economy, the emasculation of the private sector and the emergence of an authoritarian state,” Anthony said.

“October 5 was not sim-

ply about free and fair elections. It was about rescuing Guyana from the clutches of what had become a police state – one in which political oppression and economic mismanagement were the

DPP to advise on Coldingen hit-and-run accident

defining features of the political order,” Anthony continued.

This was a period, former President Donald Ramotar noted, that was marred by a series of rigged elections and unlawful imprisonment of PPP members.

Ramotar further recognised former President Cheddi Jagan’s role in leading the masses through this journey to free and fair elections.

“Had it not been for the struggle of Cheddi Jagan to lead the masses of this country, to keep them united, to work consistently for change, they would not have felt pressured to come along and to take some of the positions that they took,” Ramotar said.

“Therefore, while we must be happy and grateful, we must never ever play down the role of the PPP and the masses of people in this country, particularly sugar workers who stood and faced the brunt of repression in Guyana,” Ramotar said.

With support from the local and international community, Dr Anthony

explained that the 1992 elections enforced a need for ballots to be counted at the polling stations and for every contesting party to be given a Statement of Poll.

Reading from President Ali’s prepared speech, Dr Anthony further noted that today, the PPP has built upon these efforts, and though the party remains wedded to the working class, they are now on a mission to forge alliances with people of all classes.

“Without this convergence of classes which took place in the run-up to the

1992 elections, we would not have had such a solid platform on which we can pursue class unity,” Anthony said.

As the country now undergoes rapid development, he added that transformation is being seen in every sector.

Notably, in the health sector, he stated this is evident in the construction of new hospitals, implementation of health screening programmes, an increase of training opportunities, and expansion of the range of services offered to Guyanese. (Pooja Rambaran)

Two weeks after the hitand-run accident at Coldingen on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD), the Police have compiled a comprehensive file which

of his motor lorry, GAC 1443, near Chico Ramas Gas Station in Coldingen, ECD.

The impact caused Inniss to fall onto the road, result-

the hit-and-run. Motor car PAD 9709 was found in Victoria, ECD, with significant damage to its left front side. The vehicle was transported to Cove and John Police Station, ECD, for further investigation. However, the Police have not disclosed whether they have located the driver or made any arrests related to the accident.

As the Government moves forward with implementing Spanish mandatorily into the primary and secondary school curricula, the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD) is currently hosting a threemonth Spanish workshop to aid educators.

Facilitated by bilingual educator Latoya Atwell, these practical and theoretical sessions are seeing the participation of education officers, their staff, and other interested individuals.

cal position amidst a host of Spanish-speaking countries.

was forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice.

This update was provided by a Police source during a brief telephone interview with this publication on Friday.

It has been confirmed that the prime suspect in the case has fled the country. However, the Police source could not confirm whether a wanted bulletin would be issued or specify the direction the investigation would take.

The accident occurred on September 22, 2023, when 25-year-old Adzel Inniss, a truck driver from Burma Housing Scheme in Mahaicony, ECD, was fatally injured. Inniss was struck by a black Toyota Fielder Wagon while stepping out

ing in fatal injuries. The driver of the Fielder Wagon fled the scene, and both the car's registration and the driver's identity remain unknown.

Inniss was rushed to Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival. His sister, Tonica Inniss, informed this publication that the family was unaware of the accident until they called Adzel's phone and an eyewitness to the accident answered, detailing the accident. Both the deceased man's mother and the mother of his child also spoke with the eyewitness.

Days after the accident, the Police located the suspected vehicle involved in

In an interview, Inniss's mother, Tamika Wilson, revealed that the suspect is allegedly a US-based Guyanese who fled the country after the accident. Wilson shared that she received a call informing her about the vehicle's sighting in Victoria, leading her to contact the Police.

The car's owner was briefly in custody, assisting the Police with their inquiries, but was subsequently released on bail. Wilson said she learned from the car’s owner that the suspect - his cousin - borrowed the vehicle from him, and claimed he was hit by a truck and promised to send money for repairs.

The car’s owner allegedly stated that he dropped the suspect off at the airport, unaware of the accident until the car was seized.

The case now awaits further legal proceedings under the review of the Department of Public Prosecutions.

During the workshop's opening ceremony on Tuesday, Head of the Education Ministry’s EdYou FM, Phillip Williams shared the radio station's commitment to serving the children of Guyana despite language barriers.

Meanwhile, NCERD’s Head of the Curriculum Unit, Omawattie Ramdin, commended the EdYou FM team for their efforts, noting that it is crucial for teachers to be able to respond to students' needs, with the workshop aiming to bridge the existing language gap.

The workshop's participants will attend classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays and will be required to take an assessment that includes a practical component.

During a press conference in July, President Dr Irfaan Ali disclosed plans to introduce Spanish as a compulsory subject, given the influx of Spanish-speaking persons operating in the economy as well as Guyana’s geographi-

He had noted the importance of knowing a second language in order to compete internationally and secure jobs out of the country.

In that regard, the President had also encouraged both private and public sector members to make efforts to learn the language as well.

However, in August, Education Minister Priya Manickchand noted the lack of trained Spanish teachers in the country and disclosed plans to source teachers from Cuba and Mexico while Guyanese teachers receive training in the subject.

Meanwhile, last month, the Education Ministry announced plans for Head Teachers to oversee the introduction of the subject in primary and secondary schools in the Christmas 2023 term.

At the primary level, Head Teachers were advised to confirm their schools are using the renewed curriculum and expose Grades One to Four students to Spanish

during one or two of the Beyond Core periods every week.

Meanwhile, Grade Five students, who are using the Consolidated Curriculum, must do Spanish for at least one 30-minute period per week, while Grade Six students are expected to engage in studying the subject after they have written the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA).

At the secondary school level, Head Teachers were told to ensure all students of Grades Seven to Nine were learning Spanish as a foreign language.

Though if student intends to pursue French or Portuguese at Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) in Grade 10, they may be exempted from doing Spanish in Grade Nine, upon their request to the school.

However, Spanish must be offered in each stream in Grade 10, while Head Teachers are required to do staff rationalisation to identify teachers who can teach the subject within the school.

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony

Former President Dr Cheddi Jagan at the 1992 elections

Former President Donald Ramotar

Inniss shortly after he was struck down by the car

Dead: Adzel Inniss

The car that was discovered by Police

EdYou FM hosts Spanish workshop to guide educators in becoming versed with language

Educators engaged in the three-month Spanish workshop

Regional Haitian migrants among 18 killed in bus crash in southern Mexico

At least 18 migrants, mostly from Venezuela and Haiti, died early Friday in a bus crash in southern Mexico, authorities said.

Prosecutors in the southern state of Oaxaca said the dead include two women and three children, and that 27 people were injured. There was no immediate information on their condition.

Photos distributed by Oaxaca state police showed the bus rolled over onto its side on a curvy section of highway. The cause of the crash is under investigation. State police said a total of 55 migrants, mostly from Venezuela, were aboard the vehicle.

It was the latest in a series of migrant deaths in Mexico amid a surge in mi-

grants travelling toward the United States border. Because migration agents often raid regular buses, migrants and smugglers often seek out risky forms of transportation, like unregulated buses, trains or freight trucks.

Last week, 10 Cuban migrants died and 17 others were seriously injured after a freight truck they were riding in crashed on a highway in the neighbouring state of Chiapas, near the border with Guatemala.

The National Immigration Institute said all of the dead Cuban migrants were women, and one of them was under 18.

The Institute said the driver of the vehicle had apparently been speeding and lost control of the truck,

Mexico seeks diplomatic arrangements to return Latin American migrants

which was carrying 27 migrants at the time. The driver fled the scene.

Mexican authorities generally prohibit migrants without proper documents from buying tickets for regular buses, so those without the money to hire smugglers often hire poorly-driven, poorly-maintained buses that speed to avoid being stopped. Or they walk along the side of highways, hitching rides aboard passing trucks.

Last week, a truck flipped over on a highway in Chiapas, killing two Central American migrants and injuring another 27. And two Central American migrants died last week after trying to board a moving train in the state of Coahuila near the Texas border. (Jamaica Observer)

J/ca schoolboy faces charges for faking own kidnapping

Aschoolboy who allegedly faked his own kidnapping earlier this week in an effort to defraud his mother of money is to be slapped with charges, the Police say.

A post that went viral on social media on Wednesday showed a photograph of the schoolboy and a message stating that he was kidnapped and brought to Scotiabank in Negril where he was forced to withdraw monies from Jamaican and US dollar accounts, and that he has not been seen by his family since.

Another post reportedly had his mother crying and pleading to his alleged kid-

nappers to take the money, but to spare her son's life.

But all that was for nothing as Police found that it was allegedly concocted by the youngster.

Zone Four Commander for Little London and Negril Deputy Superintendent Shaunjaye Mitchell, in an interview with the Jamaica Observer, said: "We did in fact get a missing person report about the same child. Subsequent to that, we conducted some investigations and he was found in Green Island the following morning."

"After he was found, he was interrogated by the officer at the Green Island Police Station where it

was revealed to us he orchestrated the entire thing," said the Deputy Superintendent.

Mitchell said the police treat all missing person reports seriously, but warned that individuals who may want to repeat such an act to reconsider.

"We'd like to urge other persons who may be considering this, that it is a very serious matter, especially in times when we have had issues with persons going missing. There are other ways to settle dispute with parents/ guardians or anybody at all, outside of creating public panic," he said . (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Chile voters sour on rightwing Constitution, as abortion clause stirs debate

Voters are souring on Chile's second, conservative-led attempt at drafting a new Constitution as a bid to further tighten the country's already restrictive abortion laws and other moves to the right threaten to turn off a majority of voters.

More than half of Chileans, 54% of respondents surveyed before the draft text was completed this week, plan on voting against the new Constitution, according to pollster Cadem.

High rejection rates were attributed to disapproval of the proposed changes, distrust in councillors charged

with the rewrite and other concerns including rising crime.

Catalina Lagos, a member of an expert commission that will review the draft starting today, says the text "does not reflect Chilean society as a whole but only a political sector."

Lagos said there is still time to moderate the proposed Constitution and consultancy Teneo warned "the entire process could collapse" before the December referendum if the council refuses to accept the expert commission's changes.

A constituent council this time round is dominat-

Mexico's national migration institute (INM) on Friday said it has asked the Foreign Ministry to make diplomatic arrangements with Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela for the countries to accept migrant return flights.

More migrants have been passing through Mexico to the US border, including large numbers on dangerous cargo trains, and the institute said it has registered more than 1.5 million foreigners entering the country irregularly this year.

It also said migration officials have established 30 checkpoints along cargo railways as part of an agreement with railroad operator Ferromex, which last month suspended some north-bound train routes due to migrants hitching rides.

In the last three weeks, more than 27,000 migrants have been "persuaded to get

down from trains," INM said in a statement.

The US has also been grappling with thousands of migrants entering the country, and this week said it was restarting deportations of Venezuelans.

Mexico's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for

comment. INM said it sought help from the Ministry so that Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela would accept "assisted returns via air."

INM also said it had hired charter planes and buses to transport migrants within Mexico, as well as to their home countries. (Reuters)

Brazil auto exports to plunge this year as Argentina crisis hits hard

Brazilian auto exports are set to plunge by double digits in 2023 when compared with the previous year, automaker association Anfavea said on Friday, as a severe economic crisis in neighbouring Argentina hits shipments to that country.

The association said in a statement it now projects exports to fall 12.7% in 2023 to 420,000 vehicles, a major cut from its previous estimate of a 2.9% drop in the period.

"Exports have been the major warning point for the automotive sector in the first nine months of the year," it

said. According to Anfavea, the crisis in Argentina caused the country - which has in Brazil its largest trade partner - to lose its position as the No 1 destination of Brazilian auto exports to Mexico this year.

Argentina, which will hold a presidential election in Oct 22, has been grappling for years with a crisis that saw annual inflation hit more than 120% in 2023. Its net central bank reserves are negative and the government was forced to devalue the peso by 20% in August.

In the first nine months of 2022, Anfavea said, auto

exports from Brazil have already declined 11.2% from the same period a year ago.

In addition to the Argentine crisis, the association said, market shares lost in other countries such as Chile and Colombia also affected Brazil's shipments.

In Brazil, on the other hand, the automotive market has performed better than previously anticipated, which led the group to revise its forecast for local sales this year to 2.23 million vehicles, up from the 2.17 million projected before.

That would represent a 6% year-on-year increase, it said. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Barbados and Haiti among finalists for IDB Initiative

ed by more right-wing members after the first attempt was resoundingly rejected by Chileans in a September 2022 referendum.

The previous text, drawn up largely by left-wing candidates, would have been one of the world's most progressive charters, but was similarly criticised for being unrepresentative of society as a whole.

The ideological back and forth suggests many Chileans are fundamentally uncomfortable with extremes on either side, less than two years into the presidency of left winger Gabriel Boric. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Two Caribbean Community (Caricom) companies are included among finalists of the Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) six Superheroes of Development initiative, which honours creative and innovative solutions implemented in development projects financed by the group in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Social Safety Net for Vulnerable People of Haiti and Together We Build Strong Families of Barbados are among the finalists of the Superheroes of Development Initiative that recognises projects that, through sys-

tematic learning and by sharing and applying lessons learned, adjust to changing realities and generate applicable and timely knowledge that other teams can use.

The IDB Group said that this year’s contest had 141 submissions from 25 countries in the Region, which is almost twice as many as in 2022.

It is part of BIDAcademy the IDB Group’s knowledge and learning platform, which is designed to share rigorous, cutting-edge knowledge in order to implement, monitor and measure IDB-financed projects more effectively.

The other finalists are

from Peru, Ecuador and Chile with all the finalists being selected by a panel of IDB Group experts and participated in two categories, namely projects still underway (projects that have at least had an initial disbursement) or where the IDB Invest or IDB Lab client has received financing and projects completed since January 2016 that have either a Project Completion Report or an Expanded Supervision Report.

The IDB Group said that the panel paid special attention to projects that identify and share lessons and operational knowledge from their implementation. (CMC)

An agent from Mexico's National Institute of Migration (INM) pets a cat during an operation on the banks of the Rio Bravo river, the border between Mexico and the United States, as seen from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, October 5, 2023

Around The World OIL NEWS

Oil prices rise, but post biggest weekly decline since March

Oil prices rose on Friday but posted their steepest weekly losses since March, after another partial lifting of Russia's fuel export ban compounded demand fears due to macroeconomic headwinds.

On Friday, Brent futures settled up 51 cents at US$84.58 per barrel. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures settled up 48 cents at US$82.79.

For the week, Brent posted a decline of about 11% and WTI recorded an over 8% drop, on worries that persistently high interest rates will slow global growth and hammer fuel demand, even if supplies are depressed by Saudi Arabia and Russia, who said they will continue supply cuts to year end.

US job growth rose by 336,000 in September according to Labour Department statistics, far exceeding economists' forecasts of a 170,000 rise.

The sentiment of the statistics is mixed for oil prices. A robust US economy could buoy sentiment for near-term oil demand, analysts said, but conversely the statistics resulted in a stronger US dollar and increased bets on another interest rate hike in 2023.

A strong US dollar is typically negative for oil demand, making the commodity relatively more expensive for holders of other currencies.

"Today's (jobs) number keeps alive the prospect of another rate hike and certainly backs the Federal Reserve's argument on the need for interest rates to stay higher for longer," ING analysts said in a note.

Russia announced it had lifted its ban on diesel exports for supplies delivered to ports by pipeline. Companies still must sell at least 50% of their diesel production to the domestic market.

The price spread between gasoil and Brent futures fell to the lowest since July at US$23.59 a barrel on the news, but have since rebounded to US$25.84.

"Fear for the health of the global economy and thus oil demand going forward is at the heart of the sell-off," SEB analyst Bjarne Schieldrop said.

But reports of firmer Chinese travel activity has for now provided a floor to prices. The country's mid-autumn and National Day holiday travel rose 71.3% on the year and 4.1% compared with 2019 to 826 million trips, according to news agency Xinhua.

In an indication of future US supply, US oil rigs fell five to 497 this week, their lowest number since February 2022, energy services firm Baker Hughes said on Friday.

Money managers cut their net long US crude futures and options positions in the week to Oct 3 by 5877 contracts to 279,759, the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) said on Friday. (Reuters)

Italy plans for possible evacuations from super volcano near Naples

The Italian Government is planning for a possible mass evacuation of tens of thousands of people who live around the Campi Flegrei super volcano near Naples, officials said on Thursday.

The new measures, which include a scheme to check on the strength of buildings in the area after months of repeated earthquakes, will be discussed at a Cabinet meeting later in the day, a Government statement said.

Campi Flegrei, or Phlegraean Fields from the Greek word for "burning," lies some 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) from Naples and is dotted with towns and villages, including Pozzuoli, Agnano and Bacoli, which have a combined population of more than 500,000.

The caldera is dotted with 24 craters and is a much bigger volcano than the nearby Vesuvius, which destroyed the ancient Roman city of Pompeii

Death toll from Indian Himalayan flash floods rises to 42, scores still missing

At least 42 people were killed after a glacial lake burst its banks and triggered flash floods in the Indian Himalayas this week, Government officials said on Friday as rescuers kept searching for almost 150 missing.

The Lhonak Lake in the mountainous northeastern state of Sikkim overflowed on Wednesday after a cloudburst triggered torrential rains and an apparent avalanche, causing major flooding in the Teesta river.

It was one of the worst disasters in the region in more than 50 years and the latest in a series of extreme weather events that have caused widespread damage in South Asia's Himalayas, blamed by scientists on climate change.

Authorities in Sikkim said the disaster, which came

ahead of a popular festive and tourism season in the scenic state, had impacted the lives of 22,000 people.

"We got calls from people that river levels could rise at 3 am and we ran for our lives," said Javed Ahmed Ansari, 44, a resident of Teesta valley, who owns a river rafting business.

"We ran towards the hill in the jungle ... We saw houses getting swept away. I can now only see the first floor of our house which is filled with sand, everything is submerged."

Sikkim's Chief Secretary Vijay Bhushan Pathak, the most senior bureaucrat, said rescuers had found 20 bodies in the state and 22 in the neighbouring downstream state of West Bengal. The 22 included six Indian military personnel who had

People walk along a street as a jeep is buried in the mud due to the flood at Teesta Bazaar in Kalimpong District, West Bengal, India October 4, 2023

been washed away from Sikkim. Pictures of the remaining 16 would be circulated in Sikkim to establish if they belonged to the state or to West Bengal, Pathak told Reuters by phone.

The number of missing had risen to 142, including 15 army personnel, as people stepped up searches as the weather improved on Friday, he said. (Excerpt from Reuters)

'Half the village is gone': Ukraine hamlet reels after missile strike

In a burial plot next to a field outside the remote Ukrainian hamlet of Hroza, residents removed undergrowth and cleared away litter to make space for more graves. Working quietly, it was something to distract them from the horror of what happened the day before.

As dozens of people gath-

ered in the local cafe for a meal to honour a soldier who died in the war against Russia, a missile struck, killing at least 52 people.

It was one of the most deadly attacks during 20 months of fighting, and one that has devastated the tiny, tight-knit community.

Shock is giving way to grief, as well as questions

Dengue will 'take off' in southern Europe, US, Africa this decade, WHO scientist says

in 79 AD.

It has been jolted by more than 1100 earthquakes in the last month alone, including a 4.0 trembler on Monday and a 4.2 magnitude quake last week -- the strongest in the area for four decades.

Experts say the increased seismic activity is probably linked to a phenomenon known as bradyseism, when the earth rises, or falls, depending on the cycle, caused by the filling or emptying of underground magma chambers. There is not an imminent threat of an eruption, most volcanologists say, but with the ground currently rising by 1.5 cm (0.59 inches) a month, there is concern over the impact on local buildings.

Civil Protection Minister Nello Musumeci said this week evacuations would only be triggered in case of "extreme necessity". (Excerpt from Reuters)

Dengue fever will become a major threat in the southern United States, southern Europe and new parts of Africa this decade, the WHO's chief scientist said, as warmer temperatures create the conditions for the mosquitoes carrying the infection to spread.

The illness has long been a scourge in much of Asia and Latin America, causing an estimated 20,000 deaths each year. Rates of the disease have already risen eight-fold globally since 2000, driven largely by climate change as well as the increased movement of people and urbanisation.

Many cases go unrecorded, but in 2022 4.2 million cases were reported worldwide and public health officials have warned that near-record levels of transmission are expected this year. Bangladesh is currently experiencing its worst-ever outbreak, with more than 1000 deaths.

“We need to talk much more proactively about den-

gue,” Jeremy Farrar, an infectious diseases specialist who joined the World Health Organisation in May this year, told Reuters.

“We need to really prepare countries for how they will deal with the additional pressure that will come… in the future in many, many big cities.”

Farrar previously spent 18 years working in Vietnam on tropical diseases including dengue. He later headed up the Wellcome Trust global health charity and advised the UK Government on its COVID-19 response before joining the WHO in May this year.

Farrar said the infection is likely to “take off” and become endemic in parts of the United States, Europe and Africa - all regions where there has already been some limited local transmission - as global warming makes new areas hospitable to the mosquitoes that spread it. That will put acute pressure on hospital systems in many countries, he warned.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

about how the Russians could have known about the gathering in what some Hroza residents say was a deliberate attack.

Moscow denies targeting civilians in its full-scale invasion, a position it repeated on Friday in response to the Hroza strike. Thousands have been killed in a bombing campaign that has hit apartment

blocks and restaurants as well as power stations, bridges and grain silos.

Not all of the victims have been identified. Regional police investigator Serhiy Bolvinov told reporters late on Thursday that authorities would have to use DNA to identify some of the victims, because their remains were beyond recognition. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Poland, Hungary stand alone in opposing EU migration reform

Poland and Hungary blocked a symbolic European Union statement about migration on Friday but other leaders gathered at a summit in Spain said they were continuing overhauling the bloc's rules for handling irregular arrivals anyway.

Some 250,000 people arrived so far this year beyond regular border crossings to the EU, home to 450 million.

Rome, Madrid and Berlin voiced concern about increasing irregular immigration, a politically sensitive matter ahead of regional elections in Germany on Oct 8, a national vote in Poland a week later and a continent-wide parliamentary ballot next June.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki accused Germany and Poland's opposition leader collaborating to push new EU laws fining countries if they refuse to host people arriving from the Middle East and Africa.

"Poland does not agree

to have someone else furnishing our home," said Morawiecki.

His ally and Hungary's anti-immigration leader, Victor Orban, also accused the EU of forcing a new migration pact.

Out of the EU's 27 member countries, 22 agreed this week on how to handle irregular immigration at times of exceptionally high arrivals, taking a step towards reforming the bloc's inefficient asylum and migration rules.

The European Parliament must further negotiate the agreement, something the bloc's chief executive said on Friday she was confident will produce a final deal.

While Poland and Hungary cannot block the EU's new migration pact and their opposition on Friday was largely symbolic, their harsh criticism raises questions about how effectively the union can implement a deal. (Excerpt from Reuters)

DAILY HOROSCOPES

Choose peace, love and creativity over distress and anger. Work toward a goal that encourages stability, and prepare to ward off indulgent people. Don't be a follower.

(March 21-April 19)

Consider your options and make the necessary changes. Work with what you have and devise a plan that combines the old with the new. Keep life simple, affordable and geared toward your happiness.

(April 20-May 20)

Pay attention to what's happening around you. Get involved and support a cause that concerns you. Use your intelligence, connections and skills to get to the bottom of a murky situation.

(May 21-June 20)

Haste won't help. Pay attention to detail and refuse to let anyone pressure you. Expand your search, be inventive and don't make a move until you feel comfortable.

(June 21-July 22)

SUDOKU

(July 23-Aug. 22)

Love who you are. Don't change a thing. Embrace what you have and whom you love, and enjoy the moment. Keep what's necessary, meaningful and makes you happy. Simplify your daily routine.

A change will be in the offing. See what life has to offer and try something new; a window of opportunity will open. An interesting connection you make will provide a different perspective.

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Sign up for something that interest you, and the people you encounter will enrich your life. Look for venues that allow you to use your skills to make a difference.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

What you encounter today will help you assess your personal life and bring about positive change. Work to stabilize your domestic situation by bringing transparency to the forefront.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

How you respond to others will make a difference. Be a good listener and offer positive feedback, but don't give anyone false hope. Don't pay for someone else's mistake. Offer kindness, not cash.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Don't get angry; get moving. Walk away from anyone who tries to pick a fight. Control the situation and hold your head high. Something you discover about yourself will change how you do things.

Let your actions demonstrate your feelings. Reach out to loved ones and share your thoughts. A joint venture will require moderation. Physical activity and romance are favored.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

Unleash your imagination and do things your way. Stop worrying about pleasing everyone around you; do what makes you happy. Don't get into an argument or try to appease manipulators.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

Blue Water Shipping named title sponsors of Influencers Cricket Cup 2023

Preparations for staging of the inaugural Influencers Cricket Cup tournament are moving apace with, first and foremost, the sponsors being announced this week.

According to a missive from the tournament’s organisers, represented by one Alanzo Scipio, Blue Water Shipping has assumed the role of title sponsors of the tournament.

That missive reads, “We are thrilled to announce that Blue Water Shipping, a renowned global leader in cargo, port services, transport, and supply chain logistics, has taken the esteemed role of Title Sponsors for this year's Influencers Cricket

Cup 2023. This partnership signifies a remarkable milestone for our event, and highlights the commitment of Blue Shipping to sup ing our mission.

“The Influencers Cricket Cup 2023, though centred around the excite ment of cricket, car ries a more profound message. It is our en deavour to raise aware ness of men's mental health issues, an im portant cause that often goes unnoticed. In collaboration with Blue Water Shipping, we aim to shed light on this critical

matter, and encourage open conversations about mental wellbeing among men.

“Blue Water Shipping's involvement aligns perfectly with the core principles that have defined their operations for nearly 50 years.

Originating in Denmark, they have expanded their reach to more than 60 offices worldwide, and their dedication to serving the rapidly growing Oil & Gas sector in Guyana is particularly commendable.

“Their expertise in logis -

ICC World Cup 2023: Pakistan vs the Netherlands…

tics and their commitment to excellence are values that resonate with our vision for the Influencers Cricket Cup.

“We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Blue Water Shipping for their unwavering support and their eagerness to champion the cause of men's mental health.”

The Influencers Cricket Cup will feature four teams: namely Lanzo’s Thunder Strikers, Matthew’s Mighty Gunners, Mikhail’s Team Hardball, and Spooner’s Wild Wolves, competing at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) Ground, Bourda on Saturday, October 28, 2023.

Proceeds from the tournament will go towards charity.

Shakeel gets Pakistan off the mark

SCOREBOARD

It wasn't the perfect performance, but at the moment, good enough will do for Pakistan; and good enough is exactly what they achieved.

In a staccato showing, in which bursts of inspiration were interspersed with spells of shaky mediocrity, Babar Azam's side eventually eased to an 81-run win over the Netherlands, despite Bas de Leede's all-round heroics. The 23-year-old allrounder was at times a one-man bulwark against Pakistan, but thanks to fifties from Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan managed 286.

Pakistan had enough bowling firepower to overwhelm the Netherlands, with Haris Rauf blowing the game open through the middle overs, and always leaving the game just out of Dutch hands. Netherlands had looked dangerous in the first powerplay, opening with spin that troubled both Pakistan's left-hand openers.

There was nothing to suggest a return to form for Fakhar Zaman, who tamely lobbed one back to Logan van Beek; but the Dutch got an even bigger boost when two wickets fell in five balls towards the end of the powerplay. Babar Azam failed to get underneath a long hop from Colin Ackermann and spooned one up to short midwicket, before a bouncer from Paul van Meekeren grew big on Imamul-Haq, who hooked it down fine leg's throat.

But where previously Pakistan have collapsed upon the dismissal of the top order, today Pakistan's middle order took charge from the depths of 38 for 3. Saud Shakeel, who was drafted into the World Cup

squad late, put on something of a clinic, a delightful innings that stabilised the innings alongside the predictably reliable Mohammad Rizwan. It slowly took the momentum back from the Netherlands, and fairly soon, the runs and boundaries began to flow.

Saud, who until two months earlier was viewed as someone too stodgy for the shorter formats, took charge and raced along to a 32-ball half-century without seemingly taking a risk. Anything full from the fast bowlers went back down the ground, while the footwork to the spinners was immaculate.

The innings was a thing of technical brilliance, and was remarkably effective. Before long, they brought up a 100-partnership, and Pakistan were back in control. However, Saud found himself punished by the first false shot he played, a toeedge off Aryan Dutt that flew into the air, and suddenly the Netherlands had clawed momentum back again.

Soon after, Rizwan - who had played his part in that stand - found himself undone by a sensational indipper from de Leede, who also removed Iftikhar Ahmed later in the same over. It was only a punchy 64-run stand between Pakistan's spin-bowling allrounders Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan that guided them back to smoother waters, bringing up the 250 and ensuring they'd have something to bowl at.

But Netherlands, and de Leede in particular, kept hitting back with wickets, and prevented Pakistan from batting out their full quota, bowling them out for 286 in 49 overs.

Netherlands started brightly, despite the early loss of Max O'Dowd, whom Hasan Ali felled with a shorter ball that flew to deep fine leg. Vikramjit Singh, however, took the attack to Pakistan, and ensured his side were making the most of the powerplay. Ackermann joined him, before a rash shot off Iftikhar brought about a relatively early departure.

Poor shot selection was something of a running theme through the Dutch innings, but the third wicket partnership that was about to arrive gave Pakistan a true scare. It was the irrepressible de Leede, perhaps predictably at the heart of it, taking over from Singh as the aggressor-in-chief, a remarkable six off Nawaz over long-on making his intentions plain.

Singh, who had a brief lull in the middle, and struggled with footwork and timing, rediscovered his form alongside de Leede, smacking Shadab for a six soon after, as Netherlands began to pile on the pressure. But as soon as he brought up his half-century, he fell to a long hop

from Shadab. The shot was on, but the execution failed, as a bottom edge found the cow-corner fielder, and from there the game began to slip from Dutch control.

De Leede continued to motor along with ease and elegance, but Rauf, returning for a short middle-overs spell, took two in three balls to blow through the Dutch innings. A short ball was pulled to midwicket by Teja Nidamanuru, before captain Scott Edwards was trapped in front second ball. Haris might easily have had a third the next delivery if Iftikhar hadn't dropped a dolly at first slip; but either way, the game was in Pakistan's hands now.

De Leede remained true to the belligerence that makes him such a compelling watch, tonking Rauf for a six one ball after a nasty bouncer, and bringing up his own half-century. But there was little support from the other end, and Logan van Beek was severely hampered by a hamstring issue. Shaheen struck to remove the struggling Saqib Zulfiqar, before Nawaz took the prize scalp of de Leede, a little

Pakistan (50 ovs maximum)

Fakhar Zaman c &

b van Beek 12

Imam-ul-Haq c Dutt

b van Meekeren 15

Babar Azam (c)c Saqib Zulfiqar

b Ackermann 5

Mohammad Rizwan †

b de Leede 68

Saud Shakeel c Saqib Zulfiqar

b Dutt 68

Iftikhar Ahmed c †Edwards

b de Leede 9

Mohammad Nawaz run out (van Meekeren/Ackermann) 39

Shadab Khan

b de Leede 32

Hasan Ali lbw

b de Leede 0

Shaheen Shah Afridi not out 13

Haris Rauf st †Edwards

b Ackermann 16

Extras (nb 1, w 8) 9

TOTAL 49 Ov (RR: 5.83) 286

Fall of wickets: 1-15 (Fakhar

Zaman, 3.4 ov), 2-34 (Babar Azam, 8.3 ov), 3-38 (Imam-ul-Haq, 9.1 ov), 4-158 (Saud Shakeel, 28.1 ov),

5-182 (Mohammad Rizwan, 31.3 ov), 6-188 (Iftikhar Ahmed, 31.6 ov), 7-252 (Shadab Khan, 43.4 ov),

8-252 (Hasan Ali, 43.5 ov), 9-267 (Mohammad Nawaz, 46.2 ov),

10-286 (Haris Rauf, 48.6 ov) •

DRS

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Aryan Dutt 10-0-48-1

Logan van Beek 6-0-30-1

Colin Ackermann 8-1-39-2

Paul van Meekeren 6-0-40-1

Bas de Leede 9-0-62-4

Roelof van der Merwe 6-0-36-0

Vikramjit Singh 2-0-16-0

Saqib Zulfiqar 2-0-15-0

extra turn knocking back his off stump.

Van Beek could only stand and deliver, and he tried that for a while, particularly during a last wicket stand with van Meekeren. It ensured Netherlands moved past 200 and the defeat was cut down to a two-digit margin. Perhaps inevitably, the final wicket went

Netherlands (T: 287 runs from 50 ovs)

Vikramjit Singh c Fakhar Zaman

b Shadab Khan 52

Max O'Dowd c Shaheen Shah Afridi

b Hasan Ali 5

Colin Ackermann

b Iftikhar Ahmed 17

Bas de Leede

b Mohammad Nawaz 67

Teja Nidamanuru c Fakhar Zaman

b Haris Rauf 5

Scott Edwards (c)†lbw

b Haris Rauf 0

Saqib Zulfiqar lbw

b Shaheen Shah Afridi 10

Roelof van der Merwe run out (Babar Azam/†Mohammad Rizwan) 4

Logan van Beek not out 28

Aryan Dutt

b Hasan Ali 1

Paul van Meekeren

b Haris Rauf 7

Extras (w 9) 9

TOTAL 41 Ov (RR: 5.00) 205

Fall of wickets: 1-28 (Max O'Dowd, 5.5 ov), 2-50 (Colin Ackermann, 11.1 ov), 3-120 (Vikramjit Singh, 23.5 ov), 4-133 (Teja Nidamanuru, 26.2 ov), 5-133 (Scott Edwards, 26.4 ov), 6-158 (Saqib Zulfiqar, 32.1 ov), 7-164 (Bas de Leede, 33.2 ov), 8-176 (Roelof van der Merwe, 35.6 ov), 9-184 (Aryan Dutt, 37.1 ov), 10-205 (Paul van Meekeren, 40.6 ov) •

DRS

BOWLING O-M-R-W

Shaheen Shah Afridi 7-0-37-1

Hasan Ali 7-1-33-2

Haris Rauf 9-0-43-3

Iftikhar Ahmed 3-0-16-1

Mohammad Nawaz 7-0-31-1

Shadab Khan 8-0-45-1

to Rauf, as he cleaned up van Meekeren with a bail-trimmer, securing Pakistan an imperfect, if decisive, win.

Pakistan have much room for improvement, and with two points and a healthy net run rate on the board, they have three days to achieve it, before they take on Sri Lanka also in Hyderabad. (ESPNCricinfo)

Blue Water Shipping’s Richard DeNobrega making a presentation to organizers’ representative Alanzo Scipio

Vikramjit Singh scored a steady fifty in opening the batting

Namilco U17 National Academy playoffs kick off today

…GFF Technical Director Bryan Joseph confirms readiness

Guyana Football Federation (GFF)

Technical Director

Bryan Joseph has confirmed that all necessary preparations have been completed to ensure the successful kickoff of the highly-anticipated National Milling Company of Guyana (Namilco) Thunderbolt Flour Power Under-17 National Academy playoffs today.

The GFF team has been diligently working over the last few weeks to ensure a seamless October 7 start to the new season of the prestigious playoffs at the GFF National Training Centre (NTC) at Providence, East Bank Demerara.

The opening day will feature a thrilling double-header, with the East Bank Football Academy opposing the East Coast Football Academy at 9am, and the Upper Demerara Football Academy taking on the West Demerara Football Academy at 11am.

Namilco Thunderbolt Flour Power U17 National Academy playoffs complement the Academy Training Centre’s (ATC’s) programme which specifically targets boys aged 14 to 17 years old. ATC is an approved ‘Generation Next’ FIFA de-

velopment programme. Joseph has said the playoffs put “the spotlight on our best young talents, who have been working hard at the Academy Training Centres and are all aspiring to become international players representing our beautiful country.

“These are the players that will be on the forefront of national team discussions over the next decade,” he has predicted. He added that the “best-versus-best opportunity that will be presented on match days would be something you wouldn’t want to miss. Competition of this nature drives development, and therefore we are excited to get going and

unearth the next generation of stars.”

The competition would feature teams in Group A: Georgetown, East Coast, East Bank, the National Under-15 and Berbice; and Group B: Upper Demerara, Essequibo, Bartica, and West Demerara.

After a round-robin phase, the best teams from each group would advance to the championship round, and compete for the prestigious title of national champions.

“The GFF-Namilco part-

RHTY&SC to host Naeem Nasir Memorial 2nd Division tournament this Sunday

The Area H Ground on Sunday would become a hive of activities when the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) hosts the annual Naeem Nasir Memorial one day cricket tournament in memory of the founder of Bakewell.

Naeem Nasir died at 52 years old on October 9, 2012 at the Dr Balwant Singh Hospital, after a long battle with illness. He had founded the popular bakery Bakewell, and had been its Chief Executive Officer until his death. Nasir can never be forgotten for his support of sports across the country, especially cricket and lawn tennis.

nership will always be remembered for the special moments and players that will be produced throughout this phase of the tournament,” Joseph predicts.

The GFF encourages football enthusiasts and supporters to attend the matches and witness the exciting competitive spirit of the young players representing the federation’s nine regional associations. The playoffs of the Namilco Thunderbolt Flour Power U17 National Academy conclude on November 18.

RHTY&SC Secretary Hilbert Foster has said the club is pleased to honour the memory of Nasir, as he had played a major role in the club’s rise from being an ordinary cricket club into becoming Guyana most progressive youth and sports organization, with an unmatched list of activities and achievements.

Bakewell came on board as the official sponsor of the RHTY&SC’s under-17 and second division teams in 2000, and has been a major supporter of the club’s activities over the last quarter of a century. The company co-sponsors activities of the club such as the Christmas Village, Charity Programme, Annual Magazine, Summer Camp, Cricket Academy, Awards Ceremony and commu-

WI Academy players in training for CG United Super50 Cup

The West Indies Academy players would assemble in Antigua from Monday, October 9, for a highperformance camp ahead of their participation in the upcoming CG United Super 50 Cup.

These 14 players will be under the guidance of Head Coach Andre Coley and Assistant Coach Rayon Griffith during the week-long camp at the Coolidge Cricket Ground (CCG). Following the camp, they will travel to Trinidad to participate in the eight-team CG United Super50 Cup.

Batting allrounder Nyeem Young has been named captain.

Coley has said: “We are really looking forward to competing in this year’s edition of the CG United Super50 Cup. The camp provides an excellent opportunity for us to prepare and focus on our white ball skills and certain match scenarios, as we build on the performances of the previous tournament and explore ways to execute the brand of cricket that we want to play as a West Indian team.”

CG United Super50 Cup, the region’s premier List A 50over tournament, will bowl off on Tuesday, October 17 and conclude on Saturday, November 11 with a new eightteam league format, followed by semi-finals and finals to determine the 2023 CG United Super50 Cup Champions.

The West Indies

Academy’s first fixture is against Combined Colleges and Campuses (CCC) on October 19.

The event will feature 31 matches to be played at three venues: the Brian Lara Cricket Academy (BLCA), the Queen’s Park Oval (QPO), and the Sir Frank Worrell Cricket Grounds of the University of the West Indies Sport and Physical Education Centre (UWI SPEC) at the St. Augustine Campus.

All 13 matches at the BLCA, including the semi-finals and final, will be televised live on ESPN Caribbean, with 12 of those matches being day/ night games.

FULL SQUAD

Nyeem Young (captain)

Ackeem Auguste

Joshua Bishop

Teddy Bishop

Carlon Bowen-Tuckett

McKenny Clarke

Matthew Forde

Leonardo Julien

Johann Layne

Kimani Melius

Matthew Nandu

Ashmead Nedd

Kelvin Pitman

Kevin Wickham

CG United Super50 match schedule:

Venues: Queen’s Park Oval (QPO); Brian Lara Cricket Academy (BLCA); UWI SPEC.

Matches in bold are to be televised live exclusively on ESPN Caribbean. All other matches are to be streamed live on the windiescricket YouTube channel.

October 17: Trinidad & Tobago Red Force vs CCC at QPO – 9am

October 17: Guyana

Harpy Eagles vs Windward

Islands Volcanoes at BLCA –1pm

October 18: Leeward

Islands Hurricanes vs Jamaica

Scorpions at BLCA – 1pm

October 19: Trinidad & Tobago Red Force vs Windward Islands Volcanoes at QPO – 9am

October 19: CCC vs West Indies Academy at BLCA –1pm

October 20: Barbados

Pride vs Jamaica Scorpions at UWI SPEC – 9am

October 21: Leeward

Islands Hurricanes vs West Indies Academy at QPO – 9am

October 21: Trinidad & Tobago Red Force vs Guyana

Harpy Eagles at BLCA – 1pm

October 22: Windward

Islands Volcanoes vs CCC at UWI SPEC – 9am

October 23: Guyana

Harpy Eagles vs Leeward

Islands Hurricanes at QPO –9am

October 23: Barbados

Pride vs West Indies Academy at UWI SPEC – 9am

October 25: Windward

Islands Volcanoes vs Barbados

Pride at BLCA - 9am

October 25: West Indies

Academy vs Jamaica Scorpions at QPO – 9am

October 25: Guyana

Harpy Eagles vs CCC at UWI SPEC – 9am

October 26: Trinidad & Tobago Red Force vs Leeward

Islands Hurricanes at BLCA –1pm

October 27: Jamaica

Scorpions vs CCC at UWI

SPEC – 9am

October 28: Trinidad & Tobago Red Force vs West Indies Academy at QPO – 9am

October 29: Barbados

Pride vs Guyana Harpy Eagles at UWI SPEC – 9am

October 29: Jamaica

Scorpions vs Windward

Islands Volcanoes at BLCA –1pm

October 31: Windward

Islands Volcanoes vs Leeward

Islands Hurricanes at QPO –9am

October 31: CCC vs Barbados Pride at UWI SPEC – 9am

November 1: West Indies

Academy vs Guyana Harpy

Eagles at UWI SPEC – 9am

November 2: Trinidad & Tobago Red Force vs Jamaica

Scorpions at QPO – 9am

November 2: Leeward

Islands Hurricanes vs Barbados Pride at BLCA –1pm

November 3: West Indies

Academy vs Windward Islands

Volcanoes at UWI SPEC – 9am

November 4: CCC vs Leeward Islands Hurricanes at QPO – 9am

November 4: Jamaica

Scorpions vs Guyana Harpy

Eagles at BLCA – 1pm

November 5: Trinidad & Tobago Red Force vs Barbados

Pride at BLCA – 1pm

November 8: Semi-Final

1 at BLCA – 1pm

November 9: Semi-Final

2 at BLCA – 1pm

November 11: Final at BLCA – 1pm

nity projects. The RHTY&SC cricket teams have won close to 20 major titles in Berbice under the Bakewell sponsorship, and have produced more than 100 Guyana and Berbice players, such as Assad Fudadin, Royston Crandon, Esuan Crandon, Kevin Sinclair, Kevlon Anderson, Junior Sinclair, Jonathan Rampersaud and Shemaine Campbelle.

The team has also successfully completed over 1000 community programmes and projects under the name of this sponsorship.

The Naeem Nasir Memorial tournament bowls off promptly at 9am, and a total of eight teams would clash for the winner’s prize of one hundred thousand dollars and the Memorial Trophy. Those teams are: Ebini, Wiruni, Rose Hall Town Bakewell, Rose Hall Tigers, Cut and Load, Skeldon, Police, and Courtland.

The opening round of matches would be five overs per side, while the other rounds would be eight overs per side and the final would be a tenover affair. The Man of the Finals would receive a special award, while the Berbice Cricket Board would also use the opportunity to donate balls to the cricket teams in the Berbice River area.

Entrance to the venue would be without charge, and fans would be entertained by a popular music set - Family Valves.

GFF’s Technical Director Bryan Joseph

The proposed fixtures for the Namilco U17 national playoffs

Naeem Nasir

Guyanese Ashmead Nedd and Matthew Nandu are each part of the Academy squad

Berbice, Demerara to clash in highly-anticipated Super50 final today

developmental chess tourney

The Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) is thrilled to announce that its developmental chess tourney is proudly sponsored by Jade’s Wok.

The classical format games aim to foster talent development of its team of under-18 players who will participate in the Inter Guiana Games later this year in Suriname. The tournament will

The legendry Bourda Ground (Georgetown Cricket Club – GCC) will be transformed into a battleground today, Saturday, October 7th, when Demerara set out to dethrone defending champions Berbice in the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Senior Intercounty Super50 tournament.

Both teams are coming off of victories in Round 3 of the preliminary stage. At the Enmore ground on Thursday, Tagenarine Chanderpaul hit an unbeaten 93 to lead Demerara to a 7-wicket victory over the GCB Select XI, while at the GCC ground, Romario Shepherd’s 4-wicket haul helped Berbice defend 170 against Essequibo.

Now with the two teams decided for the final, both captains Tevin Imlach and Veerasammy Permaul

have expressed confidence ahead of today’s final. In a pre-match press briefing on Friday, Demerara captain Imlach said: “I’m very confident. I mean, we came off of two good victories. Against Berbice I guess we dropped the ball a bit, having bowled them out very cheaply and we didn’t manage to get the runs. The batting side of things, we’ve been getting stronger game by game. So, looking forward to this one. Different pitch, much better for batting, better cricket wicket.”

And Berbice captain Veerasammy Permaul had this to say: “Definitely! I think we’re playing some good cricket for the past 3 games. Having said that, I think our batting hasn’t been up to standard, but the bowling has been better for us so far.”

When quizzed about

what would make the difference in securing a win tomorrow, both leaders highlighted batting as a point of concern.

Imlach said, “Well, obviously, for the last 2-3 years, most of Guyana’s bowlers have been coming from Berbice, and we have a lot of Guyana national batsmen in our team. So, the difference will be how we play their bowlers. I think it’s whichever team play better cricket on the day, because its 50-overs, it’s a lot of time.”

“I know Demerara has come back from the first game; they’re batting decent the past two games. Having said that, we don’t want to take them lightly, although we got the best bowling attack. At the same time, it’s cricket, anything could happen,” Permaul highlighted.

The Senior InterCounty final is set to bowl of at 9:00hrs today.

be held from October 6th to October 8th, 2023 at School of the Nations, and will be a five-round Swiss system consisting of 90 minutes with 30-second increments. The FIDE-rated tournament is limited to 20 players, including the eight invited team members of the Inter Guiana Games. FIDE-rated players from 1600 to 1300 are eligible to participate.

The U-18 team members were selected based on their outstanding performances at various national chess competitions, such as the National Junior Chess Championship

and the National Women’s Chess Championship, tourneys held during 2023.

The Inter Guiana Games is an annual event first started in 1967, with the three neighbouring countries of Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana fielding athletes to compete in various sporting disciplines.

Chess was reintroduced this year after a long hiatus. The GCF is excited to participate in this event.

The Open team members are Ricardo Narine, Kyle Couchman, Alexander and Nicholas Zhang; and the Girls’ team comprise Aniyah Couchman, Italy Ton-Chung, Maliha Rajkumar, and Aditi Joshi. The event will also feature the participation of National Women’s Chess Champion Jessica Callender and National Junior Chess Champion Keron Sandiford.

Notable chess players Jaden Taylor, Kishan Puran, Ciel Clement, and Justino DaSilva will also be competing for the top spots.

Trophies and cash prizes of $15,000, $12,000, and $9,000 will be awarded to players who finish first, second and third respectively.

The GCF extends heartfelt gratitude to our valued sponsor Jade’s Wok, a steadfast supporter of chess in Guyana. Jade’s Wok is renowned for its delectable Asian cuisine at its branches at the Giftland Mall, Amazonia Mall, and the West Central Mall in Leonora. Their unwavering support ensures the success of this event.

Mr. Anand Raghunauth, President of the Guyana Chess Federation, has expressed his excitement about the tournament by saying, "The developmental chess tourney is not just a competition; it's an opportunity for chess enthusiasts to come together, learn, and grow. We are grateful to Jade's Wok for their generous sponsorship, and we look forward to an event that promotes chess development and camaraderie."

GFF’s NTC being eyed for international football by 2024

…Lights to be up and ready by December

Guyana Football Federation (GFF)

President Wayne Forde on Thursday announced that the installation of FIFA- approved floodlights at the federation’s National Training Centre (NTC) at Providence, East Bank Demerara is on target to be completed by early December.

President Forde and Second Vice President Rawlston Adams visited the training facility on October 5 to assess the advancement of the FIFA Forward US$1.1M project and witness the arrival of the four towers designed to withstand wind speeds of up to 85mph.

United States-based company Musco Sport Lighting had earlier this year won the bid, and has sub-contracted parts of the project to local firm Cummings Electrical.

“We are providing as much support as we can from the Federation’s standpoint to the contracting team, to do everything possible to ensure that they are able to meet the timelines,” President Forde told the media during a brief question-and-answer session on site.

He added, “Our intention, with the support of FIFA and CONCACAF, is to make the National Training Centre suitable for international football. We are hoping in 2024 that all of our home matches can be played here.”

The installation contract, which was signed in May, includes the manufacturing, shipping, installation and testing of the lighting system. On completion, the GFF will be able to host and broadcast international matches for all national teams and local leagues, including

the Elite League, Women’s Development League, and Regional Association Leagues on the FIFA+ digital platform.

“With some remedial works we are doing on the pitch right now, FIFA will recertify the pitch so that we will have the green light to host international matches here. So, there’s a lot of emphasis being placed on bringing this venue up to a certain level, because we want to make sure that our players have the opportunity to play before their fans, and

that has been a challenge of recent. A lot of work is being done here, and the push will be intense within the next couple of months,” President Forde has shared.

Additionally, with the assistance of FIFA and CONCACAF, the GFF would soon commence construction of the seating on the western and southern sides of the pitch, and the conversion of rooms identified to be dressing rooms.

The civil works for the lighting installation project

are projected to be finished in October, allowing for the commissioning of the project in December.

GFF Second Vice President Adams has said, “The contractor has made the best of the initial weather that he has. He has put in the temporary access, so that will give him access to the actual location where the piles are going to be driven for the lights. All the civil works we are expecting to be completed before the weather changes.”

The GFF National Training Centre was official-

ly commissioned in 2019. The initial phase of the project involved the installation of the artificial turf, while the second phase focuses on the construction of stands and installation of lights.

On completion, the facility will represent a significant milestone for the football fraternity, as the first official home of football.

President Forde and the GFF Council remain resolute in their dedication to ensuring the development of cutting-edge football infrastructure in Guyana.

GFF President Wayne Forde and 2nd Vice President Rawlston Adams addressing media operatives on Thursday A look at works ongoing at the GFF’s National Training Center

Demerara captain Tevin Imlach

National Junior Champion Keron Sandiford

National Women's Champion Jessica Callender

Berbice captain Veerasammy Permaul